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Riding
Along The French Trail to Santiago
A seven day excursion (6 nights)
departing from CEBREIRO at 6 p.m. lying on the border between the provinces
of Lugo and León - a medieval town surrounded by spectacular mountain
landscape where you can still see the primitive dwellings known as "pallozas"....Read
more.....Tours
in Galicia |
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Galicia,
Spain Travel & Accommodation Guide
Lodging
& Tours in Lugo & Lugo Province, Galicia, Spain
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Sample
some of the Finest Roman Architecture found anywhere in Lugo
by Stephen Morgan
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- Featured Lugo Hotels
Northern Spain and Galicia
particularly has long been an undiscovered jewel in the whole of the Spanish
tourism industry and within that undiscovered jewel in particular we are
going to take a look at Lugo.
Overall of all of the autonomous
regions of Spain possibly Galicia is the most remote and this makes Lugo
even more of an undiscovered treasure.
Traditionally, Galicia was
seen as a poor agricultural region, whose economy did not lend itself to
modernisation and yet as far as tourism is concerned it is this constant
contact with the past that gives the region its appeal and charm.
The Galicians, whose origins
are Celtic, are fiercely proud of their culture and language; it is what
makes them unique (they feel) within modern day Spain.
It absorbed little in the
way of outside influence being fiercely resistant to all forms of outside
intervention (and we mean all forms of outside intervention), was never
conquered by the Moors, and in the Middle Ages fell under the control of
the kingdom of Asturias.
| Thankfully slowly throughout
the 20th century Galicia has begun to develop a way in which to manage
the traditional lifestyles with a modern community to ensure that none
of its rich history is lost and this is now starting to show very real
and tangible benefits as far as the local tourism economy is concerned.
The ancient town of Lugo
is in eastern Galicia lays on one of the main roads into Galicia from Leon.
It was not surprising given its location that the Romans chose to use it
as their provincial regional capital.
As many historians have pointed
out on quite a few occasions the Romans were a race that never did anything
by half measures and so you can be rest assured that when they decided
to use Lugo as their regional headquarters firstly they would make sure
that it was fortified and secondly they would make sure that those fortifications
were extremely robust and well constructed. |
Roman
Walls and Cathedral, Lugo, Galicia, Spain
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Hence you know have a town
built in the 21st century that has some of the finest examples of Roman
fortifications and architecture in existence today. So much so that the
walls of Lugo are now major tourist attractions in their own right.
The Roman settlement at Lugo
originates from about 15 BC but the actual fortifications were begun in
earnest in the third century AD under the rule of the Roman emperor Augustus.
As has been mentioned before,
the walls of Lugo surround the entire town and they are punctuated at regular
intervals throughout the entire circumference by outposts of 82 different
towers.
The other main attraction
of Lugo is its Cathedral which now sits on the site of an earlier church
construction that stems from the 12th Century. Perhaps not as large or
impressive as its westernmost neighbour in Santiago de Compostela, the
Cathedral at Lugo is still well worth a visit if you have the time.
Within the town walls the
streets still follow a traditional roman axis and the narrow cobble stoned
streets are a delight to wander around when you have the time and there
are quite a few interesting restaurants that can be found in out of the
way locations dotted throughout the town.
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Featured
Lugo Hotels
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| About the Author - Stephen
Morgan writes about a great many Internet Travel based issues and more
on the above can be found at Accommodation in Galicia. For a more complete
overlook at Tourism in Galicia try http://www.turgalicia.es |
| LUGO
FEATURED HOTELS, LUGO PROVINCE, GALICIA |
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Gran
Hotel Lugo
Gran Hotel is located in
the centre of Lugo and is just a five-minute walking distance to the monumental
zone. This modern and elegant hotel provides accommodation with necessary
amenities, which cater to the needs of its guests. The restaurant
offers traditional kitchen throughout the year, and also offers Castilian
and other international delicacies. The Watchtower is the ideal place
for the first glass at night, a calm and relaxed place. The Great
Lugo Hotel offers incomparable services for the celebration of banquets
and family celebrations, emphasizing the ample gardens as well as several
halls reserved for the most select banquets. All the 156 rooms are
carefully designed and decorated, where clients can find maximum comfort
and tranquillity besides enjoying the surroundings. |
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Husa
Puerta de San Pedro, Lugo
Husa Puerta de San Pedro
is a modern hotel set 300 metres from the historic Roman walls of the UNESCO
World Heritage site of Muralla, and 1.5 kilometres from La Milagrosa nature
resort. The hotel is well placed to see the town and surrounding attractions;
it is three kilometres from the Feria de Muestras. La Coruña Airport
is an approximate driving time of 75 minutes, and a distance of 90 kilometres.
