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Viewpoint · Vigo, Galicia
Monte do Castro
Hill in the centre of Vigo with a park, remains of a 17th-century fortress, a reconstructed castro and viewpoints over the ria, the port, the Rande bridge and the Illas Cíes.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Monte do Castro
Monte do Castro is the hill that rises in the middle of Vigo, about 150 metres high, between the centre and the Casco Vello. The name comes from the castro, a fortified Iron Age settlement that occupied the slope before the Romans; part of the round stone houses has been excavated and reconstructed.
At the top are the remains of the Castro fortress, built from 1656 during the war with Portugal, with star-shaped walls, bastions and gates. Inside the walls a park was created, with gardens, ponds, trees and paths.
From the viewpoints you can see the whole ria of Vigo, the port with ships and cranes, the Morrazo peninsula, the Rande bridge in the background and, on clear days, the Illas Cíes at the mouth of the ria. A monument recalls the Battle of Rande of 1702 and the galleons sunk in the ria.
The hill is a favourite promenade for locals and fills up in the late afternoon.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
Best time
In the late afternoon, for the sunset over the ria and the Cíes. On a clear day, the morning view stretches far.
How to get there
It is in the centre, between the Rúa do Príncipe and the Casco Vello. You can walk up in about 15 minutes from the Praza de España or the Casco Vello; there are moving stairways for part of the route in the centre.
Tip
Climb from the Casco Vello side and descend to the centre via the Gran Vía. Bring a jacket: it's windy at the top. Look for the Cíes on the horizon, at the mouth of the ria.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Monte do Castro
What can you see from Monte do Castro?
The ria of Vigo, the port, the Rande bridge and, on clear days, the Illas Cíes.
What is a castro?
A fortified Iron Age settlement with round stone houses, common in Galicia and northern Portugal.
Do you have to pay to go up Monte do Castro?
No — there is no fee: it’s a public park.