What to do in Vigo at Christmas

you may be wondering what to do in Vigo at Christmas. You may be thinking of visiting the Galician city attracted by its already world-famous Christmas lights or, simply, because you have family in the area.

In such cases, the first thing we must point out to you is that Vigo wastes boobs in these dates. And this not only because of the enormous amount of Christmas lights that populate its streets, but also because the magnificent agenda of activities that has been organized for these dates. As if this were not enough, you can also take advantage of your visit to the city to discover its beautiful monuments. We are going to talk to you about all of this below in this article about what to do in Vigo at Christmas.

Christmas lighting

Of necessity, we must begin by telling you about the impressive Christmas lighting that has more than eleven million LED lights and that is already intrinsic to this town of Galicia. Its lighting by the mayor Abel Caballero It took place last November 24. Therefore, you can now enjoy it. Likewise, it will remain until the end of January.

Such is the magnitude of the Christmas lighting in Vigo and other activities such as the Santa Claus and Three Wise Men parades, which cost around 3,3 million euros. However, it has also been calculated to offer a return to the city of one billion thanks to the numerous visitors and the dissemination it receives.

It would be impossible for us to list all the elements of this illumination. But, overall, the giant tree 40 meters high and full of LED lights, which also adds a large star this year. You should also look at the colossal Snowman and the great Christmas ball, luminous castle on Policarpo Sanz Street or the numerous Christmas motifs spread throughout the city.

Children's activities to do in Vigo at Christmas

As it could not be otherwise when it comes to Christmas, Vigo organizes numerous activities for children on these dates. Two urban trains They will tour the streets of the city, one starting at Plaza de Compostela and the other at Plaza de Independencia. Likewise, a ship Decked out with lights he will walk along the estuary.

The little ones will also enjoy the playground for children installed on Areal and del street magic carousel from Puerta del Sol. But, if you prefer, it has a giant ferris wheel in Colón with Concepción Arenal and bumper cars in the Náutico.

However, perhaps your favorite attraction is the Nadal's Circus. It has been located on Avenida de Castelao since December XNUMXnd and its show tells an endearing Christmas story. But it also includes several numbers included under the title The Most Extreme Circus 3.0. Among them, bikers who defy gravity, acrobats or tightrope walkers who walk at a height of ten meters above the ground. And, how could it be otherwise, all this enlivened by friendly clowns.

But children also want to order their gifts. For this, a santa claus house on the aforementioned Policarpo Sanz street. But you will have to take your children soon because, logically, it will only be there until December 24. Furthermore, next to it, in the House of Arts, you have a beautiful Belen with more than two hundred pieces made by the prestigious nativity scene maker José Luis Mayo Lebrija.

Even in the Plaza de Piedra, there is an entire decoration of a town at Christmas with its houses, its snowy streets and even Santa Claus's sleigh. However, the Three Wise Men will also have their moment with the parade on January 5. Finally, these days are celebrated in Vigo Shows for the little ones such as, for example, the puppet show titled Kabul tea shop.

Activities for the elderly

As for what to do in Vigo at Christmas, there are also activities for adults. You can also do some of them with your children. For example, the hiking trails through the mountains near the city. Specifically, there are two official trails, the GR-53 and PR-Gs, in addition to many other locations.

Among the latter, you can do Cabral's, which is only 6,4 kilometers and presents medium difficulty, or that of Candeán, which passes through the Vixiador Forest Park and is 8,6 kilometers long, although less difficult than the previous one. It is even shorter that of Saiáns, with 3.1 kilometers, although a good part of them are on a slope. Finally, other hiking routes around Vigo are those of Coruxo, Oia, Valadares or Zamáns.

You must not forget that Vigo is located in the heart of the beautiful Galician Rias Bajas, with its beaches and parks. Therefore, the landscapes it offers you are wonderful.

