Message to the Vigo port. What else can surprise you with the many faces of Spain? Vigo is a modern city that immerses you in the distant past. things to do in Vigo

City Vigo(Vigo) - The largest city westernmost spanish autonomous community Galicia and generally the largest city in Spain that is not the capital of a province (located in the province of Pontevedra). It is located just 20 kilometers north of the border with Portugal and therefore, among other things, can be considered an excellent springboard for visits to the homeland of port wine.

The population exceeds 295 thousand inhabitants, but if we count the suburbs, then it generally approaches half a million (468,600 people)
The area occupied by the city exceeds 110 square kilometers
Telephone code: (+34) 986. 34 - telephone code Spain

Due to its location on the coast Atlantic Ocean, in the Middle Ages Vigo was often raided by rival British Navy(in 1585 and 1589, Sir Francis Drake captured the city twice), and even from Turkish pirates. In 1702, in a local bay, the united Anglo-Dutch fleet defeated the Franco-Spanish “Silver Squadron” that had taken refuge here and had come with treasures from America.

And although most The Spaniards managed to take silver and gold deep into the country; the British nevertheless captured several ships, having previously sunk the rest. The ghosts of galleons with gold that sank in Vigo Bay still haunt new generations of treasure hunters, but it must be admitted that so far all the numerous expeditions for treasures have not discovered even a tenth of the imaginary riches

Currently Vigo is the largest industrial center Galicia. In addition, the port on south coast The wide mouth of the river is considered the largest fishing port in the world. This harbor is widely used and cruise ships: a rare route connecting Europe with the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira, does not include calls at the city port.

In addition to the practical amenities of a truly luxurious ship mooring, there are other prerequisites for a visit. For example, tourists are invited to visit the only, but most beautiful national park Galicia, located on the group of islands Islas Cies, blocking the entrance to the bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Island beaches considered one of the best in Spain and even in Europe in general

Sights of Vigo

Let's highlight other attractions of Vigo. Such, for example, as the Castro fortress on a hill above the port, from whose bastions one can see great view to the bay. There is also a very beautiful garden here. Or the zoo - the only one in Galicia. It is in the north of the city, just east of the Autopista del Atlantico, the largest highway along the Atlantic coast.

Tourists will certainly be interested in the Quiñones de León Art Museum, located in a pretty 17th-century mansion on Parque de Castrolo. Moreover, entry to it is free. And someone will probably like the Marco Museum of Contemporary Art on Calle del Príncipe 54.

The University of Vigo (founded in 1990) cannot boast such ancient history, such as the University of Santiago de Compostela (founded in 1495) or the University of Barcelona (1450), but the good thing is that it exists and is constantly developing. Currently, more than 22 thousand students study on 3 university campuses.

Weather in Vigo

The local climate is called oceanic and this is literally true. However, its only difference from the Mediterranean climate, which is exemplary for recreation, is the abundance of precipitation. In autumn, the amount of the latter can amount to a completely atypical for Spain number of 170-180 mm per month. The weather in Vigo is also rainy in the spring (in April, according to statistics, up to 120 mm falls) - but the summer pleases with dry and warm weather (on average +20-22 °C). The winter months cannot be considered harsh either - average temperature January is +9 °C.

How to get to Vigo

The city of Vigo is connected to the rest of the world through international airport Peinador, which hosts, among others, low-cost flights, railways (the Talgo train runs from Madrid's Chamartin station in just over 7 hours) and a host of highways famous for their excellent quality. Despite the fact that the city has a first-class and convenient port, there are no ferry connections with other countries. Which, in general, is surprising - for example, Bilbao in the Basque Country is extremely lively ferry service in the UK.

25.02.2010

If you have such an opportunity, why not combine business with pleasure and take a walk in two countries at once, instead of one? For example, good flight options from Moscow to Vigo are offered with connections in Madrid, Barcelona or Lisbon.

Companies such as Aeroflot, Iberia, Vueling Airlines, Ryanair and many others fly from Moscow to Madrid and Barcelona.

The flight from Moscow lasts 4-5 hours. From Madrid and Barcelona the flight to Vigo takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. Flight duration with transfers ranges from 8 hours to 3 days, cost from 300 EUR.

Flights from Moscow to Lisbon are operated by the Portuguese company TAP PORTUGAL, ticket prices start from 300 EUR. The flight time to Lisbon and then to Vigo is the same as to Barcelona. Transfers at the airport take from 1 hour 45 minutes to 7 hours 20 minutes.

