Roman Walls of Lugo
The Roman Walls of Lugo are the only complete and intact urban defensive walls surviving anywhere in the former Roman Empire. Their circumference is 2.117 km. Five of the original gates, and 46 interval towers are still intact.
Lugo was called
Lucus Augusti by the Romans. This regionally important colonial town was founded in 15-13 BCE. The walls however were only constructed between 263 and 276, when the fear for invasions became too high. The fortifications couldn’t withstand outsiders for too long: Lugo was subsequently sacked by the Suevi, the Visigoths, the Moors and the Normans from the 5th century on.
Visit August 2009
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The city of Lugo is located in Galicia, on the route to Santiago de Compostela. I encountered a few pilgrimage cyclists on the way, but no hikers. Lugo’s WHS status is for having the only Roman city walls that are both intact (i.e. authentic enough) and entirely complete. In this, they beat the similar ones in Carcassonne, Avila and Le Mans (according to the ICOMOS evaluation at inscription).
My goal for the day was to walk the entire circuit (2km). I accessed the ramparts from the Rua do Teatro. The most amazing thing at first sight is how broad this wall is! Four to seven meters wide apparently. It’s just like a major road. The only comparison that directly came to my mind is the City Wall of Xi’an in China (it is newer, 14th century, but even wider). If I remember well, they even allow cyclists there.
It’s a very fine stroll. It goes up and down slightly, the heights of the wall very between 8 and 12 m. You also get a good look at the city from all sides, although it’s a kind of “railway view” (in plain sight are not the best of houses). I encountered lots of joggers on my walk, some even twice. For a good exercise one has to round the circuit several times.
The entire walk took me about half an hour including photo stops. A quick site to visit! I didn’t venture into the city center of Lugo, but made my way north to other Roman remains instead: the Torre de Hercules in A Coruna.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
John (New york):
Roman Walls in lugo are awesome. It is a fascinating place: Good food, nice people, unique features, and amazing celebrations like San Froilán.
I´ll be back there next year |
| Date posted: September 2008 |
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The Roman Walls themselves are enormous and well preserved, you can walk around the city on top of the wall (2,5km). Actually they walls are so huge that they would fit a dual carriageway. If the walls wouldn't be there there aren't many reasons to visit Lugo. |
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Ulises Sarry (Spain):
Hello
I am the author of the book: "The report Aio", a documented study on the Roman walls of Lugo, with a special dedication to topology, geometry and military engineering.
It is also a denunciation of the form as it is interpreted today, the fortress, by the "active forces and the official institutions". (To see: "The Chinese Tower ", clear sample of a rooted error).
The book tries to demonstrate that the Roman wall was an unconquerable technological strength, that their towers had a essential function and like, its only existence, horrifies to those "overwhelming institutions".
The last remainders of the towers disappeared in 1836, when the wall was adapted for the modern war. The time and lack of memory they caused erroneous current military interpretation.
See: http://www.3dnauta.com
See ROMAN WALL of LUGO (Trilogy)
IN PRAESENTIA (The Aio report) PRESENT of the wall and its documented links.
If this study satisfies you, I would thank for to you a commentary to this report, since it exists, that I know until now, none really military interpretation of our "Inheritance of Humanity Monument".
In an affirmative case I would be enchanted to include your inestimable collaboration. Naturally referenced and without violating your intellectual property or rights of author.
If this message were not well directed, could you guide to me correctly if possible?...
Thank you in advance, and pardon for my very limited English
Ulises Sarry
Rio Eume 58, 1
27004 Lugo
Spain
034-982 214 4913
galale@3dnauta.com |
| Date posted: May 2006 |
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