Vigo

Today we are in Vigo, Spain, in the Provence of Galicia on the northwest coast. There has been a port here since the Middle Ages and there is a colorful if not rather violent history of attacks by Vikings, the English and the Turks, not to mention a period of French rule during the Napoleonic era.

This morning, however, all is quiet and peaceful and we make a beeline through the sleepy heart of the old town to the Castelo do Castro, enjoying the steep walk through the heart of the cobbled old town to the park that surrounds this hilltop fortress. I breathe in the clean air and and my eyes take in the luscious greenery.

It is a steep albeit short walk to the top and we are rewarded with spectacular views from this historic fort, not to mention a very pleasant stroll through the picturesque gardens of the Parque del Monte Castro at the summit.

The fortress, built in 1665 to protect the city from periodic raids by the British, is today, a rather scenic garden contained within the moss strewn rock walls of this landmark which draws the eye to its zenith, as the backdrop of the city of Vigo.

We descend from our delightful explorations on the southern side of the summit and follow the streets to Praza de España, turning from here down Avenida da Gran Via to explore the commercial centre of town down to the Monumento al Trabajo (Monument to Work) by Ramón Conde depicting seven fishermen hauling in their catch from the sea. The sculpture symbolizes Vigo’s industrial, hard working population, capturing the essence of the city’s hard working people and its link to the sea.

This reflection on hard work makes me think that it’s time for a little break and we pause at the Sésamo Bakery on Rúa Colón, for a morning coffee and delicious brownie. Feeling rather refreshed (and caffeinated), from here we take a leisurely stroll through Parque de la Alameda and back down towards the harbor passing more inviting looking places like Natui & Co. We resist the urge this time and continue back into the steep cobbled streets of the old town district – Casco Vello.

After another hour or so of admiring the wrought iron balconies of the placas, the church roofs peering over a sea of terracotta tiles and the gorgeous facades of buildings like the public library, named after a famous 19th century writer of the Galicia region, we have circled back to Praza da Constitución. Our willpower to resist those temptations of the endless string of inviting cafes and eateries is worn down and our mornings efforts culminate in a beer as we watch pigeons steal food off tables and tourists pause to check their maps whilst basking in the beautiful but not so warm sunshine of this windy day.

Just to make sure we get our calorie intake for the day we follow our beer with a staggeringly good gelato at Fabbrica del Gelato. We have watched the crowds coming out of here for at least half and hour. Our lack of willpower is rewarded, the gelato here falling only slightly short of a Venchi, the pièce de résistance of the gelato world.

Refreshed and revitalized from the zing of my lemon gelato, we do a circuit heading from the El Sireno sculpture down Rúa Policarpo Sanz whilst discovering more wonderful facades and eventually making our way back to Parque de la Alameda.

By now it is mid afternoon and we are ready to stop in for a bite to eat, this time selecting the delightful looking Gamboa Vinte for some calamari fritti and a meat platter (carne!) before a few more zig zags through the historical district and a detour to look for the Monumento a Julio Verne (aka the Octopus Statue) which is disappointingly inaccessible and unphotographable due to the infrastructure from a recent weekend skate festival being in various stages of being removed from the public space.

By the time we head back to the ship we have clocked up around 19,000 steps (13.5km) for the day including 57 floors of flights climbed and I sit at dinner rather weary. The boys chatter about their day’s adventures at the Aquaventure Children’s Club on board our ship, the Independence of the Seas.

After we put the boys to bed following a viewing of the Freeze Frame Ice Spectacular show I fade quickly and find myself turning the lights out. I seem to be just as tuckered out from our adventures today as the children are from theirs and if 19,000 steps isn’t enough then I at least need to get some rest in anticipation of exploring Lisbon tomorrow!

Good To Know

The town of Vigo is a short walk from the Puerto de Vigo, right near the large Centro Comercial A Laxe shopping centre and the marina. There is a tourist information centre situated here which has information on boat tours to the nearby Cíes Islands as well as public toilets (entry €0.50).

The old town is small and very walkable, as is the fortress if you can handle a few stairs. This is an easy port day/day trip if you have children as they can join you off the ship for a run around the Parque del Monte Castro and some sightseeing. If they get bored the ship is close enough to circle back and drop them off before continuing to explore the city (or partake in some quiet tapas sans little ones).

Whatever you do, do not let the children miss out on the gelato, you may never be forgiven!

Would I Return?

Perhaps. Not for the town or sights of themselves but this is a lovely part of Spain and would lend itself to a pleasant [stationary] holiday destination with much to explore in the Provence of Galicia.