LUGO

The city of Lugo is the capital of the northeastern province of Lugo in the autonomous community of Galicia. Lugo, la ciudad de las murallas, is the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls, or murallas, that stretch over two kilometers, with 71 towers and ten gates. These walls date back to the 3rd Century and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for being the “finest surviving example of late Roman military fortifications.” Lugo calls itself a bimillenial city; its history can be traced back to 500 B.C. Inside the Roman walls, you’ll find the historic center of the city, with beautiful buildings, a cathedral that took over 100 years to build, and lots of shopping, eating, and nightlife, with what has been discribed as having an ambientazo de tapas  unique to the city’s center. Lugo is surrounded by the Miño River on one side, and the Rato and Chanca on the other.

The University of Santiago de Compostela, one of the oldest functioning universities in the world (est. 1495), has a campus in Lugo. This campus is best known for its Veterinary Facultad (School, or Department), which is one of the leading and most prestigious in Spain and Europe. Being the only other campus of the University, Lugo attracts many students from all over the country, about 5,000, and the city’s modern area is characterized by having a large student population with an energetic and academic atmosphere. To learn about living here, look at the city’s Housing Guide. Many young people who lived in Lugo have described it as a secure, very laid-back city, with muy buen rollo, or a really good vibe.