The capital of the only
land-locked province in Galicia, Ourense is a city with centuries of
history. It was an important settlement during Roman times because of
its location and because it was the ideal place to cross the River Miño.
The famous Puente Viejo (Old Bridge) dates back to those times, and
although it has been rebuilt many times since then it is still the focal
point of the city.
During the Middle Ages it also played a fundamental role, particularly
during the period of Swabian rule. It was resettled by Alfonso III, thus
initiating a new phase of development with construction on its cathedral,
its most important building, beginning at the end of the twelfth century.
Several maestros, from various places and schools, took part in the work,
lending it a rather peculiar appearance. The Pórtico del Paraíso, a
Gothic work reminiscent of the Pórtico de la Gloria in Santiago, has not
always received the praise it deserves. The sumptuous Capilla del Santo
Cristo, an important place of prayer, opens at the transept of the
cathedral to form one of the most superb Baroque ensembles in Galicia.
There were frequent violent clashes in the city at the end of the Middle
Ages, in contrast to the peace and quiet which is so typical of life in
the Ourense of today, a calm which is only very rarely disturbed. Its
attractive streets, squares and gardens are lined by various
buildings of
interest with the Gothic church and cloister of San Francisco and the
churches of La Trinidad, Santa Eufemia and Santa María la Madre
prominent among them. The old Palacio Episcopal, with medieval ruins, is
the home to a large museum housing fascinating archaeological
collections.
Las Burgas, the hot
springs whose origins have been the subject of some debate, are
outstanding and the waters there reach temperatures of around seventy
degrees centigrade.
Today, Ourense is a thriving city, a
communications and service centre, which also has a promising industrial
future centred around the Technology Park,.
