Urban growth and renewal in the 16th century

During the 19th century, the city experienced notable growth reflected in numerous urban initiatives and new constructions. Restorations and reforms were carried out in buildings, streets, squares, walls, docks, hospitals and temples. New buildings arose such as the old town hall, the judicial building of the mayors, the alhóndiga "Alhóndiga (building)"), the butcher shop, as well as the water supply and the fountains of La Herrería[15]​ and Santo Domingo, along with an incipient sewage system. Among the religious and welfare buildings, the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Camino, the church of San Bartolomé el Viejo and the hospital of San Juan de Dios stood out. The Basilica of Santa María la Mayor "Basilica de Santa María la Mayor (Pontevedra)"), built by the Guild of Mareantes, was the crowning work of the century in Pontevedra,[16] acting urbanistically as a link between the two parts of the city (the historic center and A Moureira). On the other hand, in 1595 the current neighborhood of Mollavao was already described in the foreground of the city, preserved in the General Archive of Simancas,[17]​ as a notable place in the Pontevedra estuary.[18]​.

Public works and urban layout

The Council promoted important public works, such as the construction of a new riverside dock "Muelle (construction)") to compensate for the loss of draft "Draft (nautical)") of the port dock. Although the layout of the narrow streets did not change, population growth led to a replacement of buildings, reducing the space dedicated to orchards and partially reforming some streets. The houses maintained their typology, with small projecting plank facades, and the squares, even the most important ones such as the Plaza de la Feria Vieja and Plaza de la Herrería, were still unpaved.

The suburb of A Moureira

The A Moureira neighborhood, located outside the walls, adapted to the irregular line of the coast, in clear relationship with the sea. This suburb, extended from the Burgo bridge to the mouth of the Gafos river, was subdivided into three parts: the Moureira de Arriba, the Moureira de la Barca and the Moureira de Abaixo. In 1557, the Town Ordinances prohibited residence in this neighborhood to all those people who did not have activities related to the sea. The road network of A Moureira was made up of unpaved roads that connected the different docks, homes and fields. There were practically no streets in the traditional structure of the neighborhood. All the roads that connected the docks, the houses and the fields were not paved. The occupation of the land was poorly aligned and dispersed, except for the streets that connected with the road that surrounded the walls.[19]​.

The houses were two stories, characterized by their façade with an almost triangular gable. The neighborhood was made up of hundreds of fishing houses of different types, old fishermen's residences, many with stone terraces at the end of an external staircase and their corresponding docks, others with attics and others finished in the shape of a miter, which in the century were known as outón houses. The fields of Santo Domingo, San Roque and San José were used to dry and repair fishing nets and boat sails, in addition to being centers for social gatherings. The Santa María gate of the wall, near the basilica of the same name, connected the walled town with A Moureira through Xan Guillermo street.[20]​[21]​.

Impact of the crisis of the 17th and 18th centuries and construction of stately mansions

The crises of the centuries had a significant impact on the urban planning of the city. Years of climatic adversities, poor harvests, temporary sardine shortages, a decrease in international trade, bubonic plague epidemics in 1569 and 1598,[23]​ the progressive clogging of the port and wars with Portugal and England, caused urban decline. The population decreased, and the social structure became progressively poorer.

The church, being the only institution capable of undertaking important works, concentrated construction activity. The town remained enclosed within its walls, with numerous abandoned houses and an almost unpopulated suburb of A Moureira. In 1738, the Real Maestranza "San Fernando Barracks (Pontevedra)") was rebuilt with stone from the houses abandoned by the thieves of that neighborhood.[24]​ The Council's urban planning actions focused on preserving and repairing the accumulated heritage, while the new nobility built sumptuous baroque mansions in the town and its surroundings, such as the Pazo de García Flórez,[25]​ the Pazo de Mugartegui, the manor of Castro Monteagudo,[26]​ the manor of the Counts of San Román,[27]​ the manor of the Marquises of Aranda[28]​ or the house of the Barbeito and Padrón. The availability of land derived from the adverse situation of the time, however, allowed urban reforms to be carried out that configured the current plan of the city.

Religious buildings and urban planning regulations

The main religious buildings of the time were the church of San Bartolomé "Iglesia de San Bartolomé (Pontevedra)")[29]​ and school of the Company of Jesus "Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús (Pontevedra)"), the church of the Pilgrim Virgin and the Hospital of San Juan de Dios "Hospital de San Juan de Dios (Pontevedra)") (demolished in 1896).[30]​ These baroque buildings They beautified and gave a new appearance to the town, making it a favorite place for the Galician nobility.[31] As for urban planning regulations, there was no height limitation on the buildings (although none exceeded three floors). The facades, for the most part, were raised on columns, creating numerous arcades. An important change was the substitution of wood for stone as the main material, due to the scarcity and high price of wood, as well as its shorter life.[32] In addition, given the scarcity of public funds and the poor condition of the streets, the municipal government decreed the obligation of all Pontevedra residents to pave half of the street in front of their houses.

Development of the O Burgo suburb

At the end of the century, the linear suburb of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), of medieval origin and located to the north of the city, began to acquire some importance.

Contenido

Durante el siglo , Pontevedra experimentó una profunda transformación urbanística tras ser designada capital provincial en 1833 y obtener el título de ciudad en 1835.[33]​ Este proceso de modernización modificó significativamente la estructura urbana de la villa fortificada y del arrabal de A Moureira. Las murallas que cercaban la villa fueron demolidas, abriéndola al campo circundante. Las calles fueron rectificadas, ensanchadas y empedradas, y se diseñaron planes para modernizar y ampliar las comunicaciones con el exterior.

First urban reforms

In the 1830s, the Pontevedra city council undertook a series of urban reforms that substantially modified the original urban planning of the capital of Pontevedra and beautified certain urban spaces. A key factor in this transformation was the confiscation of Mendizábal in 1836, which allowed the conversion of the orchards of the convents of Santo Domingo[34] and San Francisco "Convento de San Francisco (Pontevedra)") into municipal public spaces. This measure led to the creation of the current Alameda in the old Santo Domingo field and the Casto Sampedro gardens in the space in front of the San Francisco convent. This last transformation, begun in 1845, involved clearing the land to enable it as a garden space.[35] During the 1840s, the objective was not to expand the city, but to optimize the already existing space within the walled enclosure. Rather than building new constructions, they opted to rehabilitate and reuse empty buildings.[36]​.

