Mancomunidad Vigo

 
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Baiona

The first news of the existence of a new world arrived to this old Europe on 1st March, 1493, through a little fishing village called Baiona. From that moment in time, Baiona began to grow and gain prestige and was a privileged port of Vigo Bay for centuries. Baiona a Real has an area of slightly more than 35 square kilometres and is the westernmost bastion of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Vigo. Its coastline combines the affability of the calm waters of Vigo Bay, on beaches such as the Ladeira beach, with the aggressiveness of the open Atlantic Ocean, whose waves break with ravaging force on the rocks at cape Silleiro. The tranquil lifestyle of its 11,000 inhabitants in the winter contrasts with the vitality and dynamism of the population, which multiplies four or five or even six fold in the months of July and August. Such are the contrasts of a town in which the visitor can stroll with the sea at his feet or at a height of 400 or 500 meters, walking through the Groba mountains, where wild horses and cattle graze freely. Baiona offers the visitor an extensive range of possibilities between the highlands of the Groba Mountains and the low-lying coastline.

What is true is that, despite it being a very touristy town, and that this phenomenon has been going on for the last thirty years, Baiona has still not sacrificed its identity as a little coastal town. Its old quarters still have old buildings with coats of arms belonging to their founders on the façade and narrow streets flanked by fishermen’s houses, Romanesque churches, stone houses with elaborate stone masonry in the most pure Baroque style. Stone masons over centuries created splendid works in Old Baiona which visitors can contemplate by leaving behind the promenade for a moment and going back in time as they stroll through the narrow streets of Baiona. This town began to flourish from the 15th century onwards and has been deservingly declared as a historic-artistic monumental city.

Not all visitors arrive in Baiona by road. This is perhaps one of the destinations in the Rías Baixas with the most number of visitors who come for nautical tourism. And it is nothing trivial, since the town offers ample resources just like it did offer to the visitors, namely Martín Alonso Pinzón and his sailors, who arrived on the 1st of March, 1493, onboard the caravel Pinta. There is a replica of this caravel berthed at Baiona’s pier and serves as a floating museum and as a reminder of those men who crossed the terrible Atlantic Ocean onboard a vessel, which when viewed today is quite surprising given its small size.

The principal enemies of the town also arrived through the sea, namely; the Berbers, the pirates and Sir Francis Drake. Drake was the most dangerous of them all and tried unsuccessfully to invade and raze the village to the ground. The village resisted this battle under the command of the Count of Gondomar, who defended his territory from the Monte Real fort.

The tourist ambience is patent in the village that is capital to this town council. The affluence of visitors in winter is also quite numerous. People like strolling through its streets, along the promenade and arrive up to where the waves break on stormy days or stroll along the ramparts of the Monte Real castle, which today houses the Parador Nacional de Turismo Conde de Gondomar

(national hotel chain of restored aristocratic houses) and the Royal Yacht Club of Baiona. It is its sea vocation which is transmitted at all times of the year.

But there is more to the place than just the urban area. A visit to the Virxe da Roca is a must. This is the work of the architect Antonio Palacios and is an image of the blessed virgin made of granite, marble and porcelain. A feast is held at the place in August and from the place one can get magnificent views of Vigo Bay and of the ocean. And on the scenic front, another place worth visiting is the lighthouse at cape Silleiro, a guardian which protects vessels along this rough seafront. Then there is the summit of the Groba Mountains, at a height of more than 600 m above sea level. It is one of the most sought after places by wild mushroom hunters who go there during the first wet days in autumn and spring in order to collect the much appreciated fungi.

The essence of Baiona can be found in every corner of its territory which is distributed over five parishes: Baíña, Baiona, Baredo, Belesar and Santa Cristina da Ramallosa, also known as Sabarís. There is a picturesque fair at Sabarís on Mondays where one can buy clothes, agricultural implements, locally produced fruit and vegetables, a hen or an instrument called mandolina, with which one can cut all types of garden products into julienne strips.

www.baiona.org

How to get there.

Telephones of interest.

Photo Gallery.



Council:

 

AcuarelaAcuarela

Council: Baiona
Localization: Ventura Misa, 53. Telephone: 659 311 264
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Anties3Anties3

Council: Baiona
Localization: http://anties3.net
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Apartamentos AbabidesApartamentos Ababides

Council: Baiona
Localization: Percibilleira, 23. Telephone: 600 430 612. www.ababides.com
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Apartamentos de Vacaciones Mirador Ría de BayonaApartamentos de Vacaciones Mirador Ría de Bayona

Council: Baiona
Localization: Avenida de Santa Marta. O Burgo. Telephone: 986 352 739/ 667 647 923. www.riadebayona.com
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Aparthotel SotoAparthotel Soto

Council: Baiona
Localization: Laxe, 9. Telephone: 986 355 332. www.casasoto.com
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ArceArce

Council: Baiona
Localization: Julián Valverde, 40. Sabarís. Telephone: 986 386 060. www.hotelarce.com
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Bacco'sBacco's

Council: Baiona
Localization: Xogo da bola, 3. Telephone: 661 634 219
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Bahía de Bayona HotelBahía de Bayona Hotel

Council: Baiona
Localization: Avenida de Santa Marta, 13. Telephone: 986 385 004 Fax 986 356 645. www.hotelbahiabayona.com
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BahíñaBahíña

Council: Baiona
Localization: Herminio Ramos, 11. Telephone: 986 355 791.
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Baiona MarinaBaiona Marina

Council: Baiona
Localization: Área portuaria de Baiona. Telephone: 986 385 107 Fax 986 356 489. www.puertobaiona.com
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