Vigo awaits you. Let's discover its DNA together

A legendary and impressive olive tree is the most beloved and respected symbol of Vigo. It represents local tradition, resilience, and history very well. That is why this olive tree has given Vigo the nickname of "olive city". Olive trees were planted in church atriums, and in Vigo, at the old Collegiate Church of Santa María, there was a thousand-year-old one, estimated to be 800 years old, whose trunk was so large that seven shoemakers could work around it without space issues. The tree burned down in the worst attack suffered, the one by privateer Francis Drake who devastated Vigo in 1589. The temple having been left in a very bad state, a new one had to be built, and construction of the current one began in 1816. During the works, the olive tree had to be cut down, but tradition says that Mr. Pereyra saved a cutting, and today we have the bicentennial olive tree on the Paseo de Alfonso XII, which is also one of the best and liveliest viewpoints in Vigo with its terraces and fantastic views to enjoy the sunsets over the Cíes Islands. Without a doubt, one of our recommendations during our tours!

Absolutely true! In 1702, the epic Battle of Rande was fought. A Spanish-French fleet loaded with riches from America was attacked by Anglo-Dutch pirates and privateers. Legend has it that much of the gold and silver from the galleons still shines at the bottom of our estuary.

In 1702, the Vigo estuary was the scene of one of the most epic naval battles in history. Spanish galleons of the "Silver Fleet" or "Fleet of the Indies" loaded with the largest treasure ever transported from America were mostly sunk by an Anglo-Dutch armada. The more treasure, the more legend, and even today there are doubts about whether the treasure was ever unloaded or not, giving rise to the legend of the Rande galleons and numerous search expeditions that never reported great results. The one who did know how to enjoy and manage these riches was Captain Nemo, since the legend of these sunken treasures reached the ears of and inspired Jules Verne, who in chapter eight of the universal novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" has the Nautilus enter the Vigo Estuary while Captain Nemo confesses his great secret: the treasures of Vigo pay for all his expenses. In our tours along the Vigo promenade, we reveal how this event and the novel forged the international image of Vigo.

The Casco Vello is the old and most historic part of Vigo. 'Vello' means old in Galician, and its streets and squares saw the birth of modern Vigo as a great fishing port. Beyond its stone architecture, it hides the remains of the old city wall and the traces of the Reconquista of 1809, the great local feat when Vigo was the first city in Europe to expel Napoleon's troops. Our guides share stories and curiosities about its ancient stones and its old fishermen's taverns, as well as its 15th, 16th, and 17th-century manor houses ('pazos') that define the strong character of this very authentic Vigo neighborhood.

Even in ancient times, the Greeks and Romans called them the "Islands of the Gods", captivated by their white sand, crystal-clear waters, and above all, the abundance of minerals they eagerly sought, such as tin and copper, from which they obtained bronze by smelting. Today, as part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, the Cíes are a natural treasure that guards the entrance and protects the Vigo Estuary. On a tour of Vigo, a visit to the islands is always recommended to enjoy not only Rodas Beach and its surroundings but to complete the vision and knowledge in a more global way that helps to understand the connection that Vigo has always had with the Atlantic Ocean.

Gastronomy in Vigo is not just food; it is a culture of eating well. It is difficult to eat badly in Vigo because both in the historic center and in the neighborhoods, there is a wide range of all kinds of places with excellent products where seafood stands out, such as oysters, mussels, scallops, razor clams, or octopus, as well as top-quality meats, especially pork and the famous "rubia gallega" beef. From the famous "Mercado de la Piedra" with its oysters to the taverns where seafood, octopus, and local wine are the main characters, going through legendary places with that melt-in-your-mouth "Galician style" potato omelet or the typical, very tasty, and highly popular empanadillas in Vigo. On a route through Vigo, you cannot miss a stop to discover these authentic temples of Vigo's gastronomy and understand how their essence is also the result of know-how and the city's strong bond with the sea and the countryside.