Vigo and Compostela: 2 Galician cities where to enjoy the Christmas spirit

The weeks leading up to Christmas arrive and the Christmas spirit invades many of us. We begin to look for gifts, to plot the best preparations to surprise our guests this holiday season and to inquire about the best Christmas plans. About the latter, we talk to you today.

The lights of Vigo

It is already a classic of these dates for all Galicians. The weeks (and even months) before the Christmas kick-off, the city of Vigo and its lights are in the news all over the world. And no wonder.

Among the great display of lights, we will find, for example, a large luminous tree of more than 30 meters high in the Praza da Princesa. In addition to this, there are other decorations and attractions such as the giant Ferris wheel, along with its entourage of attractions for the delight of the little ones, located in the Rúa do Areal.

In other streets, such as Policarpo Sanz, in Rosalía de Castro on Avenida de García Garbón, we will find imposing snowmen, adorable bears and polar stars, reindeer, carousels, nutcrackers, Santa Claus' house and the traditional Luminous Castle.

On the other hand, if what we want is to enjoy a good time on ice, we can skate on the rink located in front of the Real Club Nautico de Vigo or in the parking lot of Samil beach.

And, in addition to the streets flooded with the music of hundreds of carols, we could not miss the craft and food markets. The nerve center is located in the Alameda, with more than fifty stalls with which to get carried away, enjoy a good meal and even get gifts for the holidays.

Santiago and its sweet Christmas

Compostela is already a magical place in itself and, at Christmas, with its squares, parks and monuments illuminated, as well as different cribs and markets, even more so.

This year, the city council has created a peculiar route: an itinerary with artistic lighting. Until January 8, the Alameda de Santiago will shine with a very special lighting with the characters and landmarks present in this park. Thus, the points marked on this path are Porta Faxeira, As Marías, Valle-Inclán, Isaac Díaz Pardo, the tribute to Carlos Maside, the bench of the beloved, A Leteira, the marble fountain, the monument to Rosalía de Castro, Federico García Lorca, the monument to Pedro Pais Lapido, the Escola Infantil de Santa Susana, the tribute to Castelao and the Church of Santa Susana.

The Christmas markets will also be the main protagonists of these days. In fact, next weekend, from December 16 to 18, the classic Mercado da Estrela opens its doors to its 11th edition. You can enjoy it in Praza 8 de marzo, in San Martiño Pinario, in the Centro Obra Social Abanca, Plaza Cervantes and in the Centro Don Bosco. Other flea markets where you can enjoy the magic of Christmas are the ones at Área Central and Carreira do Conde.

In addition to these possibilities, there are numerous nativity scenes, such as the traditional one in the Romanesque church of San Fiz, the family nativity scene in Mallou, A Crochet, the one in the Cathedral, the one in the church of San Caetano or the one in Conxo (among many others!); the carousel in Praza do Obradoiro or the projection of works by local artists on the Casa da Conga in the Quinta.

However, the city has a lot more to offer during these celebrations to make them unforgettable: Nadal no Gaiás, concerts, San Silvestre race, parade or the New Year's Eve party at the Obradoiro.