Lugo Cuisine:
Lugo is famous for its varied gastronomic offerings and its typical cuisine is mainly based around pork and veal. In the restaurants in the city, visitors can also sample a rich variety of the best fish and Galician seafood. The most outstanding typical dish is "lacon con grelos" (ham and turnip tops), which is served cooked, and accompanied by chorizo (spicy sausage) and "cachelos" (cooked potatoes). Squid is the food of Galician fairs. It is cooked in enormous copper kettles, and served cut up, garnished with sea salt and paprika, on wooden plates.
Another typical example of Galician cuisine, is soup stock, which was the basic food of the Galician peasant. Its ingredients are very simple, and include pig fat, turnip tops and potatoes. Empanadas (pies) are equally popular, with a variety of fillings to cater for all tastes. They are filled with zorza (marinated pork), pork, eels, pork fat and apples. Typical desserts are "filloas" (crepes) and cheese from the area.
A good way for visitors to sample the rich Lugo cuisine is by "tapeo", through the wide variety of "tapas" (little snacks) in bars and taverns which are customarily on offer, together with the typical cup of ribeiro or any other wine. The most common wine areas include Plaza del Campo and nearby Rua da Cruz, Rua Nova, and Rua Catedral.
About the Area
Lugo is the oldest Galician capital, and was founded during the expansion policy, carried out by Augustus. This Roman Emperor had the desire to join the northeast peninsula of Spain to the Roman Empire. In 24BC, Paulo Fabio Maximo founded " Lucus Augusti", and named the area after the emperor. The city was to be the capital of the jurisdiction of Lugo, incorporating northern Gallaecia. The name Lucus, where the name Lugo comes from, is a derivation of the name of the Celtic God "Lugh", God of light, who was worshipped in this area in pre-Roman times.
In the year 460 AD, on Easter night, a bloody event took place in which the Swabians gained control of the city, killing its Governor. Under their reign, the city played an important role as a religious centre, and as the headquarters of famous councils. In the year 585 AD, the Swabian rule made way for that of the Visigoths. At the beginning of the eighth century, the city was attacked and taken over by Muslim troops headed by Muza, although this rule lasted only a short time. In the year 740 the Asturian monarch, Alfonso I, recaptured it and entrusted its repopulation to the bishop Odoario.
In the following centuries the medieval unrest continued. The city underwent more attacks by the Arabs, independent attacks against the Asturian monarchy, as well as communal attacks against the church, like the Maria Castana revolt at the beginning of the 15th Century.
Entering the middle ages, under the rule of the Catholic Kings, brought a time of peace which was to be broken in the 19th Century with attacks by the French (the War of Independence) and the Carlist Wars. This caused substantial damage to the wall which surrounded the city.
Attractions
The Spa Springs - The ancient spa springs can still be found in the current spa house. One of the rooms, that has been thought to have been used as a changing room, is practically still intact. Some semicircular curved niches, where the people enjoying the spa baths could leave their clothes, might have contributed towards the state of the preserved rooms. One of the other rooms was used for cold baths, and was later converted into a Christian chapel. Lugo's Balneario Hotel currently still uses these thermal waters for spa treatments.
Plaza Del Campo - This is a typical square in the old part of the city. The Roman origin of this square is highlighted by some of the columns of the arcades surrounding it. It later became a market, and is now a busy social centre. A baroque fountain rises out of the centre, built in the middle of the eighteenth century by the Dominican Fran Francisco Izquierdo y Taviro. A statue of San Vicente Ferrer, in an act of prayer, presides over the whole area. The water for the fountain used to come from an aquaduct which has since disappeared. Several important streets of old Lugo join at the triangular Plaza del Campo, in which noble buildings with coats of arms stand out.
Santa Eulalia - Located 14 km outside Lugo, in Santa Eulalia de Boveda, this is a late Roman building, rectangular and with a small swimming-pool in the centre. It sports a barrel vault decorated with extremely interesting frescoes. Outside, there is an atrium with two columns "in antis" in front of the facade, in which there is a horseshoe arched door. The temple of Santa Eulalia de Boveda is unique in western Europe and has inspired many interpretations about its original purpose: bathing area, vestal temple or a temple dedicated to Priscilianus. Later it was re-used for Christian purposes.
Cathedral - The cathedral is another of the city's architectural joys. The incredible chapel of the Virgin de los Ojos Grandes, is of Roman plan and has valuable Baroque elements. The beautiful Renaissance choir, the altarpiece by Cornelius of Holland, and an original tympanum in the north door, are some of the temple's most significant details. The central nave, which is extremely high and which has slightly pointed arches, points to a Gothic influence. Construction of the temple began in the year 1129 under the direction of Raimundo de Monforte, and at the end of the eighteenth century the main facade was built; a neoclassical work designed by Julian Sanchez Bort. In front of the Cathedral is the eighteenth century Episcopal Palace. Both buildings make up the Plaza de Santa Maria, one of the most beautiful squares in the city.
Provincial Museum - Founded during the thirteenth century, the Provincial Museum is situated above the old San Francisco convent. Still preserved in this building is the magnificent Roman Cloister (National Monument), the kitchen, and the refectory. These premises house a complete representation of the cultural and artistic heritage of the province of Lugo. Of special note is a collection of etchings by Castro Gil, and ceramics by Sargadelos. The rooms, with sections dedicated to archaeology, religious imagery, coin collecting, painting etc., all contribute to make this museum one of the most remarkable of its kind in Spain.
Lugo 
Lugo 
Lavacolla
