Our final port of call in Spain was Vigo. Another vibrant & lively city on the Western coast of the Atlantic Europe.
March 29-31 A 52 nautical mile sail down the coast brings us to our 11th port of call on our journey. Vigo Spain.
Vigo is a city and municipality in the province of Pontevedra, within the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. Located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, it sits on the southern shore of an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ria de Vigo, the southernmost of the so-called Rías Baixas.
The municipality, with an area of 109.06 km2 (42.11 sq mi) and a population of 295,364 in 2019 including rural parishes, is the most populous municipality in Galicia. The mouth of the nearby Vigo Estuary is sheltered by the Cíes Islands, which form part of the Atlantic Islands National Park. The Cíes are known for their rich birdlife and crescent-shaped Rodas Beach. The city’s old quarter is home to the neoclassical Church of Santa María. The Castro de Vigo archaeological site has reconstructed ancient dwellings.
Vigo is one of the region's primary economic agents, owing to the French Stellantis Vigo Plant and to its port.. Close to the Portugal–Spain border, Vigo is part of the Galicia–North Portugal Euroregion.
In the Early Middle Ages, the small village of Vigo was part of the territory of Galician-speaking neighbouring towns, particularly Tui, and suffered several Viking attacks. However, its number of inhabitants was so small that, historically, it was not considered a real villa until around the 15th century, when the earliest records began.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the city was attacked several times. In 1585 and 1589, during an unsuccessful attack by the English counter-Armada, Francis Drake raided the city and temporarily occupied it, burning many buildings. Several decades later a Turkish fleet tried to attack the city. As a result, the city's walls were built in 1656 in the reign of Philip IV of Spain. They are still partially preserved.
We had a great time exploring Vigo. Hope you enjoy some of our pictures.
We biked by this from the back side earlier on the way back to the marina and had no clue what it was. The next day we passed by from this side and this is a very funny piece of artwork and it is huge. Should have taken the picture with a person near by,
A bit hazy
Welcome to Vigo
Another bustling city.
They have some pretty interesting art pieces in Vigo. This statute is called El Sireno (The Merman). this sculpture by Galician artist Francisco Leiro is one of the symbols of modern Vigo; its style and the very high pedestal on which it stands make it an impressive work of art.
Some of the streets were not busy at all.
Santa Maria de Vigo.
Monumento ao Trabalho - recognizing the fishing history of the area.
This mural says it all.
Santuario Parroquia Maria Auxiliadora
Mary Help of Christians in Vigo. I could not find any info on this plaque but it looks like she is holding onto the lever that is releasing all the stars.
O Castro - the walls of the settlement.
The building of fortified settlements know in Galicia as castros was a common phenomenon in Europe during the Iron Age (9 BC to 1 AD). These fortified settlements are frequently built on prominent locations and with monumental shapes, encircled by ramparts, walls and ditches,
They were originally small in size averaging 1 hectare of land. Towards 1 BC in the south of Galicia and the north of Portugal some of these castros developed into large-sized proto-cities concentrating the population from other areas. They would become what Spaniards call oppida. The Vigo castro was one of them.
Los Caballos (The Horses)
Oliveira’s Caballos in Praza de España
The day The Horses by Juan José Oliveira entered Vigo in 1991 is etched in the city’s collective memory. This stunning group of sculptures is 60 feet high, and since it took its place over a huge pond in Praza de España Square, it has not ceased to amaze the people of Vigo and its visitors. This emblematic sculpture in Vigo weighs 40 tons and represents a herd of five horses ascending into the sky on a waterfall.
The full size murals are amazing and this is not a small building.
Portugal get ready - here we come. _)
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