Other air carriers have more long time connecting flights from Lisbon to Vigo. In this case, you can look for flights with the shortest connection, or take the opportunity to choose a long wait time and stroll around Madrid, Barcelona or Lisbon.

In any case, you need to check with the airline at what waiting time you will have to pick up your suitcases and then check them in again - as a rule, if the wait for a connection is more than 8 hours.

A transit visa is not required. You can read about obtaining a visa to Spain here.

If you choose an economical option, in order to see more for little money, you can go from Moscow to Portugal, the city of Porto, spend a day or two there, and then go by bus to Vigo.

Personally, I like to fly to Porto with Turkish Airlines as they provide the best value for money, quality and time. Price from 240 EUR, travel time from 9 hours 50 minutes to 13 hours 10 minutes, very decent food and even water. Departure from Vnukovo.

You can read about transport, features and attractions in Porto here.

If you fly from Moscow (Domodedovo) to Porto on Portuguese lines, the price of a round-trip ticket starts from 310 EUR, for 7 hours. Good offers for flights from Domodedovo with Lufthansa, from 250 EUR and from 7 to 11 hours.

From Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, flights to Vigo airport with transfers can be found from 330 EUR, they are operated by the same air carriers as from Moscow. All flights with 2 transfers, mainly via Moscow and then to Madrid or Barcelona. There are flights with one stopover in Barcelona, but with a separate connection at the airport, which means you need to check in for the flight again, as well as collect your luggage and check it in for another flight.

I recommend getting to the bus station in Vigo from the airport in Porto by bus. Ticket price is from 4.69 EUR, the average duration of a bus trip is 2-3 hours, the distance between cities is 150 kilometers. You can view the schedule and availability here.

From Vigo airport to city center

If you arrive at Vigo airport, you can get to the city center by bus, the stop of which is located at the exit from the airport. Buses run every 30 minutes on weekdays and start from Place E. Fadrique.

On weekends and holidays every 60 minutes and start from the next stop after the square, Policarpo Sanz, 40.

The airport has an information panel near the exit where you can see the bus schedule.

If you are staying at a hotel in the city center, you need to get off at stop 4, Urzaiz. In order to return to the airport, you just need to cross the road and there will be a bus stop on the other side. The line that connects the airport with the city is L9A. The ticket costs 1.32 EUR. The schedule and routes of city buses can be seen at the bus stops. You can find out about the direction of buses from the Vigo bus station here.

You can get there by taxi for 25 EUR, the taxi stop is also at the exit from Vigo airport. By the way, the minimum payment when traveling by taxi is 3.50 EUR and you will get a ride for this money not far, within 5 minutes.

Vigo is a Galician city located 30 km from the Portuguese border. Before heading here, it is advisable for tourists to look at a map of Spain in Russian and find Vigo in the north-west of the country.

The city was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century. BC. In the Middle Ages it was a small village, and today Vigo is an important port and industrial city.

Note! It is not possible to get to Vigo directly from Russia due to the lack of direct flights. With transfers you can fly here, for example, through Barcelona or Lisbon.

Weather and climate

The weather in Vigo, Spain is influenced by the oceanic climate. Winter (average temperature +8-9°C) and spring are rainy, and in autumn there is often up to 180 mm of precipitation per month. But before the rainy season, in September, you can still find tourists sunbathing on the beaches.

Summer in Vigo is sunny and dry, but it is never too hot even in high season. Average summer temperature is +22-24°C. During this period, conditions are created for surfing, sailing, and sea fishing.

Vigo on the map of Spain

Sights of Vigo

Significant places of Vigo Spain can be seen on map.

Self-examination

Sights of Vigo that are worth paying attention to during your independent exploration:

Cathedral of St. Mary: the facade is decorated with 2 bell towers in the Baroque style, there are mosaics on the walls, and the main altar of the cathedral is made in the Churrigueresque style;

Note! For tourist visits, it is advisable to come to the cathedral during breaks between services (on weekdays - from 13:00 to 8 pm, and on weekends from 14:00 to 18:30).