Demolitions and modernization of the road network

The urban reforms undertaken in the century included the demolition of important historical buildings in the city. In the middle of the century, their walls and gates were demolished, which no longer fulfilled defensive or fiscal functions. The demolition began in 1852 with the Trabancas gate, in the Plaza de la Peregrina.[12]​ The stones were used in the paving of the streets, while the leftovers were sold. The 1860s also saw the almost complete demolition of the palace of the Counts of San Román, which had an imposing northern façade. In 1865, the Burgo bridge prison collapsed, and in its place the first covered food plaza was built years later (in 1886). In 1873, the Archbishop's Towers of the century were demolished, expanded in the centuries and,[37]​ as were religious buildings such as San Bartolomé el Viejo (on the site where the Liceo Casino is today) and the convent of Santo Domingo, of which only part of its head is preserved.[38]​ Several sections of arcades were also eliminated to widen the width of streets and squares, and communications with other towns such as Tuy "Tuy (Spain)"), Marín "Marín (Pontevedra)"), Santiago de Compostela, Orense and Puente Caldelas.

Between the decades of 1840 and 1870, important urbanization works were also carried out. Porches on most streets were widened, aligned and paved. In addition, urban reforms were completed with the creation of a sewage network and the installation of electric lighting in 1888. The first sidewalks were built in streets such as Don Gonzalo, Real "Calle Real (Pontevedra)") or Michelena, new streets were laid out and squares were urbanized.[39]​.

The creation of main roads that connected Pontevedra with other towns served as an axis of urban growth from the middle of the century. The main accesses to the city were remodeled: Peregrina Street and the highway from Tuy "Tuy (Spain)") and Portugal were expanded starting in 1850, and new roads were built towards Marín "Marín (Pontevedra)") from Oliva Street, towards Orense from Progreso Street and towards Puente Caldelas from Joaquín Costa Street.[40]​[41]​[42]​.

Planning of the Ensanche and social zoning

In the last third of the century, the future Pontevedra of the century was consolidated. The political influence of relevant Pontevedra residents (most of them adopted) such as Eugenio Montero Ríos, Gabino Bugallal, Eduardo Vincenti, Augusto González Besada and José Riestra López facilitated the modernization of the urban structure. The sustained demographic growth required a remodeling of the historic center, the planning of the Ensanche and the beautification of public spaces.[43] The planning of the expansion focused on the road axes that connected the city with Tuy "Tuy (Spain)"), Marín "Marín (Pontevedra)") and Orense, which led to a clear social zoning of the urban area. The upper classes resided in the Ensanche, in the commercial area of ​​the historic center (Plaza de la Constitución and Real, Don Gonzalo or Puente streets, among others), and in traditional residential enclaves such as the Santa María and Teucro squares or the Isabel II and Alhóndiga streets. The middle classes (officials, artisans and small merchants) lived in the rest of the historic center, near Calle Real and Don Gonzalo. The lower classes settled in A Moureira, the old fishing neighborhood, which regained importance after two centuries of crisis and depopulation.[44]​[45]​[46]​ In the middle of the century, the Arrabal de A Moureira was physically and sociologically integrated into the urban fabric thanks to urban reforms in its fields.

New road axes and infrastructure

In 1884, the arrival of the railway marked the beginning of the installation of the east-west railway line through what is now the center of the city. Among the most successful actions in public spaces in these years are the remodeling of the Alameda and the Plaza de España "Plaza de España (Pontevedra)") starting in 1880 and the urbanization of Gran Vía in 1893, where notable buildings were built to house the institutions of the capital (Palace of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Military Government and the new town hall).[47]​[48]​ During these years, Small peripheral enclaves began to consolidate such as Santa Clara, San Roque, San José "Plaza de San José (Pontevedra)"), A Santiña and O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)").

The new road network of the Ensanche de Pontevedra began with the layout of Michelena Street in 1856, an initiative of the businessman Francisco Antonio Riestra Vallaure, to connect the Plaza de la Peregrina with the Plaza de España "Plaza de España (Pontevedra)"), following the old layout of the wall. In 1853 the western ring road corresponding to Arzobispo Malvar Street was expanded and in 1881 Herreros and Alameda streets were urbanized. In 1886, the Burgo bridge was expanded to improve access to the city, and in 1894 construction of the new Barca bridge began to connect the city with Poyo. Towards the end of the century, the expansion of the built surface transformed the sections closest to the Plaza de la Peregrina into urban roads, which led to the opening of new cross streets such as García Camba in 1884, Sagasta "Calle Sagasta (Pontevedra)") projected in 1893, and Cobián Areal and Paseo de Colón "Paseo de Colón (Pontevedra)") (the latter crossing a part of A Moureira) in 1897, establishing a geometric layout. In the neighborhood of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), the construction of a road in 1898 between O Burgo and A Caeira marked the beginning of the neighborhood's growth.[50]​.

Urban consolidation and development

At the beginning of the century, the city was still limited to its two original nuclei: the historic center and the A Moureira neighborhood, along with an incipient development of Ensanche and the small neighborhood of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"). During the first half of the century, urbanization was focused on the consolidation of the urban fabric following the road axes of the century. In these first decades, urban growth advanced moderately.

In 1900, the construction of the bullring was completed in the old San Roque arena, located in A Moureira, and the new fairground was inaugurated in what is now the Plaza de Barcelos, in Ensanche. Boat In 1902, work began on refurbishing the Palmeras Park, located in the old San José field, which had been used as a fairground.[53]​.

Transformation of the coastline and appearance of new urban spaces

During the first years of the century, the city began to transform its urban and coastal structure significantly. Martitegui and Marqués de Riestra streets were urbanized, thus bringing the urban area and the A Moureira suburb closer. In addition, important modifications were undertaken on the urban coastline. In 1902 the pier was extended, and from the end of 1905, a new road was developed towards Monte Porreiro (today Buenos Aires Avenue), which facilitated access to the Casimiro Gómez Cobas spa.[54] A new pier was built along the A Moureira riverbank, from the Burgo bridge to the mouth of the Gafos River, and the Corvaceiras, transforming the irregular coastline and eliminating the old docks.

In 1909, the engineer León Domercq y Alzúa presented a plan for the channeling and sanitation of the estuary, which included the construction of a large breakwater on the current Avenida de Uruguay and Avenida de las Corvaceiras. The first phase of the filling work, which began in 1910, extended from the Burgo bridge to the Barca bridge, concluding in 1914.[55]​[56]​ At the beginning of the 1910s, the new dock at the port of Corvaceiras was completed and the Gremio de Mareantes square was created on land reclaimed from the sea.

