The Olive Tree of Vigo
Vigo was once known as "the city of the olive tree" and more recently as "the Olive City" after a very large old olive tree that used to grow at the site of Santa María Collegiate Church. The olive tree is a symbol of Peace and its branches have often been used to mark the entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem. This olive tree had been planted in the times of the Knights Templar. It was removed however, when the church that stands there now was built.
Manuel Ángel Pereyra (a customs official and son-in-law of the also well-known mayor Cayetano Parada y Pérez de Limia) took one of its branches and planted it in his own garden in front of Puerta del Sol, now in the city centre. It set root there and grew until again due to the development of the city led it had to be removed. However, this time it was replanted by his descendents at Paseo de Alfonso XII, where it stands to this day. In this way an important symbol in the history of the city was not lost.
At its new location, in August 1932, the olive tree was surrounded by an iron fence and a bronze plaque where we can read the vow made by the people of Vigo, that of "love, loyalty and self-sacrifice for the city".
The olive tree is also one of the symbols in Vigo’s coat of arms.