Pontevedra (, ) is a Spanish city in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of both the '' Comarca'' (County) and Province of Pontevedra, and of the Rías Baixas in

Galicia Galicia may refer to: Geographic regions * Galicia (Spain), a region and autonomous community of northwestern Spain ** Gallaecia, a Roman province ** The post-Roman Kingdom of the Suebi, also called the Kingdom of Gallaecia ** The medieval King ...

. It is also the capital of its own municipality which is often considered an extension of the actual city. The city is best known for its urban planning,

pedestrianisation Pedestrian zones (also known as auto-free zones and car-free zones, as pedestrian precincts in British English, and as pedestrian malls in the United States and Australia) are areas of a city or town reserved for pedestrian-only use and in whi ...

and the charm of its

old town In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...

. In recent years, it has been awarded several international awards for its urban quality and quality of life,

accessibility Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" (i. ...

and

urban mobility Mobilities is a contemporary paradigm in the social sciences that explores the movement of people (human migration, individual mobility, travel, transport), ideas (see e.g. meme) and things (transport), as well as the broader social implications of ...

policy, like the international European Intermodes Urban Mobility Award in 2013, the 2014 Dubai International Best Practices Award for

Sustainable Development Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...

awarded by UN-Habitat in partnership with Dubai Municipality and the Excellence Award of the center for Active Design in New York City in 2015, among others. The city also won the European Commission's first prize for urban safety in 2020. Pontevedra's car-free center helped transform it into one of the most accessible European cities, leading to various European and American studies of its exemplary urban planning being carried out in recent years. Surrounded by hills, the city is located on the edge of an estuary at the

mouth In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...

of the

Lérez The Lérez is a river in South West Galicia, Spain. The river meets the Atlantic Ocean at Pontevedra, where it creates Pontevedra's ria. The sources of the long stream are in Serra do Candán, in the mountain of San Bieito, in the parish of Ac ...

river by the sea, at the end of the

Ria de Pontevedra The Ria de Pontevedra is located in the Province of Pontevedra, in Galicia, Spain. It is one of the three main maritime entrances of Galicia, the Rías Baixas, the most touristic area of the region. It is also the most regular of them and the thi ...

, in the heart of the Rías Baixas. An economic centre and tourist destination, with a population of 83,260 in 2020, it is at the head of a

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...

around its Ria of more than 200,000 inhabitants comprising the municipalities of

Poio Poio is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. Poio is located in the North shore of the Ría de Pontevedra, between Sanxenxo and the provincial capital, Pontevedra. The municipality is adjacent with Meaño, Meis, Ponteve ...

, Marín, Sanxenxo,

Bueu Bueu is a municipality in Galicia, Spain, in the province of Pontevedra. Bueu belongs to the Comarca of O Morrazo together with Cangas do Morrazo, Moaña Moaña is a municipality of 18,709 inhabitants located in Galicia, Spain in the province ...

, Vilaboa,

Cerdedo-Cotobade Cerdedo-Cotobade is a municipality in the province of Pontevedra in the autonomous community of Galicia, in Spain. It arose from the merger on September 22, 2016 of Cerdedo and Cotobade municipalities.Ponte Caldelas Ponte Caldelas is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. It takes its name from an ancient bridge over the Río Caldelas. Etymology The town is more than likely named after the old bridge over the river Verdugo, combined ...

, Barro and Soutomaior. Pontevedra is the second city in

for its rich heritage, only after Santiago de Compostela. A city of art and history, the city is known as ''The Good City'' (name attributed by the French author Jean Froissart in his Chronicles in the 14th century) or ''The City of the Lérez''. The city is also an important stopover on the Portuguese Way path of the

Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago ( la, Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; gl, O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint ...

: the circular

church of the Pilgrim Virgin The church of the Pilgrim Virgin is a scallop-shaped chapel located in the city of Pontevedra, in Spain, along the route of the Portuguese Way of St. James. Construction began in 1778 and it is one of the most symbolic and important buildings ...

has a floor plan in the shape of a

scallop Scallop () is a common name that encompasses various species of marine bivalve mollusks in the taxonomic family Pectinidae, the scallops. However, the common name "scallop" is also sometimes applied to species in other closely related families ...

shell and there are scallop shells sculpted in the arches of the medieval

Burgo Bridge The Burgo Bridge ''(Puente del Burgo)'' is a medieval bridge, built over an older bridge of Roman origin, which crosses the Lérez River in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. It is on the route of the Portuguese Way to the north of the historic cen ...

. Pontevedra city has an important group of monumental buildings, including the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (16th century) with its plateresque Renaissance façade, the

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

Church of the Pilgrim Virgin The church of the Pilgrim Virgin is a scallop-shaped chapel located in the city of Pontevedra, in Spain, along the route of the Portuguese Way of St. James. Construction began in 1778 and it is one of the most symbolic and important buildings ...

(18th century) with its rounded façade, the ruins of the Gothic Convent of San Domingo (13th century), the

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

Church of San Francisco (13th century), the

Church of San Bartholomew (end of the 17th century) and the

Convent of Santa Clare (14th century). Its old town contains numerous coat of arms houses (the 15th century House of the Bells or the 18th century García Flórez Palace), mansions – the

Mendoza Mansion The Mendoza mansion is a building located between Santa María Avenue and Arzobispo Malvar Street, at the western end of the old town of Pontevedra ( Galicia, Spain). It is currently the headquarters of the Rias Bajas Tourist Office. History ...

Villa Pilar Villa Pilar is an eclectic, Art Nouveau mansion located in Marqués de Riestra Street in Pontevedra, Spain. It is one of the best examples of the architecture of Spanish colonists who went to Spanish America and returned rich ''(Indianos)'' in t ...

– as well as old palaces such as the 18th century Mugartegui Palace, which is now the headquarters of the Rias Baixas Wine Regulatory Council, or the Counts of Maceda Palace, which is now a Parador. Another major symbol of the city is the

Ravachol Parrot The Ravachol parrot lived in Pontevedra, Spain, between 1891 and 1913. It was the pet of the pharmacist Perfecto Feijoo. It became one of the symbols of the city. The burial of the Ravachol Parrot is commemorated every year during the carnival o ...

, whose statue is in the city centre. The city also has a

marina A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats. A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...

close to its historic centre. At present, Pontevedra is a city in full revival. It has become the flagship city of the network of walkable cities and one of the cities in the world where children live best, known as ''The City of Children''. Pontevedra is an important administrative centre. The city is marked by a strong presence of administrative and justice services. Pontevedra is the seat of the Provincial Deputation (equivalent to the General Provincial Council), the

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

( Government Delegation) of the province of Pontevedra as well as the Palace of Justice, the Judicial Complex and the provincial district court (), the provincial police station and the provincial Administrative Complex.

History

Name

The name of the city is likely a Latin composite of (bridge) and (old, long established). In Galicia, Latin ''pons'', a masculine word, became feminine, hence

Vulgar Latin Vulgar Latin, also known as Popular or Colloquial Latin, is the range of non-formal Register (sociolinguistics), registers of Latin spoken from the Crisis of the Roman Republic, Late Roman Republic onward. Through time, Vulgar Latin would evolve ...

''Ponte Vetera'', which became by the 13th century the modern Galician language toponymy ''Pontevedra'', "the old bridge", in reference to an old Roman bridge across the

Lérez River The Lérez is a river in South West Galicia, Spain. The river meets the Atlantic Ocean at Pontevedra, where it creates Pontevedra's ria. The sources of the long stream are in Serra do Candán, in the mountain of San Bieito, in the parish of Aci ...

which had been located near the 12th century

Burgo bridge The Burgo Bridge ''(Puente del Burgo)'' is a medieval bridge, built over an older bridge of Roman origin, which crosses the Lérez River in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. It is on the route of the Portuguese Way to the north of the historic cen ...

that remains in place today. Teucro

The name of the town derives from the Latin , which means "old bridge" and refers to the first bridge that the Romans built to cross the

River and the

. However, nowadays there are historians who say that since in ancient Latin, ponto (pontus) meant sea and vedra means green, its name could be due to the particular greenness of the sea caused by the seaweed tides, being the meaning of the name of the city ''that of the green sea''.

Pre-history and antiquity

A local legend relates the foundation of Pontevedra to Teucer, hero of the Trojan War, a legend which was reinforced with the suspicion that Greek traders might have arrived to the Rias Baixas area in ancient times. However, historians and archaeologists tend to agree that the initial settlement was probably formed during the integration of Gallaecia (old Galicia) into the Roman Empire (circa 1st century BC)(Reference is required). The current name of the city is a Latin composite, derived from (bridge) and (old), hence , and thence Galician language , "the old bridge", in reference to the old Roman bridge across Lérez River. Well-connected since Roman times, Pontevedra consolidated itself as an intermediate town during the Suebic period (circa 5th–6th century AD). Fiel Contraste

Medieval and early modern

During the 12th century Pontevedra rose as an important commercial centre; it reached its zenith in the 15th century as a trade and communications hub. Pontevedra was the main Galician urban centre. In fact, Pontevedra has the second largest "old town" in Galicia, only after Santiago de Compostela. Pontevedra was on the route of the Way of Saint James, namely its southern or the Portuguese Way. The

, with its distinctive scallop-shaped floor plan, is a destination for tourists and pilgrims. In the 16th century it still was a commercial city, with an increase in fishing. At that time, Pontevedra was the largest Galician port, as it was a secure port open to the sea. One of Christopher Columbus' ships, the

carrack A carrack (; ; ; ) is a three- or four- masted ocean-going sailing ship that was developed in the 14th to 15th centuries in Europe, most notably in Portugal. Evolved from the single-masted cog, the carrack was first used for European trade fr ...

'' Santa Maria'', originally named ''La Gallega'' ("The Galician"), was built in Pontevedra. It was in centuries later that the sedimentation caused by

river gradually rendered the harbour unsuitable for large-scale navigation. The end of the 16th century marked the beginning of the decline of the city, a decline which had already started for the rest of

from the end of the 15th century.

