The largest city in the Spanish region of Galicia, Vigo has a population of around 300 thousand, though it is not actually a provincial capital. It is located on the coast of the north-west of Spain, near to the border of Portugal. During the Middle Ages, Vigo was a small village which suffered a number of Viking attacks and later on in the sixteenth century, Francis Drake raided the city and briefly occupied it. In response, Philip IV of Spain built walls around the city which are still partly standing.
The historic centre of Vigo is called Casco Vello and boasts architectural monuments from throughout the city’s history. The main cathedral is Santa Maria de Vigo, built in the early nineteenth century but there are also a number of impressive twelfth century churches located in the centre of town.
Vigo has an oceanic climate with warm summers but winters can be freezing at times.
Summer is the best time to visit for most tourists as there are also a number beautiful beaches looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. The city also has a lively arts and entertainment scene and it is also an important centre of Galician culture, which is quite distinct from the rest of Spain.
