Special acknowledgment to “Concello de Ourense” for his collaboration and promotional material

The city of Ourense

The old town of Ourense (link) is a labyrinth of beautiful streets and cobbled squares, where baroque and 19th century architecture coexist in restored traditional buildings. It houses a multitude of distinctive edifices, such as the Romanesque Cathedral with the singular and original polychrome “Portico do Paraíso”, the Town Hall, the Oca-Valladares stately home, the Municipal and Archaeological Museums and the churches and chapels of Santa María Nai, San Cosme and San Damián, Santa Eufemia do Norte and A Trindade. Furthermore, the squares and streets of the old town are hosting the best restaurants of local cuisine, as well as the night life. Traditional trades and handicrafts are also prominent in these streets.

Ourense Street map and Monumental rute.

Eating and drinking in Ourense

Delight your palate. Ourense brings together the best of the essence in cuisine. Many of the best known Galician gastronomical products are produced here. Bread, wine, meat and potatoes are just a few of the basic ingredients, abundant in variety and of exquisite quality, that form part of our dishes. It is not of little surprise that, although being an inland province, it has developed a deserved fame for seafood, as is represented above all by its octopus. The pantry of Ourense culminates in veritable icons in the area of desserts. Not to be forgotten is that Ourense is the cradle for “marrón glacé” which uses the chestnut as its basic ingredient. All are excellent choices, and can be accompanied with wines of world acclaim: Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Monterrei and Valdeorras.

To go wine drinking – a social pastime: ‘Ir de viños’ or to go wine drinking, is one of the identity traits of Ourense, and a must for any visitor to the city. In a small enclave of streets and squares surrounding the cathedral, wines are to be enjoyed, where a ‘pincho’ or ‘tapa’, both of which are miniature jewels of culinary authenticity accompany that glass of wine that is sure to satisfy the most discerning of palates.

Hot water springs

More information here.