Naval Vigo
The city forged in metal
Vigo’s shipbuilding industry is its most characteristic trade-mark. The city’s profile, from the neighbourhood of Teis to Beiramar (a long street that runs along the sea), is marked by the towering cranes of the shipyards, the sound of crashing metal, and by the sirens announcing the ends of shifts. This is naval Vigo, the realest and most powerful Vigo. Barreras, Freire, and Armón are names that mean something in Vigo; they’re the surnames of families who settled in the city two centuries ago. They helped found the city and are now part of our culture.
Much of Vigo’s naval history can be discovered in the permanent exhibition at the Galician Museum of the Sea, in Alcabre.
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Beiramar is not an ideal street for walking, but many will tell you that it’s their favourite street. The reason? This is where the real Vigo breathes, the Vigo that emerged from the sea and turned the city into the naval power it is today. Furthermore, you can walk down to the Mar de Vigo Auditorium, a beautiful building designed by the Galician architect César Portela. Check the year’s schedule for Vigo’s Conference Centre.
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