The hotel's restaurant serves buffet cuisine in modern surroundings. Guests
can unwind with drinks in the hotel's café, and relax with a complimentary
newspaper in the lobby. Those guests wishing to catch up on emails or surf
the web can take advantage of the hotel's Internet access. The 36 air-conditioned
guestrooms, over eight floors, feature bright, modern decor and light wood
furnishings. |
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Mendez
Nunez Hotel, Lugo
Founded in 1861 and located
in the centre of Lugo (2000 year old city), with a very important roman
wall which dates back to its Roman origin, the Mendez Nuñez Hotel
has the privilege of being located in the historic and commercial centre
of Lugo. The Hotel has its own bar, living room with TV. We also
offer special services for meetings such as reception area, notice boards,
projectors, photocopier, videos, screens, pa system and paper flipchart.
And at Almirante's exhibition hall exhibitions are held from time to time.
Served at the bar situated on the sixth floor, you can choose between continental
breakfast or cold Buffet. The meals will be served at the restaurants which
are close the Hotel, they serve tasty and tourist menus and 'a la carta'
for groups and individual reservations. |
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MONFORTE
DE LEMOS (LUGO) FEATURED HOTELS |
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for hotels in the Monforte de Lemos area
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Balneario
Aguas Santas Golf Hotel, Panton - 10 kms from Monforte de Lemos
The Hotel Balneario Augas
Santas is located in the province of Lugo, Spain, in the centre of the
Ribeira Sacra. It is one kilometre from the village of Ferreira de Panton,
and 10 kilometres from the village of Monforte de Lemos. Situated
in lush parkland, this modern hotel features a spa with therapeutic waters,
hydrotherapy, heating therapy, massages, and beauty treatments. Other facilities
include an outdoor pool with sundeck and an 18-hole golf course, while
practical amenities include room service and wireless Internet access.
Activities for children are available. The Augas Santas restaurant
is modern and serves typical Galician, and Spanish dishes, accompanied
by regional and Spanish wines. A complimentary breakfast is served to guests
each morning. Business facilities include conference rooms, and a
business centre. As well as an 18-hole golf course, there is a mini-golf
course within the hotel grounds. |
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Parador
de Monforte de Lemos
The monumental group of
buildings of San Vicente do Pino stands at the highest point of the town
of Monforte de Lemos: the Torre del Homenaje, the monastery of San Vicente
do Pino and the Palace of the Counts of Lemos, these last two housing the
Parador de Monforte. The origins of the monastery date from the 9th
century, although the present building, which replaced an earlier one on
the same site, was built in the 17th century in the Neoclassical style.
