ORENSE  , an episcopal see and the

capital, of the Spanish province of Orense; on the left bank of the river Milo, and on the Tuy-Monforte railway . Pop . (1900) 15,194 . The river is here crossed by a bridge—one of the most remarkable in Spain—of seven arches, 1319 ft. in length, and at its highest point 135 ft. above the bed of the river . This bridge was built by Bishop Lorenzo in 1230, but has frequently been repaired . The Gothic cathedral, also dating from Bishop Lorenzo's time, is a comparatively small building, but has an image, El Santo Cristo, which was brought from Cape Finisterre in 1330 and is celebrated throughout Galicia for its miraculous powers . The city contains many schools, a public library and a theatre . In the older streets there are some interesting medieval houses . Chocolate and leather are manufactured, and there are saw-mills, flour-mills and iron foundries . The three warm springs to the west, known as Las Burgas, attract many summer visitors; the waters were well known to the Romans, as their ancient name, Aquae Originis, Aquae Urentes, or perhaps Aquae Salientis, clearly indicates . The Romans named Orense Aurium, probably from the alluvial gold found in the Mino valley . The bishopric, founded in the 5th century by the Visigoths, was named the Sedes Auriensis (see of Aurium), and from this the modern Orense is derived .

The city became the capital of the Suevi in the 6th century; it was sacked by the

Moors in 716, and rebuilt only in 884 .