Alba, Bora, O Burgo, Campañó, Campolongo, A Canicouva, Cerponzóns, Lérez, Lourizán, Marcón, Monteporreiro, Mourente, Ponte Sampaio, San Bartolomé de Pontevedra, Santa María de Pontevedra, A Virxe do Camiño de Pontevedra, Salcedo, Santa María de Xeve, Tomeza, Verducido, Xeve
The name of the city is likely a Latin composite ofpons, pontis (bridge) andveter, vetera, veterum (old, long established). In Galicia, Latinpons, a masculine word, became feminine, henceVulgar LatinPonte Vetera,[38] which became by the 13th century the modernGalician language toponymyPontevedra, "the old bridge", in reference to an old Roman bridge across theLérez River which had been located near the 12th centuryBurgo bridge that remains in place today.
The name of the town derives from the Latinpontem veteram, which means "old bridge" and refers to the first bridge thatthe Romans built to cross theLérez River and theRia de Pontevedra. 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 citythat of the green sea.[39]
A local legend relates the foundation of Pontevedra toTeucer, hero of theTrojan War, a legend which was reinforced with the suspicion that Greek traders might have arrived to theRias Baixas area in ancient times.[40] However, historians and archaeologists tend to agree that the initial settlement was probably formed during the integration ofGallaecia (old Galicia) into theRoman Empire (circa 1st century BC)(Reference is required). The current name of the city is a Latin composite, derived fromPons/Pontis (bridge) andVeteris/Vetera (old), hencePonte(m)Vetera(m), and thenceGalician languagePonte-Vedra, "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 theSuebic period (circa 5th–6th century AD).
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 afterSantiago de Compostela. Pontevedra was on the route of theWay of Saint James, namely its southern orthe Portuguese Way. TheChurch of the Pilgrim Virgin, 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 thelargest Galician port, as it was a secure port open to the sea. One ofChristopher Columbus' ships, thecarrackSanta Maria, originally namedLa Gallega ("The Galician"), was built in Pontevedra.[41][42] It was in centuries later that thesedimentation caused byLérez 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 ofGalicia from the end of the 15th century.
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.[43]
In the beginning of the 19th century fishing, arts and crafts kept the economy going. With the establishment ofnew 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 therailway 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 modernGalician,A gaita gallega.
19th century map of the city (1856), by Francisco Coello de Portugal y Quesada
Pontevedra entered the 20th century with great prospects. The city was at the heart of Galician culture and politics.Galicianists – such asAlexandre Bóveda andCastelao – took up residence in the city, where in 1931 they founded thePartido Galeguista ("Galicianist Party"), the origin of contemporaryGalician nationalism. However, theSpanish Civil War (1936–1939) and subsequentFrancoist dictatorship (1939–1975) suddenly ended Pontevedra's progression. Political repression and economic hardships forced many to emigrate.
Pontevedra in 1908, by Enrique Campo
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,[44] becoming rival cities.[45] 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 theRias 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.
In the 21st century the city of Pontevedra has undergone both a cultural renaissance and an urban transformation, taking in thepedestrianisation 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.[46][47][48] 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 byUN-Habitat in partnership withDubai 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.[49][50][51][52]
The place name Pontevedra derives from the Latinpontem veteram, meaning "old bridge", which refers to the first bridge built in Roman times to cross theLérez River and thePontevedra estuary.[53]
Partial view of the city from the A Caeira areaPraza da Leña, the old firewood marketplace, in theold townBurgo Bridge was built in the 12th century near the former site of a Roman bridge, the "old bridge" that gave the city its name.Ria of Pontevedra,Congress Hall andTirantes Bridge
The municipality of Pontevedra is located between 42°20' and 42°30' north and 8°33' and 8°41' west, in the southwesternGalician coast, an area popularly known asRias Baixas. The municipality covers 118.3 km2 (45.7 sq mi) and is about 20 km (12 mi) wide from north to south.
The city sits at the end of theria that bears its name, occupying the valleys of theLérez and Tomeza rivers. It extends southwards to the mouth of river Verdugo in Ponte Sampaio. It is surrounded by four mountainous regions divided by twofaults, one stretching north–south and one from northeast to southwest.