The Neoclassical central cloister boasts very fine stonework and is the
monument’s main point of architectural interest. The restored monastery
is now a hotel with 50 rooms, distributed around the central cloister and
an annex known as 'Casa del Monte Fuerte’, with a total capacity of 100
guests. |
| RIBADEO
FEATURED HOTELS - LUGO PROVINCE |
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| Ribadeo
- The Ribadeo estuary
forms a natural link between Galician territory and the neighbouring lands
of Asturias on the opposite bank. On this deep estuary, formed by the river
Eo, the main town is Ribadeo. Ribadeo is an attractive town with
a castle and many colonial style buildings. It is also an early stop
on one of the Caminos, or pilgrim routes. Located just over 100 kms
from Lugo. |
|
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Parador
de Ribadeo, Ribadeo
The Hotel occupies a traditional
Galician country house on the Ribadeo estuary, a centre for sailing and
holidaymaking, next to the coast of Asturias. Its magnificent location,
on the border between Galicia and Asturias, offers the possibility of enjoying
unique views of the landscape of Galicia, the Ribadeo estuary and the little
villages of the Asturias bank of the river, an extraordinary panorama which
can be seen from the dining room. A graceful, elegant seaside style predominates
in the hotel interior. The rooms are welcoming and comfortable, some with
splendid views. Come into the Parador dining room and enjoy local
Galicia cookery with dishes such as empanada (pie), lacón (ham)
or soups. The local seafood is particularly good. Make a point of trying
it. |
| VILALBA
FEATURED HOTELS (LUGO) |
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| Vilalba
- famous for its
tower, the "Torre de los Andrade en Vilalba. The town is approximately
35 kms from the provincial capital of Lugo. |
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for hotels in the Vilalba area
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Husa
Spa Villalba, 8 kms from Vilalba
The Husa Spa Villalba is
a contemporary spa hotel which benefits from the thermal waters of the
Lugar Alligal and is eight kilometres from the Spanish town of Villalba.
Guitiriz Golf Course is 30 kilometres from the hotel and Lugo Cathedral
is 40 kilometres away. Alvedra Airport is 110 kilometres from the hotel,
with an approximate driving time of 90 minutes. The Thermal Club has a
thermally heated swimming pool, with counter-current river, geysers, water
beds, spa tubs, and relaxation rooms Fitness equipment is available, and
the hotel also has a sauna and massage treatment rooms. Restaurant Villalba
serves local specialities in a contemporary setting. The 42 air-conditioned
guestrooms are located over two floors and have contemporary decor and
furnishings including desks. |
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Parador
de Vilalba, Vilalba - Lugo
This impressive tower from
medieval Galicia, now converted into a hotel, dominates the landscape of
this town, centre of the "Terra Chá" area, which originated from
this fortress, home of the Andrades, the counts of Vilalba. The hotel
offers cosy, welcoming spaces with a medieval air; in the tower, 6 bedrooms
share this medieval style with the Salón de los Andrade, with frescos
and coats of arms. In the shadow of the tower, the new stone building
is in the style of a pazo, the Galician country house, housing the remaining
42 bedrooms, the restaurant and bar. Lacón con grelos (ham
stew with greens), Raxo pie, beef kebab Don Nuño, roscón
de Vilalba (local cake), San Simón cheese... And at Christmas
time, the star of the table is a Vilalba capon, roast in the medieval style.
Hungry yet? |
| VIVEIRO
FEATURED HOTELS (LUGO) |
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| Viveiro (also known as Vivero)
is a town and municipality in the province of Lugo, in the northwestern
Galician autonomous community of Spain. It borders on the Cantabric Sea,
to the south of the municipality of Ourol, to the east of Xove and to the
west of O Vicedo. It has a residential population of over 16,000 (2007
figures), which however triples in the summer months with visitors to the
coastal region. |
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|
Visit
Viveiro In The Heart Of The Rias Altas
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for hotels in the Viveiro area
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Best
Western Hotel Las Sirenas, Viveiro
The Best Western Hotel Las
Sirenas is located on a clifftop in the northwestern Galician community
of Viveiro, Spain. Sacido beach is 100 metres away and Covas beach is 300
metres from the hotel. The centre of Viveiro is three kilometres away.
This hotel is perched on the cliffs of Viveiro, overlooking a protected
cove in the Rias Altas Galicia area. The Hotel Las Sirenas affords direct
access to the cove. Amenities include a jetted tub and swimming pool that
is covered during winter and open to the elements during warmer months.
