Habsburg and Bourbon Spain
Pontevedra
Today: Spain
- Years
- 1492–1833
- Role
- Seafaring town, a provincial capital from 1833
In the 16th century Pontevedra was the most populous city in Galicia (1,600 households in 1556, against 1,000 in Santiago and 500 in A Coruña), with a large fishing port that exported salted fish to Portugal, and the Guild of Seamen, which held that monopoly, helped pay for the basilica of Santa María. From the end of the century the river Lérez silted up the port and the city fell into a long crisis, with the English occupation of 1719. In 1833 Javier de Burgos's division made it the capital of its province.
What to see today
- Basílica de Santa María la Mayor (Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor): Church, c. 1501 to 1605
- Iglesia de la Virgen Peregrina (Santuario de la Virgen Peregrina): Church, 1778 to 1792
- Edificio Sarmiento (Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús): University, 1695 to 1714
- Iglesia de San Bartolomé: Church, 1695 to 1714
- Plaza de la Leña (Eirado): Square, 18th century
- Monasterio de San Juan de Poyo (Monasterio de San Juan): Monastery, 1581 to 1749