Late modern

The situation would worsen during the 17th and 18th centuries. The port drastically reduced its activity due to the mentioned geographical causes. Furthermore, political decisions and dynastic conflicts provoked a general decay in trade, thus resulting in the depopulation of the city; the population was reduced in half during that time, also affected by epidemics. Debuxo de Pontevedra por Pier Maria Baldi (1669)

Debuxo de Pontevedra por Pier Maria Baldi (1669)

In the beginning of the 19th century fishing, arts and crafts kept the economy going. With the establishment of new provincial division in 1833 Pontevedra saw itself transformed into a provincial capital. The city then grew and became an administrative, cultural and commercial centre. The introduction of the railway also reconnected the city with the rest of the country, after having lost its harbour. All in all, Pontevedra sees in this century a cultural, economic and urban revival. It is in Pontevedra when, in 1853, Xoán Manuel Pintos publishes the first book in modern Galician, ''A gaita gallega''. Plano de Pontevedra (City), Francisco Coello e Pascual Madoz, 1856

Plano de Pontevedra (City), Francisco Coello e Pascual Madoz, 1856

20th century

Pontevedra entered the 20th century with great prospects. The city was at the heart of Galician culture and politics. Galicianists – such as

Alexandre Bóveda Alexandre Bóveda Iglesias (Ourense, 7 June 1903 - executed in A Caeira, Poio, 17 August 1936), commonly known as Alexandre Bóveda, was a Spanish politician and financial officer from Galicia. He is considered one of the most important Galicia ...

and Castelao – took up residence in the city, where in 1931 they founded the Partido Galeguista ("Galicianist Party"), the origin of contemporary Galician nationalism. However, the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and subsequent Francoist dictatorship (1939–1975) suddenly ended Pontevedra's progression. Political repression and economic hardships forced many to emigrate. Enrique Campo, Pontevedra desde A Caeira (1908)

Enrique Campo, Pontevedra desde A Caeira (1908)

In the 1940s–1960s the government of the Franco dictatorship granted a Free Zone and a Development Pole to the neighbouring city of Vigo, a rare case in Spain (for a city that was not a provincial capital), which favoured the economic development of this city in the province of Pontevedra to the detriment of the provincial capital, Pontevedra, becoming rival cities. The recovery of the local economy only partially began in the 1960s, with the introduction of some industrial activity. However, these very activities would later cause serious environmental and health concerns, forcing the eventual closure of some of them. With the end of the dictatorship in 1975 the construction sector also developed. Improvements in the communications network during the 1980s and 1990s helped Pontevedra to regain weight in the Rias Baixas region, acting again as a trade hub and focusing on its administrative functions as provincial capital. The introduction of university studies in the city during the 1990s contributed further to the growth of the city. Since 1999 Pontevedra has seen intense urban renewal and cultural revival, positively influencing the local economy.

21st century

In the 21st century the city of Pontevedra has undergone both a cultural renaissance and an urban transformation, taking in the

of the city centre, extension of cycle lanes, recovery of the historical and natural heritage, rehabilitation of buildings and public spaces, and an increase in green areas and pedestrian walkways. Unlike the other six large cities of Galicia, which have lost inhabitants to neighboring municipalities, Pontevedra's population is currently increasing. It has become one of the most accessible cities for disabled people, receiving a national prize for this in 2006, along with the international European INTERMODES Urban Mobility Award in 2013, the 2014 Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development awarded by UN-Habitat in partnership with Dubai Municipality and the Award of the Center of Active Design in New York City in 2015. Pontevedra's model for responsible mobility is currently seen as an international reference.

Geography

Physical

Location and subdivisions

The municipality of Pontevedra is located between 42°20' and 42°30' north and 8°33' and 8°41' west, in the southwestern Galician coast, an area popularly known as '' Rias Baixas''. The municipality covers and is about wide from north to south. The city sits at the end of the ria that bears its name, occupying the valleys of the

and Tomeza rivers. It extends southwards to the mouth of river Verdugo in Ponte Sampaio. It is surrounded by four mountainous regions divided by two faults, one stretching north–south and one from northeast to southwest. To the north it borders the municipalities of Barro,

Moraña Moraña is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. See also * Lapa de Gargantáns The Lapa de Gargantáns is a menhir located in the Galician municipality of Moraña Moraña is a municipality in Galicia, Spain i ...

and

Campo Lameiro Campo Lameiro is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra Pontevedra is a province of Spain along the country's Atlantic coast in southwestern Europe. The province forms the southwestern part of the autonomous commun ...

; to the east,

Cotobade Cotobade is a former local country council in Galicia (Spain) in the province of Pontevedra. It bordered the municipalities of Campo Lameiro, Cerdedo, Forcarei, A Lama, Ponte Caldelas and Pontevedra. In 2011 its population was 4432 people, accor ...

and

Ponte Caldelas Ponte Caldelas is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. It takes its name from an ancient bridge over the Río Caldelas. Etymology The town is more than likely named after the old bridge over the river Verdugo, combined ...

; to the south, Soutomaior, Vilaboa and Marín, and to the west,

and the ria, leading to the Atlantic Ocean. The main ''parroquias'' (parishes) of Pontevedra are: Alba, Bora, Campañó, A Canicouva, Cerponzóns, Estribela, Lérez, Lourizán, Marcón, Mourente, Ponte Sampaio, Salcedo, San Xosé, Santa María de Xeve, Tomeza, Verducido, Xeve. The neighbourhoods or main areas of Pontevedra are: the

, O Burgo, Campolongo, Mollabao, Monte Porreiro, A Parda, A Seca, Valdecorvos, Salgueiriños, Gorgullón. The residential area of A Caeira, although officially located in the municipality of

, is often considered as just another neighbourhood of Pontevedra since the vast majority of the residents work in Pontevedra and relate to the city.

Climate

Pontevedra has a humid

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...

( Köppen ''Cfb''). The average temperature is , with a daily average of in January and in July. These are unusually mild for a city so far north, and are due to Pontevedra's proximity to the sea and to the moderating effect of the ria. Yet, like all the Galician coast, Pontevedra is subject to occasional Atlantic storms in winter. These are characterised by a quick drop in temperature, rain and gales. With eleven of the twelve months above Pontevedra is in the maritime

subtropical climate The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north and ...

zone under the Trewartha climate classification, a classification it falls short of under the Köppen classification due to the cool summer nights. Overall Pontevedra, as Galicia, is rainy, especially at the end of autumn and winter, with an annual average precipitation of , and around 134 rainy days per year. Summer is drier, generally speaking, making Pontevedra the sunniest city in Galicia with 2248 hours of sunshine per year.

Human

Population

The municipality of Pontevedra is composed of the city of Pontevedra and fifteen rural parishes in close proximity, with a total population of 83,260 (as of 2020).Statistical Profile for Pontevedra (municipality)
, from the Galician Institute of Statistics. Access date 22 April 2009 This results in a relative high density of population of 710.1 inhabitants per square kilometre. More than two-thirds of the population live in the city, and less than one-third in the rural parishes. The population of Pontevedra is aging, with generational replacement is not necessarily assured, although the city's population has been gradually growing in recent years. Broken down by age, 15.93% of the population were senior citizens, 69% between 15 and 65 years, and just 15.01% under the 15 years of age. The natality rate (9.8‰) is only +1.8 over the mortality rate (8‰). The migrational balance is slightly positive (+350 people in 2006). According to the local authorities Pontevedra is, since 1999, the fastest growing Galician city, with an average of +1000 more inhabitants per year. Pontevedra is the city with the youngest population in

and northwest Spain and the Galician city that attracts the most people to live in, together with Santiago de Compostela. It is the Galician city with the best rate of natural increase (RNI). According to the 2001 census, 29.6% of the population have Galician as their mother tongue, where 32.1% speak it "often". The remaining 38.3% speak Castilian as their native language or speak mostly in Castilian

Urban planning and living environment

Pontevedra has a pedestrian city centre (which includes the

and the city centre or first urban expansion area) which, together with parks such as Las Palmeras (the Palm Trees Park) and squares, make the city very pleasant to walk in and give it a high quality of life. Paseo Marítimo de Pontevedra capital e Isla de Tambo

Paseo Marítimo de Pontevedra capital e Isla de Tambo

An island on the Lérez, opposite a remarkable cable-stayed bridge dating from 1995 (the

Tirantes Bridge The Tirantes Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the River Lérez in the city of Pontevedra, Spain, linking the south bank to the north bank at the level of the city's Congress Hall. Designed by Leonardo Fernandez Troyano and Francisc ...

, the ''Strap Bridge'') and next to the modern

Pontevedra Auditorium and Convention Centre The Pontevedra Auditorium and Convention Centre is a building that hosts conventions, exhibitions, concerts, plays and ballet and dance performances in Pontevedra (Spain). It is located in the northern part of the city, next to the Lérez riv ...

shelters the city's green lung, the famous

Island of Sculptures The Covo Island, better known as the Island of Sculptures or Illa das Esculturas in Galician, is a park and island located near the mouth of the Lérez River, in Pontevedra, Spain. It has an area of 70,000 m² and is connected to both banks of ...

park. It is a space where international artists such as Robert Morris,

Ulrich Rückriem Ulrich Rückriem (born 30 September 1938) is a German sculptor notable for his monumental stone sculptures. He lives and works in Cologne and London. His abstract works of art are often assigned to the style of minimalism and process art. Lif ...

Anne and Patrick Poirier Anne and Patrick Poirier (born 31 March 1942 in Marseille and 5 May 1942 in Nantes) are a French art duo. From 1963 to 1966 they studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris. After winning the Prix de Rome, they lived ...

Giovanni Anselmo Giovanni Anselmo (born 1934 in Borgofranco d'Ivrea, Province of Turin, Italy) is an artist who emerged in Italy after World War II within the art movement called Arte Povera. His most famous artwork is ''Untitled (Sculpture That Eats)'' (1968), a ...

, Richard Long, Ian Hamilton Finlay or Jenny Holzer have left their works. Another large park, the Xunqueira de Alba, is located near the Burgo district, in front of the

tied-arch bridge A tied-arch bridge is an arch bridge in which the outward horizontal forces of the arch(es) caused by tension at the arch ends to a foundation are countered by equal tension of its own gravity plus any element of the total deck structure such grea ...

