Roman Walls of Lugo (2000)
Spain
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The walls of Lugo were built in the later part of the 3rd century to defend
the Roman town of Lucus. The entire circuit survives intact and is the finest
example of late Roman fortifications in western Europe.
Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain, capital of the province of Lugo. The city is situated on the Miño River, on a plain 90 km (60 mi) southeast of La Coruña. Lugo was formerly the capital of the autonomous region of Galicia before Galicia was divided into provinces in 1833.
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| The older part of Lugo lies within a thick wall built by the Romans in the 3rd century
BC. The old city is in the rough form of a rectangle, with a perimeter of 2 km (1.2 mi), and constitutes one of the best-preserved Roman fortifications in Spain.
Old monuments within the city include a cathedral, which was begun in the 12th century as a Romanesque structure and was later modified by various additions and restorations, and cloisters dating from the early 18th century. There are hot mineral baths in the vicinity.
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Lugo changed hands numerous times during its history. Known to the Romans as Lucus Augusti, the community fell to the Suevi, a group of German tribes, in the 5th century. The Arabs gained control of the city in 714 but lost it in 755 to Alfonso I of Asturias. The city was sacked by the Normans in 969, and later in the 10th century it was overrun by Abu Amir al-Mansur, Muslim regent of Córdoba, Spain.
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During the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century), frequent conflicts arose between the citizens and the prince-bishops of Lugo. Lugo experienced significant damage during sieges by French and Spanish forces in the 19th century; the city has since been extensively rebuilt.
Sources and links:
Microsoft Encarta 2002
Other World Heritage Sites in Spain (on this site). Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, Spain-section, for further information on the individual properties.
Revised 19 jul 2007 |
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