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History
History
A local legend relates the foundation of Pontevedra to Teucer, hero of the Trojan War, a legend which was reinforced with the suspicions that Greek traders might have arrived to the Rias Baixas area in ancient times.
However, historians and archaeologists tend to agree that the initial settlement was probably formed during the integration of Gallaecia (old Galicia) into the Roman Empire (circa 1st century BC).
The name of the city is eminently Latin, derived from Pons/Pontis (bridge) and Veteris/Vetera (old), hence Ponte(m)Vetera(m), "the old bridge", in reference to the old Roman bridge across Lérez River (still standing).
Well communicated even since Roman times, Pontevedra consolidated itself as an intermediate town during the Suebic dynasty (circa 5th-6th century AD).
During the 12th century Pontevedra rose as an important commercial centre, up to the 15th century when it reached its highest medieval splendour, operating as a trade and communications hub.
Pontevedra was then one of the main Galician urban centres.
In the 16th century it still was a commercial city, with an increase of the fishing activities.
In fact, Pontevedra was the largest Galician port as it was a secure port open to the sea.
It was in centuries later that, because of the sedimentation caused by river Lérez, the ria became gradually unsuitable for large scale navigation.
The end of the 16th century marked the beginning of the decadence of the city, a decadence which had already started for the rest of Galicia at the end of the 15th century.
The situation would worsen during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The port drastically reduced its activity due to the mentioned geographical causes.
Furthermore, political decisions and dynastic conflicts provoked a general decay in trade, thus resulting in the depopulation of the city.
In fact, the population was reduced in half during that time, also affected by epidemics.
In the beginning of the 19th century Pontevedra was little more than just a small backward town.
Fishing, arts and crafts kept the economy going.
Yet, with the establishment of new provincial divisions in 1833 Pontevedra suddenly saw itself transformed into a provincial capital.
Pontevedra then grew and slowly became an administrative centre.
The introduction of the railway also reconnected the city with the rest of the country, after having lost its harbour.
All in all, Pontevedra sees in this century a cultural, economic and urban revival.
It is in Pontevedra when, in 1853, Xoán Manuel Pintos publishes the first book in modern Galician, "A gaita gallega".
Pontevedra enters the 20th century with great prospects.
At that stage the city was the Galician cultural and political heart.
Galicianists - such as Alexandre Bóveda and Castelao - take up residence in the city, where they found the Partido Galeguista ("Galicianist Party") in 1931, origin of contemporary Galician nationalism.
Yet, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and subsequent Francoist dictatorship (1939-1975) suddenly put a drastic end to Pontevedra's progression.
Political repression and economic hardships forced many into emigration.
It was only during the 1960s, with the introduction of some industrial activity, when the local economy partially recovers.
However, these same industries would later cause serious environmental and health concerns, forcing the eventual closure of some of them.
With the end of the dictatorship in 1977 the construction sector also develops.
Improvements in the communications network during the 1980s and 1990s helped Pontevedra to regain some weight in its regional context, namely in the area of the Rias Baixas, acting again as a trade hub and focusing on its administrative functions as provincial capital.
Since 1999 Pontevedra has seen an intense urban renewal and cultural revival, thus positively influencing the local economy.
For example, Pontevedra has transformed into one of the most accessible cities for disabled people, being awarded a national prize on urban renewal for this issue in 2006.
The introduction of university studies in the city during the 1990s contributed further to the dynamism of the city.
Source: CIA Factbook, Wikipedia
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