In 1908, the Plaza de Concepción Arenal was built to connect A Moureira with the Barca Bridge,[57] inaugurated in 1905. In 1919, the urbanization of Avenida de la Reina Victoria "Avenida de la Reina Victoria (Pontevedra)") was carried out. Later, in 1927, General Gutiérrez Mellado Street was opened, after the necessary expropriations, to connect the old walled enclosure with the Palmeras Park.[58]​ In 1932, María Victoria Moreno Avenue was planned, which was inaugurated in the 1940s and made it possible to considerably improve communication between the south and west of the city. In this same decade the towns of Mollavao and A Eiriña began to gain importance.

In the middle of the century, the city was divided into four well-differentiated urban sectors: the historic center, A Moureira, the Ensanche and the neighborhood of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"). The historic center was preserved from urban speculation thanks to its declaration as a historical-artistic complex in 1951.[59] In the first Ensanche, developed before 1950, old neighborhoods such as San José, Peregrina and Virgen del Camino were integrated.

Urban Development Plan of 1953 and growth boom

In 1953, the first Urban Development Plan of Pontevedra was approved, marking a significant change in the city's urban planning. This plan established 14 areas of intervention, regulated by new regulations, and maintained the trend of linear expansion towards the north, south and east. At the same time, it promoted a second phase of development of the Ensanche, extending eastward from Daniel de la Sota Street, which was inaugurated in 1958.[60]​ The expansion was completed with the construction of a new railway station in 1966, between the neighborhoods of Gorgullón and A Parda.[61]​.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Pontevedra experienced rapid urban growth and a notable increase in population. This period was characterized by intense real estate speculation that radically transformed the urban landscape with the construction of skyscrapers such as Las Torres in 1964. Demolitions of historic buildings were carried out (except in the old town), and contact with the Lérez River and the old neighborhood of A Moureira was significantly reduced. The old orchards and gardens were replaced by a new paved belt on the edge of the estuary, which gave rise to the current avenues of Corvaceiras and Uruguay.[62] This transformation altered the historical profile of the city from the sea. Despite these interventions, the A Moureira suburb experienced a certain revitalization due to its proximity to the historic center and the growing demand for land, preserving some elements of the old maritime core, such as its irregular layout and its low houses.[63]​.

Urban transformation in the 1970s and 1980s

In 1970, despite the fact that the General Urban Planning Plan planned in 1968 was not approved as such, the development of new residential estates began in Campolongo "Campolongo (Pontevedra)") and Monte Porreiro. During the development of Campolongo, financed by the Ministry of Housing, the Gafos River was canalized and a cobblestone promenade was built over it. The layout of this neighborhood was characterized by its orderly design, with long and orthogonal streets, large green areas and a clear residential function. The development of Campolongo was carried out after the removal of the old railway station and the tracks that crossed the city. These structures, which occupied what are today Plaza de Galicia "Plaza de Galicia (Pontevedra)") and Augusto García Sánchez Avenue, were dismantled, marking the beginning of the growth of the Campolongo neighborhood.[64] For its part, the Monte Porreiro neighborhood originated from a Partial Plan derived from the General Urban Planning Plan of 1968, which transformed the old Villa Buenos Aires estate into a residential area. In 1969, the ambitious urban project was presented that included more than 2,000 homes distributed over 68 hectares. During the 1970s, urbanization took shape with the construction of housing on Reino Unido Street and the construction of modern towers on the highest slope of the neighborhood, an urbanization that experienced a notable boom in the 1980s.[65]​.

Starting in the 1970s and 1980s, the right bank of the Lérez River also became an important space for urban development. After the drying out of the Lérez reed beds in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this area began to host important educational and cultural facilities, including the construction of the first educational centers between 1974 and 1978.[66] Likewise, during the 1970s, the nucleus of A Caeira, belonging to the neighboring municipality of Poyo, developed as a peri-urban residential area, consolidating itself as a de facto neighborhood of Pontevedra. In addition, starting in 1970, fillings were carried out on A Santiña street, in the O Burgo neighborhood "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), and in September 1983 the Santiago bridge "Puente de Santiago (Pontevedra)") was inaugurated, which significantly improved the connection of the city center with said neighborhood.[67] On the other hand, in July 1987 the Avenida de Compostela "Avenida de" was inaugurated. Compostela (Pontevedra)"), which with four lanes, continued the Santiago Bridge and offered a new exit from the city to the north towards Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña.[68]​.

General Urban Planning Plan of 1989 and evolution in the 90s

On December 18, 1989, a new General Urban Planning Plan for Pontevedra was approved, which defined the northern bank of the Lérez River and the main exit avenues to the east and south of the city as guiding axes for the growth of Pontevedra. This plan not only consolidated development along these arteries, but also promoted the creation of transversal roads for better cohesion of the urban fabric.[69]​ The most important road axis built in the 1990s was the then-called A Eiriña ring. The first phase of this work, now known as José Malvar Street, was completed in 1994. The second phase, today called Doce de Novembro Street, was inaugurated in May 1999.[70]​.

In 1993, the A Xunqueira area, located to the right of the O Burgo neighborhood "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), experienced a notable urban development boost. That year the urbanization of the land destined for the Pontevedra university campus was completed,[71]​ and in 1995 the Tirantes bridge was inaugurated.[72]​ In 1997, important infrastructures were completed such as the new headquarters of the Official Language School, the Pontevedra Congress and Exhibition Palace, and in 1998 the Pontevedra fairgrounds, the latter located in front of the Rosalía de Castro "Parque Rosalía de Castro (Pontevedra)").[73]​ Also in 1997, the new Lérez promenade was urbanized and the Sculpture Island park was created.

On the other hand, the Urban Plan, granted by the Spanish government to the city in 1996, allowed a significant regeneration of the historic center of Pontevedra. In 1998 the new Freedom Square "Plaza de la Libertad (Pontevedra)") was inaugurated in the Campolongo neighborhood "Campolongo (Pontevedra)"). In 1999, the urbanization of the current Virxinia Pereira Renda avenue was carried out, which marked the beginning of the expansion and development of the A Parda neighborhood in the east of Pontevedra.[74]​.

