Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain, located in the region of Galicia. It serves as the capital of the province of Lugo. In 2024, the city had a population of 100,060, making it the fourth largest city in Galicia.

Lugo is unique because it is the only city in the world surrounded by Roman walls that remain completely intact. These walls are 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 feet) tall and stretch for 2,117 meters (6,946 feet) around the city. They include 71 towers and have ten gates. The walls, built in the 3rd century, are the only ones of their kind in the world and are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The historic bridge over the Miño River was also constructed by the Romans. Lugo lies along the Camino Primitivo, one of the paths of the Camino de Santiago.

Population

In 2018, the city had 98,026 people. This number has increased since the first census in 1842, even though other parts of the province are losing people quickly. In 2014, the city had 98,560 people, including 45,948 men and 52,612 women. These numbers come from INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadística).

By April 2020, the population reached 99,638. The city mayor, Lara Méndez, has set a goal of reaching 100,000 people.

In 2010, 5,373 foreigners lived in the city, which was 5.5% of the total population. The largest groups were Colombians (18%), Moroccans (12%), and Brazilians (11%).

According to 2008 data, 47.37% of the population speaks Galician most often, while 52.63% speaks Spanish most often.

Geography

The town is located on a hill surrounded by the rivers Miño, Rato, and Chanca. The elevation difference between the city center and the riverbanks is large: the city center is at 465 meters above sea level, while the Miño River Walk is at 364 meters (1,194 feet). The municipality of Lugo is the second largest in Galicia, covering an area of 329.78 square kilometers (127.33 square miles) and including 59 parishes. The city’s outline was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on November 7, 2002, making it an important international example of landscape and habitat conservation in the Atlantic European region.

The area includes more than 54 villages: Adai, Bacurín, Bascuas, Bazar, Benade, Bocamaos, Bóveda, O Burgo, Calde, Camoira, Carballido, Coeo, Coeses, Cuíña, Esperante, Gondar, Labio, Lamas, Lugo, Mazoi, Meilán, Monte de Meda, Muxa, Ombreiro, Orbazai, O Outeiro das Camoiras, Pedreda, Pías, Piúgos, Poutomillos, Prógalo, Recimil, Ribas de Miño, Romeán, Rubiás, Saa, San Mamede dos Anxos, San Martiño de Piñeiro, San Pedro de Mera, San Román, San Salvador de Muxa, San Xoán de Pena, San Xoán do Alto, San Xoán do Campo, Santa Comba, Santa María de Alta, Santa Marta de Fixós, Santalla de Bóveda de Mera, Santo André de Castro, Soñar, Teixeiro, Tirimol, Torible, O Veral, Vilachá de Mera.

Lugo has a humid oceanic climate with drier summers. In the Köppen climate classification, it is considered a mild Mediterranean climate (Csb), depending on summer rainfall levels. Because it is far from the Atlantic Ocean, its yearly rainfall of 1,084 millimeters (42.7 inches) is lower than in areas like the Rias Baixas and Santiago de Compostela. The highest temperature ever recorded was 39.6°C (103°F) in August 1961, and the lowest was −13.2°C (8.2°F) in February 1983. The city averages about six days of snow each year, unlike coastal cities in Galicia, which rarely see snow in modern times.

History

Founded by Paullus Fabius Maximus in 13 BC, the city was named Lucus Augusti after a Roman military camp was built there. As the Roman Empire expanded into the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula, the city became part of the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis. It was the main town of the Capori tribe and served as the chief city of the region that later became Gallaecia. During the Roman period, Lucus was an important center of government, housing one of three administrative groups called conventus in Gallaecia. Later, it became one of two capitals of Gallaecia and gave its name to the Callaïci Lucenses people. The city was located in a region rich in gold mining, which was very active during the Roman era. According to Pliny, the Conventus Lucensis began near the Navilubio River and included 16 tribes, such as the Celtici and Lebuni. Though these tribes were not powerful and had names that Romans considered unusual, they had 166,000 free men. The city was built along a branch of the Minius River (modern Miño) and was on a major road connecting Bracara and Asturica. It also had famous baths near a bridge over the Miño River.

By the late 5th century, Lucus became the seat of a bishopric and remained an administrative center under the Suebi and Visigoths. However, by the 8th century, the city had declined so much that Bishop Odoario found it deserted and worked to revive it. In the 10th century, efforts to rebuild abandoned homes showed that Lucus was still officially a town, serving as a bishopric and administrative center under a local ruler. By the 11th century, its role in trade and industry was limited, as noted by historian Richard Fletcher.

During the Middle Ages, Lugo, like Santiago de Compostela, became a center for religious pilgrimages because its cathedral had the special privilege of displaying the consecrated host publicly 24 hours a day, a tradition it still follows today. However, Santiago de Compostela was a more significant pilgrimage site. Most pilgrims stopped in Lugo before continuing their journey. The city’s walls were a notable feature for pilgrims. In the 18th century, Lugo was granted the right to hold annual fairs in honor of St. Froilán. During the Modern Age, Lugo had some influence, though nearby towns like Mondoñedo and Ribadeo challenged its status. In 1833, when Spain divided into provinces, Lugo became the capital of its province, a position strengthened by the arrival of the first railroad in 1875.

In the 20th century, Lugo grew as the administrative and service center of the province. In 1936, the city was quickly taken over by Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War. In the 1970s, the city modernized with projects like the Ceao Industrial Area (built in 1979) and the full restoration of its Roman walls.

Infanta Elena, the eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain, became the Duchess of Lugo in 1995 and is fourth in line to the Spanish throne.

In 2000, the Roman walls of Lugo were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marking an important milestone for the city.

Economy

Lugo is a city where services are a major part of daily life. The main activities include commerce, government offices (for both local and national governments), and services related to education and health care. The newly opened Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti is the largest hospital in Galicia. The city's population has grown steadily along with the development of its key economic areas. Industry in Lugo is limited and mostly focuses on processing agricultural products, such as dairy, meat, and timber.

The University of Santiago de Compostela has multiple departments at its Lugo campus. One of the most important is the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, which is among the top in Spain.

The daily newspaper El Progreso is published in Lugo. It is the most widely read newspaper in the province of Lugo.

A private aerodrome is located in the nearby town of Rozas. It is owned by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and managed by Real Aero Club de Lugo. In 2011, the Ministry of Defence handed over the facility to INTA, Spain's space agency, to turn it into a center for aeronautical research.

The closest airports for passenger travel are A Coruña Airport, which is 90 km (56 mi) northeast of Lugo, and Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport, located 93 km (58 mi) west of Lugo.

Main sights

Lugo is the only city in the world with Roman walls that are still in very good condition. These walls are between 10 and 15 meters tall and form a path that goes around the city for 2,117 meters. The path has 71 towers and includes ten gates. The walls were built in the 3rd century and are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The bridge over the Miño River was originally built by the Romans, but many repairs over time have made it harder to see the original Roman design.

Other sources say the city’s name, Lucus Augusti, comes from the Latin word Lucus, which means "sacred grove" or "sacred forest." This is because the city was built on the site of a small grove.

Besides the walls, sights include:

Two important festivals take place in Lugo:

Sports

The most well-known professional team in the city is the basketball team CB Breogán, which currently plays in Liga ACB, the top basketball league in Spain. The team has competed in Liga ACB for many seasons and holds the 9th position in the league's historical ranking.

Futsal is also popular in Lugo, with Azkar Lugo representing the city in the Second División de Futsal, which is the second tier of Spanish futsal.

The city's football team is CD Lugo, which currently plays in the Spanish Segunda División.

The fifth stage of the 2016 Vuelta a España cycling race ended in Lugo.