Castro Park: interesting for the Castro fortress, with observation towers which will allow you to admire the city of Vigo, the port and the islands of Islas Cies. In addition, the park has Botanical Garden, in which a variety of plants grow, in particular camellias, cedars and pines;
Ponte de Rande cable-stayed bridge: it connects the 2 shores of the bay. It is better to admire the bridge, which is especially charming when illuminated in the evening, from the shore;
Zoo: at the Vigo Zoo - the only one in Galicia, visitors will meet kangaroos, chinchillas, zebras, panthers, mouflons, peacocks, emus, geese, storks (about 600 individuals in total), and will also see more than 40 species of trees. And from the mountain on which the zoo is located, everyone will be able to admire magnificent views of the surrounding area;
Museo Quiñones de León: The museum's 29 rooms display art from the 18th to 20th centuries and European paintings from the 17th to 18th centuries. In the archaeological department (its location is an extension to the main building) you can see various objects found in Vigo and the surrounding area (their temporal affiliation is Paleolithic-Middle Ages). The entrance is free;
Museum of Modern Art: temporary exhibitions, conferences, lectures, film screenings, concerts and other events are held here. The museum has a hotel, library and restaurant. Entrance to the museum is free, and a guided tour for each visitor will cost 1 euro;
Galician Sea Museum: visitors will see the lighthouse at museum complex, a real submarine and many model ships, as well as the inhabitants of the aquarium (it is located in the museum's own dock). In addition, at their service there is a museum tavern, parking, changing tables, a toilet, and a souvenir shop. Entrance tickets cost 3 euros*/adults and 1.5 euros/students, pensioners and children 8-18 years old. Entrance to the aquarium only - 2 euros/regular and 1 euro/discount ticket. During the summer, the museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m.

What Vigo looks like from above in summer

Note! Daily from maritime museum Those interested can take a 7-hour boat tour along the coast, port and shipyards to the fishing village of Buzas. During a trip on a traditional boat, participants will learn a lot of interesting things about the life of the port from the guide.

Islas Cies: these are 3 islands with beaches (the most famous is Rodas) and a conservation area in Vigo Bay, where gray herons, gulls and cormorants nest. You can get here by ferry. At the service of travelers there is a supermarket, a camping area (to put up a tent, you need to obtain permission from the port of Vigo), and a restaurant.

Since the archipelago has a limit on the number of visitors (no more than 2,200 people/day), it is advisable to book a seat on the ferry in advance.

Cies Islands

Excursions in Vigo

Those interested can go on a Galician tapas tour in Vigo: as part of the excursion, tourists will visit the market, a bar next to Santa Maria de Vigo (where they will taste Galician pie, Spanish tortillas, etc.), as well as a tavern specializing in Galician wines (here they will have a wine and cheese tasting). The last stop is the port area of Vigo: here everyone will be able to enjoy the taste of seafood and white wine D. O. Rias Baixas.

Beaches of Vigo

There are about 45 beaches in Vigo and the surrounding area. Tourists will be interested in the following places:

Playa dea Punta: is the smallest city beach, covered with white fine sand. Its length is only 50 m and its width is 8 m. There is a shower, a small parking lot, and a rescue point;
Playa Bouzas: this beach is suitable for family vacation and full of entertainment: here you can go fishing, rent a boat, ride a bike along the promenade, spend time on the sports ground next to the beach;
Playa de A Fontaina: This is a quiet and secluded beach (280 m long and 40 m wide), sheltered from the wind and ideal for families. The water here is surprisingly clean and the sand is white;

Note! To prevent vacationers from burning their feet with hot sand, there are wooden walkways on Playa de A Fontaina. There are also 2 showers and numerous bars in the surrounding area.

Playa del Vao: on this beach oriented youth recreation, you can go windsurfing or play football. It is equipped with showers, a bar, parking, a football field;
Playa Baluarte: this quiet place with clear water and white sand is often favored by nudists. There is a bar nearby with refreshing drinks;
Playa de Fortinon: this one beautiful beach, protected from the winds and awarded Blue flag, reaches 150 m in length and 30 m in width. The descent to it is carried out along a rather steep path framed by greenery. In summer, guests at Playa de Fortinon have access to a bar, shower and medical center;
Playa Samil: A 2-kilometer promenade lined with pine forests stretches along the 2-kilometer swimming area.

Beach Playa Samil

Samil Beach is equipped with sports grounds, changing cabins, showers, toilets, rental of sun loungers, umbrellas and equipment for aquatic species sports

Experienced travelers advise:

Bring wicker baskets, leather goods, handmade ceramics from Vigo;
Come to the fish market in the Barrio de Berbes area in the morning: there you will be able to watch and even participate in the auction (the best seafood is auctioned at the market);
Spend time on local beaches;
Try the best seafood in Vigo at the Meson do Marisco restaurant, as well as enjoy traditional and original dishes of Galician cuisine at Alameda XXI.

