Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/318021
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 MAY 2014 40 TRAVEL 25% OFF Air Malta's scheduled flights to London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, Parma and Venice on Book between the 11th and 25th May 2014. Travel from 1st July 2014 to 30th September 2014 (excluding Saturday's and Sunday's) Seats are subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply Visit OOO9AJE9DL9;GEãæKH=;A9DGÌ=JEL=F for more details Vigo – A sunny spot in the South of Spain Why go? Vigo is the principal city of Galicia in southern Spain and is one of Eu- rope's largest fishing ports. Built on the remains of an ancient fort and Roman settlement, its historic cen- tre has a contemporary avant-garde vibe. The city is characterised by a se- ries of bays known as the Rías Baix- as, surrounded by green mountians and blessed with a mild climate all year round. Although Galicia is in- creasingly popular as a holiday des- tination, most tourists have been slow to catch on to Vigo's charms, which means there is still much to discover in the city. What to do? Vigo's old town, the Casco Vello, is a jumble of ancient buildings and alleyways, which in summer erupt with weekly fiestas celebrating eve- rything from bread to sardines. The Sardine Fiesta takes place in August – as well as the Fiesta del man de maíz in the Cabral district, a gastronomic celebration of corn- bread, and Valadares' festival in praise of the octopus. The central square, Praza da Con- stitición, buzzes with cafés but the nearby streets are crowded with tra- ditional crafts that hark back to the days of trading in Vigo – hat makers, basket weavers, fine lace makers, and countless tapas restaurants of- fering octopus a feira (with paprika, olive oil and salt) and filloas, small pancakes filled with honey, sugar, custard or jam. A stroll along the pretty Rua Real reveals some of the oldest buildings in Vigo, dating as far back as the 1600s, while a wander down Paseo de Alfonso XII brings you to an olive tree (the symbol of the city) and an open viewing balcony overlooking the old town. From here you have a view of the busy harbour, where boats head out to sea and fishermen haul in the catch. Vigo holds one of its biggest fes- tivals in July to celebrate summer solstice. The night of San Juan takes place on the 23 June with a huge bonfire in the historic O Berbés quarter of the city. Make time to visit the Museo Quiñones de Léon, located in a grand 17th century palace 3km south of Vigo and surrounded by beautiful gardens, it contains more than 1,500 works of art, including paintings and sculptures. Pack a picnic and head for the hills. There are several walks and for- est trails in the surrounding coun- tryside, where you might stumble across archaeological remains and stone carvings while you're finding a quiet spot to enjoy your picnic. Where to stay? The Hotel Puerta del Sol (www. alojamientosvigo.com) is popular because of its location on the central Praza da Constitutión. Guest rooms have terracotta walls and rustic wooden furniture, the perfect base for your explorations. Hotel Zenit (www.zenithotels. com) is a beautiful historic build- ing with great transport links to the city's main sights. Inside, low-lit rooms come with sweeping views of the sea. For something a little more glam- orous, the avant garde Gran Hotel Nagari Boutique and Spa (www. granhotelnagari.com) has contem- porary rooms with shiny leather furnishings. The bar serves tapas including sobrasada – paprika sau- sage – and patatas bravas – potatoes with spicy tomato sauce. Where to eat and drink? A restaurant on the aptly named Rúa Pescadería (fish market street) should be your first port of call for classic Spanish seafood. Alterna- tively, buy some fresh oysters from one of Vigo's many street sellers and wash them down with some albar- iño wine. The family-run El Mosquito (www.elmosquitovigo.com) is well worth a visit for the pickled mus- sels, octopus and the much-loved local speciality – Galician pie made with fish or meat. Try the Spanish rice chicken casserole at A Curuxa Taberna, a tapas bar in the old part of the city. Gastranomes will love Maruja Limon (www.nove.biz/es/maruja- limon), where the talented head chef Rafael Centeno Moyer creates a veritable feast for the eyes and the palate. Try the fresh, marinated mackerel with strawberries and lo- cal vegetables and you'll soon un- derstand why this restaurant was awarded a Michelin star earlier this year. How to get there? Airmalta and Ryanair offer regular flights to Madrid. Flights departing from Malta on 30 May and return- ing on 5 June on Airmalta were priced at €464.41. Flights departing from Malta on 31 May and return- ing on 7 June on Ryanair were priced at €263.98. All major Spanish airlines offer in- ternal flights between Madrid and Vigo that take approximately one hour. Perched on the southern coast of Spain, the city of Vigo is famed for its fishing industry, colourful fiestas and crisp white albariño wine. Try the traditional filloas – little pancakes filled with honey, sugar, custard or jam Spend an afternoon on the white sands of the beaches along the coast Museo Quiñones de Léon, located in a grand 17th century palace 3km south of Vigo, is surrounded by beautiful gardens and contains more than 1,500 works of art, including paintings and sculptures Visit the Casco Vello - the old part of the town, full of ancient buildings and alleyways which erupt with weekly fiestas in the summer