Vigo (Galician: [ˈbiɣʊ], locally [ˈbiħʊ]; Spanish: [ˈbiɣo] ⓘ) is a city and municipality in the province of Pontevedra, within the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.

Located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, it sits on the southern shore of an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ria de Vigo, the southernmost of the Rías Baixas.

In the Early Middle Ages, the small village of Vigo was part of the territory of Galician-speaking neighbouring towns, particularly Tui, and suffered several Viking attacks.

However, its number of inhabitants was so small that, historically, it was not considered a real town until around the 15th century, when the earliest records began.

In 1585 and 1589, during an unsuccessful attack by the English counter-Armada, Francis Drake raided the city and temporarily occupied it, burning many buildings.

[4][5] At this time, and in spite of the attacks, Vigo developed its earliest commerce and was given several privileges by the kings of Spain.

[5] In 1808, the French Army annexed Spain to the Napoleonic Empire, although Vigo remained unconquered until January, 1809.

It is generally accepted that the name Vigo is derived from the Latin word vicus spacorum, meaning "small village".

It is said that, after the conflict between Isabel de Castilla and Juana la Beltraneja - where Galician nobility fought for the latter - the victor ordered all of Galicia's olive trees to be cut down, as they symbolized peace.

[6] To the northeast, Vigo borders the municipality of Redondela; to the east, Mos; to the south, O Porriño and Gondomar; and to the southwest, Nigrán.

In June 2020, the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC) awarded the blue flag distinction to the following 10 beaches in Vigo: Argazada, Canido, Carril, Fontaíña, Muíños de Fortiñón, Punta, Rodas, Samil, Tombo do Gato and Vao.

[30] The Urzáiz and Guixar railway stations serve Vigo, allowing direct connections to the rest of Galicia as well as to Porto across the border in Portugal.

A branch of the AP-9 Motorway connects Vigo to Portugal in the south and with Pontevedra, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña and Ferrol in the north.

[31] Vigo is characterized by a diversified economy linked to the fishing sector, industry, trade, tourism and services.

The fishing sector in Vigo generates more than 32,000 direct and indirect jobs and a turnover of more than 1 billion euros per year.

[citation needed] Biotech[34] and other advanced industries play an important role on Vigo's economy.

The main campus of the University of Vigo is located on top of one of the mountains that surrounds the town, in the parish of Zamáns.

The Zamáns Campus features several buildings that constitute excellent examples of modern architecture that blends in with the shape of the mountain in which it is located.

The most important artists of this postmodern movement were musicians; particularly punk and new wave bands such as Siniestro Total, Golpes Bajos, Aerolíneas Federales, Semen Up or Os Resentidos.

At the moment, the city still has notorious bands like Iván Ferreiro (ex-singer of Los Piratas) and Mon.

There also exist a local edition of the Galician main headline newspaper "La Voz de Galicia".

Although not very popular, it is known thanks to the town mayor, Abel Caballero, who has a show in which he answers to questions and inquiries submitted by the citizens.

The locally produced award-winning feature movie Mondays In The Sun (original title Los lunes al sol) depicts the life of several men who have lost their work at the Port of Vigo.

The RCNV organises important events like Atlantic Week, which in September 2006 included the World Championship of the Platu 25 class.

Every August, the RCNV also organises one of the largest sailboat races in the Iberian peninsula: the Regata Rías Baixas.