The fishermen’s neighbourhood which was the origin of the city of Vigo
The sea almost reached the entrance of the traditional seaside houses of the fishing quarter of O Berbés, one of the most picturesque in As Rías Baixas. In spite of the development of the city of Vigo and the changes in the seaside original buildings, some traditional structures with arcades, where the sailors used to keep their boats, have been preserved.
This fishermen’s neighbourhood, which was the origins of the city of Vigo as well as its economic and social driving force, was established in 1700 in the small cove of San Francisco. In the beginning, it was a boatyard, but it was gradually turned into a residential area with small houses with capacity to store fishing gears, oars and small boats on their ground floors.
The fishermen’s neighbourhood, which was the origins of the city of Vigo as well as its economic and social driving force, was established in 1700 in the small cove of San Francisco
All tasks related to fishing, including the cleaning and sale of fish, were carried out in the neighbourhood. This motivated the construction of arcades on the lower part of the seaside houses, which served for functional purposes.
Today, the neighbourhood of O Berbés serves as the gateway to the old part of the city, where visitors can immerse in the fishing tradition of Vigo while experiencing a new, more modern atmosphere. Today, this part of the city has become the hub of the city’s leisure activities. There, a must visit is the traditional O Berbés fish market, which boasts not only traditional fish stalls but also restaurants.