Currents Bridge The Currents Bridge (''puente de las Corrientes'' in Spanish), is a tied-arch bridge that crosses the Lérez River in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. It was inaugurated in 2012 and connects Uruguay Avenue and Domingo Fontán Street. History Th ...

, inaugurated in 2012.

Pedestrianization

The capital of the province of Pontevedra has become one of the most pedestrianised cities in Spain over the last fifteen years. The old city and much of the city centre are pedestrianized, so that in these neighbourhoods, motorized transport is limited to residents and services. In 1999 Pontevedra began its transformation process by pedestrianizing its

. In the following years, the city centre and some other streets on the outskirts of Pontevedra were pedestrianised too. In 2010, Pontevedra was the first provincial capital in Spain to reduce the maximum speed in the city centre to 30 kilometres per hour and in 2019 to 10 kilometres per hour in the city centre. Virxe-Peregrina-2021

In Pontevedra, the

Metrominuto Metrominuto is a schematic pedestrian map based on the aesthetics of transit maps, marking the distances between the most important points of a city and the times an average person would take to walk those distances, designed to encourage citiz ...

pedestrian plan was created for urban mobility, which with the urban transformation of the city has won many national and international awards such as the international European INTERMODES Urban Mobility Award in 2013 and the 2014 Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development awarded by UN-Habitat in partnership with Dubai Municipality. The Metrominuto is a map based on the aesthetics of metro maps, which marks the pedestrian distances between the most important points of the city and the time it takes to travel them. The Metrominuto has been used as a model in other European cities such as Toulouse in France, Florence,

Ferrara Ferrara (, ; egl, Fràra ) is a city and ''comune'' in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital of the Province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream ...

Modena Modena (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language#Dialects, Modenese, Mòdna ; ett, Mutna; la, Mutina) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern I ...

and

Cagliari Cagliari (, also , , ; sc, Casteddu ; lat, Caralis) is an Italian municipality and the capital of the island of Sardinia, an autonomous region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name ''Casteddu'' means ''castle''. It has about 155,000 inhabitant ...

in Italy, Poznan in Poland and the Angel district in London. In Spain, it has inspired other cities such Zaragoza, Seville, Cadiz, Salamanca,

Granada Granada (,, DIN 31635, DIN: ; grc, Ἐλιβύργη, Elibýrgē; la, Illiberis or . ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the fo ...

, Jerez de la Frontera, A Coruña and Pamplona. As a result, 65% of trips in the city centre are made on foot. Pontevedra was recognized in 2016 as one of the 15 best cycling cities in the world. The urban model of the city of Pontevedra follows the models of other European cities such as Amsterdam, Bruges or Copenhagen. Laberintodepontevedra

The urban transformation of Pontevedra and measures to reduce motorized traffic in the city centre have reduced by 65% the emissions of from fossil fuels in the capital over the last decade and have been reported by foreign and French television channels such as France 2, France 3, Canal+ or

TF1 TF1 (; standing for ''Télévision Française 1'') is a French commercial television network owned by TF1 Group, controlled by the Bouygues conglomerate. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network. TF1 is par ...

and the Swiss channel Radio Télévision Suisse RTS and other foreign televisions like MBC TV in South Korea, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Canada or Seven Network in Australia.

Transport

As regards public transport, Pontevedra has two urban bus lines in the city centre: *Line 1 (red), 8.4 kilometres long, connects the Monte Porreiro neighbourhood, one of the most populated in the city with more than 7,000 inhabitants and where the Regional Centre of the National University of Distance Education (UNED) is located, to the A Xunqueira neighbourhood and to the train and bus stations and has 19 stops. *Line 2 (blue) is 7.6 kilometres long and connects the Monte Porreiro district with the Montecelo Hospital and Galicia Square in the Campolongo district, with 15 stops. There is also a high frequency urban bus service between Pontevedra and Marín, which is located in the metropolitan area of Pontevedra and with which the city forms a virtual urban continuum. Pontevedra is well connected by road and rail. It sits on the A Coruña- Tui railway and motorway corridor.

Pontevedra bus station The Pontevedra Bus Station (''Estación de Autobuses de Pontevedra'') is a bus station in Pontevedra (Spain) that allows inter-city bus traffic, with national or international destinations. Location The Pontevedra bus station is located in th ...

has multiple connections with other cities in Spain, Galicia and abroad.

Pontevedra railway station Pontevedra Railway Station is a railway station of the Spanish Atlantic Axis high-speed rail line which provides services to the city of Pontevedra, in Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Spain. Location The station is located at the end of the Estación ...

is located between the Galician capital Santiago de Compostela (58 km to the north) and the largest Galician municipality, Vigo (30 km to the south). Renfe also has a Pontevedra-University railway stop in the city to serve the A Xunqueira university campus and the Monte Porreiro, Tafisa and A Seca neighbourhoods. Pontevedra city itself does not have an airport in its municipality but the city is relatively close to the airports of ''Lavacolla'' to the north (in the municipality of Santiago de Compostela) and ''Peinador'' to the south (in the municipalities of Redondela, Mos and Vigo). A good network of roads and motorways efficiently connects Pontevedra with the other Galician cities, and also with Portugal (55 km to the south), and inland (100 km to the eastern city of

Ourense Ourense (; es, Orense ) is a city and capital of the province of Ourense, located in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path of the Way of St ...

). Regular bus lines link Pontevedra with other Galician cities and towns, as well as with Madrid, Porto and

Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...

(among others). Pontevedra Capital Estación RENFE

The AVE

high-speed train High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail system that runs significantly faster than traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated tracks. While there is no single standard that applies worldwide, lines ...

(in Spanish ''Tren de alta velocidad'', or TAV) reaches Pontevedra and the city is a stop on the " Atlantic Line", running from the northern Galician city of A Coruña to

(Portugal). Likewise, Pontevedra will benefit from the high-speed train connecting Galicia and central Spain. That Galician connection will be fully operational in 2022. Despite the fact that Pontevedra was once the main Galician port, at present the Pontevedra harbour is only used for recreational purposes, not for cargo or passenger transportation. Neighbouring Marín is a major military and commercial harbour 7 km away. The

Pontevedra marina The marina of Pontevedra (Pontevedra, Spain) is located at the mouth of the Lérez river in the ria de Pontevedra. Its nautical chart is 4162-HMI. It is managed by the Club Náutico, Nautical Club of Pontevedra, by concession of the public entit ...

is close to the old town and the commercial and fishing

port of Marín and Ria de Pontevedra The port of Marín and Ria de Pontevedra is located in the municipalities of Marín and Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain). It is on the southern shore of the Ria de Pontevedra. The port stretches from Punta Pesqueira in the municipality of Marín ...

, 5 kilometres west of the city centre.

Landmarks

Thanks to a remarkable

, the surrounding landscape and its former medieval port, Pontevedra has been defined as a "charming city" and "an authentic Galician city". Tourist attractions include many religious and civil buildings as well as picturesque medieval squares.

Religious heritage

* Baroque church of the Pilgrim Virgin. The major symbol of the city, it is on the Place of the Pilgrim Virgin. Built on a semi-circular scallop plan, it is the only rounded scallop-shaped church in Spain. * Gothic-Renaissance Basilica of St. Mary Major. Built by the powerful sailors guild. It has a remarkable flattened facade. Santa Maria a Maior de Pontevedra 02 retouched

Santa Maria a Maior de Pontevedra 02 retouched

Convent and church of Saint Francis, Pontevedra The Convent of St. Francis (Spanish: San Francisco) is a Franciscan convent located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), overlooking the Plaza de la Herrería. The Gothic church of San Francis is attached to the convent on the southeast si ...

. Gothic church of St. Francis overlooking the Herrería Square. It is one of the mendicant-style churches in

. Its plan is a Latin cross, with a single nave and a chevet with three polygonal apses. The church houses the tomb of the admiral and poet Payo Gómez Chariño, which dates from the 13th century. * Ruins of the Gothic church of St. Dominic, having belonged to the Dominican order, only the chevet with five polygonal chapels remains. Today they belong to the

Pontevedra Museum The Pontevedra Museum (formerly the Pontevedra Provincial Museum) is a museum in the Galician city of Pontevedra in Spain. It was founded by the Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra on 30 December 1927 and has six buildings for its exhibitions. ...

* Baroque church of St. Bartholomew (Italian baroque). Igrexa de San Bartolomé, Pontevedra

* Convent and Romanesque-Gothic church of St. Clare. * Apparitions Sanctuary, where the Virgin of Fatima appeared to Sister Mary Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Fatima. *

Nazarene Chapel The Chapel of the Nazarene is a Catholic religious building, with the status of chapel, located in the old town of Pontevedra (Spain), in Duque de Tetuán Street, opposite the Principal Theatre. History The chapel has its origins in the 14t ...

(Baroque, S.XIV-XVIII). * Chapel of Souls (Neo-Gothic, S.XIX). * Chapel of Saint-Roch. * Saint-Francis Convent. * Monastery of Saint-Saviour of Lérez, a Baroque reanimation on a picturesque site. This former Benedictine monastery has a church (from the 18th century) whose facade is flanked by two towers. Adjacent to the church is one of the galleries of the former Renaissance cloister of the 16th century. San Francisco, Pontevedra

Our Lady of Placeres church The Our Lady of Placeres church (''Igrexa da Nosa Señora dos Praceres'') is a Catholic church in the municipality of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. The church was built at the end of the 19th century in Gothic Revival architecture, neo-Gothic styl ...

built at the end of the 19th century in

Neo-Gothic style Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

. *

College of the Society of Jesus in Pontevedra The former College of the Jesuits is an 18th century baroque building located in Sarmiento Street in the heart of the old town of Pontevedra, Spain. A secondary educational institution founded by the Jesuits in 1695, the building is known today ...

, 1714, Italian baroque architecture. * Monastery of St. John of Poio.