The mainparroquias (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.
Theneighbourhoods or main areas of Pontevedra are: theold town, thecity centre-Ensanche,O Burgo,Campolongo,A Moureira,Mollavao,Monte Porreiro,A Parda, A Seca,Valdecorvos, Salgueiriños, Gorgullón. The residential area of A Caeira, although officially located in the municipality ofPoio, is often considered as just another neighbourhood of Pontevedra since the vast majority of the residents work in Pontevedra and relate to the city.
Pontevedra has a humidoceanic climate (KöppenCfb). The average temperature is 15 °C (59 °F), with a daily average of 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) in January and 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) 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 theria. 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 10 °C (50 °F) Pontevedra is in the maritimesubtropical climate zone under theTrewartha 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 averageprecipitation of 1,700 to 1,900 millimetres (66.9 to 74.8 in), 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.[54]
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).[57] 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 since 1999. 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).[57] According to the local authorities Pontevedra is, since 1999, the fastest growing Galician city, with an average of +1000 more inhabitants per year.[58] Pontevedra is the city with the youngest population inGalicia and northwest Spain[59] and the Galician city that attracts the most people to live in, together with Santiago de Compostela.[60] It is the Galician city with the best rate of natural increase (RNI).[61]
According to the 2001 census, 29.6% of the population haveGalician as their mother tongue, where 32.1% speak it "often". The remaining 38.3% speakCastilian as their native language or speak mostly in Castilian[62]
The capital of the province of Pontevedra has become one of the most pedestrianised cities in Spain.[67] 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 itsold town. 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. Although service vans and couriers are still permitted to enter the center at restricted times and along designated routes, they also have to follow a 10 KM (6 mph) reduced speed limit, as reports theIndependent.
In Pontevedra, theMetrominuto 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 byUN-Habitat in partnership withDubai 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 asToulouse in France,Florence,FerraraModena andCagliari in Italy,Poznań in Poland and theAngel district in London. In Spain, it has inspired other cities suchZaragoza,Seville,Cádiz,Salamanca,Granada,Jerez de la Frontera,A Coruña andPamplona. 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.[68] The urban model of the city of Pontevedra follows the models of other European cities such asAmsterdam,Bruges orCopenhagen.
Bus stop on line 2 of the city bus service on Eduardo Pondal avenue.
As regards public transport, Pontevedra has two urban bus lines in the city centre:[78]
Line 1 (red), 8.4 kilometres long, connects theMonte 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 theCampolongo 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 theA Coruña-Tui railway and motorway corridor.Pontevedra bus station has multiple connections with other cities in Spain, Galicia and abroad.Pontevedra railway station is located between the Galician capitalSantiago de Compostela (58 km to the north) and the largest Galician municipality, Vigo (30 km to the south).Renfe also has aPontevedra-University railway stop in the city to serve the A Xunqueira university campus and theMonte Porreiro, Tafisa and A Seca neighbourhoods.
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 ofOurense). Regular bus lines link Pontevedra with other Galician cities and towns, as well as withMadrid,Porto andLisbon (among others).
The city of Pontevedra, seen from The Caeira neighbourhood
TheAVEhigh-speed train (in SpanishTren de alta velocidad, or TAV) reaches Pontevedra and the city is a stop on the "Atlantic Line", running from the northern Galician city ofA Coruña toLisbon (Portugal).[79][80][81] Likewise, Pontevedra will benefit from the high-speed train connecting Galicia and central Spain. That Galicianconnection will be fully operational in 2022.[82]
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. NeighbouringMarín is a major military and commercial harbour 7 km away. ThePontevedra marina is close to the old town and the commercial and fishingport of Marín and Ria de Pontevedra, 5 kilometres west of the city centre.
Thanks to a remarkableold town, the surrounding landscape and its former medieval port, Pontevedra has been defined as a "charming city"[83] and "an authentic Galician city". Tourist attractions include many religious and civil buildings as well as picturesque medieval squares.
