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MONUMENTAL VIVEIRO

Enjoy its history
Puerta de Carlos V
PUERTA DE CARLOS V or CASTELO DA PONTE:
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Its construction began in 1548 to replace an older one. It is the work of Pedro Poderoso. It is a memorial that was set up as a homage to the emperor Carlos V, for exempting the town of taxes until it was reconstructed as it had been destroyed in the fire of 1540. The facade features three different bodies; the first opens to a spectacular semicircular arch with the coats of arms of Galicia and Viveiro. The second body is very eye-catching due to the imperial coat of arms that is crowned with the emperor's bust, and flanked by four medallions representing the lineages of the founders of the city.

 

The ensemble is finished with an artistic cornice, parapet, portholes and decorated battlements. (Official Asset of Cultural Interest and Historical Monument).

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Puente mayor
PUENTE  MAYOR
 
It is also known as Puente de la Misericordia. It is a very long bridge, and according to historical documents, it has existed since 1225, although its reconstruction began in 1462 during Enrique IV’s reign, and finished in 1544 under Carlos V's orders. It currently conserves nine visible arches of the initial twelve, due to the continuous expansions and posterior modifications that altered its original aspect. It served as a pier and as a loading and unloading dock with a crane. Here, you can find the “Cruz do Rollo” and at the end of it, the Ecce Hommo chapel and the Pazo de la Misericordia.

 

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Convent of San Francisco
CONVENT OF SAN FRANCISCO
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The San Fransico Convent and Church are located on the outskirts of the old wall enclosure. It belonged to the Franciscans, and it is believed to have been founded in 1219. The cloister preserves two beautiful Roman arches of the original outline; the most current one is the work of Diego Ibáñez PAcheco (1645).
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The Church (14th Century) is an oval style on its apse, transepts with different details in the wing. The front of the building has two arches from the original entries to the vhapels of San Luís, the Bishop of San Tolosa, patron of the sailors, and San Juan Bautista (with gothic style mural paintings from the 15th  Century).
There are interesting alterpieces depicting the International Eater inside  the chapels of San Ildefonso (14th Century) and Venerable Orden Tercera (18th Century). The arcosolia and tombs of Beata Constanza de Castro and Nicomedes Pastor Díaz (1923) are also worth seeing.
The gothic style apse (14th Century), is considered one of the most graceful ones in Galicia, and was restored in 1965. (Conjunto Hº Artístico Nacional).
Church of Santa María
CHURCH OF SANTA MARÍA
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A Roman church from the 12th  Century that looks like a basilica. It has three wings, three facades, and an apse with a straight passage. In the church, over the interior tympanum of the northern entrance, you can find the artistic group of sculptures of La Piedad (16th Century), which were originally from the demplished Puerta de las Angustias. At the end of the wing, you can find an interesting baptismal font with biblical details.
It is also worth highlighting the gothic, ogival chapel of San Gregorio (1468), with the sepulchral arches of the founders, and the chapel of La Virgen del Rosario (18th Century), with its Baroque alterpiece carving of the Virgen del Rosario (16th Century), and an aticulated Christ (16th  Century).
 
The apse has a curious set of dig corbels symbolising lust and the capital sins.
(Monumento y Conjunto Hº Artístico Nacional) 
Convent of the concepcionistas
CONVENT OF THE CONCEPCIONISTAS
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It was built in 1725 by will of Mª de las Alas Pumariño and it was ruled by cloistered nuns. The gate and the main access to the convent are remarkable. Their delicious pastry can also be bought here. Inside, there is a large three-floor cloister with arches on the ground floor (18th Century).
 
It is a beautiful chapel open to worship, with beautiful tombstones and other artistic elements. 
 
The Grotto of Lourdes is a recreation of the French one in honour of the Virgin; it was built in 1925. The numerous wax votives offered in gratitude for human and animal healing stand out.  
Porta do Valado
PUERTA "DO VALADO"
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La Puerta "do Valado" y la "Calexa das Monxas" forman un único conjunto.
 
