Baiona is a municipality in the province of

Pontevedra Pontevedra (, ) is a city in the autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, in northwestern Spain. It is the capital of both the ''Pontevedra (comarca), Comarca'' and Province of Pontevedra, and the capital of the Rías Baixas. It is als ...

, in the autonomous community of Galicia,

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. It belongs to the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...

Vigo Vigo (, ; ) is a city and Municipalities in Spain, municipality in the province of province of Pontevedra, Pontevedra, within the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, Spain. Located in the northwest ...

. It is a tourist town with a medieval historical center situated by the outlet of the Vigo Bay. Its population of just over 11,000 rises to around 45,000 in summer, if one includes the tourists. Since it is on

the Portuguese Way The Portuguese Way (, ) is the name of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes starting in Portugal. It begins at Porto or Lisbon. From Porto, along the Douro River, pilgrims travel north crossing the five main rivers—the Ave, Cávado, Neiva, ...

, one pilgrimage route of the

Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago (, ; ), or the Way of St. James in English, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tra ...

30,000 hikers also visit the town every year. Other than tourism the major economic activities revolve around fishing.

History

It was founded in 140 BC by Diomedes of Aetolia. Throughout its history it has had several names including Stuciana, Abóriga, Balcagia, and Erizana. In 1201 King Alfonso IX of Leon granted the town a

royal charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...

. In 1370, King

Ferdinand I of Portugal Ferdinand I (; 31 October 1345 – 22 October 1383), sometimes called the Handsome () or occasionally the Inconstant (), was the King of Portugal from 1367 until his death in 1383. He was also briefly made King of Galicia, in 1369 (a claim whi ...

, who was proclaimed

King of Castile This is a list of kings regnant and queens regnant of the Kingdom of Castile, Kingdom and Crown of Castile. For their predecessors, see List of Castilian counts. Kings and Queens of Castile Jiménez dynasty House of Ivrea / Burgundy ...

took up residence in the town and established his seat there until being forced to return to

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

. In 1474, Baiona was seized by Don Pedro Alvarez de Soutomaior, also known as Pedro Madruga, Count of Caminha. On March 1, 1493, the '' Pinta'', one of the ships from Columbus' voyage to the ''

New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...

'' returned to Europe and arrived in Baiona, making the town's port the first to receive news of the discovery of America. A replica of the ship can be visited, and the event is celebrated every year. In 1585 the inhabitants of Baiona repelled an attempt by the privateer

Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake ( 1540 – 28 January 1596) was an English Exploration, explorer and privateer best known for making the Francis Drake's circumnavigation, second circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition between 1577 and 1580 (bein ...

to take the town. Five years later,

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

beat the pirates that were laying the Galician coast to waste with a fleet of 98 vessels and 17,000 soldiers. Parador Bayona ss 08

Population

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From
INE Archiv
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Economy

The economy in Baiona is focused on tourism. The

Parador de Baiona A ''parador'' (), in Spain and other Spanish language, Spanish-speaking countries was an establishment where travelers could seek lodging, and usually, food and drink, similar to an inn. In Spain since 1928, a Paradores, Parador is a state-owned ...

stands out from all the hotels in the village. Other activities are retail, subsistence agriculture, coastal fishing and construction.

Places of interest

Parador of Baiona. Belonging to

Paradores Paradores de Turismo de España , branded as Paradores, is a Spanish State-owned enterprise, state-owned chain of luxury hotels that are usually located in historic buildings or in nature areas with a special appeal. Its first parador was inau ...

(state-owned hotel network), it is a good example of well-preserved history. Surrounded by a stone wall, on a small peninsula, the old hotel and restaurant overlook the entrance of the Rias Baixas and the Cies Islands. Monte Real Yacht Club Baiona. The yacht club, founded in 1965, is next to the Parador. The club is host to international regattas and home to a sailing school, bringing maritime tourists to the city.(MRCYB) Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona
/ref>

References

External links

Concello de Baiona
Official website (Partially in English) {{Authority control Municipalities in the Province of Pontevedra 140s BC establishments Populated places established in the 2nd century BC Port cities and towns in Spain