Civil Heritage

* House of the Bells, Gothic, from the 15th century, with a

heron The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera ''Botaurus'' and ''Ixobrychus ...

in the coat of arms, Don Filiberto Street. Pontevedra capital Casa de las Campanas

* House of the Vaamonde, Renaissance, Amargura street, 16th century. * Old Mail House, late Gothic, in García de la Riega Square. * Remnants of the medieval ramparts.12th–15th century. * Counts of Maceda Palace or Barón Palace, Renaissance building from the 16th century, with a crenellated tower, now converted into a Parador. Pontevedra capital Parador casa del Barón de casa Goda

Pontevedra capital Parador casa del Barón de casa Goda

* Palace of the Gago and Montenegro (16th century), in the square of Teucer, with a magnificent coat of arms in granite. * House of Heads, with Renaissance busts on the facade, on the Estrella Square. * Mugartegui Palace, baroque, from the 18th century, on Mugartegui Square or the Quarry Square. Pontevedra capital Palacio barroco de Mugártegui

Pontevedra capital Palacio barroco de Mugártegui

Pazo de Castro Monteagudo The Pazo de Castro Monteagudo, is an 18th-century baroque pazo in Pasantería Street, next to the Plaza de la Leña in the city of Pontevedra, Spain, in the heart of the old town. History The pazo Castro Monteagudo was built in 1760, as ind ...

, baroque (1760). *

Pazo de García Flórez The Pazo de García Flórez is an 18th century baroque pazo located between Sarmiento Street and Plaza de la Leña in the city of Pontevedra, Spain, in the heart of the old town. History At the end of the 18th century, Antonio García Estév ...

, baroque, from the 18th century, Sarmiento street, with a magnificent granite coat of arms. * Palace of the Marquis of Aranda, baroque, from the 18th century to the crenellated tower at the corner of the square of Teucer. Casa do concello Pontevedra

* House of the Barbeito and Padrón, baroque with Renaissance busts on the façade, from the 18th century, Real Street. *

Liceo Casino The Liceo Casino is a neoclassical building from 1878 located in the historic centre of Pontevedra, which houses the oldest cultural and leisure society in Pontevedra, Spain. Location The Liceo Casino is located in the same block as the Pr ...

, neoclassical, 1878. * Principal Theatre of Pontevedra, neoclassical. *

Pontevedra City Hall The Pontevedra City Hall in Pontevedra, Spain, is the seat of the city council of this Galician city. It is located at the eastern end of the Alameda de Pontevedra, on the edge of the old town. To the west it opens onto the pedestrian Españ ...

, 19th century of Parisian inspiration. * The Palace of the Provincial Council of the 19th century, eclectic. * Mansion house of the Mendozas, eclectic, on the Saint-Mary avenue, (1880). *

Mansion of the Marquis of Riestra The Marquis of Riestra's mansion is an eclectic building with art Nouveau elements from the late 19th century located at 30 Michelena Street in Pontevedra, Spain. It currently houses the main central administrative services of the City Counc ...

, eclectic, in Michelena Street, 30, (end of the 19th century). * Lourizán Palace (art nouveau), (end of the 19th century). *

Pontevedra Provincial Hospital The Pontevedra Provincial Hospital is a building dating from 1897, located in the city centre of Pontevedra, Spain. History The origins of the Provincial Hospital go back to the hospital in Pontevedra founded in 1439 by testamentary dispositi ...

, by León Domercq and Siro Borrajo (1897). *

Faculty of Fine Arts In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...

(former San Fernando barracks), end of the 19th century * Pontevedra former training teacher college building, eclectic, end of 19th century * Pontevedra bullring (1900) *

Bank of Spain The Bank of Spain ( es, link=no, Banco de España) is the central bank of Spain. Established in Madrid in 1782 by Charles III of Spain, Charles III, today the bank is a member of the European System of Central Banks and is also Spain's national ...

, Michelena street, eclectic, 1903. *

Fonseca House The Fonseca House is a building on the Paseo de Colón in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. It is one of the most impressive historical buildings in the city, distinguished by its neoclassical architecture and by the two stone Sphinxes and two larg ...

, neoclassical, on Paseo of Colón. Its facade is inspired by the church of the Paris Madeleine, (end of the 19th century). *

Valle-Inclán High School The Valle-Inclán High School is a large eclectic and Art Nouveau building located in the city centre of Pontevedra, Spain. It is named after the writer Valle-Inclán who studied and lived in Pontevedra. Today it is the seat of the Valle-Incl� ...

(art nouveau), beginning of the 20th century on Gran Vía de Montero Ríos. * Central Post Office building (art nouveau), beginning of the 20th century, Olive street. * Modern Coffee (art nouveau), on St. Joseph's square. * ''

'' private mansion (art nouveau), Riestra street. *

Gran Garaje Building The Gran Garaje is an Art Nouveau building dating from 1915, located in the city centre of Pontevedra, Spain. Location The building is located at Benito Corbal Street, in the pedestrian and commercial centre of the city, near Plaza de la Her ...

, art nouveau, (1915). * Pontevedra Provincial Savings Bank (1944) by Emilio Quiroga Losada. * Pontevedra Central Market (1948) by Emilio Quiroga Losada. * Palace of Justice of Pontevedra (1956) by Robustiano Fernández Cochón and Germán Álvarez de Sotomayor y Castro. *

Gobierno Civil de Pontevedra The Gobierno Civil de Pontevedra, currently Subdelegación del Gobierno de Pontevedra, is an official building located in Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain). It has served since its construction as the government delegation office representing the Span ...

(1958) by Enrique López-Izquierdo Blanco. *

Pontevedra Municipal Sports Hall The Pontevedra Municipal Sports Hall ''(Pabellón Municipal de los Deportes)'' is an arena in Pontevedra, Spain. It is primarily used for team handball and is the home arena of SD Teucro. The arena holds 4,000 people. It is located in the neighbo ...

(1965) by

Alejandro de la Sota Alejandro de la Sota may refer to: * Alejandro de la Sota (footballer) (1881-unknown), Spanish former footballer, co-founder and president of Athletic Bilbao * Alejandro de la Sota (architect) Alejandro de la Sota Martínez (October 20, 1913 - ...

. *

Pontevedra Public Library The Public Library of Pontevedra Antonio Odriozola located in Pontevedra (Spain) is the provincial state library in the province of Pontevedra and is part of the Public Library Network of Galicia and the State Public Library Network (BPE). Its ...

(1988) by Julio Simonet Barrio. * Congres Hall Palace (1997) by Manuel de las Casas. *

Pontevedra Exhibition Centre The Pontevedra Exhibition Centre is a complex for events such as exhibitions, fairs and conventions. It is in the Rosalía de Castro Park, near the banks of the Lérez River in Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain). History The exhibition centre was bu ...

(1998) by Manuel de las Casas. * A Parda Courts Building (1998), by Fernando Martínez Sarandeses. * Faculty of Social and Communication Sciences (2000), by José Carlos Arrojo Lois. * Faculty of Education and Sport (2006), an example of architecture in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art of New York (MOMA) in 2006. The design of the faculty, by Jesús Irisarri Castro and Guadalupe Piñera, won the SICE prize in 2008, awarded by the Spanish Superior Council of Architects. * Administrative Complex of Pontevedra, the twin-tower administrative building of the Galician Government (2008) by the architect Manuel Gallego Jorreto. *

Castelao Building The Castelao building is a modern architectural building from the beginning of the 21st century located on the corner of Padre Amoedo Carballo and Sierra Street in Pontevedra, Spain, on the edge of the historic centre. It belongs to the Pontev ...

of the

(2013), a great building of contemporary architecture, by the architects Eduardo Pesquera and Jesús Ulargui. *

New Courthouse New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

(2019). The façade of the building is designed with curved bevelled surfaces and serial openings.

Monuments

Monument to the heroes of Puente Sampayo The Monument to the Heroes of Puente Sampayo is a memorial and sculptural group created by the Spanish sculptor Julio González Pola, in Pontevedra, Spain. It is in the gardens of the Plaza de España and was inaugurated on 27 August 1911. The ...

, in the Plaza de España, beginning of the 20th century *

Valle-Inclán statue ''Valle-Inclán'', is a sculpture created by the Spanish sculptor César Lombera, located in Pontevedra (Spain). It is located in Plaza Méndez Núñez and was inaugurated on 26 June 2003. History At the beginning of the 21st century, Pontev ...

, beginning of the 21st century * Tertulia Monument (Literary Circle in Modern Coffee), on St. Joseph's square, beginning of the 21st century *

Teucer statue ''Teucer'' is a statue created by the Spanish sculptor Cándido Pazos, located in Pontevedra (Spain). It is located in Saint Joseph's Square above the clock of the central building of the former Provincial Savings Bank of Pontevedra and was in ...

, on St. Joseph's square, beginning of the 21st century *

The Fiel contraste The ''Fiel contraste'' is a sculptural group created by the Spanish sculptor Ramón Conde, located in Pontevedra, Spain. It stands in Alhóndiga street, behind the Pontevedra City Hall, and was inaugurated on 30 April 2010. History The sculp ...

, in Alhóndiga street, beginning of the 21st century * Ravachol statue, beginning of the 21st century * Dorna, beginning of the 21st century File:HomenaxePontesampaio.jpg,

File:Pontevedra-A fonte dos nenos2 (6789668151).jpg, Children's fountain File:Valle-Inclán Pontevedra.jpg,

on Méndez Núñez square File:Fiel Contraste.jpg,

File:Pontevedra - Sede Afundación Pontevedra 6.JPG,

on St. Joseph's square File:Statues, Saint Joseph Square, Pontevedra, Galicia.jpg, Tertulia Monument (Literary Circle in Modern Coffee) File:Pontevedra-Vendedora_de_pollos.jpg, Woman with chickens File:Pontevedra capital escultura Loro Ravachol.jpg,

File:Pontevedra Capital Escultura Barco Velero.jpg, Dorna File:Pontevedra Capital Plátano (escultura) en la Plaza de Barcelos.jpg, Tree monument File:Estatua de Cristobal Colón en los jardines de Vicenti, Pontevedra.JPG, Christopher Columbus File:Estatua peregrino.jpg, ''Dando de comer al peregrino'' File:Pontevedra 42, Monumento á muller do emigrante, Avda. Corvaceiras 01-03b.jpg, Monument to the woman of the emigrant File:Pontevedra cruz.jpg, Soldier's monument

Bridges

* Medieval Burgo Bridge, from the 12th century. The bridge that gave the name to the city. *

Barca Bridge The Barca Bridge is a bridge over the Lérez River, at its mouth in the Pontevedra Ria, which connects the city of Pontevedra (in the area of A Moureira) with the municipality of Poio in Spain. History According to documents from 1197, the ...

