La Porta do Sol
Anyone who travels to Vigo pays a visit to the Siren, the curious sculpture that presides over the Porta do Sol. This work by Francisco Leiro, installed in 1991, is already one of the symbols of the city. It was baptised as the fish man, although it quickly earned the nickname of the merman. It is built in steel on two black granite columns 11 metres high.
The Porta do Sol connects Vigo’s historic centre with the 19th and 20th century expansion of the city. From this square, streets such as Policarpo Sanz, Príncipe and García Barbón lead off, where we can find stately buildings, many of them originally linked to banks or the cultural sphere, such as the García Barbón Theatre (by Antonio Palacios), the Fraga Theatre and the Círculo Mercantil. The buildings grew in height and became more ornate, with architectural styles such as rationalism, eclecticism, modernism or classicism standing out, even with French influences with the appearance of large attics and balconies.
From the Sireno starts the emblematic Príncipe Street, the shopping street and one of the most popular in the centre of Vigo, where you’ll find shops of the main fashion brands. This pedestrian street ends at another unique Vigo symbol, La Farola, designed by Jenaro de la Fuente (architect of the Mondariz spa) and a meeting point for all Vigueans.
It is from here that the Ensanche gains ground, differentiating the northern part, which is closer to the sea, from the southern part, whose axis is Gran Vía.
It’s interesting to head towards the sea through streets such as Colón, Pontevedra, Velazquez Moreno or Reconquista, to continue exploring the centre of Vigo. Two gardens stand out on the way to the sea: the Alameda and the Garden of the Avenues, right on the promenade. In the latter you’ll find several sculptures, including a monument to Jules Verne, who set a chapter of his work Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea here in Vigo.
This is another noble area of Vigo’s Ensanche, with hotels, prestigious restaurants and some unique buildings such as the headquarters of the Royal Yacht Club.
Don’t miss the south side of the Ensanche, from Urzáiz Street onwards. The Gran Vía, with its particular slope, opens up the city towards later urban developments of the 20th century and serves as an axis from which streets of a clearly residential and commercial character are distributed. The Plaza de España, with its characteristic Monument to the Horses, marks the top of this avenue, very close to the most famous of Vigo’s viewpoints, Monte do Castro.
Nearby plans
Related plans
![](https://www.barcelo.com/guia-turismo/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/MONTE-O-CASTRO.jpg)
Monte O Castro in Vigo, a magnificent viewpoint with a lot of history
Monte O Castro isn’t just a large park in the centre of Vigo. It’s also its best vantage point and a key place to help visitors understand the city’s origins.
![](https://www.barcelo.com/guia-turismo/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/entrada-cala-tio-ximo.jpg)
Tío Ximo Cove: a tiny snorkelling heaven
Only accessible on foot, Tío Ximo Cove is an idyllic beach with a spectacular seabed. It’s popular with both nudists and non-nudists.
![](https://www.barcelo.com/guia-turismo/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mercadillo-vigo.jpg)
Where to eat in Vigo, the land of seafood and the most authentic, Galician tradition
Vigo is brimming with places for all tastes as well as all budgets: from the most authentic taverns to cutting-edge restaurants, without forgetting its seafood temples.