Orense Cuisine:
Orense is the ideal place to have some of the famous Galician soup, cocido (meat, potatoes and chickpea stew) and shoulder of pork with turnip tops.
Pork is the most popular meat and, traditionally, the slaughtering of the pigs constitutes a gastronomical feast.
Also popular is goat meat, especially baby goat roasted in a pot, and game is abundant in this region. In Orense you will find woodcock, partridge, pigeon, rabbit, hare, wild boar and roe deer.
An important chestnut industry has developed and products like Orense's marron glace (candied chestnuts) are proudly displayed on the windows of the best delicatessens in Spain and the rest of Europe. The local farms of Orense produce rich and varied crops, including potatoes, turnips, mushrooms and (unusually) honey.
Orense in an exceptional wine region, and it also produces excellent liqueurs and spirits.
About the Area
The river Miño, which crosses the city halfway through its course, has determined the current appearance of the provincial capital. Almost two thousand years ago, the Romans settled in this land attracted, among other reasons, by its thermal springs.
The best-preserved legacy of that age is iœa ponte vella (the old bridge), which connects the banks of the Miño and which has grown to be the symbol of the city. Preserved from the original Roman bridge are some ashlar stones at the base. This major piece of civil engineering was restored in the 13th and 17th Centuries, preserving its current appearance of arches and ramps.
Geographically, Ourense, the provincial capital, is situated firmly on the Ruta de la Plata, a traditional route connecting the south and north west of the Iberian Peninsula and which was also a place pilgrims passed through on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
The rest of the province offers visits to areas with a wealth of history. To the north, one of the most beautiful is Sacred Ribeira, dominated by the gorge of the river Sil and so-called because of the great many medieval monasteries and churches preserved there.
Attractions
The Pilgrims' Route - Nothing did more to put Galicia on the tourist map than the Camino de Santiago. It is the oldest, most travelled and most famous route on the old continent. To guarantee a place in heaven, pilgrims journeyed to the supposed tomb of Santiago (St. James), patron saint of Spain. They trekked across the Pyrenees in their thousands, risking their lives in transit. The Camino de Santiago contributed to the development and spread of Romanesque art and architecture across Spain. Pilgrimages to the shrine lessened as medieval culture itself began its decline.
La Coruna's Old Town - This area is ideal for strolling around. Visitors will encounter the Plaza de Maria Pita, which divides the old town from the new. Shopping and eating are the main activities here and visitors are guaranteed a wonderful time, with a variety of cuisine on offer, and numerous little shops to choose from.
Iglesia de Santa Maria del Campo - Located on Calle de Santa Maria, this church is a wonderful sightseeing opportunity. With an elaborately carved west door, from the 13th Century, and modelled in the traditional Romanesque-Gothic style, it should not be missed. Beneath its rose window visitors will see a Gothic portal from the 14th Century. The tympanum is carved with a scene depicting the Adoration of the Magi.
Castillo de San Anton - This 16th Century fort, is now an historical and
archaeological museum. Standing out in the bay on the southeast side of the peninsula, this spot is surely one of Orense's main attractions. In addition to having a panoramic location on its own islet, it displays many unusual artifacts from the La Coruna province. It is open from July to September, Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 9pm, and October to June, Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 10am to 2pm.
Orense 
Allariz 
Vigo
