Vigo, Spain

Overview

The city of Vigo on Spain’s western coast plays host to the Spanish Grand Prix of the Sea – a new addition to the Powerboat P1 calendar for 2008. Flanked by the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, this vibrant industry and fishing port – one of the biggest in the world – is well known for its nautical culture, while the local landscape is truly spectacular.

With a population of more than 300,000, Vigo is the biggest city in the province of Galicia, and combines stunning local harbours with an abundance of parks and gardens, beautiful squares and historical buildings. Vigo’s history can be traced back to the Romans, with the urban area of the existing city originally a hill fort and Roman settlement – although it wasn’t recognised as a ‘city’ until the 15th Century. It was also the first Spanish city to be released from French rule –under the Napoleonic Empire.

Being a port city, its nautical culture plays an important part on local life, with the region’s majestic coastline and islands also playing host to a variety of water sports.

Don’t leave Vigo without…
* Exploring the nearby coast of Galicia, which is peppered with stunning beaches, bays and inlets. First on your list should be the Cies Islands.
* Checking out Vigo’s incredible array of museums. Verbum (Casa das Palabras) is well worth the time. 
* Partaking in the variety of water sports on offer in and around the city.
* Traversing the maze of tiny streets in Casco Vello (the old part of the city). The area boasts a diverse collection of interesting shops and locally made goods.
* Walking Vigo’s statue trail. The Sireno, the work of Paco Leiro, should be your first port of call.
* Seeing the Salesas Reales Visitation Monastery, which follows traditional Galician construction designs and exudes an almost medieval air.

Vigo/Spain fact file
Time zone: GMT +1hrs
Location: Spain
Neighbouring countries: Portugal and France
Capital city: Madrid
Language: Spanish. English is spoken widely
Currency: Euro