Vía Nova Nature Trail

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This nature trail is named after the Roman Via XVIII, also known as Via Nova. Built during the Empire of Vespasian and his son Tito at the end of the 1st century, this road connected the cities of Baraca Augusta (currently known as Braga, in Portugal) and Asturica Augusta (currently known as Astorga, in the province of León).

This trail follows the Roman path, although not in the exact same route, in two different segments. In the southwest of the province, the nature trail starts at the entrance of the Via Nova in Ourense, passes by the port of Portela do Home (border crossing between Portugal and Spain) and ends in A Saínza, a village that holds a pilgrimage in which a battle between Moors and Christians is simulated.

At the opposite end of Ourense, the trail changes its direction and, starting from Serra da Lastra (slope through which the Roman path entered the current province of León), the route makes its way up to the valley of the river Sil, which accompanies the trail up to Petín. Here, in the vicinity of A Rúa, we find Forum Gigurrorum, the ancient capital of the Asturian-Celtic people known as los gigurros.