What does the Almeda XXI restaurant look like inside?

Vigo has saved a lot of interesting things for travelers: a holiday in this city will appeal to everyone who prefers to build new routes instead of the beaten path.

* Prices are current as of August 2018

January 14, 2012

I'm afraid to admit, but right up to the moment of preparation for this trip, spanish city Vigo seemed very vague to me. To be honest, apart from the fact that such a city is on the map of Spain, there were no other observations in my head.
Having familiarized ourselves with the program of excursions in Vigo, it became clear that the parking here was not organized because of the city itself. The fact is that within an accessible distance from Vigo there is another city - Santiago de Compostela, and, according to legend, in cathedral The remains of the Apostle James are buried in this city. In this regard, Santiago de Compostela is considered the third center of Christianity after Rome and Jerusalem. Nowadays, pilgrims and tourists from all over the world flock here. There are approximately 15 paths leading to Santiago de Compostela. The length of the most popular French Route is more than 800 km. This is more than a month of walking. Pilgrims walk from 15 to 40 km per day. To obtain a certificate for completing the Way of Santiago, you must walk at least 100 kilometers or ride 200 kilometers by bicycle or horseback.
Not being big fans of religious places, but out of respect and interest, we of course planned a trip to Santiago de Compostela. Its independent organization did not present any difficulties - the train schedule was copied in advance from the Spanish website railways, and the time frame made it possible to feel much more comfortable than recently in Paris.

A clear dawn found us already in direct sight of the city. Geographically, Vigo is located at the mouth of the river, which formed the bay of the same name here. The city is successfully surrounded by hills that create a good microclimate, and the sea harbor is additionally protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the chain of Cies Islands. The Cies Islands, declared a natural park, are famous for the beauty of their beaches and cliffs. Some sources call the beaches of the Cies Islands almost the best in the world.
The fact that late autumn in northern Europe was clearly not cruise season was obvious - Vigo was the first port where we met cruise ship. It turned out to be the beautiful Queen Mary 2.

Right before landing, it turned out that I had somehow recklessly and prematurely set my watch back one hour, although this should have been done only in 24 hours. It somehow didn’t fit into my head that Vigo, located much further west of London, could not possibly beat it by one hour. As a result, already on the ramp it became clear that there were not 1.5 hours left before the necessary train to Santiago De Campostela, but only thirty minutes. In principle, this was enough to cover one and a half kilometers to the station, so instead of a taxi, we chose the option of a brisk morning walk. Even unexpected obstacles caused by the unplanned hilliness of the city did not lead us astray - we arrived at the station on time.
But the events that happened next can be characterized by the legendary phrase from Ilf and Petrov: “Ostap has not experienced such blows for a long time.” No, we weren’t late, we didn’t make a mistake with the schedule, and we arrived exactly at the place that was marked on the city maps as Central station city of Vigo. Everything was tougher and more uncompromising - there was simply no station in the place indicated on the map. More precisely, it ALREADY wasn’t, since from a certain elevation one could observe a harsh man-made panorama, the main character of which was a slowly moving excavator, persistently breaking down apron structures.

There have been no noticeable announcements about how Vigo residents are coping with the absence of a train station in their usual location. We did not try to find out the details of the history of the disappearance of the station from the Spaniards passing by, since now we were definitely late for the planned train. In addition to everything, it was at this moment that the sky became completely cloudy and rain began to pour down. There was nothing left to do but use the meager description of Vigo that was available and go get acquainted with something that, in general, they did not plan to get acquainted with.
Briefly about Vigo, the city was founded in the 3rd century BC. by the Romans, but almost no buildings have been built since Ancient Rome not preserved. The city is the largest locality Spanish region of Galicia. Today Vigo is the most important fishing port in Spain and one of the centers of shipbuilding - half of Spain's catch is provided by Galicia and, above all, by Vigo fishermen. Most seafood is caught in the open sea, where sardines, tuna, lobsters and shellfish are found. IN last years Ocean trawlers are increasingly heading to the shores of Canada and Iceland.
On one of the city’s avenues, in 1991, a “Monument to Labor” was erected, where powerfully built fishermen pull nets from the sea.

In general, Vigo is richly decorated with statues and sculptural groups. One of the most spectacular is the bronze composition in the Plaza de España, depicting rearing horses.