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.[84]
Convent and church of Saint Francis, Pontevedra. Gothic church of St. Francis overlooking the Herrería Square. It is one of the mendicant-style churches inGalicia. 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.[86]
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.[94]
Faculty of Education and Sport of Pontevedra (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 of thePontevedra Museum (2013), a great building of contemporary architecture, by the architects Eduardo Pesquera and Jesús Ulargui.
New Courthouse (2019). The façade of the building is designed with curved bevelled surfaces and serial openings.
The medieval squares of theold town of Pontevedra 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 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 andthe Herrería fountain at the corner of the church andconvent of St. Francis. It is lined with camellias typical of theRias 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 theCatholic Monarchs had asked them to manufacture. It was the place where theFeira 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.[117]
Plaza de la Peregrina 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 theChurch of the Pilgrim Virgin and was located outside the walls, very close to the Trabancas gate of the old Pontevedra wall. This is where thepillory where the prisoners were executed was located.[118][119]
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, overlookingRoyal Street, there is a stone fountain with night lighting.[120]
Plaza de la Leña The Firewood Square is the most representative and picturesque typical Galician square in Galicia. With acalvary in its centre and popular houses with arcades on one side and the Baroque houses of thePontevedra Museum on the other. It owes its name to the firewood that was sold here in the past to heat Pontevedra's kitchens.[121]
Plaza de la Verdura 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.[122]
Plaza de la Pedreira 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 thebaroque mansion in its center.[123]
Plaza de Méndez Núñez 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 ofValle-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.[124]
Plaza de Curros Enríquez Triangular square where you can admire the French attic of the house on the north side and one of the 19th century forge fountains.[125]
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.[126]
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 stonecalvary of 1773, decorated at its base with a very expressive representation of the time whenAdam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and of the house in which the writerValle-Inclán lived.[127]
Plaza Alonso de Fonseca (former Plaza de Santa María) In the Plaza of Santa Maria there is theBasilica of Santa Maria la Mayor in the background and a stone cross that was originally on theBurgo Bridge, theMendoza Mansion 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.[128]
Plaza de San José It is in the square of St. Joseph that standsthe 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 theformer Pontevedra Savings Bank building is a large bronze sculpture, 6 metres high, of the Greek heroTeucer statue, the mythical founder of the city.[130]
It is also remarkable the former sailors' area of "A Moureira" near Corbaceiras Avenue. Other more modern emblematic squares in the city are thePlaza de Barcelos and thePlaza de Galicia.
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 ingranite by famous contemporary Spanish and international artists.
Marismas de Alba Natural Park. A large natural park that includes walkways for walking or cycling. The entrance is next to the Corrientes Bowstring Bridge on the north shore.
Campolongo Park. In theCampolongo 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 6 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 theTambo Island can be seen.
In the neighbouring municipalities, a few kilometres away, there are several Blue Flag beaches on both banks of theRia de Pontevedra. 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 famousLa Lanzada, not far fromLa Toja Island and its luxury hotels and casino.[131]
TheCastiñeiras Lake is located 9 kilometres from the city. Around it there are large recreational areas with picnic areas, barbecues, fountains and children's playgrounds.
Pontevedra is a provincial andcomarcal (shire/county, with no administrative role) capital, as well as seat of thedistrict court. The city hosts the headquarters of the provincial government as well as offices of theGalician government, in addition to offices representing theSpanish 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.
Since the restoration of democracy in 1977 after thedictatorship, Pontevedra's local government had traditionally been controlled by the conservativePeople's Party of Galicia (Partido Popular de Galicia, PPdeG-PP). However, after the 1999 elections the office of mayor was won by Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, representing theGalician Nationalist Bloc (Bloque Nacionalista Galego, BNG), incoalition with theSocialists' Party of Galicia (Partido Socialista de Galicia, PSdeG-PSOE), until today. The local corporation is divided into a number of departments, orconcellarias, each one dealing with a specific issue such as Planning, Environment, Revenue, Mobility and Transportation, Sports, Public Works, or Tourism.[132][133][134][135]
In the provincial aspect, theProvincial Deputation of Pontevedra 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 theXunta de Galicia 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, theProvincial 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,[136] which agglutinates most of the provincial delegations, except some such as that of Environment, Territory and Infrastructures, located in another building very close to theXunta de Galicia in Alcalde Hevia street.
