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Vigo with a city population approximately 299.379 habitants, is the most populated city in Galicia (Spain), and the nucleous of a metropolitan area, which is a point of reference in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion due to its economic potential and its dynamic commercial, social and cultural life.

Local economy Vigo is the economic head of the south of Galicia and the nucleous of a wide socioeconomic area, also has one of the three free trade zones of Spain, this is very important for the industrial activity of the city, like the automobile (Citröen), which is one of the main economic activities of the city, together with the service sector and the fishing.

Vigo’s tourist resources make the city an attractive destination for spending a pleasant holiday on the Atlantic coast.

History:
Vigo was inhabited by castro dwellers and Romans. It experienced attacks by sea from English pirates and also had to fight on land against the French. The arrival of the Catalans boosted the city’s industrial development, which has not stopped growing since it was founded. At the end of the 16th century, the town had 868 residents, which rose to 15,000 at the end of the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, Vigo’s liberal middle class took over the mechanisms of economic power. New industries were set up while communications improved and new plans were created to expand the city. In just over ten years the population doubled (there were 30,000 inhab. In 1910). As the century advanced, Vigo gradually absorbed the neighbouring municipalities of Bouzas and Lavadores. During the first third of the 20th century, the port of Vigo was linked to the image of thousands of Galicians boarding ships in order to emigrate to America. Another symbol is the tram, which began to function in 1914. The city was seething at that time with a great amount of social activities. There was an abundance of newspapers and weeklies, as well as political and trade union associations and organisations. All of this dynamic activity was neutralised by the outbreak of the Civil War.

Famous for: - Natural Bay and Ria. - Cíes Islands. - Sea Port with international importance. - Tradition of an open, cosmopolitan, industrial city with international projection. - The Vigo´s Ria has a special reference in the Julio Verne´s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. For example: “…The Spanish captains of the convoy protested against the decision. They wanted to be accompanied to a Spanish port, and if it could not be Cadiz, then Vigo Bay on the north-west coast of Spain, not blockaded at the time. Admiral de Châteaurenault was weak enough to obey these demands, and the galleons entered Vigo Bay…” “…Unloading the ingots from the galleons in Vigo port would have gone against their rigths. They therefore complained to Madrid, and persuaded the weak Philip V that the convoy should remain sequestered in the roadstead of Vigo without unloading, until the enemy fleets had gone away again. Now while this decision was being taken, the English vessels arrived in Vigo Bay, on 22 October 1702. Although outnumbered, Admiral de Châteaurenault fought courageously. But when he saw that the convoy´s riches were going to fall into the enemy´s hands, he burned and scuppered the galleons and so sank them with their enormous treasure…” “…Well, Dr Aronnax, we are in Vigo Bay, and you are now in a position to penetrate its mysteries…” “…Yes indeed, captain. Allow me, however, to tell you that in making use of Vigo Bay, you are merely anticipating the work of a rival company…” Julio Verne.

Location:
Vigo is the most populated city in Galicia (Spain), and the nucleous of a metropolitan area, which is a point of reference in the Galicia-Northern Portugal Euroregion due to its economic potential and its dynamic commercial, social and cultural life.

Population: The population of Vigo at the end of 2004 was 299.379 habitants

Education:
The city Council of Vigo developes its own education planning through the “Municipal Institute of Education” (Instituto Municipal de Educación) , which has a department for programation and another one for the orientation of the education. The municipal schools for music, theatre, games and chess are attached to this Institute.

Tourism & culture:
Good beaches, suitable facilities for nautical sports, all kinds of musical concerts, the market of Pedra, the Zoo, the Cíes Islands… Vigo’s tourist resources make the city an attractive destination for spending a pleasant holiday on the Atlantic coast. Have a look at the turismodevigo.org web if you are looking for accommodation, city routes or simply want to find out more about the range of leisure activities. Local economy Vigo is the economic head of the south of Galicia and the nucleous of a wide socioeconomic area, which covers from the Morrazo Peninsula to the Portuguese border. Vigo also has one of the three free trade zones of Spain, managed by a Consortium (Zona Franca ), in which the City Council of Vigo and the Porth Authority also participate. This is a tax free area in order to facilitate the international trade. This is very important for the industrial activity of the city, like the automobile (Citröen), which is one of the main economic activities of the city, together with the service sector and the fishing.