Ourense

The city of Ourense is known for its hot springs and has become the capital of thermalism in Galicia. It is considered to be the second city in Europe in terms of the number of hot springs, among which are the famous and thousand-year-old As Burgas, whose waters gush out at a temperature of 69 degrees and with a flow rate of 300 litres per minute.

The origins of Ourense date back to Roman times and, over the course of its two thousand years of history, it has become a modern city with monuments from different periods and styles that are well worth visiting. We suggest a stroll through its charming streets and squares, especially the original, sloping Praza Maior, the former episcopal palace; the church of Santa María Madre, perhaps the oldest temple in the city; or the Baroque church of Santa Eufemia and, of course, the Cathedral. The highlights of a visit to the Cathedral are the Pórtico do Paraiso (Portico of Paradise), which is Romanesque and entirely polychrome; the Capilla do Santo Cristo (Chapel of the Holy Christ) with its exuberant Baroque decoration; and the altarpiece of the main altar, the work of Cornelius of Holland. The curious board games and one of the most interesting collections of medieval funerary art scattered throughout the temple are also worth a visit.

Ourense is built around the Miño River and today this area has become a place of leisure, with its walks to the thermal baths, its belvederes and its bridges, among which the “Ponte Vella” (bridge of Roman origin) and the Ponte do Milenium stand out, two engineering marvels of the past and present.

Visiting Ourense with our official licensed tour guides is the assurance of not missing the most beautiful places and of having a complete vision of the past and present of a city with 2000 years of history. The anecdotes, stories and new attractions will make you love Ourense, as we do.