The Church of Santa María

The Cathedral of Vigo, popularly known as La Colegiata (The Collegiate), is one of the best examples of religious architecture in Vigo, an exponent of neoclassical art in Galicia and the city’s most important temple. Located in Vigo’s Old Town, it was built in 1811 over the remains of a previous church and commissioned from Melchor de Prado y Mariño. This basilica with three naves has a facade with simple ornamentation and a unique sundial on its right side, which curiously does not face south.

The Church of Santa María houses the image of the Cristo de la Victoria, arguably Vigo’s most important religious emblem: it leaves in procession the first Sunday of August, along with tens of thousands of devoted followers. It also happens to be the first event of the Vigo Festival.