Vigo spills down a hillside and around the wide ria that forms Spain’s finest fishing port. Ships on spring and fall repositioning cruises between the Baltic and Mediterranean stop for a day here or at A Coruna.
Most passengers rightly opt for the shore excursion to one of Europe’s most revered and historic pilgrimage sites, Santiago de Compostello, goal of the Pilgrim Way of St James (Camino de Santiago). Beneath the stunning cathedral’s high altar are enshrined the remains of St. James the Apostle, revered by pilgrims that have walked there from all over Europe, since the Middle Ages.
But the trip to Santiago is not the only option, and Vigo has its own pleasures, even though the city has no “must see” sights. The winding old streets around the port, in the Casco Vello, are sprinkled with shops and studios, and the seafood restaurants that overlook the ria are outstanding. This is Spain’s best shellfish region, with prime oysters, plump mussels and langostinos, Europe’s own variety of lobster.
The Knights Templar are reputed to have planted an olive tree at the cathedral, giving the city its symbol. One growing today in the Paseo de Alfonso is believed by locals to be from a cutting of the Templars’ original 14th century tree.
Things to Do in Vigo:
- Explore the stone streets of the Barrio del Berbes, the old port
- Take a ferry from the Maritime Termina (decorated with murals) to the Cies Isles at the mouth of the ria, with beautiful beaches and 15,00 nesting pairs of shore birds.
- Go shopping along Gran Via and Puerta del Sol, or at the famous Spanish department store, El Corte Ingles, which does not observe the typical 2-4:30pm closing. You’ll want a taxi to get there (Central Radio Taxi: 986 470 000).
- See the beautiful wide views over the ria from the castle on top of Mount Castro.
- Take a tour of Vigo’s many examples of rationalist architecture; the city’s website has a special section on these with their addresses.
- Visit the 17th-century Quiñones de León Palace, housing a museum (closed Monday) of local history from the time of the area’s Celtic hill forts.
- Take bus number 1, 2 or 18 a few blocks to one of the in-town beaches along Avenida de Galicia
- Admire the modern art in the unusual Museum of Contemporary Art (MARCO), built inside an old prison.
