Pontevedra

Pontevedra
	San Francisco Church
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	Galicia
Province :	Pontevedra
Coordinates	42 ° 26 ′ N , 8 ° 39 ′ W Coordinates: 42 ° 26 ′ N , 8 ° 39 ′ W
Height :	20 msnm
Area :	117 km²
Residents :	83,029 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density :	709.65 inhabitants / km²
Postal code :	36000
Municipality number ( INE ):	36038
administration
Official language :	Castilian , Galician
Mayor :	Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores ( BNG )
Website :	www.pontevedra.eu www.visit-pontevedra.com
Location of the city

Pontevedra is a city in northwestern Spain . It belongs to the province of the same name Pontevedra , which is located within the autonomous region of Galicia . The city is also located on the Ría de Pontevedra and the Atlantic Ocean .

Pontevedra has 83,029 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2019) and is the provincial capital. The Morraza Peninsula is offshore, south-west.

Geographical description

Pontevedra is divided into 18 parroquias . The city lies deep in a ria , the Ría de Pontevedra , at the mouth of the Lérez River . The sandbanks in front of it protect the city from the rigors of the sea, which shaped both the city itself and its residents.

Pontevedra is in the center of the Rías Baixas . Only a few kilometers away is the Castiñeiras lake, the Couto Redondo viewpoint, the beaches of the Morrazo and Sanxenxo peninsulas, the fishing village of Combarro or the Illas Cíes and the island of A Toxa.

Ravachol and La Peregrina

There are four mountain zones in the district. They are formed by two geographical folds that converge towards the capital. The first is a depression that stretches from Carballo to Tui and forms the traffic axis of Western Galicia. The second depression forms the river bed for the Lérez.

This municipality extends at the deepest, inland point of the estuary, which it also bears its name. It occupies the Lérez and Tomeza river valleys and borders in the south, in Ponte Sampaio, with the mouth of the Verdugo river.

The water-rich Lérez River is the most important river in the region. The tides of the sea also affect its mouth, which was the reason for the creation of the port around which the city later developed.

During the whole year it rains only moderately with pleasant temperatures.

history

The Legend of Pontevedra was Teukros , a Greek hero of the Trojan War , v to the 1200th Founded. In contrast, the presence of the Romans is historically documented , so that it can be assumed that the city emerged from a Roman settlement. The Romans called the settlement Ad Duos Pontes (To the Two Bridges) and later Pontis Veteris (Old Bridge), from which Pontevedra developed.

Proof that Pontevedra has been inhabited since the early Paleolithic are the axes found on the terraces of the river banks. There was also a culture of castros (fortified structures), as evidenced by the remains found at the Mouronte and Salcedo archaeological sites. Bronze fish hooks and stones that were used for fishing were also found there.

The landmark of Pontevedra, which is deeply rooted in the city, is the Roman bridge attributed to the Greek builder Teukros. He is said to have traveled west after the Trojan War to found the small town. However, it was the Romans who built the predecessor of today's Burgo bridge over the Lérez and founded the Roman Vila Turoqua on Roman road XIX.

In the 12th century, under the reign of Fernando II , the city is mentioned for the first time under its current name - Pontem Vetris - in a document from the Poio Monastery. This name refers to the old Roman bridge . Over time, more bridges were built over the Lérez. The creation of these transport connections was one of the prerequisites for the growth and expansion of the city.

During the 14th century, new privileges strengthened the suburb of Pontevedras. These mainly concerned port activities and fishing . Sardine fishing is the most important economic pillar: catching it, selling fresh fish inland, curing, smoking and exporting it by sea. This made Pontevedra the most important port in Galicia.

Pontevedra experienced its greatest economic and social boom during the 16th century, above all because of its strategic location for the Atlantic routes and because of its social peace. In stark contrast is the city's crisis during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. During this time, the port lost its importance, climatic catastrophes struck Galicia during this period, and the bourgeoisie preferred to invest their capital in safer investments. After two centuries of decadence and crisis, Pontevedra has been experiencing a new phase of economic and demographic growth since the mid-19th century.

