The city of Vigo is located in Galicia on the Atlantic coast. It is located on the south coast of the Ria de Vigo estuary. The city was founded by the Romans. In Vigo, the old fishing quarter of Berbes is interesting, which is the historical center of the city. Here you will find the Constitution Square, surrounded by arcades, the neoclassical Santa Maria Church, built in the 19th century on the site of a Romanesque church burned by the pirate Francis Drake, the famous Museum of Applied Arts, a fish market and medieval houses that line the narrow streets. Be sure to go for a walk in the Castro park, located on a coastal hill, where the remains of Celtic fortified settlements of the 3rd century BC have been preserved. and a medieval fort. Also interesting is the Municipal Park of Kastrelos in the southern part of the city, where you can see the remains of Roman statues and steles, and the Maritime Museum at Cape Muinho, where you can learn about the history of the development of the port of Vigo and the biodiversity of the local waters. Vigo is home to the only zoo in Galicia. It is located on Madroa Hill in the eastern part of the city.
A variety of boat trips along the coast are very popular, especially to the Cies islands, which are part of the Islas Atlanticos National Park (National Park of the Atlantic Islands). Along with the Cies Islands, the Ons islands, Cortegada islands and Salvora islands belong to the national park. The total area of the park is 85 sq. km. Tourists are allowed to travel here only from May to September and in the amount of no more than 2200 people per day. The relief of the islands is mountainous, rocks and sandy beaches stretch along the coast. Thousands of sea birds live here, and turtles, dolphins, seals and whales can be found in the waters surrounding the islands. The largest laurel forest in Europe extends to the north of Cortegada Island. The most interesting in terms of tourism is the group of islands of Cies. The main attractions of the Cies Islands are Rodas Beach (Monteagudo Island), which is considered one of the most beautiful in Spain., Mount Faro with a lighthouse on the island of the same name and the remains of pre-Roman settlements. There are hiking trails on the islands, passing through forests, mountains and coasts. Tourists are invited to stay in cozy campsites, but to spend the night in the national park, you must obtain permission. The Cies Islands are also famous among diving enthusiasts. To dive, you must obtain a permit. The maximum diving depth is 35 m. Under water, you will see vertical walls, sandbanks, soft corals, coral polyps, sea anemones, many types of fish, eels, octopuses, and in spring even soup sharks that swim here in search of a mate.
According to Country Verifier, Vigo is a great place for a beach holiday. The city is surrounded by dozens of beaches. The pearl of the Ria de Vigo is the two-kilometer Samil beach (Praia de Samil). It is framed by a wide embankment and a pine forest. It has everything you need for a comfortable stay: rental of sunbeds and umbrellas, showers, changing cabins, toilets, cafes, restaurants, shops, rental of equipment for water sports, tourist offices, picnic areas and even a swimming pool. Samil Beach offers great views of the nearby protected islands of Cies. In the vicinity of Vigo, such beaches as Argazada, O Vao (O Vao), from which the bridge departs to the islet of Torola, where there is also a beach, Fontaina (A Fontaina), Canido (Canido), Fonte (A Fonte) are also popular.) and Os Muinos. All of them have been awarded the EU Blue Flag.
On the northern coast of Ria de Vigo is the resort town of Cangas, surrounded by numerous beaches. The waters near Kangas are calm, so you can relax here even with children. The most popular EU Blue Flag beaches are Praia de Rodeira, Areamilla, Praia de Limens and Praia de Negra . Also of interest is the Melide beach (Praia de Melide), located in the very west of the Cangas coast at the entrance to the Ria de Vigo estuary. It is popular with surfers. Baiona is located 20 km south of Vigo.(Biona). It is known as the first European port, where in 1493 the ship of Christopher Columbus “Pinta” moored after returning from the expedition during which America was discovered. This historical fact is indicated by the replica of the ship “Pinta” installed in the harbor of Baiona. Every year on March 1, a festival dedicated to this event is held here. Bayona is a small resort town where, in addition to beaches, you will see many historical sights. Ancient houses and churches (16-17 centuries) are scattered throughout the city. An interesting fortress is Fortaleza de Monterreal, towering on a wooded city promontory, from where fascinating views of the coast open up. The fortress was built between the 11th and 17th centuries. It is surrounded by a 3 km wall. Today, a chic hotel is located on the territory of the fortress.. The best beaches in Bayona are Ladeira (Praia Ladeira) and America (Praia America).
To the west of Bayona on Cape Silleiro (Cabo Silleiro), at an altitude of 85 m above sea level, a lighthouse with an observation deck is installed. From here you can see the Portuguese coast, the Cies Islands and the ruins of ancient artillery installations.
A little further south, it is worth visiting the city of Oia (Oia) with its Romanesque church of Santa Maria la Real (12th century) and the city of La Guardia (A Guarda) near the Portuguese border with the remains of Celtic fortified settlements of the 1st century BC, located on the coastal hill. This part of the coast is quite windy, the waters here are restless, so the local beaches are not very popular among tourists.
To the south is the mouth of the Minho River, along which the border between Spain and Portugal passes. Slightly upstream of the river is the city of Tui. The importance of the city, its strategic position (on the border of two states) can be traced in its architecture. The visiting card is the Cathedral (12-13 centuries), towering over the Minho River. The high towers of the cathedral give it the appearance of an impregnable fortress. From here you can enjoy beautiful views of the valley of the Minho River. Also, the remains of powerful fortress walls have been preserved in the city. An interesting bridge is thrown from the city of Tui across the Minho River to the Portuguese city of Valencia. In the vicinity of Tui, on an area of 7.5 square meters. km stretched reserve mountains Aloya (Nature Reserve of Monte Aloia). Mount Aloya is part of the Sierra do Galineiro mountain range (Serra do Galineiro) and reaches a height of 629 m. About 10 km of hiking trails have been laid through the park, connecting 5 viewing platforms with views of the Minho River valley. The reserve has preserved the remains of the Celtic settlements “kastro”, which are fortified cities that were built on the hills. On the territory of one of these discovered settlements of Alto dos Cubos, you can see a protective stone wall with a length of 1250 m.