Vigo, Galicia Few cities enjoy such a magnificent natural setting as Vigo. Arrayed along the sloping southern shoreline of its namesake estuary, it enjoys superb views not only of the bay itself, surrounded by green forest ridges, but also out towards the ocean. Vigo is now the largest city in Galicia, home to some 300,000 people, and its also Spains chief fishing port, with wharves and quays that stretch almost 5km along the shore. Cruise passengers mingle with tourists arriving at the Estación Marítima de Ría off the ferries from Cangas and Moaña, and set off to explore the steep, cobbled streets that climb up into the old city, known as O Berbés and crammed with shops, bars and restaurants. Along the seafront early in the morning, kiosks revive fishermen with strong coffee, while there and in the lively daily market hall nearby, the Mercado da Pedra, their catch is sold. Immediately below, women set out plates of fresh oysters on permanent granite tables to tempt passers-by on the aptly named Rúa da Pescadería. Climbing the nearby stairs to Praza A Pedra, youll find the understated El Emigrante, a good place for raciones. Virtually all of the bars in the old streets serve great tapas; good options on Rúa dos Cesteiros, off Praza de Constitución, include the deliberately rustic Taberna da Curuxa and the no-frills Taberna A Pedra. A stiff but enjoyable climb up from the old town, mostly along stone staircases, brings you to the top of the Castro hill. So named for the circular ancient ruins still visible on one side, and also the site of a seventeenth-century castle, the hill enjoys comprehensive views. Most of the beaches near Vigo are crowded and unappealing. Farther south, however, the beach at Samil is better, while those at Vao and Canido, further on, are also quite reasonable, and equipped with campsites, on the mountain.¹ Vigo is a city and municipality situated in north-west Spain, in the province of Pontevedra, in the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia, and on the ría, or bay, of the same name, on the Atlantic Ocean. Vigo is the most populous municipality in Galicia, and the 14th in Spain. It is located in the south-west of Galicia, in the southern part of the Vigo Bay. In the north-east it borders with the municipality of Redondela, in the east with Mos, in the south with O Porriño and Gondomar, and in the south-west with Nigrán. On the other side of the bay, just in front of Vigo, the municipalities of Cangas and Moaña are located. They are all part of the southern Galician region called Rias Baixas. Vigo and its metropolitan area is one of the main economic agents of the region.² Source: ¹ Travel Yahoo; ² Wikipedia Images: Vigo at nighttime; Vigo’s port; Vigo city
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 16:46:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015