In 1999 Pontevedra banned motor vehicles from its historic center and created a 300,000 m² pedestrian zone . The car-free inner city transformed Pontevedra into a barrier-free city, whose quality of life was recognized with the "Intermodes" Prize 2013, the Habitat Prize 2014 and the "Excellence Prize" of the Center for Active Design in New York City 2015.

El puente del Burgo Old Bridge
Corrientes Bridge
Tirantes bridge

Demographic development

Population development of the city of Pontevedra 1857–2009 (INE)
1857	1877	1887	1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960	1970	1981	1991	2001	2010	2013
6,623	20,140	20,550	22.806	25,072	28,957	30,821	36,968	43,221	50,575	52,562	65,137	75,148	74,942	81,981	82,934

Attractions

Capela Virxe Peregrina

Leña square

Basilica of Santa Maria

Santo Domingo

Xunta in Pontevedra

Fell Contraste (Eichmeister statue in front of the town hall)

The center of Pontevedra is the Plaza Ferrería, surrounded by three squares. The name comes from the iron smiths who long ago went about their work under the colonnades. Together with the famous Ferrería Fountain and the San Francisco Convent, they form a characteristic complex of the city. The Basilica of Santa Maria with its Plateresco principal façade illustrates the power of the fishing community and the Merchant Shipping Association (Gremio de Mareantes), which focused particularly in the suburbs Moureira.

Pontevedra, the capital of the Portuguese Way of St. James, was a mandatory stage destination for millions of pilgrims who refreshed themselves at the Ferrería fountain. The Virxe Peregrina (virgin pilgrim) symbolizes the close connection between the city and the cult of St. James. The church of the patron saint of this city is an original construction from the late 18th century. Her style is a symbiosis of baroque and classicism with a Portuguese influence. It has a round floor plan resembling a scallop shell .

The provincial museum, which comprises five buildings, houses a valuable collection of Celtic goldsmiths' work and utensils from the Neolithic, as well as a collection of paintings and amber.

The sacred buildings include the Church of San Bartolomeo, the Monastery of Santa Clara, the Monastery of San Francisco and the ruins of the Church of San Domingos. On the outskirts of the city is the Benedictine monastery of Lérez, whose cloister from the 16th century is partially preserved. Its neoclassical church with the baroque facade dates from the 18th century.

The pazos (noble houses) as evidence of courtly architecture include the Casa del Barón (formerly Pazo de Maceda), now a Parador National, as well as Gandarón and Miradores in Salcedo, the Pazo Lourizán, the Pazo Pedreira in Campañó and the manor house Santa Maria in Xeve.

The Illa das Esculturas de Pontevedra is a sculpture park.

Free time activities

Pontevedra offers a variety of options for an active holiday, e.g. B. Walks on the Camino de Santiago or on paths between the Rías, starting from the Sampaio bridge to the city. Canoeists, rowers and cyclists will find excellent conditions here to pursue their sport.

Celebrations and events

Pontevedra is a city with deeply rooted traditions. His special festivities include that of the Maios, a festival at the beginning of spring, and the funeral of Loro Ravachol (parrot), a spectacle at the end of the Carnival that honors the popular mascot who visits his master, Don Perfecto Feijoo announced his pharmacy. On this day and on this occasion, many residents of Pontevedra gather there with their pets.

Hotel Parador de Pontevedra; former palace

The feast in honor of the pilgrim in August is celebrated, among other things, with bullfights in the only arena in Galicia. The city continues to host cultural events such as the International Art Biennale. In addition to theater performances, the Teatro Principal also hosts classical concerts organized by the Philharmonic Society.

The parishes also celebrate their folk festivals. The following are particularly worth mentioning:

On March 8th there is the Caldo festival (typical Galician stew) in Mourente.
July 11th is the day of San Bieitiño de Lérez.
On September 29th and 30th and October 1st, Marcón celebrates St. Michael's Day.
November 11th is the festival in honor of San Martiño in Salcedo.
On November 30th, in Xeve and Lourizán, there is a festival in honor of St. Andrew.

Market day in Pontevedra is on the 1st, 8th, 15th and 23rd of each month. In October the building fair, the tourism fair and the Expovoda take place. The livestock market and an exhibition and sale of agricultural machinery and products is held on the 1st and 15th of each month.