Roman Walls of Lugo

About this place

Built in the 3rd century CE, these fortifications protected the Roman town of Lucus Augusti. Much of the circuit survives, enclosing the modern historic centre. Following the walls helps you picture the scale of the ancient settlement and the defensive concerns of the later Roman Empire. The circuit extends for a little over two kilometres, making it possible to understand the town's outline at the scale of an entire settlement. Its survival is especially valuable because many cities lost their ancient defences. The contrast with the streets inside reveals how a Roman boundary continued to influence later urban life.