, from the end of the 19th century. *

Santiago Bridge The Santiago Bridge (''St. James Bridge'') crosses the Lérez River in the city of Pontevedra (Spain), where the N-550 road runs alongside it. It connects the city centre with the A Xunqueira area and the O Burgo district. History The projec ...

beam bridge Beam bridges are the simplest structural forms for bridge spans supported by an abutment or pier at each end. No moments are transferred throughout the support, hence their structural type is known as '' simply supported''. The simplest beam ...

, 1983. *

(''Tie-rod bridge or Strap bridge''), cable-stayed bridge, 1995. *

, 2012. *

Puente Sampayo Bridge The Puente Sampayo Bridge is a medieval bridge that crosses the Verdugo River between the civil parish of Ponte Sampaio in the municipality of Pontevedra and the civil parish of Arcade in the municipality of Soutomaior in Spain. History The ...

, from the 11th-18th centuries.

Picturesque medieval squares

The medieval squares of the

old town of Pontevedra The historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain) is the oldest part of the city. It is the second most important old town in Galicia after Santiago de Compostela, and was declared a historic-artistic complex on 23 February 1951. The historic centre ...

and those of its first urban expansion stand out as small rooms with regular and geometric proportions. Many of them evoke with their trade names the activities that took place centuries ago: Plaza of firewood, vegetables, the stone quarry, the blacksmith's, the quay...

Plaza de la Herrería The Plaza de la Herrería (Blacksmith's square) is a large square located on the edge of the old town of Pontevedra (Spain), inside the old city walls. It is the main square of the old town and has an area of about 2,000 m2. It includes the sm ...

Blacksmith's square is the main square of the city; it is the most popular because of the daily crowds. With arches in two of its ends, with the gardens of the Plaza of Orense and the Herrería fountain at the corner of the church and convent of St. Francis. It is lined with camellias typical of the Rias Baixas. It owes its name to the blacksmiths who, in the 15th century, tempered the iron in the ovens and forges of its arcades for the weapons and paving stones that the Catholic Monarchs had asked them to manufacture. It was the place where the Feira Franca was held, granted to the city by King Henry IV. Here you will find the historic Carabela coffee shop, and other traditional coffees such as Savoy.

Plaza de la Peregrina The Plaza de la Peregrina is an 18th century square located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the edge of the historic centre. Origin of the name The square is named after the baroque-neoclassical church of the Pilgrim Virgin, loc ...

In the heart of the pedestrian centre of Pontevedra, the Pilgrim Virgin Square is the city's main meeting point. It is presided over by the

and was located outside the walls, very close to the Trabancas gate of the old Pontevedra wall. This is where the

pillory The pillory is a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse. The pillory is related to the stocks ...

where the prisoners were executed was located. Teucer square
Pontevedra-19-064-pr-teucro-3v-plan

With perfect geometric dimensions and framed by orange trees, it is surrounded by noble buildings, with the 18th century Gago and Montenegro Palace standing out on the north side, where the great coat of arms of 1716 is to be seen on the façade. On the east side, overlooking Royal Street, there is a stone fountain with night lighting.

Plaza de la Leña The Plaza de la Leña (Firewood Square) is a picturesque medieval square located in the heart of the old town of Pontevedra (Spain). It is the most typical medieval square in the historic centre and in Galicia. Origin of the name The square ...

The Firewood Square is the most representative and picturesque typical Galician square in Galicia. With a

calvary Calvary ( la, Calvariae or ) or Golgotha ( grc-gre, Γολγοθᾶ, ''Golgothâ'') was a site immediately outside Jerusalem's walls where Jesus was said to have been crucified according to the canonical Gospels. Since at least the early mediev ...

in its centre and popular houses with arcades on one side and the Baroque houses of the

on the other. It owes its name to the firewood that was sold here in the past to heat Pontevedra's kitchens.

Plaza de la Verdura The Plaza de la Verdura (Vegetable Square) is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the old town of Pontevedra, historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain). It is one of the liveliest medieval squares in the city. Etymology The Plaza ...

Regularly proportioned, on the Vegetables square there are houses with coats of arms and a 19th-century forge fountain. This is where the House of Light is located, which commemorates the fact that Pontevedra was the first Galician city to have electricity in the 19th century. Today it is the headquarters of the Pontevedra Tourist Office. The square is very lively, to which the atmosphere of the many Galician taverns and tapas bars contributes. Plaza de la Verdura, Pontevedra

Plaza de la Pedreira The Plaza de la Pedreira (''Stone quarry Square'') or Plaza de Mugartegui ( gl, Praza da Pedreira) is a square of medieval origin located in the northern part of the old town of Pontevedra (Spain). Origin of the name The square takes its name ...

The Stone Quarry square is so called because of the stone-cutting activities developed here by stonemasons for the city's works and constructions. Also called Plaza of Mugartegui, because of the baroque mansion in its center. Pazo de Mugartegui - Praza da Pedreira - Pontevedra

Pazo de Mugartegui - Praza da Pedreira - Pontevedra

Plaza de Méndez Núñez Méndez Núñez Square is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain). Origin of the name The square owes its current name to Casto Méndez Núñez who lived in the Pazo de los Cru y Montene ...

In the centre of the old town, there is the 15th century house with a stone coat of arms (showing the arms of the Lemos, Taboada and Bugarín) of Cru and Montenegro, which crosses Don Gonzalo Street with its pointed arch. In its centre is a bronze statue of Valle-Inclán, the work of the sculptor César Lombera. The sculpture is in this square because it was there that the writer used to meet other intellectuals when he lived in Pontevedra. Valle-Inclán Pontevedra

Plaza de Curros Enríquez Curros Enríquez Square is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the Portuguese pilgrimage way. Origin of the name The square is named after the 19th century Galician poet Manuel ...

Triangular square where you can admire the French attic of the house on the north side and one of the 19th century forge fountains. Pontevedra 07

Praza do Peirao
The Quay Square is the name given to the docks of the medieval port of Pontevedra. There is a stone fountain in its centre and a 1930s house on the south side which now belongs to the official school of quantity surveyors. Pontevedra, Galiza

Praza das Cinco Rúas
It is so called because it is where the two parts of Isabel II Street and Baron, Charino and San Nicolás Streets meet. Filled with tapas bars. It is worth noting the stone

of 1773, decorated at its base with a very expressive representation of the time when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and of the house in which the writer Valle-Inclán lived. Plaza de Santa María
In the Plaza of Santa Maria there is the Basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor in the background and a stone cross that was originally on the

, the

and a typical 19th century forge fountain in the city. Underneath the square is the Interpretation Centre of the Archbishopric Towers which, until the 19th century, were located on the site currently occupied by the Mendoza Mansion. Praza de España
Pontevedra main pedestrian square is the link between the old town and Alameda and the expansion of the official and administrative city of the 19th century ( Provincial Council, Government Delegation,

(modernist of the early 20th century) and the

City Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

). It has two underground car parks.

Plaza de San José St. Joseph's Square (''Plaza de San José'' in Spanish) is a 19th century square located in the centre of the city of Pontevedra (Spain), in the first urban expansion area, near the Campolongo neighbourhood. Origin of the name The square is ...

It is in the square of St. Joseph that stands the monument to the Tertulia, a bronze monument, officially called the Literary Circle in Modern Coffee, recalling that Pontevedra was the cradle of Galician intellectuals in the early twentieth century, it is formed by several intellectuals drinking coffee. At the top of the former Pontevedra Savings Bank building is a large bronze sculpture, 6 metres high, of the Greek hero

, the mythical founder of the city. Statues, Saint Joseph Square, Pontevedra, Galicia

It is also remarkable the former sailors' area of "A Moureira" near Corbaceiras Avenue. Other more modern emblematic squares in the city are the

Plaza de Barcelos The Plaza de Barcelos is a square dating from the beginning of the 20th century located in the Ensanche de Pontevedra, city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), to the east of the Old town of Pontevedra, historic centre of Pontevedra. Origin of the n ...

and the

Plaza de Galicia The Plaza de Galicia is a 20th century square located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the edge of the Campolongo neighbourhood. Origin of the name The square is named after Galicia, the region in the northwest of Spain in which ...

Parks and green areas

Pontevedra is the second largest city in Galicia in terms of green areas per square kilometre per capita. * Park of the Alameda by the architect Alejandro Sesmero. Surrounded by administrative buildings of the 19th century. Pontevedra capital Alameda

* Park of the Palm Trees. In the city centre, the central alley is surrounded by tall palm trees that give it its name. * Barcelos Park. In the city centre, very close to the main pedestrian and commercial streets. * Rosalía de Castro Park. Close to the modern cable-stayed bridge, the Strap bridge. * Park of the Island of Sculptures. On an island at the mouth of the river Lérez. Here are sculptures in granite by famous contemporary Spanish and international artists. *

Marismas de Alba Natural Park The Natural Park of the Marismas de Alba, the Alba Marsh or the Xunqueira de Alba (''in Galician''), is a natural park and wetland in the city of Pontevedra in Spain, and one of the few Marshes in the Ria de Pontevedra. It is a park used as a p ...

. A large natural park that includes walkways for walking or cycling. The entrance is next to the Corrientes Bowstring Bridge on the north shore. * Park of Campolongo. In the Campolongo district. Here is an old granary on pillars typical of Galicia. * Gafos River Park. This park borders this small river that runs through part of the city. * Valdecorvos Park. In the Valdecorvos neighbourhood, park of 60 hectares. * Seaside promenade – Lérez Banks. All along the Ria de Pontevedra and the River Lérez, with cycle and pedestrian paths. From the lookout point on the promenade the

Tambo Island The Tambo Island is an island in the middle of the Pontevedra bay, in Spain. It belongs to the municipality of Poio, from which it is separated by a 1.1 km long but shallow channel. Its surface area is 0.28 km², with a maximum height ...

can be seen. * Monteporreiro Park. In the Monte Porreiro district, where UNED is located ( National University of Distance Education). * Lourizán Park. In the Lourizán area, the most important botanical garden in Galicia, created in 1949. The municipality also has three beaches: The beach of The Lérez, the beach of Placeres and the beach of Fontaíña. Image:Parque de Las Palmeras Pontevedra capital.jpg,

Palm Trees Park The Palm Trees Park, also known simply as ''Las Palmeras'', is a public park in the heart of Pontevedra in Spain. It is the most representative and emblematic green space in the city centre, together with the Alameda de Pontevedra. History T ...