La Calexa das Monxas separa la huerta conventual de las concepcionistas, donde estuvo la antigua capilla de S. Martiño de Rúa Cuberta, del pazo urbano de los Sotelo Valledor. 
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La "Porta do Valado" es una de las seis antiguas puertas medievales que tenía la población, actualmente solo existen tres, al lado de la misma se encuentra el lienzo de la muralla mejor concervado de la localidadad, además, de importantes restos arqueológicos medievales
Porta da Vila
PUERTA "DA VILA"
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A simple half-point arch with a canyon vault that served as an entrance to the Camino Real (The Royal Road). It preserves the oldest epigraph, on stone, in Viveiro, that says: 
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ERA: M:CC:LV: It was 1255 (year 1217)
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IN TEMPO AF: in the time of Alfonso (King Alfonso IX)
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Inside, above the door, there is still a modern wooden dressing room with the sculptural group of Cristo del Amparo. Near this door is the Fonte del Cadalso (17th Century), which was opposite the monastery of Santo Domingo, demolished in 1851. 
Casa de los Leones
CASA DE LOS LEONES
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This is the facade of a lavish late-Renaissance building from the 17th Century, which does not exist anymore. Its name derives from the two large stone lions that appear on both sides of the coat of arms of the Ponte Prada and Pardo de Lama Andrade families, from Ferrol. In 1987 it underwent remodelling, losing interesting architectural elements such as the gallery facing the sea, and a spectacular stone staircase.
Misericordia Chapel
LA MISERICORDIA CHAPEL
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The Capilla de la Misericordia or the chapel of Ecce Homo was founded in 1603 by Rodrigo Alonso Afeirán, and was rebuilt in 1648, 1791 and 1800. It is of the Renaissance style.
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The neoclassical alterpiece of Asunción de la Virgen, the High alter, and the historic frescoes of the dome on the life and miracles of Beata Constanza de Castro, by Camilo Díaz Baliño (1917), are exquisitely eye-catching.
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The popular image of Ecce Homo is situated and worshipped on the right-hand side of the alter. Many devotees visit it on the first Friday of March, “Day of the Three Graces”, and make three wishes.
 
The Pazo de la Misericordia is adjacent to the chapel. 
Church of San Pedro
CHURCH OF  SAN PEDRO
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In the past, you could see the Castro da Torre, however it is no longer there.  The church is of a very pure Romanesque style. It was rebuilt in the 9th Century, enlarged in the 12th Century, and refurbished in the 17th and 20th Century.
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Its striking lateral stone side walls have varied corbels on the eaves, in which two of them represent women's and men’s sex organs.  In the apse, along the eaves, there is a cord and a rosette carved on the central window, as well as curious corbels, which attract a lot of attention. Inside, you can find the baptismal font, different altarpieces and interesting epigraphs on the left side wall.
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It is classified as Cultural Heritage (BIC).
Monastery of Valdeflores
MONASTERY OF VALDEFLORES
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The Convent was converted into a monastery under the rule of Santo Domingo, in 1406.  The temple is of Gothic style. It was rebuilt in the 18th century and was recently restored. Inside, we can find an alabaster image of Our Lady of Valdeflores, who according to legend, appeared in the exact same spot.  
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What also stands out is the beautiful cover of the South side wall, of an ogival style with Romanesque capitals, crowned with a stone image of Santo  Domingo, work of Sarmiento which originally formed part of the ruined convent of the Dominicans.
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The Dominican cloistered nuns offer the public a varied assortment of sweets and pastries. 
Callejon del Muro
CALLEJÓN DEL MURO
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An old passage that ran along the ancient wall.  
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It is one of the narrowest streets in Spain and is only 1 to 2 metres wide. 
Plaza Mayor
PLAZA MAYOR
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The Plaza Mayor is formed by various eclectic buildings which all have elements of the northern architecture in common: slate roofs, wrought iron balconies, glazed galleries and granite or masonry walls. 
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It underwent various modifications over time, when the parish church of Santiago (1840), the pillory, the Prison and Casa de los Corregidores (1874) were demolished. Afterwards, it enlarged its perimeter, and two cantons were constructed: Das Zocas and the old Canto de Santiago.  The statue of the writer and politician, Nicomedes Pastor Diaz was erected in 1891; it was designed by the Catalan, J. Campeny, and was recently relocated elsewhere in the square.

 

It is also worth taking a look at the artistic declining sundial of the old Town Hall, which represents the greatest bridge and the passing lion of Viveiro’s coat of arms; work of J. Sarmiento.  There is also an equestrian Santiago, carved in stone in the corner of the house at Number 2, P. Díaz Street.

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Remains of the wall
REMAINS OF THE WALL
 
In the area of ​​A Ribeira there are archeological windows where you can see two sections of the old wall that used to reach the gate of San Antonio which does not exist anymore. 
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