The University of Santiago de Compostela, founded in 1495, is one of the oldest universities in Spain. At the present, it is organized in two campuses, Santiago and Lugo, where over 2,000 academic staff investigate and lecture to almost 30,000 students. The modern campus located in the bimillennial city of Lugo has significantly grown in the last years, contributing to the development of the city.
The traditional campus of Santiago houses, besides the numerous historical university buildings located in the centre of the town, modern buildings constructed in the so-called North Campus and Life Campus to lodge the new studies increasingly demanded in the last decades. Both campuses have ample green spaces of great beauty and tradition in the city, like the Student’s Residence, designed by the architect Jenaro de la Fuente in 1930, where the Faculty of Chemistry is located. The long academic and scientific tradition together with the dynamism of the last years developed the University of Santiago into both a great prestige university and a reference cultural centre. The academic life, the busy student atmosphere and the open-minded character shown by the historical cities of Santiago and Lugo are the main appeal for the university students.
The city of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela, declared a World Heritage city by UNESCO, combines the charm of a small city and the universal and cosmopolitan character conferred by its history, monuments and cultural tradition. It is a pleasure to take a walk through the quite busy “rúas” (streets) and squares of the old city, built around the cathedral, the oldest university buildings and the original Pilgrims Hospital.
The city gathers buildings of diverse architectonic styles, the most important being the Romanesque (with jewels like the Portico de la Gloria in the Cathedral) and the Baroque (the Obradoiro Façade of the Cathedral) and with significant contributions of outstanding contemporary architects (Alvaro Siza, Julio Cano Lasso, Josef P. Kleihues, Alberto Noguerol y Pilar Díez, Manuel Gallego, Peter Eisenmann,…). The numerous and interesting museums (Cathedral Museum, Museum of the Galician People, Galician Centre of Contemporary Art, Pilgrimage Museum, etc.) give the town an extra charm. The city is an example of preservation which has been awarded numerous prizes (Europa Nostra Prize, European Town Planning Prize, etc.), at the same time being a city with a rich cultural life and the capital of the Autonomous Community of Galicia. Santiago de Compostela has been for centuries a reference for the European catholic people, being with Rome and Jerusalem the most important pilgrimage places. The way of St. James, recognized as the First European Cultural Itinerary by the Council of Europe in 1985 and declared a World Heritage route by UNESCO in 1993, has been an essential communication via for the structure and cohesion of Europe in the Middle Ages, favoring the cultural exchange between people. The spiritualism of the way together with the artistic and landscape richness of the places along which it wanders, attracts an increasing amount of pilgrims nowadays, particularly during the Jacobean Holy Years, celebrated the year in which July 25th, St. James’ Day, falls on a Sunday. The number of pilgrims reached a maximum of about 270,000 people during the last Jacobean Holy Year of 2010.
The city of Lugo
The city of Lugo was founded by the Romans as "Lucus Augusti" on the site of the Legion VI's camp in 25 B.C. It is, therefore, a city with a history dating back two thousand years, currently approaching a population of nearly 100,000. It boasts a remarkable archaeological and cultural heritage and is located on a plateau at an elevation of 400 meters, surrounded to the south and west by the Miño River. Lugo was one of the seven cities of the ancient Kingdom of Galicia that, due to the privilege of the perpetual exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, serves as the focal point of the annual offering from each of those cities on behalf of the Galician people, contributing one of its symbols to the coat of arms of Galicia.
One of the most prominent monuments in Lugo is the Roman Wall, a 2,266-meter-long ring that encircles the city center. It was built between the 3rd and 4th centuries and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other notable monuments in the city include the Cathedral, which showcases various architectural styles and a choir by Master Moure; the Parish Church of San Pedro, preserving a beautiful Romanesque cloister; the Roman Bridge over the Miño River; the Roman Baths; the City Hall, an 18th-century Baroque palace; and, 14 kilometers away, the late Roman-era building of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda, featuring murals and unique architectural elements in the western Iberian Peninsula.
The city's urban development was driven by the university campus, which is part of the University of Santiago de Compostela, hosting Galicia's only Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, one of the most modern and renowned in Europe. It was designed and constructed by the Lugo architect Antonio González Trigo. The city is also home to the Polytechnic Schools of Agricultural Engineering, Forestry, and Business, as well as the Faculties of Humanities and Sciences, all of which have made significant academic and scientific advancements.
Lugo is also known for its archaeological discoveries, with Roman mosaics of great beauty on display at the Provincial Museum, which includes the Gothic cloister. The "House of Mosaics" or "Domus Oceani," the "San Roque Necropolis," and the ruins of the temple dedicated to the goddess Mithras are located at their respective discovery sites.
With its continental climate, picturesque riverfront walks, a historic pedestrian center with narrow streets, and the medieval quarter, Lugo is a beautiful and charming city. Its friendly people and a rich, highly-regarded culinary tradition are enjoyed by both residents and visitors.
