Culture of Ourense. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

In Ourense, you can see a lot of interesting attractions, and far not all of them are of impressive age. Puente del Milenio Bridge opened in the city in 2001 is now Ourense's outstanding architectural landmark. The length of the bridge is 275 meters, and the width is 23 meters. The main attractive feature of the Millennium Bridge is pedestrian zones located at an altitude of 20 meters. After the opening of the bridge, its pedestrian zones began to play the role of observation platforms offering clear views of the city. To get up to them, one needs to overcome a steep 100-step staircase.

The ancient bridge Ponte Romana is now one of the main historical symbols of Ourense. The very first bridge was erected in its place during Roman times. Some of the stones that now lie at the base of the bridge have been preserved from ancient times. The length of the stone bridge is also quite impressive - about 250 meters. One of the most unusual features of its design is a tower in its southern part. It was built in the 19th century so that horse-drawn carriages could cross the bridge freely.

The city has also preserved several important religious monuments, and the most famous one is Catedral de Ourense. It was built at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries and was reconstructed several times throughout its history. The present appearance of the cathedral combines elements of various architectural styles. One of its most unusual elements is a magnificent Gothic-style dome that has remained unchanged since the early 16th century. It is noteworthy that the staircase leading to the cathedral's portal was built recently, in 1981, but it looks very harmonious in combination with ancient architectural elements though. The cathedral's interior features a lot of valuable decorations and deserves special attention too. The main decoration is its portal adorned with skillful sculptures - all of them were created and painted by hand. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

An equally interesting religious monument is Iglesia de Santa Eufemia. This church was built in the middle of the 17th century on the initiative of one of the local communities. Interestingly, the church building was never completed, which does not prevent it from having a striking monumental appearance. Its beautiful arches and dome you can see today were created in the 19th century, and an important relic - the statue of St. Euthymius - was transferred to the church at the beginning of the 20th century. An additional building that has been preserved near the church has an interesting story to tell. Initially, it housed a school where local children studied grammar, and then the building was reorganized into a religious museum. Currently, it is used as a priestly residence.

The old Town Hall building - Casa Do Concello - has been preserved in one of the city's main squares. It is noteworthy that the building is still used for its intended purpose, even though it has remained unchanged since 1888. Just like many years ago, the Town Hall houses government offices and hosts the most significant events for the city. It's not allowed to get inside the building, so tourists are limited to its external view only. The building has an interesting feature - large arches, under which tourists often hide from the rain.

In the immediate vicinity of the Town Hall is the ancient Palacio Episcopal dating back to the 12th century. Today, this magnificent Romanesque-style building is occupied by an interesting archaeological museum. Here you can see archaeological finds brought from all over Galicia, some of which are dating back to the Paleolithic Age. Archaeological excavations around Ourense are still ongoing, so the museum’s collection is regularly updated with new exhibits.

If all the attractions presented in the city do not seem to be enough, feel free to visit the picturesque suburban area of Allariz. This small town is more like a park where thickets of centuries-old trees alternate with amazing historical monuments. It has preserved several chic palaces that once belonged to local noble families. Guests of the town will also have a chance to explore some beautiful Romanesque churches built in the 12th-13th centuries. One of the oldest monasteries in the region was opened here in the 13th century. Besides that, several ancient bridges have been preserved in Allariz since the Middle Ages.