Roman wall of Lugo: Mosqueira Tower (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
Spanning over 1.2 miles, the Roman walls of Lugo are a milestone of late Roman architecture. Thanks to successive renovations, we find ourselves before the best-preserved defensive perimetral wall of the Western Roman Empire. And for this reason, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in the year 2000.
Lugo Cathedral (1129)Regional Government of Galicia
Lugo is the oldest city in Galicia. Named after Lucus Augusti, it started as a Roman encampment that grew and became established as a city. In the 3rd century, it became the capital of the province of Hispania Ulterior.
Roman wall of Lugo: Mosqueira Tower (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
Construction began on the walls during this era, and they were built between the years 265 and 325. Their masonry was made out of slate slabs and filling material, with the gates and corners being reinforced with granite. Their height currently ranges between 26 and 33 feet (8 and 10 meters).
Roman wall of Lugo (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
The walls originally had over 80 semicircular towers. Of these, 71 have been preserved. Some of them have had their foundations altered. On the chemin de ronde that still exists today, they had at least two more storeys, which have now disappeared.
Lugo wall. Tower of A Mosqueira (260-310)Original Source: Axencia Turismo de Galicia
The symbolic Torre de Mosqueira with its large windows with semicircular arches, which probably originally extended throughout the fortification in order to install weaponry, is the last remaining trace of these upper storeys.
Roman wall of Lugo (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
The walls are over 14 feet (4 meters) wide and even reach 23 feet (7 meters) in some places. This has turned the raised walkway (allure) into the perfect place for taking a stroll and getting a sense of the history while observing the everyday city life.
Roman wall of Lugo: Porta Nova (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
The Ten Wall Gates
The walls currently have ten gates. Five of these are from the Roman era, such as the Porta Nova, which led to Betanzos. This access has been through various changes. The last one, in 1900, involved tearing down a fortress tower to prevent it from collapsing.
False Gate (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
The Porta Falsa is also Roman in origin. It was closed in the Middle Ages and reopened, with modifications, in 1602 to provide access to Sant Bertomeu Hospital. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was known as the Puerta del Boquete.
Tap to explore
Another five gates were opened from 1853 onward due to urban expansion. In terms of the Porta do Obispo Aguirre, the last one to be opened in the 19th century, this was in order to connect the new workshop with the graveyard. Two fortress towers had to be torn down to open it.
Roman wall of Lugo: Bishop Aguirre's door (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
The Porta de San Fernando was opened at the entrance to the old Roman aqueduct in 1853. It was inaugurated five years later by Queen Isabella II of Spain, and had to be rebuilt in 1962 to expand its width as the main access to the walled city.
Roman wall of Lugo: Gate of San Pedro (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
Pilgrims who arrived in Lugo during their journey along the Camino Primitivo entered the inner city through the Porta de San Pedro. The route from Castile leads here. This was used by Toledo merchants who traded in the city.
Lugo wall. San Pedro gate (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
For this reason, the San Pedro gate is also known as the Porta Toledana. As this is an entrance gate, the most decorated side is the one facing away from the city, with the city's coat of arms and an inscription of the year of the gate's reconstruction (1781).
Praza do Campo, with fountain and sculpture of San Vicente Ferrer (2011)Original Source: S.A. de Xestión do Plan Xacobeo
The Jacobean route goes through the iconic Plaza do Campo, the city's food and nightlife epicenter. It then goes through the A Tinería barrio and exits the historic city toward Santiago through the Porta Miñá, also called the Porta Carmen.
Wall of Lugo: Porta Miñá or del Carmen (260-310)Regional Government of Galicia
This is the Roman gate that has been preserved with the fewest changes. It follows rules set by architect Vitruvius for this type of fortification and has a semicircular arch and barrel vault, protected by two solid granite bondstone towers.
Tap to explore
Up until the 19th century, the hollow interior for the guardhouse was used as a chapel. Its name comes from the fact that it naturally exits toward the Miño river. The historical San Miguel Hospital is located just a few feet away.
Lugo wall. Santiago gate (260-310)Original Source: Axencia Turismo de Galicia
Currently, the Porta de Santiago is the main exit gate on the Camino Primitivo. For this reason, only the side facing the city is decorated, featuring the image of the Santiago knight and the Izquierdo coat of arms.
Cathedral of Lugo: main facade (1129)Regional Government of Galicia
This coat of arms reminds us that the walls were the property of the church and for private use only until 1589. It was widened during the 18th century, and pilgrims started to use it to leave the walled city behind and continue on their journey to Santiago de Compostela.
Lugo wall (260-310)Original Source: Axencia Turismo de Galicia
Thanks to endless battles with neighbours and the work of local and international associations and bodies, the Roman walls of Lugo are in excellent condition today. They are a true historical gem that entered the new millennium as a monument to all humanity.
