Viveiro

Infobox City
official_name = Concello de Viveiro
map_caption = Situation of Viveiro within Galicia
subdivision_type = Parroquias
subdivision_name = Area-Faro, Boimente, Chavín, Galdo, Landrove, Magazos, San Pedro, Valcarría, Celeiro, Vieiro, Covas and Viveiro
leader_title = Alcalde (Mayor)
leader_name = Melchor Roel Rivas
area_note =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 105
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
population_as_of = 2005
population_note = it triples in summer
population_total = 20000 (INE)
population_density_km2 =
latitude = 43 41
longitude = 3 52
website = http://www.viveiro.es
footnotes =

Viveiro coord|43|41|N|3|52|W (also known as Vivero) is a town and municipality in the province of Lugo, in the northwestern Galician autonomous community of Spain. It borders on the Cantabric Sea, to the south of the municipality of Ourol, to the east of Xove and to the west of O Vicedo. It has a residential population of over 16,000 (2007 figures), which however triples in the summer months with visitors to the coastal region.

Port of Viveiro

* "Fishing port"
* " Commercial port"
* "Sport port"

Geography and location

The municipality has an area of some 105 km², and an average altitude above mean sea level of 18 m. The climate is Mild Oceanic.

The municipality encompasses the township of Viveiro itself (the main population centre on the Lugo coast), and also the towns of Covas and Celeiro. More than half of the municipality's population live in these three centres.

Viveiro municipality is subdivided into several administrative areas ("parroquias", or parishes): Area-Faro, Boimente, Chavín, Galdo, Landrove, Magazos, San Pedro, Valcarría, Celeiro, Vieiro, Covas and Viveiro.

Rivers : Viveiro has 52 rivers with a watercourse of more than 150 km. The main river is the Landro. Beaches : In the coast of Viveiro there is 7 km of beaches.Distance between the main cities : Viveiro : Lugo 91 km, Ourense 186 km, Pontevedra 209 km, Vigo 233 km, A Coruña 119 km, Ferrol 86 km, Santiago de Compostela 153 km.

Distance between the main airports : Viveiro is at a distance of 11 km of the airport of A Coruña (Alvedro), at 153 km of the airport of Santiago de Compostela (Lavacolla) and at 233 km of Vigo (Peinador)

Accesses : Roads : N- 634, LU- 642, C- 640

The old part of the city of Viveiro was declared an historic-artistic zone

History

There are many historical documents and archaeological remains which show the importance of the Roman and Celtic shanty towns. It will not be until the XII and XIII centuries when the city of Viveiro really grew. The economic position that took place in this period grew during the XIV and XV centuries, and its old streets with guild features are proof of it – such as "Pilitaria", or Shoemaking, street. These streets show the economic and social characteristics of the medieval population.

The remains of the old wall are important too because it was built to protect the inhabitants from the attacks or from the plague. The remains of the wall, which succumbed to the modernity of last centuries in spite of its importance and simplicity, are easily localized in the old part of the city although they are situated near small moderns buildings. In spite of everything three of its original doors remain upright: the door of Valado with a Romanesque style, the door of Castelo da Ponte, also called the door of Carlos V, that is the emblem of Viveiro. This door has the sculpted imperial arms of the monarch, the original arms of the kingdom and the own arms of the city.

The existence of aristocratic families, such as Viveiro, Cervo, Pedrosa, Andrade, Pardo de Cela, serve as testimony to the historic importance that these families had in the urban growth of this city.

Some of their enormous houses still remain upright, like the gunsmith's house sculpted in stone, and some of their religious foundations, for example the monastery of the Concepcion which was founded by María das Alas Pumariño (+1601) or the chapel of Ecce Homo, also called the chapel of Pity, which was built at the expense of Rodrigo Alonso Alfeirán (+1608).

Moreover, there are some names of these old families which are emblems of the history of this old city: Mrs. Constanza de Castro (1498) was beatified after the intact appearance of her body at the church of Saint Francisco hundred years later of her death, Mrs. María Sarmiento (1563) was the founder of the famous college “ Insigne de la Natividad de Nuestra Señora” where later some illustrious people of Vivero studied during the nineteenth century: Castro Bolaño, Trelles Noguerol, Vicente Manuel Cociña and above all Pastor Díaz (1863) who was called Prince of the Spanish Romanticism, was member of the Spanish Academy and also had a splendid career in the central government. There is a statue in Pastor's honour at the main square of the city.