Furthermore, as we told you, due to their simplicity, you can do some of these routes with your children. But maybe you prefer to enjoy with them in the rink which, like every year, settles in the city. You will find it on Avenida de Samil, at number 73. Also, next to it you have a kart track. On the other hand, if you want to explain the world of dinosaurs to them, you can take them to the Eugenio González de Haz Gardens, where it is installed Dinoworld.

Also, to expand your explanation about history, you can take them to Castro mountain. As its name indicates, the remains of a town or fort dated to the XNUMXnd century after Christ have been found there. As an example of what it was, three buildings from that time have been built with all the utensils that its inhabitants used. From the same period, although in its case by the Roman colonizers, is the town of Toralla.

But the Christmas atmosphere of a city would be incomplete without a traditional market. As it could not be otherwise, Vigo also has it: the Cies Market. It is located in the Plaza de Compostela and has more than one hundred stalls. In them you will find all kinds of products, from typical gastronomy products to Christmas figures, including clothing.

On the other hand, there is no shortage of musical performances so typical of this time. Specifically, the city offers you the cycle Vigo, a sea of ​​Corais, which began on November 22 and will end on December 30. During this period, concerts will be held in different venues. But what stands out among them is the one that will take place on December 23 at Puerta del Sol. It will begin at 20 p.m. and will have as interpreters Acopovi Choral Choir and the Atlántida Musical Group of Matamá.

The most monumental Vigo

To finish our proposal of what to do in Vigo at Christmas we must talk to you about the numerous monuments that the Galician city has. They cover almost all periods. We have already told you about the fort on the mountain of the same name, but there are also classicist and baroque buildings, as well as an important modernist heritage. Below, we show you some of these buildings.

The co-cathedral and other religious buildings

The city and its surroundings are home to more than thirty religious monuments, including churches, chapels and monasteries. The most important is the co-cathedral of Santa María, built in the XNUMXth century on the remains of another Gothic temple that was looted by the pirate Francis drake. Mostly, it responds to the neoclassical aesthetic, although inside it houses a Churrigueresque altarpiece and a beautiful set of mosaics created by Santiago Padros.

Next to the co-cathedral, you can visit the beautiful Monastery of the Visitation of the Royal Salesians, a marvel of regionalist style due to Antonio Palacios. And you should also see Romanesque churches like those of San Salvador de Corujo and Santa María de Castrelos or renaissance like that of San Miguel de Bouzas.

military fortifications

Due to its strategic location, Vigo has suffered numerous attacks due to its estuary. We have already mentioned the one suffered at the hands of the British pirate Drake, but there were many others. To defend the city, some of the forts that we are going to show you were built and whose visit is also among what to do in Vigo at Christmas.

On the aforementioned Castro hill, which dominates the town, are the two most important ones: the fortress and castle of San Sebastián, which are linked by tunnels. They were built between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. The first of them today houses a beautiful viewpoint, while the second had other uses besides military purposes. For example, in the XNUMXth century it served as a hospital.

Civil architecture of Vigo

Throughout history, many families of the aristocracy and the commercial upper bourgeoisie have settled in the Galician city. The result of this are the numerous palaces and stately homes what you can see in it. They respond to the most diverse styles, ranging from purely medieval to modernist, including civil baroque, and some are classified as A Cultural or even Historic Artistic Monument.

Among them, the houses of Patín and Ceta and Arines, both from the XNUMXth century; the Pazos Figueroa tower and Shepherd's Palace, both of the XVI, or the Castrelos manor, which dates back to the XNUMXth century and is also home to the Quiñones de León Museum, dedicated to painting and archaeology. Already from the XNUMXth century they are palaces of the Shields and Montecelo. Regarding modernism and regionalism, we recommend that you see buildings such as those of Bonín and Moderno or the curious villa el Pilar.

In conclusion, we have shown you everything what to do in Vigo at Christmas. As you can see, it has a wide and varied offer of activities and visits. Not in vain, it is one of the most important cities in Galicia and its celebration of these festivals has gained fame in recent years. Dare to visit it.