06

06.EXPERIENCE VIGO

A SEA OF STORIES

A SEA OF STORIES

We recommend you a custom-made tour to enjoy unforgettable days in As Rías Baixas.

The most important museums, the natural and cultural attractions of the main towns and the cuisine that should not be missed.

  • Day 1:
    • VIGO

      • Group visits to the Vigo’s fish market are organised by appointment. There, one can attend one of the exciting fresh fish auctions.

      • This is a project of the National Association of Canned Fish and Seafood Manufacturers aimed at disseminating the importance and evolution of one of the most historic business sectors in Galicia: the canning sector, a pioneering industry in which the sardine is the main product.

      • This is the most important Roman coastal town in the north-west of the peninsula. It is located on a small cape facing the island of Toralla. The main activities of this town were the exploitation of sea resources. A working area, a residence and a bathhouse have been discovered. This museum shows how life was in the town and displays the archaeological artefacts found.

      • Located in an old canning factory, it has an aquarium that shows the main local ecosystems and how sea and fishing resources are exploited in the area. Inside, one can also admire the remains of the pre-Roman hillfort settlement of A Punta do Muíño do Vento.

      • A traditional fishing neighbourhood where there used to be dry docks and warehouses to keep the boats and fishing tools. Later, the fishermen’s houses were built. The activities linked to the sea used to take place at the main squares and arcades.

      • Located in the old town of Vigo, it shows the cultural and natural resources of the Atlantic Islands, such as its ecosystems, biodiversity or traditional fishing. islas atlánticas. Los ecosistemas, la biodiversidad o la pesca tradicional son algunas de las temáticas tratadas.

      • In the Rúa das Ostras, (Oyster Street) oysters can be tasted raw in several restaurants.

  • Day 2:
    • VIGO, REDONDELA AND SOUTOMAIOR

      Choose from:
      Option 1: Spending the whole day in…
      • The park covers more than 8,840 hectares, over 7,285 of them on the sea. It consists of four archipelagos: Cortegada, Sálvora, Ons and Cíes, which serve as natural barriers to protect the coast and the rías (coastal inlets) from the Atlantic Ocean, and gather a rich sea and land biodiversity.

      • The archipelago of Cíes, at the entrance of the coastal inlet Ría de Vigo, is made up of three islands with an important ecological value: Monteagudo, O Faro and San Martiño. They serve as observatories of the wildlife of the area.

      • Departing from the port of Vigo, there are different options: boat tours of the ría, of the Cíes Islands or of the seaside towns on the other side of the ría: Moaña and Cangas, in O Morrazo.

    • Option 2: Visiting the following resources…
      • This archaeological centre aims to tell the story of the only solar evaporation pond of the entire Roman Empire that has been preserved in Galicia and turned into a museum. It used to be an important salt factory, which provided salt to the most important fish canning factories. Today, it displays objects related to the industry, and explains how salt was obtained in the factory.

      • Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia that is celebrated on the first weekend of April, in which oysters can be tasted raw, in empanada (Galician savoury pie stuffed with seasonal fillings) or marinated.

      • A Peneda Hill, close to the Verdugo River, offers panoramic views over the Ría de Vigo, the coast and even the Cíes Islands. The megalithic necropolis of Cortello dos Mouros and the tumulus Mámoa do Rei were found in the area. In the Iron Age, there was a castro, and, in 1477, the Bishop of Santiago, Alonso Fonseca, built a castle there. Later, a chapel consecrated to the Virgin of A Peneda was erected on the hilltop.

      • Built in the 12th century, it was enlarged in the 15th century and turned into a residential manor house in the 19th century. It is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Galicia. Today, it is a museum where one can learn about the exciting lives of some of the figures that used to live in the castle: Pedro Madruga, the Marqués de la Vega de Armijo or María Vinyals. The building is surrounded by a garden that was recognised as International Camellia Garden of Excellence in 2012.