The Romanesque style left an indelible memory in this city. We can take as an example the churches of San Pedro, Santa María or San Francisco. We can also admire the Romanesque style at the church of Dominicas of Valdeflores' convent situated in Xunqueira. Another evidence of the vast medieval legacy is the bridge over the river Landro. It was extended with all grandness for the XV, XVI and XVIII centuries.

Festivities

The calendar of Viveiro holds several festivals, both secular and religious.

Carnival

Viveiro's is the oldest Carnival in Galicia. It is celebrated during the four days before Lent, from Saturday until Shrove Tuesday. It concludes on Tuesday with a great procession of floats through the streets.

Holy Week

It was declared as national tourist interest and considered as the best festivity in Galicia due to its religious icons and symbols of their faith and its processions. Vivero has a great number of cofradías such as the Virgin of the Rosario, the Christ of the Piety, the Seven Words and St. Cross. Interesting are well the processions such as the Encounter that show the Calvary of Christ with religious images, the Unnailed and St. Funeral that show the descent of the Cross to continue with the procession of St. Funeral, the Last Supper with the pasos of the supper, Horto, Ecce Homo, the Nazarene and the Virgin of the Dolores- Sufferings, the Passion, the Seven Words, the Piety and the Virgin on foot of the Cross, the silent procession in which utter silence portrays the despair of people that walk behind the Virgin of the Dolores-Sufferings to her return of the Calvary on the early hours of the morning.

Rapa das bestas

This festivity takes place the first Sunday of July except that the first of July coincides on Sunday then it celebrates the second Sunday in the Buio Mountains. It's an old tradition where people cut the horsehairs, brand the horses and break in them.

Patronal feasts

It celebrates on August 15 in Saint Roque and the Virgin's honour. It's important the popular trade fair which is made up in CIOFF. There also are other events such as the popular craft trade fair, the ascent and the pilgrimage to the mountain of Saint Roque ( it takes place on August 16 in the small hours ) the day of the enormous heads in the Nogueiras, the cycle race, the championship of trap shooting....

The pilgrimage of Naseiro (The pilgrimage of the good meal)

It celebrates the fourth Sunday of August and also Arzurs birthday which is a very important person in the history of the city, so everyone goes in the Naseiro and drink a lot, this is commonly know as "the big chea criminal de borrachuzos" which can kill people, on the banks of the river Landro in the parish of Saint Peter. There are several days dedicated to the octopus, the broth, the sardines where people eat, sing and dance for four days. The best festivity ever.

Saint James' day

It celebrates on July 25 at the Port of Celeiro with a marine procession through the estuary of Viveiro.

Gastronomy

Viveiro has a wonderful geographical situation combining sea, river and country and it observes in its gastronomy with excellent products.

Shellfish :
Barnacles, shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, mussels, cockles, scallop...

Freshwater fishes :
Trout, salmon, eel...

Saltwater fishes :
Sole, grouper, sea bream, red mullet, conger, sardines, striped tunny, squids, elver, ray...

Meats :
Veal, pork, lamb, kid...

Typical dishes

There are some typical Galician dishes such as broth, shellfish soup, fish soup, octopus, old cow, pies, fish stews, lamb stews... but there are some dishes which are special in the Viveiro cuisine :

Shellfish :
Razor shells in sauce and razor shells with rice.

Fishes :
Hake cooked in Galician way, cod with vegetables, herrings with chestnuts and above all striped tunny cooked in roll.

Meats : Chicken pies, pork pies, salted fresh lards with potatoes and veal cooked in roll.

Desserts : Cake of Viveiro ( almonds and pastry like dessert of pumpkin and syrup )

Liquors :Morello liquor and cherry liquor.

Town Twinning

*flagicon|France Lannion, France
*flagicon|Cuba Old Havana, Cuba
*flagicon|Australia Perth, Australia

External links

* [http://www.porto-ferrolsanciprian.com/asp/index.asp?idIdioma=3 Ferrol-San Cibrao Port Authority]