Urban transformation in the 21st century

In the 20th century, Pontevedra has established itself as an outstanding example of modern urbanism, standing out for its comprehensive transformation and its commitment to sustainability and quality of urban life. Since 1999, the city has carried out a profound reform of its urban structure, focused on the pedestrianization of the historic center and large areas of Ensanche and other areas, implementing an internationally recognized urban model.[75]​[76]​[77]​[78]​[79]​[80]​[81]​[82]​[83]​.

In the last two decades, the center of Pontevedra has been transformed through pedestrianization, traffic calming and the modernization of numerous streets and public spaces. This process has followed a high-quality urban approach, integrating innovatively designed furniture and lighting systems, such as benches, lighting columns and streetlights with avant-garde designs, in addition to widening sidewalks and lowering their curbs and beautifying many streets with ornamental trees. The city is internationally recognized for its exemplary practices in universal accessibility, mobility and road safety.[84]​.

The old town and a large portion of the Ensanche have been transformed into pedestrian zones, restricting motor vehicle access to residents and essential services. This transformation has promoted a significant change in mobility habits, with 65% of trips in the urban area made on foot. In 2010, Pontevedra became the first provincial capital in Spain to reduce the maximum speed in its urban area to 30 km/h,[85]​ and in 2019 to limit the speed to 10 km/h on single-platform pedestrian streets.[86]​.

The Metrominuto is one of the outstanding innovations in urban mobility in Pontevedra. Inspired by metro plans, this schematic pedestrian map indicates the pedestrian distances in the city and the estimated time to travel them, earning the city recognition both nationally and internationally with awards such as the European Intermodes, the international UN-Habitat[87]​ and the first urban safety award of the European Union.[88]​ The Metrominute has been adopted by European cities such as Florence, Ferrara, Modena, Cagliari, Toulouse, London, Torres Vedras and Bélgorod, as well as other Spanish cities such as Salamanca, Zaragoza, Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Granada, Seville, La Coruña and Pamplona.[89]​.

Pontevedra has attracted the attention of large cities such as Madrid, Paris, Roskilde in Denmark or Suncheon in South Korea,[90][91]​ which have been inspired by its pedestrianization model for their own urban projects. The influence of its urban planning approach has also generated academic interest and has been the subject of study by universities such as those of Salzburg, Barcelona and La Coruña.[92][93]​.

The urban model of Pontevedra has been presented in reports by international television networks, including France 2, France 3, Canal+ "Canal+ (French television channel)"), TF1 (France), MBC TV (South Korea), Seven Network (Australia), Das Erste, NDR, ZDF (Germany), RTS 1 (Switzerland), and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada). He has also been featured in media in Switzerland, Poland, and in English-speaking publications such as The New York Times,[80] Bloomberg TV, Fast Company, Outrider (USA), the Daily Express and The Guardian (UK). This extensive coverage reflects foreign interest in Pontevedra's urban model, which has inspired urban planners around the world.[94]​[95]​[96]​.

Pontevedra also stood out as the only Spanish city present at the International Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015, where it presented its urban model and shared its initiatives with representatives of important world capitals such as Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Dakar, Istanbul and Paris itself.[97][98][99][100] Subsequently, Pontevedra was also present at the International Climate Summits held in Madrid in 2019 and in Glasgow. in 2021.[101]​[102]​[103]​.

Development of new urban spaces

Among the most recent urban developments, the A Parda neighborhood stands out, created after the demolition of the old Pontevedra provincial prison and the construction of new judicial buildings in 1998 and 2019. The Valdecorvos neighborhood, started in 2008,[104][105]​ and the opening of the Corrientes bridge in 2012, which has improved access to the AP-9 and the beaches of the Pontevedra estuary are other projects carried out at the beginning of the century.

The Administrative City in the Campolongo neighborhood was built in 2008, which led to the expansion of the neighborhood towards the south, and that same year the urbanization of the A Eiriña neighborhood was promoted.[106]​ The transformation of the land of the old Tafisa factory, next to the Lérez River, which began in 2011 and concluded in 2015, continues in development.[107]​[108]​[109]​ In In September 2015, Josefina Arruti Avenue was inaugurated, which became the main access and exit to the city from the south.[110] Urban renovations have also reached other neighborhoods and streets, such as O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), O Castañal and Salgueiriños, with a special focus on the route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. In 2019, the Virgen del Camino and Gorgullón streets were renovated and pedestrianized, in 2020 the Burgo bridge was pedestrianized, and between 2024 and 2025 the comprehensive reform of Rúa da Santiña in the O Burgo neighborhood "O Burgo (Pontevedra)") was carried out, continuing with the urban transformation of Pontevedra.[111]​ Regarding the access roads to the city, in October 2019 the Ronda Este (called Avenida de las Chans in February 2025) was inaugurated,[112]​ almost a kilometer in length, which bypassed the A Parda neighborhood to the east and improved access to the Gran Montecelo Hospital.[113]​.

In 2025, the Regional Government of Galicia presented the project for the urban expansion of the city towards the southeast, with the expropriation of land and the construction of a block of more than 2,000 homes between San Mauro "San Mauro (Pontevedra)") and O Marco. construction of 2,040 homes on 215,000 square meters, of which 80% will be protected and about 400 for public promotion. The plan reserves 35% of the land for green areas around a tributary of the Gafos River and 26,000 square meters for public facilities. It will include 25 housing blocks of between four and seven floors with a large central plaza, more than 2,000 trees, 550 parking spaces and sustainable street furniture and lighting.[119]​[120]​.

Furthermore, in the last two decades, the city has recovered its contact with the coastline, including the Pontevedra estuary and the Lérez river, through the Pontevedra seafront. Likewise, the city has experienced notable growth in its green areas, with the creation of new parks that have transformed the urban landscape. Among these initiatives, the transformation in 2000 of the Alba marshes into an extensive natural park north of the city stands out,[121]​ and the creation in 2007 of the linear park along the Gafos river,[122]​ in 2008 of the María Vinyals park,[123]​ in 2010 of the Valdecorvos park, in 2015 of the Tafisa park and the beginning of the urbanization of the A Parda park at the beginning of 2025 and the Camelia park project.[124] Several peri-urban forest parks have also been created for leisure: Pontillón de Castro in 2010, and A Fracha[125]​ and A Tomba in 2021[126]​ and the Lérez beach was conditioned in 2009[127]​ and the paths on the banks of the Lérez, the last one on the right bank of the river in 2016.[128]​.