The main point of attraction for tourists in Vigo is the ancient fortress on the hill above the city.

At the entrance to the fortress, everyone is greeted by a pair of 150-year-old cannons. It’s interesting that our native two-headed birds are stamped on their trunks. The cannons were recaptured by Spanish troops from the Napoleonic hordes, who, in turn, recaptured them from the Russian army.

The remains of ancient fortifications on the hill are landscaped with several fountains and observation platforms with good visibility in almost all directions.

Unexpectedly, in one of the sectors of the review, the morning loss was found - railway tracks with a clearly visible passenger train.

Closer to the port is located historic district, quite mixed with shopping.

The number of shopping centers in the port area is very impressive; the largest of them, in fact, has merged with the building of the marine terminal.

Yes, the impressions of the day in Vigo turned out to be “so-so”. There was an idea, at worst, to visit the zoo, but things got worse weather pulled closer to home. The scarcity of impressions of the day was somewhat brightened up by a small touch of the legend...

... and the sea landscape painting "The Queen Leaves Vigo".

Just like our ship, Queen Mary2 also at one time topped the list of the most large ships in the world - from 2004 to 2006. Local cruise enthusiasts with large photographic equipment also gathered to photograph the Queen:

The time has come for us to lower our flags and move on, in the hope that tomorrow's Lisbon will be somewhat more hospitable.

Independent trip to the north-west of Spain allowed me to see the sights of Vigo, appreciate Old city, visit the Castro fortress, find out where you can eat inexpensively in Vigo and how they cook in Galicia; to find out more, read the travel report along the coast of Spain

I initially planned to devote the next day of traveling around northwestern Spain on my own to getting from Santiago de Compostela to Ourense, but a change in route forced me to move south towards Porto. On the way, I expected, as usual, to see some town, and of the two options, small Pontevedra or larger Vigo, I preferred the latter - the memory of how well it went excursion to La Coruña and how bad everything turned out in a small Ferrole, did not fade at all overnight.

If we do not touch on Neolithic times, the history of Vigo should be counted from the Iron Age, when this piece of the future province of Galicia was quite densely populated. Celtic villages turned into the city of Vicus much later, after the Romans arrived on the Iberian Peninsula. The conquerors, following the principles of colonization that had been worked out once and for all, developed the area in their own way, laying roads, building aqueducts, and establishing farms. In the Middle Ages, Vigo could have easily grown rich due to the active fish trade, but its proximity to the sea constantly provoked Viking raids, and then the inhabitants had to flee behind the walls of the fortifications built on Mount Castro. In addition to the Norman atrocities, the history of Vigo includes two attacks by Sir Francis Drake (the second was successful), a Turkish siege in 1617 and a grandiose naval battle in 1702, when huge treasures brought by the Spanish fleet from America went to the bottom - it seems that some of the valuables are still there lies somewhere in the bay.

With the onset of the industrial era, Vigo experienced an economic boom; in addition to traditional income from fishing, funds from cargo transshipment, salt production and other developing industries poured into its treasury. The new level of income allowed local merchants and entrepreneurs to build many elegant mansions, and new urban areas became no less worthy of attention than the historical core...

Intelligence showed that at least getting to Vigo from Santiago de Compostela by bus is more convenient, since they run every hour, Vigo Train Station located right next to the city center, not like a bus station. Actually, from the junction of Avenida de Madrid and Avenida de Antonio Palacios, where intercity buses stop in Vigo, it is not difficult to get to the city center by public transport, but I didn’t know that at the time. I also didn’t know that for some time now the Vigo station has been moved to another place, and from there it’s a stomp and stomp to the ancient quarters. In general, choosing to get from Santigo to populated city Galicia train, I won a little...

The Santiago train station turned out to be equipped very modestly, unlike the bus terminal. I was even surprised: the station is located on the busiest line, a lot of trains stop here, including the ALVIA high-speed express trains, which can take you from Madrid to Santiago de Compostela in just five and a half hours, and the cat was crying out for empty seats in the waiting room . Yes, the entire infrastructure of the station consists of a couple of benches, ticket offices and a cafe, there are no luggage storage facilities, and those who expect to explore the famous cathedral lightly and then quietly move on have vain hopes...

While I was marveling at how unhumanly the Santiago station was structured, I was almost swept away by a stream of people pouring out of another train - at rush hour the traffic is wow, and streams of people sometimes fill the building to capacity. It’s good that the crowd soon subsided and I was able to sit on the platform, enjoying the fresh breeze...