Image:Paseo marítimo de Pontevedra capital.JPG, Pontevedra Seaside Promenade Image:Pontevedra capital Parque de la Xunqueira de Alba 7.jpg, Marismas de Alba Park Image:Pontevedra capital Paseo de Orillamar y puerto deportivo.jpg, Seafront and

Beaches

The municipality has three beaches: the

Lérez Beach The Lérez beach is a Galician beach located in the municipality of Pontevedra in the province of Pontevedra Pontevedra is a province of Spain along the country's Atlantic coast in southwestern Europe. The province forms the southwestern ...

, the Placeres Beach and the Fontaíña Beach. The

is opposite the

park. In the neighbouring municipalities, a few kilometres away, there are several Blue Flag beaches on both banks of the

. On the southern shore are the beaches of Portocelo, Mogor or Aguete, as well as Lapamán. On the northern shore, Cabeceira is the closest, three kilometres from the city centre, and a little further away are the beaches of Raxó, Areas, Canelas, Montalvo, Pragueira and especially the famous La Lanzada, not far from

La Toja Island The Island of A Toxa, La Toxa Grande, the Island of Louxo or the Island of the Baths of Louxo (in Galician Illa da Toxa) is a Spanish island belonging to the province of Pontevedra, in Galicia. The island is located east of the small town of O ...

and its luxury hotels and casino. The

Castiñeiras Lake Lake Castiñeiras is an artificial lake located on Mount Cotorredondo (between the regions of O Morrazo and Pontevedra) in Spain, between the municipalities of Vilaboa (civil parish of Vilaboa, near the places of Graña and Postemirón) and Marí ...

is located 9 kilometres from the city. Around it there are large recreational areas with picnic areas, barbecues, fountains and children's playgrounds.

Administration and politics

Pontevedra is a provincial and '' comarcal'' (shire/county, with no administrative role) capital, as well as seat of the district court. The city hosts the headquarters of the provincial government as well as offices of the

Galician government The Xunta de Galicia (; "Regional Government of Galicia") is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President(s) and the specialized ministers (''Consell ...

, in addition to offices representing the Spanish government. The city provides a wide range of administrative services with an effect reaching far beyond its municipal limits. This makes Pontevedra a focal point for intense political struggles.

Governance

Since the restoration of democracy in 1977 after the dictatorship, Pontevedra's local government had traditionally been controlled by the conservative

People's Party of Galicia The People's Party of Galicia ( Galician/Spanish: ''Partido Popular de Galicia'' , PP or PPdeG ) is a conservative political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish People's Party. Prior to the 2005 Galician elect ...

(''Partido Popular de Galicia'', PPdeG-PP). However, after the 1999 elections the office of mayor was won by Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, representing the Galician Nationalist Bloc (''Bloque Nacionalista Galego'', BNG), in

coalition A coalition is a group formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political or economical spaces. Formation According to ''A Gui ...

with the

Socialists' Party of Galicia The Socialists' Party of Galicia ( gl, Partido dos Socialistas de Galicia, PSdeG–PSOE) is a centre-left political party in Galicia, Spain. It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). It defines itself as a Gal ...

(''Partido Socialista de Galicia'', PSdeG-PSOE), until today. The local corporation is divided into a number of departments, or ''concellarias'', each one dealing with a specific issue such as Planning, Environment, Revenue, Mobility and Transportation, Sports, Public Works, or Tourism.

Capital city

The city is the capital of the province of Pontevedra, and is therefore home to the provincial, autonomous and Central Government administrative bodies. In the provincial aspect, the

Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra The Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra (Spanish language, Spanish: , Galician language, Galician: ) or Provincial Council of Pontevedra is the Provincial deputation (Spain), institution in charge of the government and administration of the Spanis ...

stands out, which offers the municipalities of the province different services (fire extinction, sports,...) and is in charge of its government and administration. On an autonomous level, the city has the

Xunta de Galicia The Xunta de Galicia (; "Regional Government of Galicia") is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President(s) and the specialized ministers (''Consell ...

which, since the last reform of the Autonomous Administration, brings together the representation of all the areas of the Autonomous Government in Pontevedra. Since 2008, the Provincial Offices of the Xunta de Galicia offer their services in a large central building presided over by two twin towers built in the Administrative City in María Victoria Moreno Avenue 43, which agglutinates most of the provincial delegations, except some such as that of Environment, Territory and Infrastructures, located in another building very close to the

in Alcalde Hevia street. Representing the Central Government is the Subdelegation of the Government, the former Civil Government, functionally dependent on the Delegate of the Government in Galicia, located in the Plaza de España, as well as the location in the city of the peripheral services of the State (provincial departments of the different ministries such as the ''Defence Department'', provincial service of Shorelines, Provincial Service of Agriculture and Fishing, Provincial Service of Telecommunications (the latter located in the old building of the Bank of Spain). Pontevedra Capital Subdelegación del Gobierno

Pontevedra Capital Subdelegación del Gobierno

Pontevedra is also the capital provincial judicial district. It houses the headquarters of the Provincial Court of Pontevedra, where sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this collegiate body are to be found in the Palace of Justice. It also houses other provincial bodies dependent on the Ministry of the Interior such as the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, the Provincial Police Department, the Provincial Headquarters of the Civil Guard as the capital of the province. Pontevedra capital Palacio de Justicia y Audiencia Provincial

Pontevedra capital Palacio de Justicia y Audiencia Provincial

Economy

Pontevedra has traditionally been a trading city. In the Middle Ages, guilds thrived in the old town, giving name to streets and squares still preserved today. During the 16thC Pontevedra was the main Galician port, providing for a very intense fishing and sea-trading activity. In the

1833 territorial division of Spain The 1833 territorial division of Spain divided the country into provinces, in turn classified into "historic regions" ( es, link=no, regiones históricas).tertiary sector employs 65 per cent of the population, while industry employs 17 per cent. Industrial activity is reduced to a handful of companies, namely

pulp mill A pulp mill is a manufacturing facility that converts wood chips or other plant fiber sources into a thick fiber board which can be shipped to a paper mill for further processing. Pulp can be manufactured using mechanical, semi-chemical, or ful ...

s (where the municipal authority is seeking the closure of the ENCE biofactory) and construction. The tertiary sector is not especially dynamic, although a number of policies have been implemented to improve the situation. Tourism is increasing, with visitors coming mostly from Spain and Portugal. The total unemployment rate is 7% (June 2021), according to data from the

(Galician Government). Pontevedra was the seat of the ''Caixa de Pontevedra'' credit union, eventually merged into other entities up to the current Abanca.

Service sector

The majority of Pontevedra's citizens work in the service sector, which is evident when one considers that the city is the head of an area of influence of some 210,000 inhabitants, which means the existence of an important and diversified commercial sector. To this must be added its privileged location in the centre of the Rias Baixas, which makes it a tourist city and gives an important specific weight to the hotel industry in the economy. The city ranks among the Spanish cities with the highest annual income.

Public employment

As the capital of the province, Pontevedra has numerous offices, provincial offices and facilities of the different Public Administrations, in which a large number of civil servants work.

Institutions

As the capital of the province of Pontevedra and the centre of the Rias Baixas, Pontevedra is the seat of numerous institutions and bodies that have their headquarters in the city. In addition to the Provincial Departments of state, autonomic and provincial organisms, many institutions are located in the city, like: the Provincial Headquarters of Traffic, the Regulatory Board denomination of origin "Rias Baixas" (Albariño wine), the State Public Library, the Provincial Historical Archive of Pontevedra, the Provincial Headquarters of Post and Telegraphs, the Postal Treatment Centre of Pontevedra, the Provincial Office of the Spanish Red Cross, the Provincial Department of the National Institute of Statistics and the Electoral Census Office, the Illustrious Official College of Doctors of Pontevedra, the Official College of Dentists and Stomatologists of Pontevedra and Orense, the Illustrious Provincial College of Lawyers of Pontevedra, the State Highways Unit in Pontevedra, the Galician Centre of Sports Technology for elite and high level sportsmen/woman, the

Galicia Biological Mission The Biological Mission of Galicia is a centre of the Spanish National Research Council, Higher Council for Scientific Research located in the civil parish of Salcedo in the municipality of Pontevedra in Spain. It is the oldest research institute ...

, the Forest and Environmental Research Centre of Galicia and so on. Wires & Concrete & Water

Tourism

The city is the capital of the tourist region of the Rias Baixas. It is currently a reference urban destination in Europe for trips to cities eminently pedestrian and without cars that stand out for their quality of life, at the height of Dubrovnik, Copenhagen or

Capri Capri ( , ; ; ) is an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples in the Campania region of Italy. The main town of Capri that is located on the island shares the name. It has been ...

. In addition, tourism has increased in recent years, positioning the city as a pole of attraction in

and north of Portugal, being currently one of the preferred urban destinations next to A Coruña or Santiago de Compostela. Likewise, the city is a pole of attraction for international tourists thanks to its old town, the

, the

River and its bridges.

Fairs and congresses

Pontevedra capital city is also the headquarters of the organization of trade fairs and congresses and especially of national and international sports events that also suppose an economic engine for the number of visitors that attract to the city. It also hosts conferences of special relevance in

such as Culturgal, the fair of the cultural industries of Galicia. Pontevedra Capital Muelle de Corbaceiras

Trade

The city is the centre of attraction in the central and northern part of the province of Pontevedra. There are many traditional shops, national and international franchises in the city centre and shopping centres such as Carrefour Planet, La Barca and Vialia on the outskirts. The city is also home to e-commerce companies such as the company specializing in the sale of books and publishing products imosver.com.

Publishing activity

The city is home to one of the most important publishing houses in Galicia, ''Kalandraka''. Others also focus their activity in the

metropolitan area of Pontevedra Metropolitan may refer to: * Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories * Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England * Metropolitan county, a typ ...

