Lugo, Spain in the northwestern corner of the country of Galicia is home to a big secret: it hosts one of the biggest Roman ruins that is still intact and can be visited by tourists.
While you might not think of this part of Europe as being a hot spot for Roman relics, the Roman Wall which surrounds Lugo’s old city is, in fact, the oldest still-standing Roman-built wall that is left in existence.
This impressive wall was built in the 3rd century and stretches in an ovular pattern around the city. It stands an impressive 30 meters tall in most places and was an effective defense against various invaders that tried to assault the city.
Today, the Roman Wall can be visited for free by tourists and can even be walked on! A gravel path on top of the wall allows visitors to retrace a path that was once walked by Roman soldiers.
A collection of towers is still embedded into the wall, a system of lookout spots from which weapons could be fired at invading tribes.
If you find yourself in Galicia, a visit to Lugo’s Roman Wall is an absolute must if you are interested in seeing one of the most impressive pieces of the Roman Empire still left in existence.