Surprisingly, the train arriving from the north was also almost taken by storm, but only a few were destined to get to Vigo from Santiago de Compostela: while I was making a plan for the upcoming walk and looking out the window, most of my fellow travelers managed to disappear somewhere. No other way than the students fled to Pontevedra, where the local university is located. One way or another, after an hour and a half of the trip, very few people arrived at the Vigo Guixar station...

First of all, I tried to get my bearings and almost went crazy, because the configuration of the streets and their names did not coincide at all with what I had on the map. Then the confusion was resolved and it turned out that the old terminal at Praza da Estacion is now undergoing reconstruction, which is why passengers are dropped off at Ru a do Areal, near the cargo port. By the way, I liked the Vigo Guixar station, it is clean, modern, flooded with light penetrating inside through the stained glass windows. Noting that there was a free toilet inside, plenty of waiting areas and a cafe, but there was no luggage storage in Vigo, as in Santiago and La Coruña, I tumbled out into the street and hurried to the embankment.

It must be said that the sea facade of the city makes an ambiguous impression depending on the place where a person goes out. Let's say, somewhere he is greeted by gray warehouses and rows of containers, somewhere the view is obscured by the concrete bulk of a shopping center, and somewhere wonderful panoramas open up - it seems that just before there were buildings of the nineteenth century, the 21st century has already arrived. I ended up on the shore almost where I should start the tour of Vigo: there is a yacht port near Ru a Montero Ri os and the places there are damn picturesque. When the time came to move on, I thanked fate for leading me to the best views, because after a few hundred meters the port buildings abruptly destroyed all the charm of the embankment.

While photographing marine species, it is easy to miss the monument to Jules Verne, which local authorities erected on the cape near the marina in 2005. This is how they expressed their gratitude to the science fiction writer who mentioned Vigo in his immortal novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.” But they expressed their gratitude in a rather strange way, by placing the writer on a nasty-looking octopus. However, the composition decorated Ru a Montero Ri os and brought it to the most visited places of the city: many tourists, planning a trip to Galicia, always ask the question where in Vigo the monument to Jules Verne is located - and then head to the embankment...

I also had a chance to see another monument made in the traditional spirit. It is dedicated to Admiral Mendez Nunez, perhaps the most famous native of Vigo. The sculptor Augustin Queyrol captured his hero in a thoughtful pose, no less a naval commander who commanded the naval forces of Spain in Pacific Ocean, sadly reflected on fate colonial empire, which his country managed to put together, but could not properly dispose of what it received. Judging by the surviving portraits of the admiral, the creator of the monument achieved a fairly close resemblance to the original.

In my opinion, a monument to the sea wolf would look more appropriate closer to the shore, but the graceful Praza de Compostela, completely covered with the shade of trees, serves as a quite presentable setting. In general, the new quarters of Vigo look pretty for the most part; buildings of typical Spanish architecture predominate there. Well, the old city is absolutely magnificent...

The Casco Vello area serves as the main goal of any excursion in Vigo; my itinerary included visiting it first. True, as already mentioned, first the road from the Vigo Guixar station took me to the embankment, and I took the opportunity to visit the local tourist office, which occupies a corner house on Calle de Mestre Mateo - it’s almost opposite shopping mall"A Laxe." The information service staff turned out to be friendly to the few tourists and provided me with not only detailed map area, but also a lot of booklets. From the collected papers, I found out how best to build a walking route around the city, where to eat inexpensively in Vigo, which hotels to choose, and so on. Among other things, the tour office offers a rich program of excursions: in addition to trips around interesting places region, those who wish can go on a cruise from Vigo, join hiking to the reserves of Galicia, to reach the cities of neighboring Portugal. Let me note that the entrance to the office is cleverly disguised by two decorated panels, between which there is a nondescript door, and it is precisely this that those who come invariably mistake for a partition, which is why they are then embarrassed...

One of the brochures I picked up at the tourist office interested me more than others. It said that many of Vigo's sights can be seen from the window of a tour bus cruising around the city. Five stops provided on its route allow you to get out wherever you want, explore the object you like and move on on the next flight. Everything would be fine, if not for the strange travel schedule: unlike their counterparts in nearby Porto or, say, Lisbon, not to mention Madrid or Paris, sightseeing bus Vigo goes for a ride four times a day, first at 10 and 12, then, after a siesta, at 16:30 and 18:30, that is, he does not bother himself with work. True, the cost of tickets is much lower than in the capitals of Portugal, Spain and France - for the right to ride all day you need to pay only 8 euros. The departure point is located on the city embankment, near the tourist office, and you can also make additional inquiries there if you wish.

