Redondela, more than a town: history, canneries, A Coca, and San Simón

What if Redondela were much more than just a stopover?

On this route, we will discover the history of Redondela through its streets, its buildings, its traditions, and the stories that have shaped the identity of the town. A journey to learn about its heritage and understand how it has changed over time, from its medieval past to the industrial and contemporary Redondela.

We will talk about its architecture and heritage, the marks that different eras have left on the urban landscape, and especially the importance that the canning industry had on the economic and social life of the locality. We will also learn about the history of A Coca, one of Redondela's most unique traditions, and discover what lies behind this curious mythological creature that returns to roam its streets every year.

But Redondela cannot be understood without looking towards its estuary. Therefore, the route will also take us to the history of San Simón, a small archipelago that has lived many lives: monastery, quarantine station, quarantine space, place of confinement during the Civil War and the dictatorship, orphanage, and finally, a cultural and memorial space. A history full of changes that also reflects the evolution of Galician society itself.

A route to see Redondela with different eyes: to discover what its streets hide, to know the stories that are part of its memory, and to understand why this corner of the Vigo estuary is much more than just a town.