Viveiro

Viveiro (Galician pronunciation: [bi'βejɾo]; also known as Vivero, in Spanish) 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 west of Xove and to the east of O Vicedo. It has a residential population of over 16,000 (2010 figures), which however triples in the summer months with visitors to the coastal region.

Geography and location

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.

Main sights

The old wall, of which only parts remain today, were 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.

Some of the mansions of the city's noble families are still existing, such as the gunsmith's house sculpted in stone. Religious buildings include the monastery of the Concepcion, which was founded by María das Alas Pumariño (died 1601), and the chapel of Ecce Homo, also called the chapel of Pity, which was built at the expense of Rodrigo Alonso Alfeirán (died 1608).

The city is also home to several Romanesque historical buildings. These include the churches of San Pedro, Santa María or San Francisco. The bridge over the river Landro is of medieval origins too.

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

The Holy Week in Viveiro is one of the most important Holy Week celebrations in Galicia. 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. The city is also home to 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, a silent procession.

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 is an old tradition according to which 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.

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

It celebrates the fourth Sunday of August and also Arzurs birthday.

Saint James' day

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

Town Twinning

• Lannion, France
• Old Havana, Cuba
• Perth, Australia

External links

• Ferrol-San Cibrao Port Authority (English)