Having found out that the nearest bus tour takes place in more than four hours, I grunted and climbed up the hillside: to see the main attractions of Vigo, you will have to sweat, since the old quarters occupy a hill. But, as I have seen from my own experience, the game is definitely worth the candle, because in Casco Vello we have an extremely picturesque area, whose narrow streets and ancient houses immerse the walker in the distant past. In addition to the interesting landscapes in the old part of the city, every now and then you come across cafes and shops where you can buy souvenirs from Vigo, so exploring the old quarters is simply an incredible pleasure...

After some time, when I was completely satisfied with the charm of Casco Vello, it was time to get close to the most noticeable landmark of Vigo, the city cathedral. The huge church of St. Mary could have celebrated its six hundredth anniversary if it had not been blown up during another Napoleonic adventure. Construction of a new shrine to replace the destroyed one local residents became concerned soon after completion and for the next twenty-plus years the workers worked diligently so that two large bell towers would rise above the city. The architect Melchor Prado, who developed the project, chose the neoclassical style, which was popular in Galicia in the 19th century, to implement his plan, and he was right: framed by traditional houses, a cathedral, say, in the Baroque style would look out of place. And everything turned out just fine...

What I also liked about the old city was Constitution Square, and the other ensembles were also good. Vivid impressions replenished my memory bank at almost every step, and in the end I reached observation deck, stretched along Paseo de Alfonso XII. There, delightful sea views await city guests, from which you can’t take your eyes off. Plus you can touch another attraction of Vigo, the statue of a nymph on a dragon. In general, the city authorities pay great attention to monuments, and in recent years, a great many different kinds of compositions have been installed here and there. Not all of them are distinguished by high artistic merits; some, frankly speaking, take one’s breath away, but there are also those that delight the eye. Among the latter is the mentioned nymph, reminiscent, as the guide to Vigo says, of writers who preferred to create in the Galician language. Those who wish can easily find on the map the monument “The Rape of Europa”, a composition of wild horses rushing into the sky, sculptures of a fisherman and heroes of the Reconquista - just start studying in detail the list that lists the sights of Vigo, and a few days will not be enough to go around all the places mentioned there . On the other hand, not every monument deserves attention, and, for example, I did not at all like the monstrosity at the junction of Porta do Sol and Ru a Carral, which the guide to the cities of Galicia highly praised. It turned out that this eerie creature is considered a siren and personifies no more and no less than the modern style of Vigo... I later encountered the nightmarish appearance of “E l sireno” several times in small souvenir shops, which are a dime a dozen on the streets of Casco Vello.

Speaking about where it is better to buy souvenirs in Vigo, I can recommend the Tesoros store, located near the tourist office. To get to it you need to turn the corner to the left immediately after leaving this office and walk a little forward. There, a magnet with an image of some Vigo landmark costs 2.50 euros versus 3-3.50 euros at other retail outlets. I would also like to note the miniature houses in a typical Galician architectural style, which cost 4 euros. Crafts made from shells are of genuine interest, for which they ask to pay 6-8 euros - many works of folk art are truly good...

I also advise you to visit house 7 on Calle de Teofilo Llorente, which, in addition to the standard set of memorabilia, also sells original keychains with Moorish motifs. Such trinkets cost a mere trifle, 1 euro, and as a gift, as I am convinced, they will go great. Some magnets here also cost 2.50 euros, but not all, just the worse ones. And I wouldn’t buy T-shirts with city views here: their price of 10 euros is greatly overpriced, in fact, paying more than 6 euros for them is simply stupid.

Having figured out where you can buy souvenirs in Vigo, I’ll tell you a little about shopping: in the old quarters there are a lot of shops and private shops, sometimes quite interesting. I remember more than others the designer boutique “Marisa”, which sold unusual things; How do you like, for example, a ladies’ blouse made in the shape of a handbag? In general, the ups and downs of the designers’ imagination await at Calle Triunfo 2, next to the Cathedral of St. Mary.