Urban growth and renewal in the 16th century

During the 19th century, the city experienced notable growth reflected in numerous urban initiatives and new constructions. Restorations and reforms were carried out in buildings, streets, squares, walls, docks, hospitals and temples. New buildings arose such as the old town hall, the judicial building of the mayors, the alhóndiga "Alhóndiga (building)"), the butcher shop, as well as the water supply and the fountains of La Herrería[15]​ and Santo Domingo, along with an incipient sewage system. Among the religious and welfare buildings, the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Camino, the church of San Bartolomé el Viejo and the hospital of San Juan de Dios stood out. The Basilica of Santa María la Mayor "Basilica de Santa María la Mayor (Pontevedra)"), built by the Guild of Mareantes, was the crowning work of the century in Pontevedra,[16] acting urbanistically as a link between the two parts of the city (the historic center and A Moureira). On the other hand, in 1595 the current neighborhood of Mollavao was already described in the foreground of the city, preserved in the General Archive of Simancas,[17]​ as a notable place in the Pontevedra estuary.[18]​.

Public works and urban layout

The Council promoted important public works, such as the construction of a new riverside dock "Muelle (construction)") to compensate for the loss of draft "Draft (nautical)") of the port dock. Although the layout of the narrow streets did not change, population growth led to a replacement of buildings, reducing the space dedicated to orchards and partially reforming some streets. The houses maintained their typology, with small projecting plank facades, and the squares, even the most important ones such as the Plaza de la Feria Vieja and Plaza de la Herrería, were still unpaved.

The suburb of A Moureira

The A Moureira neighborhood, located outside the walls, adapted to the irregular line of the coast, in clear relationship with the sea. This suburb, extended from the Burgo bridge to the mouth of the Gafos river, was subdivided into three parts: the Moureira de Arriba, the Moureira de la Barca and the Moureira de Abaixo. In 1557, the Town Ordinances prohibited residence in this neighborhood to all those people who did not have activities related to the sea. The road network of A Moureira was made up of unpaved roads that connected the different docks, homes and fields. There were practically no streets in the traditional structure of the neighborhood. All the roads that connected the docks, the houses and the fields were not paved. The occupation of the land was poorly aligned and dispersed, except for the streets that connected with the road that surrounded the walls.[19]​.

The houses were two stories, characterized by their façade with an almost triangular gable. The neighborhood was made up of hundreds of fishing houses of different types, old fishermen's residences, many with stone terraces at the end of an external staircase and their corresponding docks, others with attics and others finished in the shape of a miter, which in the century were known as outón houses. The fields of Santo Domingo, San Roque and San José were used to dry and repair fishing nets and boat sails, in addition to being centers for social gatherings. The Santa María gate of the wall, near the basilica of the same name, connected the walled town with A Moureira through Xan Guillermo street.[20]​[21]​.

Impact of the crisis of the 17th and 18th centuries and construction of stately mansions

The crises of the centuries had a significant impact on the urban planning of the city. Years of climatic adversities, poor harvests, temporary sardine shortages, a decrease in international trade, bubonic plague epidemics in 1569 and 1598,[23]​ the progressive clogging of the port and wars with Portugal and England, caused urban decline. The population decreased, and the social structure became progressively poorer.

The church, being the only institution capable of undertaking important works, concentrated construction activity. The town remained enclosed within its walls, with numerous abandoned houses and an almost unpopulated suburb of A Moureira. In 1738, the Real Maestranza "San Fernando Barracks (Pontevedra)") was rebuilt with stone from the houses abandoned by the thieves of that neighborhood.[24]​ The Council's urban planning actions focused on preserving and repairing the accumulated heritage, while the new nobility built sumptuous baroque mansions in the town and its surroundings, such as the Pazo de García Flórez,[25]​ the Pazo de Mugartegui, the manor of Castro Monteagudo,[26]​ the manor of the Counts of San Román,[27]​ the manor of the Marquises of Aranda[28]​ or the house of the Barbeito and Padrón. The availability of land derived from the adverse situation of the time, however, allowed urban reforms to be carried out that configured the current plan of the city.

Religious buildings and urban planning regulations

The main religious buildings of the time were the church of San Bartolomé "Iglesia de San Bartolomé (Pontevedra)")[29]​ and school of the Company of Jesus "Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús (Pontevedra)"), the church of the Pilgrim Virgin and the Hospital of San Juan de Dios "Hospital de San Juan de Dios (Pontevedra)") (demolished in 1896).[30]​ These baroque buildings They beautified and gave a new appearance to the town, making it a favorite place for the Galician nobility.[31] As for urban planning regulations, there was no height limitation on the buildings (although none exceeded three floors). The facades, for the most part, were raised on columns, creating numerous arcades. An important change was the substitution of wood for stone as the main material, due to the scarcity and high price of wood, as well as its shorter life.[32] In addition, given the scarcity of public funds and the poor condition of the streets, the municipal government decreed the obligation of all Pontevedra residents to pave half of the street in front of their houses.

Development of the O Burgo suburb

At the end of the century, the linear suburb of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), of medieval origin and located to the north of the city, began to acquire some importance.

Contenido

Durante el siglo , Pontevedra experimentó una profunda transformación urbanística tras ser designada capital provincial en 1833 y obtener el título de ciudad en 1835.[33]​ Este proceso de modernización modificó significativamente la estructura urbana de la villa fortificada y del arrabal de A Moureira. Las murallas que cercaban la villa fueron demolidas, abriéndola al campo circundante. Las calles fueron rectificadas, ensanchadas y empedradas, y se diseñaron planes para modernizar y ampliar las comunicaciones con el exterior.

First urban reforms

In the 1830s, the Pontevedra city council undertook a series of urban reforms that substantially modified the original urban planning of the capital of Pontevedra and beautified certain urban spaces. A key factor in this transformation was the confiscation of Mendizábal in 1836, which allowed the conversion of the orchards of the convents of Santo Domingo[34] and San Francisco "Convento de San Francisco (Pontevedra)") into municipal public spaces. This measure led to the creation of the current Alameda in the old Santo Domingo field and the Casto Sampedro gardens in the space in front of the San Francisco convent. This last transformation, begun in 1845, involved clearing the land to enable it as a garden space.[35] During the 1840s, the objective was not to expand the city, but to optimize the already existing space within the walled enclosure. Rather than building new constructions, they opted to rehabilitate and reuse empty buildings.[36]​.

