Theme Week Galicien – Ourense

25 February 2015 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  12 minutes

Parroquia Maria Auxiliadora Collegiate Church © Zarateman

Parroquia Maria Auxiliadora Collegiate Church © Zarateman

Ourense is a city in northwestern Spain, the capital of the province of the same name, with a population of 107,000. The origin of the town can be traced to the Romans and the presence of hot springs called the Burgas. These can still be seen today. There was also the need to fortify the place to protect one of the easiest ways to cross the Miño River. After the Romans, Ourense was part of the Suebi (Suevi) kingdom during most of the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries and was destroyed by the Moors in 716. It was later rebuilt by Alfonso III of Asturias about 877. The Norse invasions as well as attacks from the Arab warlord Al-Mansur once more laid the city to waste. It was only under Sancho II and his sister Doña Elvira that the city was resettled during 11th century. The definitive urban impulse did not arrive until the 12th century when Ourense became an important center of services. Recently the city has made many efforts to provide new parks, bridges, fountains and geothermal springs installations to make the city more attractive.   read more…

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