If you love Spain and, even more, you love spending most of your time surrounded by nature, the city of vigo It's destiny for you. This city, totally immersed in nature, is located on the northwest coast of Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia.
Vigo, then, is important commercial and fishing port of the Spanish Atlantic coast, in addition to being very famous for its popular soccer team. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful things to do in Vigo is walk through the city streets and see how the ancient aspects combine so perfectly with the most modern, giving life to an absolutely balanced combo. Vigo is a city that has a lot to offer and that will surely not leave you indifferent: endless beaches, rolling hills, huge green parks, a pleasant temperature for most of the year and a animated lifestyle Is it contagious.
This city, like many other Spanish cities, is divided into districts; developed between the 19th and 20th centuries, Vigo, and today divided between historic center and the so-called expansion, that is, an extension of small towns that surround it. As we said before, today the city of Vigo is a perfect combination of tradition and modernity: especially when it comes to fishing, if we take into account that it is one of the most important commercial activities of all. If you are in the area, we recommend visiting the RĂa, an authentic natural paradise in the Atlantic Ocean, along with the Cies Island.
The history of Vigo.
The city of Vigo has been and will always be a city ​​dictated by the sea; Since the Neolithic, this area was inhabited by Central Iberian populations. In the past there was also a Roman settlement and, since the time of the Roman occupation, Vigo was nothing more than a group of small towns and parishes overlooking the sea. Unfortunately, like most European seafront cities, Vigo also had to deal with Viking attacks and later English and Dutch. Immediately after the 19th century, the city of Vigo experienced a historical period of flourishing and strong well-being and one of the events that best exemplified this moment was the defeat of the French army against the Spanish soldiers.
Starting at the end of the 19th century, Vigo experienced the expansion of its borders and its population, becoming the beautiful and well-known city that it is today. Along with this, there was a strong industrial expansion, which guaranteed a period of prosperity for the city: the port became increasingly important and the population grew greatly. In short, Vigo had become a true commercial center for transport and maneuvers with America and the rest of Spain. And it was precisely at this specific time when numerous buildings and monuments were built: a unique architecture in all of Galicia.
Today Vigo has many museums and architectural works, as well as several natural parks and green spaces ideal for those who love to walk and immerse themselves in nature in total relaxation. The flat area of ​​Vigo is a wonderful combination of architectural styles: regionalism and eclecticism and, despite the passage of time, the old houses and alleys have maintained their original characteristics. Signs of a very rich past are visible everywhere: the historic center which houses the wonderful St. Mary's Church, the famous Mercado do Pedra, the spectacular O Penso Castle, the CĂes Islands, natural parks and much more.
What to see in Vigo: the historic center
Vigo is a city that offers a lot to see and will surely fascinate you with its enormous cultural offering. In the historic center I the buildings are very old and most of them have been replaced by new, modern buildings that blend perfectly with the city's history. Walking through the center, along the old streets, you can still discover numerous buildings that remind you of the past and here you will get a taste of the so-called "old city".
The historic center is characterized, in fact, by the narrow alleys that develop around the port and the marina, which have been preserved despite the inclement weather: in the Bouzas neighborhood you will get an idea of ​​what Vigo was like in its origins. Very interesting is the sculpture of a man sitting on a large octopus that you will meet while taking a relaxing walk along the promenade: it is a tribute to one of the most famous local specialties, that is, the octopus. Among the historical buildings to remember is the Town Hall, which is currently House of Culture of Galicia and houses the treasures of the Galician language; House of D. Casto Méndez, important officer of the Spanish navy.
In the historic center of the city of Vigo you can also admire the majestic church of saint maria, dating from the 1816th century. It is an important building built in the Gothic style characterized by numerous chapels and transepts and later elevated to the category of collegiate church. We don't know much about this church except that, due to a devastating explosion, it was completely destroyed and looted by the pirate Franics Drake; The renovation works began back in 1838 and ended in XNUMX with the construction of the tabernacle and the side altars.
Vigo Stone Market
It is also part of the list of things to see in Vigo, it is precisely a market, in the historic center of the city, very popular for the sale of excellent fish, fruits, vegetables, clothes and Typical products of the area. We recommend taking a tour of the market so you can fully immerse yourself in the traditional aromas and colors of this wonderful city. In addition, you can find truly unique opportunities: excellent quality clothing in Really unmissable prices. Also treat yourself to a relaxing lunch break in the typical restaurants in the area, you will surely find something that will please your palate! Near the market there is also RĂąa Da Laxe, where you will find the pulpeiras that prepare octopus and Almeida Square, an important location for some art galleries.
What to see in Vigo: CastellĂł do Castro
To the south of the city of Vigo is located the large Castro Park along with the castle of the same name that dates back to the 3rd century BC, built by order of Philip IV. O Castro, on the other hand, is the park with the best view of the RĂa de Vigo: it is not a simple garden, but a hill from which you can admire an impressive panoramic view of the entire city. The fortress, which can be visited for free, will take your breath away! The path that leads to the top of the hill is not the easiest, but the reward is certainly rewarding and, along the way, you will be able to admire wonderful anchors that commemorate the famous battle of rand; From here you can have a delicious snack, abandoning yourself to the wonderful view of the city. If you are a sports lover, you surely cannot miss the interesting sports areas of the place, such as ice rinks and various children's play areas for the little ones.
What to see near Vigo: CĂes Islands
Off the coast of Galicia is the wonderful CĂes Islands archipelago: They are part of the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia and have been protected territory since 2002. They are present here endless white sand beaches, like in the Caribbean, and the oceanfront lake is as clear as the pool at a five-star resort. If you are a nature lover, this is the right place for you, since you will have the great opportunity to take exciting walks and hiking routes.
This archipelago is made up of three beautiful islands: S. Martino, the smallest, Monteagudo and Faro. Among the most famous beaches are Figueras, aimed mainly at tourists, and Nosa Señora, perhaps the wildest. For nature lovers we want to remember the Children's Lake, located between the two largest islands and an interesting place with a unique ecosystem in the world. If you are a sports lover, you can practice bird watching right here, in addition to visiting a pre-Roman village and the remains of the ancient monastery of S. Estevo, near the Interpretation Center. If, on the other hand, you are more daring and want to immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters of this suggestive place, you will have to request specific authorization at the National Parks Website.
Maybe you are wondering how to get to this earthly paradise and the answer is very simple: once you arrive in the city of Vigo you will only have to do take a ferry to the CĂes Islands. The first step to visiting the wonderful Vigo is to find the most suitable means to get to the destination: without a doubt the most comfortable is the plane and there are many places that offer tickets at very affordable prices. If you love instead journeys “on the road”, we advise you to study a very specific car route, visiting the most evocative places in Spain. Finally, for sea lovers, a cruise could undoubtedly be the best way to get to the city: an elegant boat will take you to your destination.