, such as Cumio Publishing and the headquarters of the important chain of Nobel Bookstores.

Industry

In the municipality of Pontevedra and its

there are several industrial estates, as well as other companies located in other parts of the municipality.

Industrial areas

Pontevedra Capital Avenida de Orillamar y puente de las Corrientes

On the outskirts of the city and bordering the neighbouring municipality of

O Campiño industrial estate O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...

, which houses important industries such as ''automobile auxiliaries'' among others, but which has remained insufficient in terms of space in the face of the demand for land by companies. There is also, although it is smaller, the recently enlarged "A Granxa do Bao" industrial estate, although this is more aimed at commercial than industrial purposes, with mechanical workshops, gymnasiums, a large area dedicated to do-it-yourself, etc. In the

industrial estate O Campiño Industrial may refer to: Industry * Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry * Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems * Industrial city, a city dominate ...

there are important companies in the automobile sector such as Aludec, which has 6 production centres (Galvanic 1 and 2, Components, Stamping and Injection 1 and 2). The exhaustion of the soil of

and the lack of development of more industrial land in the municipality of Pontevedra has led to the development of estates in areas of

such as

, Barro-

Meis Meis is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra Pontevedra (, ) is a Spanish city in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of both the ''Comarca'' (County) and Province of Pontevedra, and of the R ...

or Marín. The

A Reigosa industrial estate A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...

, in the municipality of Ponte Caldelas, is particularly noteworthy for its development in recent years.

Other industries and companies

A very important point of settlement of several companies within

is the area of

Port of Marín and Ria de Pontevedra The port of Marín and Ria de Pontevedra is located in the municipalities of Marín and Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain). It is on the southern shore of the Ria de Pontevedra. The port stretches from Punta Pesqueira in the municipality of Marín ...

. Within the municipality of Pontevedra there are also other important companies among which the distribution company

Froiz Distribuciones Froiz, S.A. is a Spanish supermarket chain based in Poio, Galicia. It operates in the Spanish regions of Galicia, Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid and in Northern Portugal. It is the seventeenth company with the hi ...

stands out. (supermarkets, hypermarkets). Other renowned ones are, among others, Setga. exterior lighting company design, signage and street furniture, chosen to illuminate the center of Amsterdam, Hifas da Terra, innovation and ecology company focused primarily on mycology, Krack (a shoemaking company) or EDF dedicated to photovoltaic energy. The city is also the center of construction companies such as San José or Balboa and Buceta.

Health

Pontevedra is well provided with quality private (like Quirón Hospital) and public clinics and health centres, where the Montecelo Hospital stands out as the largest health centre in the ''comarca'' and one of the largest in the province. This hospital is renowned for its oncology department. Public health is regulated by the Galician Health Service (''Servizo Galego de Saúde''). The

University Hospital Complex of Pontevedra The University Hospital Complex of Pontevedra (CHOP) is a public health institution and a teaching hospital established in 2012 that provides health services to the specialized region of the city of Pontevedra in Spain. It depends on the Galicia ...

(CHOP) includes the ''Pontevedra Provincial Hospital'' founded in 1897 and located in the centre of the city and the ''Montecelo Hospital'' created in 1973 and located in the parish of Mourente; apart from other centres. There are also private hospitals of Quirónsalud such as the Hospital Quirónsalud Miguel Domínguez, founded as Hospital Domínguez in 1947, in Fray Juan de Navarrete street or the Institute of Neuro-Rehabilitation Quirónsalud Pontevedra. There are also health centres of Quirón Salud, Adeslas and Vithas in Pontevedra: the Quirónsalud Pontevedra Medical Centre, the Quirónsalud Pontevedra Rehabilitation Centre, the Adeslas Pontevedra Medical Centre and the Vithas Rehabilitation Centre. Pontevedra Capital Puente de las Corrientes, puerto deportivo y barrio del Burgo

Pontevedra Capital Puente de las Corrientes, puerto deportivo y barrio del Burgo

The Health Department of the

projected for Pontevedra and the sanitary area of the north of its province the Monte Carrasco Hospital located to the south of the city in the parish of Tomeza., project that was subsequently replaced by political disagreements with the city council of the capital by the extension of a new hospital in Montecelo, taking as name this project the Gran Montecelo. This hospital will extend the assistance offer of the capital of the province and the northern area of the province with six new specialties:

Radiotherapy Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT, is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells and normally delivered by a linear accelerator. Radia ...

, Nuclear Medicine, Hemodynamics complementary to Cardiology, Maxillofacial surgery, Neonatal ICU and Pediatric ICU, both integrated in the Maternal and Infant area. It will have a capacity of 724 beds.

Education

Pontevedra capital Facultad de Bellas Artes

The city houses a number of university departments in the

Pontevedra Campus The Pontevedra campus is one of three campuses that host the University of Vigo. It is located in the Spanish city of Pontevedra and offers Undergraduate education, undergraduate, Postgraduate education, postgraduate and doctorate, doctoral stud ...

, acting as a branch of the University of Vigo, which have campuses in the cities of Pontevedra, Ourense and Vigo. Namely these are: Advertising and Public relations,

Fine arts In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...

, Nursing,

Physiotherapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...

, Forestry Engineering, Fashion,

Education Sciences Education sciences or education theory (traditionally often called ''pedagogy'') seek to describe, understand, and prescribe education policy and practice. Education sciences include many topics, such as pedagogy, andragogy, curriculum, learning, ...

and Sport sciences, Governance and Public Management, Design, and Media and Communication Sciences (Audiovisual Communication). Many come to Pontevedra to complete their studies in Fine arts, Advertising and Public Relations, Public Management and Design as this is the only location in Galicia where this disciplines can be studied at university level. In addition, Pontevedra has the Higher School of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage of Galicia, located in the San Fernando building in the centre of the city, as well as the Faculty of Fine Arts. The city also has the only school of Comic and Illustration in Galicia (private), called ''O garaxe hermético'' (the airtight garage). Pontevedra also hosts since 1973 a branch of the Spanish national

distance university Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...

, the

UNED The National Distance Education University, known in Spanish as ''Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia'' (UNED), is a public research university of national scope. The university was founded in 1972 under the Ministry of Universities ...

university, the

UNED Associated Centre of Pontevedra The UNED Associated Centre in Pontevedra (UNED Pontevedra) is a university teaching centre of the National University of Distance Education, National University of Distance Education (UNED) located in the Spain, Spanish city of Pontevedra. It is ...

, where students can pursue numerous university studies. The city has its own Official School of Languages since 1988, regulated by the Galician Department of Education where students can study English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Galician.

Culture

Museums

The city is home to the

, one of the 3 best provincial museums in Spain. It consists of six buildings: * The

. * The

. * The Fernández López House. * The former Baroque College of the Society of Jesus, (now called Sarmiento). * The ruins of the San Domingo Convent (Archaeology Museum). * The

, a large five-storey modern architectural building inaugurated in 2013. In addition, in 2010 the authorities inaugurated the

Archiepiscopal Towers Interpretation Centre The Archiepiscopal Towers Interpretation Centre (CITA) ''(Centro de Interpretación das Torres Arcebispais (CITA))'' is a museum in Pontevedra, Spain created in 2010 in the former moat of the Archiepiscopal Towers fortress-palace in the old tow ...

(CITA): an underground museum, underneath the Avenida Santa Maria, where the remains of the ancient Archiepiscopal Towers can be seen.

Theatres and concert halls

Cultural infrastructure in Pontevedra is mainly represented by two venues: The Teatro Principal, in the old town, with a capacity of 434 seated spectators; and the Auditorium-Congress Hall, a modern complex composed by an auditorium with capacity for 772 seated people, a large congress hall, and a number of meeting rooms and smaller halls. It also has the Afundación auditorium near the Campolongo district with more than 800 seats and concert halls such as the Karma Hall or alternative music and culture halls like the Liceo Mutante.

Libraries and research centres

The city is home to the Pontevedra State Public Library and other libraries such as the

Library, which is mainly dedicated to researchers, and university libraries such as the Central Library of the

and the

Library.

Other cultural activities and venues

In addition, every year the City Council organises a series of free, open and public activities, such as a Jazz festival, open air cinema sessions, a medieval fair reenactment, the Feira Franca and other festivities that normally take place in the streets and public squares of the old town. The Pontevedra Conservatory was established in 1863 and is celebrating its sesquicentenary in 2013. It has been renamed the Conservatorio Profesional de Música Manuel Quiroga, in honour of one of the city's most famous sons, the violinist, composer and artist

Manuel Quiroga Manuel López-Quiroga Miquel (January 30, 1899 – December 13, 1988), better known as Maestro Quiroga, was a Spanish composer especially known for his '' coplas'', ''cuplés'', and ''zarzuelas''. He was also a pianist and one of the group of ...

(1892–1961).

Media and entertainment

Pontevedra has two daily newspapers: the

Diario de Pontevedra The Diario de Pontevedra is a Spanish newspaper published in the city of Pontevedra since 1968, owned since 1999 by the ''El Progreso'' group, which also publishes ''El Progreso'' de Lugo. It is an eminently local and provincial newspaper, focu ...

, the oldest newspaper in the city still in circulation, and

Pontevedra Viva ''Pontevedra Viva'' is a Galician daily online newspaper founded in Pontevedra (Spain) in 2012. It focuses on news related to the city of Pontevedra and the province of Pontevedra. It also deals with national and international issues. The n ...

, a daily online newspaper. The city also has a specific edition of the main Galician newspaper, La Voz de Galicia. RTVE, the Spanish Public Radio and television, and CRTVG, the Galician Public Radio and television, broadcast local editions in their news programmes. Between 1994 and 2012, Pontevedra had a local TV station, ''Localia Pontevedra''. Most of the national radio stations broadcast their programmes in the Pontevedra area, including Radio Nacional de España, Cadena SER, Cadena COPE, Onda Cero and ''Punto Radio''.

Sports

Pontevedra has a long sporting tradition, with a number of teams competing professionally in different categories. For example: *

Football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

: ''

Pontevedra CF Pontevedra Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a List of football clubs in Spain, Spanish football team in Pontevedra, in the autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia. Founded on 16 October 1941 it currently plays in Primera División RFEF, Primera ...

