Villalba

Villalba is the capital of the municipality of Vilalba, in the province of Lugo, Galicia, situated in the valley of the Trimaz river in the Galician interior. The town is the main service centre for a large rural area of the Lugo province and has a strong market tradition.

The principal historic monument is the Torre del Homenaje of the Andrade castle, an octagonal defensive tower dating to the fourteenth or fifteenth century, one of the characteristic fortifications of the Galician nobility of the period. The tower is now incorporated into a parador hotel. Villalba is also known for its capón de Vilalba, the Galician capon chicken, a gastronomy product with a protected designation that is central to the town’s festive identity.

For pilgrims on the Camino del Norte inland variant, Villalba is one of the major rest stops between Mondoñedo and Baamonde, offering full services in the long interior stage through the Lugo hills.