Demolitions and modernization of the road network

The urban reforms undertaken in the century included the demolition of important historical buildings in the city. In the middle of the century, their walls and gates were demolished, which no longer fulfilled defensive or fiscal functions. The demolition began in 1852 with the Trabancas gate, in the Plaza de la Peregrina.[12]​ The stones were used in the paving of the streets, while the leftovers were sold. The 1860s also saw the almost complete demolition of the palace of the Counts of San Román, which had an imposing northern façade. In 1865, the Burgo bridge prison collapsed, and in its place the first covered food plaza was built years later (in 1886). In 1873, the Archbishop's Towers of the century were demolished, expanded in the centuries and,[37]​ as were religious buildings such as San Bartolomé el Viejo (on the site where the Liceo Casino is today) and the convent of Santo Domingo, of which only part of its head is preserved.[38]​ Several sections of arcades were also eliminated to widen the width of streets and squares, and communications with other towns such as Tuy "Tuy (Spain)"), Marín "Marín (Pontevedra)"), Santiago de Compostela, Orense and Puente Caldelas.

Between the decades of 1840 and 1870, important urbanization works were also carried out. Porches on most streets were widened, aligned and paved. In addition, urban reforms were completed with the creation of a sewage network and the installation of electric lighting in 1888. The first sidewalks were built in streets such as Don Gonzalo, Real "Calle Real (Pontevedra)") or Michelena, new streets were laid out and squares were urbanized.[39]​.

The creation of main roads that connected Pontevedra with other towns served as an axis of urban growth from the middle of the century. The main accesses to the city were remodeled: Peregrina Street and the highway from Tuy "Tuy (Spain)") and Portugal were expanded starting in 1850, and new roads were built towards Marín "Marín (Pontevedra)") from Oliva Street, towards Orense from Progreso Street and towards Puente Caldelas from Joaquín Costa Street.[40]​[41]​[42]​.

Planning of the Ensanche and social zoning

In the last third of the century, the future Pontevedra of the century was consolidated. The political influence of relevant Pontevedra residents (most of them adopted) such as Eugenio Montero Ríos, Gabino Bugallal, Eduardo Vincenti, Augusto González Besada and José Riestra López facilitated the modernization of the urban structure. The sustained demographic growth required a remodeling of the historic center, the planning of the Ensanche and the beautification of public spaces.[43] The planning of the expansion focused on the road axes that connected the city with Tuy "Tuy (Spain)"), Marín "Marín (Pontevedra)") and Orense, which led to a clear social zoning of the urban area. The upper classes resided in the Ensanche, in the commercial area of ​​the historic center (Plaza de la Constitución and Real, Don Gonzalo or Puente streets, among others), and in traditional residential enclaves such as the Santa María and Teucro squares or the Isabel II and Alhóndiga streets. The middle classes (officials, artisans and small merchants) lived in the rest of the historic center, near Calle Real and Don Gonzalo. The lower classes settled in A Moureira, the old fishing neighborhood, which regained importance after two centuries of crisis and depopulation.[44]​[45]​[46]​ In the middle of the century, the Arrabal de A Moureira was physically and sociologically integrated into the urban fabric thanks to urban reforms in its fields.

New road axes and infrastructure

In 1884, the arrival of the railway marked the beginning of the installation of the east-west railway line through what is now the center of the city. Among the most successful actions in public spaces in these years are the remodeling of the Alameda and the Plaza de España "Plaza de España (Pontevedra)") starting in 1880 and the urbanization of Gran Vía in 1893, where notable buildings were built to house the institutions of the capital (Palace of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Military Government and the new town hall).[47]​[48]​ During these years, Small peripheral enclaves began to consolidate such as Santa Clara, San Roque, San José "Plaza de San José (Pontevedra)"), A Santiña and O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)").

The new road network of the Ensanche de Pontevedra began with the layout of Michelena Street in 1856, an initiative of the businessman Francisco Antonio Riestra Vallaure, to connect the Plaza de la Peregrina with the Plaza de España "Plaza de España (Pontevedra)"), following the old layout of the wall. In 1853 the western ring road corresponding to Arzobispo Malvar Street was expanded and in 1881 Herreros and Alameda streets were urbanized. In 1886, the Burgo bridge was expanded to improve access to the city, and in 1894 construction of the new Barca bridge began to connect the city with Poyo. Towards the end of the century, the expansion of the built surface transformed the sections closest to the Plaza de la Peregrina into urban roads, which led to the opening of new cross streets such as García Camba in 1884, Sagasta "Calle Sagasta (Pontevedra)") projected in 1893, and Cobián Areal and Paseo de Colón "Paseo de Colón (Pontevedra)") (the latter crossing a part of A Moureira) in 1897, establishing a geometric layout. In the neighborhood of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), the construction of a road in 1898 between O Burgo and A Caeira marked the beginning of the neighborhood's growth.[50]​.

Urban consolidation and development

At the beginning of the century, the city was still limited to its two original nuclei: the historic center and the A Moureira neighborhood, along with an incipient development of Ensanche and the small neighborhood of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"). During the first half of the century, urbanization was focused on the consolidation of the urban fabric following the road axes of the century. In these first decades, urban growth advanced moderately.

In 1900, the construction of the bullring was completed in the old San Roque arena, located in A Moureira, and the new fairground was inaugurated in what is now the Plaza de Barcelos, in Ensanche. Boat In 1902, work began on refurbishing the Palmeras Park, located in the old San José field, which had been used as a fairground.[53]​.

Transformation of the coastline and appearance of new urban spaces

During the first years of the century, the city began to transform its urban and coastal structure significantly. Martitegui and Marqués de Riestra streets were urbanized, thus bringing the urban area and the A Moureira suburb closer. In addition, important modifications were undertaken on the urban coastline. In 1902 the pier was extended, and from the end of 1905, a new road was developed towards Monte Porreiro (today Buenos Aires Avenue), which facilitated access to the Casimiro Gómez Cobas spa.[54] A new pier was built along the A Moureira riverbank, from the Burgo bridge to the mouth of the Gafos River, and the Corvaceiras, transforming the irregular coastline and eliminating the old docks.

In 1909, the engineer León Domercq y Alzúa presented a plan for the channeling and sanitation of the estuary, which included the construction of a large breakwater on the current Avenida de Uruguay and Avenida de las Corvaceiras. The first phase of the filling work, which began in 1910, extended from the Burgo bridge to the Barca bridge, concluding in 1914.[55]​[56]​ At the beginning of the 1910s, the new dock at the port of Corvaceiras was completed and the Gremio de Mareantes square was created on land reclaimed from the sea.

