Stately Vigo

A walk through the architecture of stately Vigo will take you back to the late 19th century, when Vigo’s bourgeoisie was at its height and began to commission large buildings for their residences, as well as for the headquarters of their companies and institutions. Making the most out of stone, the quintessential construction material in Galicia, the city was splashed with true works of art.

This interactive walk begins in the higher Old Town, in the Porta do Sol, where you can already admire unique constructions like the Simeón building or the El Moderno (the modern). Stately buildings continue to mark the route further along Policarpo Sanz Street, in particular the García Barbón Theatre, by the architect Antonio Palacios.

The route continues along Policarpo Sanz Street and then Garcia Barbón Avenue, which is considered to be the real Golden Mile of Vigo’s architecture. However, there are many more notable buildings in the vicinity: once you get to the Curbera building, the route branches off to the left on Oporto Street until you reach the Areal Street Gardens, where you will see the more buildings that reflect the old bourgeois aesthetic.

On the way back to the starting point, you need to make a detour to enter the narrow Marqués de Valladares Street, which runs parallel and between Areal and Policarpo Sanz Street. Marqués de Valladares also has several essential buildings, originally designed to hold the headquarters of companies, and several Rationalist style buildings.

The route ends back where it began, next to the marina of the Real Club Náutico (Yacht Club), which faces the Hotel Universal. This particular hotel, along with its outdoor terrace, was an icon of the city decades ago, and since its restoration it shines with all its old glory.

Download the brochure in PDF: http://issuu.com/turismodevigo/docs/vigo_se__orial