Inside the Ría de Vigo, on October 23, 1702, one of the most important naval battles in the context of the War of Spanish Succession took place. On one side was the team formed by the Anglo-Dutch coalition and on the other side was the Spanish-French alliance. The Fleet of the Indies, which brought an important cargo, took refuge in the estuary to prepare the defense against the imminent enemy attack. Rande Strait, where the bridge now stands, was turned into a floating barricade. On either side were two small forts (the remains of which are still visible) to aid in defence. The Anglo-Dutch team was able to get through Rande after being invaded by land by several soldiers who occupied the forts. The bay became a terrible spectacle of fire and death that Father Feijoo, one of the most outstanding enlightened men in Galicia, summed up in the verse “The sea is burning”. The Spanish-French defeat was total. This battle is present in the book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne. It is believed that an exceptional treasure is hidden at the bottom. For which reason it was the subject of underwater studies and expeditions in recent decades. A commemorative party is held in October. The celebration features a re-enactment of several central episodes of the battle and with the participation of the parish’s neighborhood. For three days the area revives the 18th century. At the festival there is a playful offer for children, activities for adults, the presence of traditional boats, a falconry exhibition, workshops, guided tours of the cove… and to close a pyrotechnic show as a simulation of what the Battle of Rande was. Redondela has the Meirande Museum for the Interpretation of the Battle of Rande. You can find more information on this website.
