In the direction of the Burgas, we go across Progreso Street, the old road Villacastín - Vigo. It is parallel to the river Barbaña and the starting point of the modern Ourense.
On our way to "Las Burgas", which was doubtless an important element so that the Romans settled down here. Three warm, drinking and thermal springs that flowed freely in a pool have been piped to the street of the same name.

The thermal waters have showed their presence during the course of time. Yradition has it that Calpurnia Abana, a woman in the Roman times, offered a votive altar to the nymph Goddesses of "Las Burgas".
The lower "Burga", which carries more water, has a façade from the middle of the 19th century, Fervedoiro is on the right... and the smallest one, the upper "Burga", is on "Las Burgas Street"... At any time of the year, temperature stays at 70 degrees and volume at 300 litres per minute. Tradition has it that the water of "Las Burgas" was born under the image of Christ in the Cathedral and the water is heated by a volcano that some day will erupt burying the city.
We have seen the elements that influenced the birth of the old Ourense... It was the Court of a Swabian King... It was destroyed by the Arabs in the eighth century; it was restored by Alfonso II, the Pure, and destroyed again. It was rebuilt by Alfonso III the Great, king of Asturias... It was devastated by the Normans and finally restored by Sancho II and his sister Doña Elvira.
Let us visit the old city entering the Jardín o Campo del Posío (Posío Garden). It was divided when the road was being built and continues to be the great Ourensan garden where the Oseira fountain or the memorial to Lamas Carvajal and Prado Lameiro have a place of honour.
On the way to the centre of the city, we find the Secondary School from the XIX century, which was called "Otero Pedrayo" as the famous writer worked there as a teacher.
Trinidad Church, which was founded in the 12th century, is the oldest of the parish churches in Ourense. It was first an abbey and hospital for pilgrims.
We must stand out its polygonal apse (16th century) towards Padre Feijoo Avenue and its façade - between two cylindrical towers - towards Villar Street. the porch with transept is also which faces the Plateresque main front of the old pilgrim hospital and the Renaissance one of St Roque's Hospital (from the 16th century).
St Cosme and Damian Chapel, which was founded in 1521, lies in the square of the same name. Both saints are represented in the façade with their legs on a poorbox picking up the food the angel brings for them. In this chapel, we can find the Nativity scene by Arturo Baltar.
We are already at the Main Square.

On three sides, there are porches from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The city hall dates from the 19th century and was later modified. The coats of arms of the city are placed on the cast iron balconies.
The Main Square is the centre where the most important streets in the old Ourense city join. In the XIX century -as Vicente Risco said-, it was the brain and heart of the city.
On one of the corners of the Square we find St María "La Madre" Church and the Archaeological Museum.
The steps from the 17th century - renewed in the 20th - provide access to St Mary's Church. St María "La Madre" was erected in 1084 by Bishop Ederonio, although it was totally reconstructed in 1722. It is leant against the Bishops' Palace, whose tower was pulled down so that the church could be widened.
It is Baroque-style with Latin-cross floor. In the façade, there are eight marble columns, which are thought to be the remains of the old Swabian basilica from the sixth century. However, it only functioned as a Cathedral while the basilica was being reconstructed.
On the north door there is a commemorative tablet from the 11th century, place by Bishop Ederonio because of its foundation. Next to this tablet, there is another one, which recalls the reconstruction in the 18th century.
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