Representing theCentral Government is theSubdelegation of the Government, the former Civil Government, functionally dependent on theDelegate 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 theDefence 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).[137]
Pontevedra is also the capital provincial judicial district. It houses the headquarters of theProvincial 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 has traditionally been a trading city. In theMiddle 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 the1833 territorial division of Spain Galicia was sub-divided into four provinces, and Pontevedra became capital of its own province. The city then became an administrative and commercial centre, in contrast with Vigo, which attracted the industrial activity, after Franco's dictatorship gave this city a free-trade zone and a Development Pole in 1947. In fact, the first modern industries to appear in Pontevedra would only do so in the 1960s.
Currently, thetertiary sector employs 65 per cent of the population, while industry employs 17 per cent. Industrial activity is reduced to a handful of companies, namelypulp mills (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 theXunta de Galicia (Galician Government).[138] Pontevedra was the seat of theCaixa de Pontevedra credit union, eventually merged into other entities up to the currentAbanca.
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 theRias Baixas, which makes it atourist 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.[139]
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.
As the capital of theprovince of Pontevedra and the centre of theRias 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, theGalicia Biological Mission, the Forest and Environmental Research Centre of Galicia and so on.
The city is the capital of the tourist region of theRias Baixas. It is currently a reference urban destination in Europe for trips to cities that are eminently pedestrian and without cars, and that stand out for their quality of life, at the level ofDubrovnik, Copenhagen orCapri.[140][141]In addition, tourism has increased in the 21st century, positioning the city as a pole of attraction inGalicia and north of Portugal, being currently one of the preferred urban destinations next toA Coruña orSantiago de Compostela.[142][143]
Likewise, the city is a pole of attraction for international tourists thanks to its old town, its urban model, theRia de Pontevedra, theLérez River and its bridges.[144] Pontevedra city is a tourist enclave of relevance in Galicia,[145][146][147] and at national level, having become in 2024 the most desired city to travel to inSpain according to data from the travel booking web portalBooking.com.[148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156]
Pontevedra is also the headquarters of the organization of trade fairs and congresses and especially of national and international sports events that also create an economic engine because of the number of visitors they attract to the city.[157]It also hosts conferences of special relevance inGalicia such as Culturgal, the fair of the cultural industries of Galicia.[158]
The city is the centre of attraction in the central and northern part of theprovince of Pontevedra. There are many traditional shops, national and international franchises in the city centre and shopping centres such asCarrefour 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.[159]
The city is home to one of the most important publishing houses in Galicia,Kalandraka.[160] Others also focus their activity in themetropolitan area of Pontevedra, such as Cumio Publishing[161] and the headquarters of the important chain of Nobel Bookstores.[162]
In the municipality of Pontevedra and itsmetropolitan area of Pontevedra there are several industrial estates, as well as other companies located in other parts of the municipality.
On the outskirts of the city and bordering the neighbouring municipality ofPonte Caldelas isO Campiño industrial estate, which houses important industries such asautomobile 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 "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 theindustrial estate O Campiño 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).[163][164]
Within the municipality of Pontevedra there are also other important companies among which the distribution companyFroiz stands out. (supermarkets, hypermarkets). Other renowned ones are, among others, Setga.[165][166]exterior lighting company design, signage and street furniture, chosen to illuminate the center ofAmsterdam, Hifas da Terra, innovation and ecology company focused primarily on mycology,[167][168] Krack (a shoemaking company) or EDF dedicated to photovoltaic energy.[169]
The city is also the center of construction companies such as San José or Balboa and Buceta.
