After receiving several requests from the municipalities of Vigo and Redondela, as well as from the Teis Neighborhood Association and local residents, to improve the public port area located around Arealonga, the Port Authority of Vigo (APV) has launched the works for the creation of a new promenade and viewpoint. The goal is to restore and transform this area into a new recreational and scenic space for the public.
The project, part of the port-city integration strategy, aims to return a highly valuable space to the community, offering exceptional views over the Ría de Vigo. As Port Authority President Carlos Botana stated, “at the Port of Vigo, we believe that actions that may seem small can, in fact, bring about a real transformation of the coastline.”
As Botana verified this morning during his visit to the site with the project and construction managers, the demolition of the former “Arealonga” restaurant has opened up the area, providing greater space and visibility.
The site, covering approximately 500 m², will be transformed into a terrace overlooking the sea, featuring several rest areas where visitors can sit and enjoy the beauty of the estuary. The new space will include coastal vegetation, accessibility elements, benches, and lighting, while also enhancing the surrounding cultural heritage, such as the historic Virzi cannery, once a key factory in the area.
At the same time, the APV will improve the path connecting the beaches of Arealonga and O Mende, which ends in a nearby parking area that the Port Authority has also recently upgraded. In this case, work was carried out over an area of about 3,000 m² to improve the condition of the parking lot and ensure its safety and functionality.
This overall project—representing a major transformation for the area and contributing to the enhancement of cultural heritage, landscape quality, and the site’s harmonious integration with its ecosystem—is expected to be completed by spring-summer next year. It joins other initiatives led by the Port of Vigo, such as the Orillamar waterfront redevelopment, which share the same objective of fostering closer integration between the port and the city.
The scope of this project is located on the northeastern edge of the municipality of Vigo, bordering Redondela—an urban area with vibrant social activity, where traditional seafaring buildings coexist with more recent constructions.
In addition, the Port of Vigo plans to enrich the area with interpretive panels illustrating the history of the site, the importance of the local canneries—such as the now-defunct Virzi—and the pier running alongside the Paseo dos Penedos.