Having finished examining historical Center, I set out to get to Vigo's most sublime landmark, Castle Castro. To get there you have to overcome a rather steep climb, and, frankly speaking, I was really tired of the Spanish heat. No, it cannot be said that I did not manage to get pleasure from the walk, because the panoramas of the surrounding area that opened from above made up for all the efforts. However, the Castro castle itself turned out to be not as good as, say, citadel of San Sebastian. But this is purely my own, completely subjective opinion, because I am, perhaps, spoiled by fortresses, which I have already seen through the roof, starting from Carcassonne and ending in Manila. So, the fortifications of Vigo, built in the middle of the 17th century, still look formidable, and, in my opinion, if the local authorities turned the Castro Castle into a military museum, the impressions of it would become much brighter. For now, two ancient cannons standing in front of the gate add to the picturesqueness, and that’s all... Well, but I was able to admire Vigo from above once again...

Having climbed the hill from the north, I then went down the opposite slope and quickly walked along the pretty Paseo Rosali a de Castro boulevard to the Plaza de España area - from there, judging by the map, I had to walk a little more than a kilometer to get to the Vigo bus station. There is nothing to say about the road, the route is absolutely uninteresting, except that on it I found a supermarket I had been craving for a long time and was able to replenish my drinking supplies. In addition to cheap drinks, the Froiz office also pleased me with the opportunity to buy cheap salads - when they ask for only 2.19 euros for a package of 500 grams, there’s nothing to think about. And, interestingly, as soon as I got closer to the bus station, a little further on the same Avenida de Madrid I saw an advertisement for the Lidl complex, and this, as you know, is a place where you can buy food very cheaply, and not only in Vigo, but also throughout Europe. I mean, I walked around the city center and didn’t notice a single grocery store, but it turns out that there are tons of them in the vicinity of the bus station.

But in the vicinity of the bus station you won’t find fire during the day good restaurants. There are cafes where you can eat inexpensively in Vigo, paying 3 euros for a coffee and a sandwich, but to get a full meal, you need to search in the old quarters. There you will be able to sit at tables on the street, and the surroundings will be appropriate. I remember at the beginning Calle de la Republica Argentina I came across the restaurant “Rias Baixas”, which offered a set lunch for only 9 euros - by choosing one item from three salads, five types of fish and half a dozen desserts, the visitor eats his fill without breaking a hole in the budget. If there is no strain on money, then although the meal will cost more, you will have the opportunity to more fully study how they cook in Galicia. The restaurant's menu includes dishes such as swordfish, sea bass, lobster with rice, Galician roast beef, pork with turnips, Galician stew and other delicacies. You won’t be able to eat inexpensively here in Vigo; the bill for a-la carte meals will be significantly more than 30 euros, and this does not include drinks.

Concluding the conversation about the last Spanish city of this trip, I note that it is not necessary to follow my example and stomp from the center to the departure point of intercity flights: you can get to the Vigo bus station by bus - line L12 will take a visitor to the city where he needs to go. Using local transport is easy, tickets cost only 1.32 euros, transfers with them are allowed, but only on different lines. The only problem may be the strange numbering of routes, because at a stop nearby there may be ordinary C 3 and C 7, as well as C9A, or even something like L 5B. If you go to the local system’s website in advance and figure out what’s what, everything will become clear, especially since there is a trip planner there. Thanks to him, you can even find out how to get by bus from Vigo airport to the city - line L9A to help the arriving passenger.

About air harbor I can’t say anything, I was leaving Galicia by land and therefore made a forced acquaintance with the Vigo bus station. The farewell turned out to be crumpled, because the bus station, from where you can go to Portugal, consists of two levels, and completely different ones. The upper part of the terminal makes a favorable impression, it is clean, there are many seats for those waiting, there are cafes and shops, and there is a free toilet. But as soon as you go down the escalator to the bus parking lot, it turns out that the dungeon is dirty, cold and completely uncomfortable. Personally, I immediately felt out of place there and tried to quickly rise from the kingdom of the Morlocks to the country of the Eloi, where I sat the entire time before departure.

Summing up the journey along the Atlantic coast of Spain on my own, I can say that I was pleased with the visit to the edge of the Iberian Peninsula. I was able to see a lot of things, and although Lugo and Ourense remained unvisited, Santiago de Compostela and crystal city of La Coruña I was thoroughly pleased. Things didn’t work out for me with Ferrol; I’m inclined to characterize Vigo positively. In my opinion, Galicia, despite its distance from loved ones Russian tourists resorts Mediterranean Sea, quite worthy of a separate trip...