Pontevedra is well provided with quality private (like Quirón Hospital) and public clinics and health centres, where theMontecelo Hospital[170] stands out as the largest health centre in thecomarca and one of the largest in the province. This hospital is renowned for itsoncology department. Public health is regulated by the Galician Health Service (Servizo Galego de Saúde).TheUniversity Hospital Complex of Pontevedra (CHOP) includes thePontevedra Provincial Hospital founded in 1897 and located in the centre of the city and theMontecelo Hospital created in 1973 and located in the parish ofMourente; apart from other centres. There are also private hospitals ofQuirónsalud such as theQuirónsalud Miguel Domínguez Hospital, 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.[171]
The Health Department of theXunta de Galicia 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 ofTomeza.,[172] 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 theGran Montecelo.[173] 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,Nuclear Medicine,Hemodynamics complementary to Cardiology,Maxillofacial surgery, Neonatal ICU and Pediatric ICU, both integrated in the Maternal and Infant area.[174] It will have a capacity of 724 beds.[175]
Pontevedra also hosts since 1973 a branch of the Spanish nationaldistance university, theUNED university, theUNED Associated Centre of Pontevedra, where students can pursue numerous university studies.[179] The city has its ownOfficial School of Languages since 1988, regulated by the Galician Department of Education where students can study English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Galician.
TheCastelao Building, a large five-storey modern architectural building inaugurated in 2013.
In addition, in 2010 the authorities inaugurated theArchiepiscopal Towers Interpretation Centre (CITA): an underground museum, underneath the Avenida Santa Maria, where the remains of the ancient Archiepiscopal Towers can be seen.
Cultural infrastructure in Pontevedra is mainly represented by two venues: TheTeatro Principal, in the old town, with a capacity of 434 seated spectators;[181] and theAuditorium-Congress Hall, a modern complex composed by anauditorium with capacity for 772 seated people, a large congress hall, and a number of meeting rooms and smaller halls.[182]
It also has theAfundación auditorium near theCampolongo district with more than 800 seats and concert halls such as the Karma Hall or alternative music and culture halls like the Liceo Mutante.
In addition, every year the City Council organises a series of free, open and public activities, such as aJazz festival, open air cinema sessions, a medieval fair reenactment, theFeira Franca[186] 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 artistManuel Quiroga (1892–1961).[187]
Pontevedra has two daily newspapers: theDiario de Pontevedra, the oldest newspaper in the city still in circulation, andPontevedra Viva, a daily online newspaper. The city also has a specific edition of the main Galician newspaper,La Voz de Galicia.[188][189]
RTVE, the Spanish Public Radio and television, andCRTVG, 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.
Indoor football:Leis 26 Pontevedra, playing in the Spanish second division of the Spanish indoor football professional league (LNFS).
Rugby: Pontevedra has two rugby teams,Mareantes Rugby Clube Pontevedra andPontevedra 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.
Waterpolo:CN Pontevedra, playing in the Galician Waterpolo League:[1].
Fencing:Club Escola Hungaresa de Esgrima de Pontevedra, founded in 2007, this is the only fencing club in Galicia specialised insabre. Members of this club compete regularly in the Galician leagues and in the Spanish Sabre Championship.
Pontevedra is the seat of theCentro Galego de Tecnificación Deportiva (High Performance Sporting Centre of Galicia), and it also hosts a number ofrowing andcanoeing clubs. World and Olympiccanoeing championDavid Cal used to train in the ria of Pontevedra.
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.[193]
Elisa Patiño Meléndez (1890–1919) (aka Chichana) was the first women of Galician descent to become a pilot
Manuel Quiroga (1892–1961), violinist, composer and artist
Aganzo, Carlos (2010):Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto. El País Aguilar.ISBN8403509340.
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.ISBN8484573273.
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.ISBN848684522X.
Concello de PontevedraArchived 17 April 2021 at theWayback Machine – Official site of the local government (in Galician and Spanish, with summarised versions in English and French)
Turismo en PontevedraArchived 21 July 2009 at theWayback Machine – Official site of the Pontevedra tourist board, maintained by the local government (in Galician, English, Spanish and French)
Rias Baixas – Official site of theRias 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 andTeatro Principal, maintained by the local government (in Galician and Spanish)
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