In 1908, the Plaza de Concepción Arenal was built to connect A Moureira with the Barca Bridge,[57] inaugurated in 1905. In 1919, the urbanization of Avenida de la Reina Victoria "Avenida de la Reina Victoria (Pontevedra)") was carried out. Later, in 1927, General Gutiérrez Mellado Street was opened, after the necessary expropriations, to connect the old walled enclosure with the Palmeras Park.[58]​ In 1932, María Victoria Moreno Avenue was planned, which was inaugurated in the 1940s and made it possible to considerably improve communication between the south and west of the city. In this same decade the towns of Mollavao and A Eiriña began to gain importance.

In the middle of the century, the city was divided into four well-differentiated urban sectors: the historic center, A Moureira, the Ensanche and the neighborhood of O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"). The historic center was preserved from urban speculation thanks to its declaration as a historical-artistic complex in 1951.[59] In the first Ensanche, developed before 1950, old neighborhoods such as San José, Peregrina and Virgen del Camino were integrated.

Urban Development Plan of 1953 and growth boom

In 1953, the first Urban Development Plan of Pontevedra was approved, marking a significant change in the city's urban planning. This plan established 14 areas of intervention, regulated by new regulations, and maintained the trend of linear expansion towards the north, south and east. At the same time, it promoted a second phase of development of the Ensanche, extending eastward from Daniel de la Sota Street, which was inaugurated in 1958.[60]​ The expansion was completed with the construction of a new railway station in 1966, between the neighborhoods of Gorgullón and A Parda.[61]​.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Pontevedra experienced rapid urban growth and a notable increase in population. This period was characterized by intense real estate speculation that radically transformed the urban landscape with the construction of skyscrapers such as Las Torres in 1964. Demolitions of historic buildings were carried out (except in the old town), and contact with the Lérez River and the old neighborhood of A Moureira was significantly reduced. The old orchards and gardens were replaced by a new paved belt on the edge of the estuary, which gave rise to the current avenues of Corvaceiras and Uruguay.[62] This transformation altered the historical profile of the city from the sea. Despite these interventions, the A Moureira suburb experienced a certain revitalization due to its proximity to the historic center and the growing demand for land, preserving some elements of the old maritime core, such as its irregular layout and its low houses.[63]​.

Urban transformation in the 1970s and 1980s

In 1970, despite the fact that the General Urban Planning Plan planned in 1968 was not approved as such, the development of new residential estates began in Campolongo "Campolongo (Pontevedra)") and Monte Porreiro. During the development of Campolongo, financed by the Ministry of Housing, the Gafos River was canalized and a cobblestone promenade was built over it. The layout of this neighborhood was characterized by its orderly design, with long and orthogonal streets, large green areas and a clear residential function. The development of Campolongo was carried out after the removal of the old railway station and the tracks that crossed the city. These structures, which occupied what are today Plaza de Galicia "Plaza de Galicia (Pontevedra)") and Augusto García Sánchez Avenue, were dismantled, marking the beginning of the growth of the Campolongo neighborhood.[64] For its part, the Monte Porreiro neighborhood originated from a Partial Plan derived from the General Urban Planning Plan of 1968, which transformed the old Villa Buenos Aires estate into a residential area. In 1969, the ambitious urban project was presented that included more than 2,000 homes distributed over 68 hectares. During the 1970s, urbanization took shape with the construction of housing on Reino Unido Street and the construction of modern towers on the highest slope of the neighborhood, an urbanization that experienced a notable boom in the 1980s.[65]​.

Starting in the 1970s and 1980s, the right bank of the Lérez River also became an important space for urban development. After the drying out of the Lérez reed beds in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this area began to host important educational and cultural facilities, including the construction of the first educational centers between 1974 and 1978.[66] Likewise, during the 1970s, the nucleus of A Caeira, belonging to the neighboring municipality of Poyo, developed as a peri-urban residential area, consolidating itself as a de facto neighborhood of Pontevedra. In addition, starting in 1970, fillings were carried out on A Santiña street, in the O Burgo neighborhood "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), and in September 1983 the Santiago bridge "Puente de Santiago (Pontevedra)") was inaugurated, which significantly improved the connection of the city center with said neighborhood.[67] On the other hand, in July 1987 the Avenida de Compostela "Avenida de" was inaugurated. Compostela (Pontevedra)"), which with four lanes, continued the Santiago Bridge and offered a new exit from the city to the north towards Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña.[68]​.

General Urban Planning Plan of 1989 and evolution in the 90s

On December 18, 1989, a new General Urban Planning Plan for Pontevedra was approved, which defined the northern bank of the Lérez River and the main exit avenues to the east and south of the city as guiding axes for the growth of Pontevedra. This plan not only consolidated development along these arteries, but also promoted the creation of transversal roads for better cohesion of the urban fabric.[69]​ The most important road axis built in the 1990s was the then-called A Eiriña ring. The first phase of this work, now known as José Malvar Street, was completed in 1994. The second phase, today called Doce de Novembro Street, was inaugurated in May 1999.[70]​.

In 1993, the A Xunqueira area, located to the right of the O Burgo neighborhood "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), experienced a notable urban development boost. That year the urbanization of the land destined for the Pontevedra university campus was completed,[71]​ and in 1995 the Tirantes bridge was inaugurated.[72]​ In 1997, important infrastructures were completed such as the new headquarters of the Official Language School, the Pontevedra Congress and Exhibition Palace, and in 1998 the Pontevedra fairgrounds, the latter located in front of the Rosalía de Castro "Parque Rosalía de Castro (Pontevedra)").[73]​ Also in 1997, the new Lérez promenade was urbanized and the Sculpture Island park was created.

On the other hand, the Urban Plan, granted by the Spanish government to the city in 1996, allowed a significant regeneration of the historic center of Pontevedra. In 1998 the new Freedom Square "Plaza de la Libertad (Pontevedra)") was inaugurated in the Campolongo neighborhood "Campolongo (Pontevedra)"). In 1999, the urbanization of the current Virxinia Pereira Renda avenue was carried out, which marked the beginning of the expansion and development of the A Parda neighborhood in the east of Pontevedra.[74]​.