'', playing in the Spanish "

Segunda División B Segunda División B ( en, Second Division B) was the third tier of the Spanish football league system containing 102 teams divided into five groups, until it was replaced by the new structure in 2021. It was administered by the Royal Spanish Foot ...

". The football club plays at the Pasarón stadium *

Handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the g ...

: '' BM Cisne'', playing in the Spanish Liga ASOBAL (first division). There is also another team which used to be in first division, '' SD Teucro.'' * Indoor football: ''Leis 26 Pontevedra'', playing in the Spanish second division of the Spanish indoor football professional league ( LNFS). *

Rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

: Pontevedra has two rugby teams, ''Mareantes Rugby Clube Pontevedra'' and ''Pontevedra Rugby Club''. Both teams play in the Galician First Division. In the 2012/13 season, Mareantes RCP won the play-off final to become the league champions. * Volleyball: ''C. Durán'' (amateur). * Waterpolo: ''CN Pontevedra'', playing in the Galician Waterpolo League

* Fencing: ''Club Escola Hungaresa de Esgrima de Pontevedra'', founded in 2007, this is the only fencing club in Galicia specialised in sabre. Members of this club compete regularly in the Galician leagues and in the Spanish Sabre Championship. Pontevedra is the seat of the ''Centro Galego de Tecnificación Deportiva'' (High Performance Sporting Centre of Galicia), and it also hosts a number of rowing and

canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...

clubs. World and Olympic

champion David Cal used to train in the ria of Pontevedra.

Twin cities

Pontevedra is twinned with * Barcelos, Braga, Portugal * Gondomar, Metro Porto, Portugal * Merlo, Buenos Aires, Argentina * Nafpaktos, Greece * Salvador da Bahia, Brazil *

San José San José or San Jose (Spanish for Saint Joseph) most often refers to: *San Jose, California, United States *San José, Costa Rica, the nation's capital San José or San Jose may also refer to: Places Argentina * San José, Buenos Aires ** San ...

, Costa Rica * Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic * Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal

Notable people

Enrique MacDonell Enrique MacDonell, also spelled MacDonnell, was a Spanish admiral noted for his participation in several sea battles including the Battle of Trafalgar. He was born in Pontevedra, Spain, into a prominent Irish-Spanish family, though his naval rec ...

Vice Admiral Spanish Navy. *

Paio Gomes Charinho ''Paio'' is a traditional ''embutido'' sausage of Portugal and Brazil. Paio is made of pork loin, seasoned with garlic, salt, and ''Capsicum'' pepper and smoked. It is a hard sausage, usually made in a large diameter, and can be sliced and eat ...

(1225–1295), poet and troubadour * Pedro Mariño de Lobeira (1528–1594), ''

conquistador Conquistadors (, ) or conquistadores (, ; meaning 'conquerors') were the explorer-soldiers of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires of the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Age of Discovery, conquistadors sailed beyond Europe to the Americas, O ...

'' and chronicler of the Arauco War in the Captaincy General of Chile *

Benito de Soto Benito de Soto Aboal (March 22, 1805, Mouriera, a hamlet now a suburb of Pontevedra, Spain - January 25, 1830, Gibraltar.) Pontevedra is in Galicia in northern Spain where the language is close to Portuguese, which has confused some sources that ...

(1805–1830) Notorious pirate, considered the "Last Pirate of the Atlantic Ocean" * Xoán Manuel Pintos Villar (1811–1876), writer, author and editor of the first publication in modern Galician * Perfecto Feijoo (1858–1935), medical doctor and musician *

Manuel Portela Valladares Manuel Portela y Valladares (Pontevedra, 31 January 1867 – Bandol, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France 29 April 1952) was a Spanish political figure during the Second Spanish Republic. He served as the 43rd Attorney General of Spain betw ...

(1867–1952), politician * A.D.R. Castelao (1886–1950), writer, artist and politician, often considered as the most influential figure in Galician contemporary history. Although he was not born in Pontevedra, Castelao expressed a clear wish to be considered an "adoptive son of the city" and to be buried there.Castelao in a letter to the President of the Pontevedra Centre in Buenos Aires, 1947
* Manuel Varela Radío (1873–1962), medical doctor and academic *

Elisa Patiño Meléndez Elisa Patiño Meléndez (1890 – 12 April 1919) was the first women of Galician descent to become a pilot. She was well known by her nickname Chichana or Chichana Patiño. Biography Chichana was the daughter of Albino Patiño Amado, Duke of ...

(1890–1919) (aka Chichana) was the first women of Galician descent to become a pilot *

(1892–1961), violinist, composer and artist *

Valentín Paz Andrade Valentín Paz Andrade (b. Pontevedra, 23 April 1898 – Vigo, 19 May 1987) was a Galician lawyer, writer, politician, journalist, poet, businessman and economist. Galician Literature Day Galician Literature Day ( gl, Día das Letras Galegas ...

(1898–1987), magistrate, politician and writer * Xosé Filgueira Valverde (1906–1996), historian and writer *

(1913–1996), architect * Pío Cabanillas Gallas (1923–1991), politician *

Manuel Miranda Manuel A. Miranda (born 1959) is an American attorney, diplomat, journalist, and political advocate. He served as a diplomat at the Embassy of the United States, Baghdad as the first Director of the Office of Legislative Statecraft. Miranda also ...

(1930–2012), carpenter and musician *

César Portela Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol * ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt * César Award, a French film award Places * Cesar, Portugal * Ces ...

(1937–), architect * Luciano Varela (1948–), magistrate * Fina Casalderrey (1951– ), writer * Alberto Casado Cerviño (1952– ), civil servant, vice-president of the European Patent Office * Mariano Rajoy (1955- ), former Prime Minister of Spain * Víctor Fernández Freixanes (1957– ), journalist, writer and publisher *

Francis Lorenzo Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome * Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural ...

(1960– ), actor *

Manel Loureiro Manel Loureiro is a Spanish author. Background Manel Loureiro is a writer, journalist, and former lawyer born in Pontevedra, Spain, in 1975. He earned a law degree at the University of Santiago de Compostela, and has worked as a television pre ...

(1975– ), writer *

Pedro Volta Pedro is a masculine given name. Pedro is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician name for '' Peter''. Its French equivalent is Pierre while its English and Germanic form is Peter. The counterpart patronymic surname of the name Pedro, meani ...

(1977- ), magician *

Diego Moldes Diego Moldes González (born 27 January 1977) is a Spanish writer, critic and film historian. Biography Born in Pontevedra, Spain, Diego Moldes is the author of 13 published books that are non-fiction, narrative and poetry. In twenty years, ...

(1977– ), writer *

Pablo Cimadevila Alvarez Pablo Cimadevila Álvarez (born 12 December 1978) is an S6 swimmer from Spain. He competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics, winning a gold in the 200 meter individual medley. He competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, winning a bronze medal in ...

(1978– ), Paralympic Gold Medalist, jeweler, and YouTube content creator *

Francisco Javier Gómez Noya Francisco Javier Gómez Noya (born 25 March 1983) is a Spanish triathlete. He is the winner of five ITU Triathlon World Championships, he holds three ITU Triathlon World Cup titles, and won the Silver medal for Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics ...

(1983– ), triathlete, World Champion *

David Amor David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

(1980- ), host and comedian * Julia Varela (1981- ), journalist * Yoly Saa (1992- ), singer

Gallery

An ancient town and medieval port, Pontevedra has been described as a "definitive old Galician town". Sights include the pilgrim chapel in the ''Praza da Peregrina'', the historic ''Zona Monumental'' (old city), the ''Praza de Leña'', the market, and the ''Alameda'', a promenade along the ria. Pontevedra has a large pedestrian centre (the old town and surroundings) which, together with a number of parks and public squares, makes the city very pleasant for strolling. In recent years most historical buildings and streets have been either re-built or revamped, providing for a well preserved urban landscape.

Notes

References

* Aganzo, Carlos (2010): ''Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto''. El País Aguilar. . * Calo Lourido, F. et al. (2003): ''Pontevedra e o mar. Simposio de historia marítima do século XII ao XVI''. Concello de Pontevedra, Pontevedra * De la Peña, A. (1996): ''Historia de Pontevedra''. Vía Láctea, A Coruña * Fontoira Surís, Rafael (2009): ''Pontevedra monumental''. Diputación de Pontevedra. . * García-Braña, C. et al. (1988): ''Pontevedra, planteamiento histórico y urbanístico'', Deputación Provincial de Pontevedra, Servizo de Publicacións, Pontevedra * Juega Puig, J. et al. (1996): ''Historia de Pontevedra''. Via Láctea, A Coruña * Juega Puig, J. (2000): ''As ruas de Pontevedra''. Deputación Provincial de Pontevedra, Servizo de Publicacións, Pontevedra * López y López Rios, B. (1990): ''Pontevedra, de la leyenda a la historia''. Deputación Provincial de Pontevedra, Servizo de Publicacións, Pontevedra * Messia de la Cerda y Pita, Luis F. (1989): ''Heráldica, escudos de armas labrados en piedra existentes en la zona de Pontevedra''. Diputación de Pontevedra. .

External links

Concello de Pontevedra
– Official site of the local government (in Galician and Spanish, with summarised versions in English and French)
Turismo en Pontevedra
– Official site of the Pontevedra tourist board, maintained by the local government (in Galician, English, Spanish and French)

Rias Baixas
– Official site of the Rias Baixas tourist board (in Galician, English and Spanish)
Deputación de Pontevedra
– Official site of the provincial government of Pontevedra (in Galician)
Diario de Pontevedra
– local newspaper of Pontevedra (mostly in Spanish, with some articles in Galician)
Pazo da Cultura
– Official site of the Auditorium-Congress Hall complex and ''Teatro Principal'', maintained by the local government (in Galician and Spanish)
Pontevedra Cultura
– What's on in cultural events in Pontevedra {{Coord, 42, 26, N, 8, 38, W, region:ES_type:city, display=title Pontevedra, Populated coastal places in Spain Populated places in the Province of Pontevedra Tourism in Spain Municipalities in the Province of Pontevedra Tourism in Galicia (Spain)