Las Sirenas Restaurant serves traditional Spanish dishes between June and
September. The hotel also houses an informal, modern cocktail bar offering
a range of drinks and snacks. The Hotel Las Sirenas features a miniature
golf course and an onsite tennis court. A playground is available for kids. |
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Pazo
da Trave, Galdo, near Viveiro
Pazo da Trave is located
on the coast of Lugo in Galdo, Spain, in a valley 3 kilometres from the
Ria de Viveiro. Viveiro town centre and its train station are 3 kilometres
away. Pazo da Trave is set in a stately stone country house, formerly
a medieval palace, surrounded by a garden shaded by Galician trees, and
featuring a small chapel. There is an outdoor pool surrounded by greenery,
and fitness equipment is available. Multilingual staff at the front desk
can secure valuables in the safe-deposit box, and complimentary newspapers
are provided in the lobby. Pazo de Trave Restaurant has a dining room with
exposed timber frames and a glass-enclosed arbour. Traditional dishes from
the Galician region are served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A sandy
playground is available for children and the hotel can organise activities
such as paintball, surfing, cycling, and learning activities. There is
also a reading room featuring a fireplace. |
Visit
Viveiro In The Heart Of The Rias Altas by Scott James
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/
Viveiro Hotels / Viveiro
Self-Catering Accommodation
Galicia in particular and
Northern Spain in general have long been considered to be a hidden jewel
in the entire Spanish tourist industry and hidden away within Galicia itself
are some further jewels and we are going to examine Viveiro further.
If you look at all of the
autonomous regions that make up modern day Spain, Galicia has to be the
most remote and hidden away within that remoteness lies Viveiro.
 Historically,
always classed as the poorer cousin to some of the other richer regions
Galicia had an economy that did not easily lend itself to modernisation
and herein lies a paradox in that it is this very reluctance to embrace
modernity throughout that gives the region much of its appeal as far as
tourism is concerned.
The natives of Galicia if
you trace them back far enough have origins very similar to their Celtic
cousins in the north and are justifiably proud of their language and culture
and these connections no matter how stretched or tenuous give them their
sense of regionalism and uniqueness.
Galicia always seemed to
be a very closed and inward looking area being fiercely resistant to any
formal external invasion and in many ways this degree of isolation was
very much driven by the geographical location of the region.
Slowly but surely in the
20th century, Galicia began to develop and today traditional lifestyles
rub shoulders with modernity throughout the region whilst at the same time
the region has lost none of its more traditional culture and within the
tourism economy this is starting to show real benefits.
Viveiro can be found on the
northern coast of Galicia and Northern Spain, almost mid way between Ribadeo
and the naval port (and birthplace of Francisco Franco y Bahamonde better
known as General Franco) of Ferrol.
It is on the part of the
northern coast of Galicia known as the Rias Altas which is not as overdeveloped
as the more developed and possibly better known western shores of Galicia,
the Rias Baixas.
 The
Rias are slightly gentler and softer forms of coastal landscapes than the
Norwegian Fjords but the principle is almost the same? The inlets of the
Rias Altas are deep and make the almost perfect natural harbour and again
almost the perfect (if not extremely chilly at times as you have to remember
that this is the North Atlantic Ocean out here) points for swimming.
All of the stops on this
stretch of beautiful coast, Viveiro is perhaps the best and most interesting.
Viveiro is a curious place, right at the tail of the particular Ria, it
is not uncommon to see small boats getting marooned on the mud flats at
low tide. Viveiro is a busy place in the summer and it is not untypical
to see a constant stream of tourists and holiday makers passing through.
In winter however it is a
different story and has been described as a strangely lifeless. However,
as they say I guess it is all down to what "floats your boat" with regards
to what attracts you what makes you Tick in that sometimes there is a degree
of attractiveness about being able to go somewhere that is the extremely
quiet and unspoiled.
After the tourist season,
Viveiro can be that place. The time of the year that perhaps Viveiro is
best known is Easter. Viveiro has an Easter Festival which is quite a serious
event that culminates with a candlelit procession throughout the town enacting
the "Stations of the Cross".
If you happen to be in Viveiro
at this time of year then this festival and possession can be quite a moving
event.
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Viveiro
Hotels - Viveiro Self-Catering
Accommodation
|
| About the Author - Scott
James writes about a great many Internet Travel based issues and more on
the above can be found at Accommodation in Galicia. For a more complete
overlook at Tourism in Galicia try http://www.turgalicia.es |
|
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