Urban transformation in the 21st century

In the 20th century, Pontevedra has established itself as an outstanding example of modern urbanism, standing out for its comprehensive transformation and its commitment to sustainability and quality of urban life. Since 1999, the city has carried out a profound reform of its urban structure, focused on the pedestrianization of the historic center and large areas of Ensanche and other areas, implementing an internationally recognized urban model.[75]​[76]​[77]​[78]​[79]​[80]​[81]​[82]​[83]​.

In the last two decades, the center of Pontevedra has been transformed through pedestrianization, traffic calming and the modernization of numerous streets and public spaces. This process has followed a high-quality urban approach, integrating innovatively designed furniture and lighting systems, such as benches, lighting columns and streetlights with avant-garde designs, in addition to widening sidewalks and lowering their curbs and beautifying many streets with ornamental trees. The city is internationally recognized for its exemplary practices in universal accessibility, mobility and road safety.[84]​.

The old town and a large portion of the Ensanche have been transformed into pedestrian zones, restricting motor vehicle access to residents and essential services. This transformation has promoted a significant change in mobility habits, with 65% of trips in the urban area made on foot. In 2010, Pontevedra became the first provincial capital in Spain to reduce the maximum speed in its urban area to 30 km/h,[85]​ and in 2019 to limit the speed to 10 km/h on single-platform pedestrian streets.[86]​.

The Metrominuto is one of the outstanding innovations in urban mobility in Pontevedra. Inspired by metro plans, this schematic pedestrian map indicates the pedestrian distances in the city and the estimated time to travel them, earning the city recognition both nationally and internationally with awards such as the European Intermodes, the international UN-Habitat[87]​ and the first urban safety award of the European Union.[88]​ The Metrominute has been adopted by European cities such as Florence, Ferrara, Modena, Cagliari, Toulouse, London, Torres Vedras and Bélgorod, as well as other Spanish cities such as Salamanca, Zaragoza, Cádiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Granada, Seville, La Coruña and Pamplona.[89]​.

Pontevedra has attracted the attention of large cities such as Madrid, Paris, Roskilde in Denmark or Suncheon in South Korea,[90][91]​ which have been inspired by its pedestrianization model for their own urban projects. The influence of its urban planning approach has also generated academic interest and has been the subject of study by universities such as those of Salzburg, Barcelona and La Coruña.[92][93]​.

The urban model of Pontevedra has been presented in reports by international television networks, including France 2, France 3, Canal+ "Canal+ (French television channel)"), TF1 (France), MBC TV (South Korea), Seven Network (Australia), Das Erste, NDR, ZDF (Germany), RTS 1 (Switzerland), and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada). He has also been featured in media in Switzerland, Poland, and in English-speaking publications such as The New York Times,[80] Bloomberg TV, Fast Company, Outrider (USA), the Daily Express and The Guardian (UK). This extensive coverage reflects foreign interest in Pontevedra's urban model, which has inspired urban planners around the world.[94]​[95]​[96]​.

Pontevedra also stood out as the only Spanish city present at the International Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015, where it presented its urban model and shared its initiatives with representatives of important world capitals such as Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Dakar, Istanbul and Paris itself.[97][98][99][100] Subsequently, Pontevedra was also present at the International Climate Summits held in Madrid in 2019 and in Glasgow. in 2021.[101]​[102]​[103]​.

Development of new urban spaces

Among the most recent urban developments, the A Parda neighborhood stands out, created after the demolition of the old Pontevedra provincial prison and the construction of new judicial buildings in 1998 and 2019. The Valdecorvos neighborhood, started in 2008,[104][105]​ and the opening of the Corrientes bridge in 2012, which has improved access to the AP-9 and the beaches of the Pontevedra estuary are other projects carried out at the beginning of the century.

The Administrative City in the Campolongo neighborhood was built in 2008, which led to the expansion of the neighborhood towards the south, and that same year the urbanization of the A Eiriña neighborhood was promoted.[106]​ The transformation of the land of the old Tafisa factory, next to the Lérez River, which began in 2011 and concluded in 2015, continues in development.[107]​[108]​[109]​ In In September 2015, Josefina Arruti Avenue was inaugurated, which became the main access and exit to the city from the south.[110] Urban renovations have also reached other neighborhoods and streets, such as O Burgo "O Burgo (Pontevedra)"), O Castañal and Salgueiriños, with a special focus on the route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. In 2019, the Virgen del Camino and Gorgullón streets were renovated and pedestrianized, in 2020 the Burgo bridge was pedestrianized, and between 2024 and 2025 the comprehensive reform of Rúa da Santiña in the O Burgo neighborhood "O Burgo (Pontevedra)") was carried out, continuing with the urban transformation of Pontevedra.[111]​ Regarding the access roads to the city, in October 2019 the Ronda Este (called Avenida de las Chans in February 2025) was inaugurated,[112]​ almost a kilometer in length, which bypassed the A Parda neighborhood to the east and improved access to the Gran Montecelo Hospital.[113]​.

In 2025, the Regional Government of Galicia presented the project for the urban expansion of the city towards the southeast, with the expropriation of land and the construction of a block of more than 2,000 homes between San Mauro "San Mauro (Pontevedra)") and O Marco. construction of 2,040 homes on 215,000 square meters, of which 80% will be protected and about 400 for public promotion. The plan reserves 35% of the land for green areas around a tributary of the Gafos River and 26,000 square meters for public facilities. It will include 25 housing blocks of between four and seven floors with a large central plaza, more than 2,000 trees, 550 parking spaces and sustainable street furniture and lighting.[119]​[120]​.

Furthermore, in the last two decades, the city has recovered its contact with the coastline, including the Pontevedra estuary and the Lérez river, through the Pontevedra seafront. Likewise, the city has experienced notable growth in its green areas, with the creation of new parks that have transformed the urban landscape. Among these initiatives, the transformation in 2000 of the Alba marshes into an extensive natural park north of the city stands out,[121]​ and the creation in 2007 of the linear park along the Gafos river,[122]​ in 2008 of the María Vinyals park,[123]​ in 2010 of the Valdecorvos park, in 2015 of the Tafisa park and the beginning of the urbanization of the A Parda park at the beginning of 2025 and the Camelia park project.[124] Several peri-urban forest parks have also been created for leisure: Pontillón de Castro in 2010, and A Fracha[125]​ and A Tomba in 2021[126]​ and the Lérez beach was conditioned in 2009[127]​ and the paths on the banks of the Lérez, the last one on the right bank of the river in 2016.[128]​.