Vigo

The centre of gravity of the Atlantic Lands is the city of Vigo because of its economic, industrial, social and cultural weight. It has nearly three hundred thousand inhabitants, most of which reside in the urban centre that extends for more than 10 km along the coastline on the southern shore of the Bay which bears the same name. However, not everything is urban in this council, which has an area of 110 square kilometres. Like a crown that starts at Saiáns in the west and ends at Candeán in the east, it has a rural perimeter comprised of six parishes that surround the big city in an uneven landscape that contains mountains with scenic vantage points and beautiful forest parks where one can have a picnic in the countryside. The six parishes are Beade, Bembrive, Candeán, Saiáns, Valadares and Zamáns. The common element to all of them is the predominance of forest cover in most of its geography, on the mountain slopes with shallow valleys and low altitude, with an average height that ranges from 300 to 500 metres above sea level. The mountains are predominantly owned by collective communities. Each parish has its own independent centre, with its own activity, around which newly built detached houses sprout on privately owned little pieces of land that lie side by side with old stone houses, most of which have small areas of farmland. Playa de Samil

Saiáns is the only parish that has direct contact with the sea. Its shoreline is uneven, which means that it has little beaches and coves like the ones at Portiño, Muíños and at Canto da Area. Tourist pressure is higher along the seafront than in the interior. As the parishes get on to higher ground towards the Medoñas mountains, it tends to recover it more rural aspect.

Zamáns is a parish with the lowest population density in Vigo. It has the Zamáns dam in its territory, which is a 20th century hydraulics project that provides drinking water to the city and has converted the Zamáns River into a shelter for migratory birds. A small distance away, one can see a modest hydraulic work but with a great ethnographic value, namely; the Maquías water mill, which in the past used water force for its activity and has now been converted into a true nature classroom. If we venture onto higher grounds at Zamáns, we can visit the forest park and the campus of the University of Vigo. Mirador desde el monte Cepudo

Valadares, which in the past was a land of the marquisate of Valladares, one of the most important Galician noble titles, is an example of a parish that strives towards cultural activities. Its first action was its teleclub, which was inaugurated in the decade of the 1960s. The Recreational Cultural Centre sprouted from there and sponsored a theatre company and one of the famous music bands in Galicia, called the Unión Musical de Valadares. Things did not stay there, and in the last years of the past century, the Residents Association of O Freixo began to think of a new idea which materialised into the Freixo Rock. Furthermore, Valadares can boast about having 13 square kilometres of forest park on the Pozos and Alba Mountains.

Bembrive has a special administrative status for being a small local entity, which gives it certain autonomy as against the administrative power of the Vigo City Council. It has a special small village mayor, who is elected through universal voting, during the same elections that elect the mayor of Vigo. The mayor presides over a mini council that has five councillors, namely; the mayor and four other councillors. The natural heritage is quite important economically in this parish since it is a source of income through forestry exploitation over an area of 3.5 square kilometres, which is carried out by the resident community. In the centre of Bembrive, one can visit the parish church, which is Romanesque and dates back to the end of the 12^th century, as well as the magnificent stone cross, called the Cristo do Cacheno, which was sculpted in the 18^th century. Playa do Portiño. Saianes

Beade extends along the Fragoso valley and has a territory which is slightly over 7.5 square kilometres, wherein forestry exploitation once again gains importance. Pine woods and eucalyptus plantations predominate here, however there is a growing trend since the end of the 20th century to recover autochthonous trees and plant other trees of great economic interest such as cherry trees, which produce exceptional quality wood whilst simultaneously providing added value through their fruit. It is precisely in Beade that the Festa da Cereixa (Cherry Festival) is being held ever since the decade of the 1980s. The festival was first held in May but has now been moved to the first Sunday in June, wherein one can try out and buy cherries, as well as participate in a dessert making contest and other cultural activities, since culture and especially music is a dynamic activity in Beade as evidenced by its Music School Band and the Cultural Centre.

Candeán extends its jurisdiction towards the Northeast of the municipal limits. It borders with Redondela along its highlands, along the Vixiador and A Madroa mountains. The former has the biggest forest park of the Council with an area of about 20 hectares. The latter houses the only zoo that exists in Galicia. This parish was annexed to Vigo in 1941, together with another parish called Lavadores. Mankind’s presence here has been accredited since Mesolithic times as can be seen through archaeological remains, amongst which the most noteworthy one is the Casa dos Mouros, a dolmen that lies on the slope of the A Madroa mountain.

hoxe.vigo.org

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Abramar Viajes

Council: Vigo
Localization: Reconquista, 3. www.abramar.com Tfno. 986 447 060
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A Calzoa

Council: Vigo
Localization: Navia (San Paio)
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Ac Hotel Palacio Universal

Council: Vigo
Localization: Cánovas del Castillo 28
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Ademar Viajes

Council: Vigo
Localization: Dr.Carracido, 31 Tfno. 986 135 913 www.ademarviajes.gruposercom.com
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A Fontaíña (A Sirenita)

Council: Vigo
Localization: Coruxo (San Salvador)
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A Fonte

Council: Vigo
Localization: Alcabre (Santa Baia)
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Air Europa

Council: Vigo
Localization: Av. Aeroporto, S/N. www.air-europa.com Tfno. 986 486 269
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Alcabre (do Carril)

Council: Vigo
Localization: Alcabre (Santa Baia)
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All Tour S.L.

Council: Vigo
Localization: Marqués de Valladares, 2 http://alltour.grupoeuropa.com Tfno. 986 431 444
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Alquiler de vacaciones.com

Council: Vigo
Localization: Av. Gran Vía, 52. www.alquilerdevacaciones.com Tfno. 656 647 652
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