Looking at its city wall, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its excellent state of preservation, there is no mistaking Lugo’s Roman past. Its proud Roman past. That is why, every year, around mid-June, the city remembers its history and does so in grand style. With Arde Lucus, a historical re-enactment festival that in 2026 will take place on 18, 19, 20 and 21 June and will also celebrate its 25th anniversary.

And yes, all of a sudden, Lugo travels back some 2,000 years in time and its streets, or rather those of Lucus Augusti, fill with Romans and castreños (the name given to the inhabitants who were already living in this territory before the arrival of the Roman troops). Well, they do not fill by magic, exactly; it is just that visitors love to dress up.

No need to panic: dressing up to take part in Arde Lucus 2026 is not compulsory. Although, yes, we know it helps you immerse yourself even more fully in the atmosphere of this Festival of International Tourist Interest and adds an extra touch of authenticity. This is no small matter: participants pay close attention to hairstyles, fabrics, colours, ornaments and accessories, all to stay as faithful as possible to the period they are representing.

At this point, start by choosing: Roman or castreño? Broadly speaking, we would say the former are all about elegant yet simple tunics, later complemented with long skirts and cloaks. Jewellery provides the more lavish touch. The castreños, meanwhile, go for rougher outfits, garments in brown and green tones and on the thicker side (as a northern people, they would have needed to wrap up warm). From there, add accessories and as much detail as your chosen character requires: goddess Diana, priestess of Vesta, legionary, gladiator, Celtic king, druid…

We would recommend not going to this festival with too rigid a schedule, but rather with a willingness to improvise and let yourself be carried along by whatever you come across. As a few helpful reference points, there is the Macellum, the market set up in Plaza Mayor, where you can wander from stall to stall in search of artisan products; the Roman Circus, where everything from gladiator fights to chariot races takes place; and the camps, both Roman and castreño, set up in different parts of the city, where those in charge, dressed for the occasion, organise activities open to everyone.

Although, when it comes to activities, you may be more surprised to learn that you can get married according to the Celtic rite (there are also Roman weddings), or attend the solstice ritual or the invocation of Galician gods. But for all that to happen, the Roman legions will first have had to arrive in a parade to remember. They will also have declared war on the castreños and lit the sacred fire of Vesta. And you, you will have watched it all in wonder.

Travelling back in time is fun and fascinating, provided that when it is time to rest, you can return to the comforts of the present. That is exactly what you get at the EsteOeste by Sercotel hotel, located close to the city wall and other key spots, such as Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral, where much of the activity of Arde Lucus 2026 takes place. What is more, so you do not forget where you are or what you are celebrating, as soon as you step inside you will come across eight metres of Roman decumanus (the main street in Roman cities), which has survived to the present day and is now part of our hotel.

And what a hotel it is: for starters, it is pet-friendly, so the whole family is more than welcome. It also offers all those details that make a getaway easy and enjoyable: buffet breakfast, parking, pillow menu, late check-out, 24-hour reception and, yes, if anything about the festival is still unclear, just ask them. They know a lot about Arde Lucus.