Location

Vilagarcía de Arousa is located in the region (comarca) of O Salnés at the southernmost part of the ría de Arousa, Ría de Arousa forming a big sea inlet (ría). It borders to the North with Catoira, to the East with Caldas de Reis and to South with Vilanova de Arousa. It is located 45 km South of Santiago de Compostela.

Subdivisions

As it is traditional in Galicia, the city is subdivided in a number of parroquias, namely:^[4]

1. Arealonga (Santa Eulalia de Afora);
2. Bamio (San Xinés);
3. Carril (Santiago);
4. Cea (San Pedro);
5. Cornazo (San Pedro);
6. Fontecarmoa (San Pedro);
7. Rubiáns (Santa María);
8. Sobradelo (San Salvador);
9. Sobrán (San Martín de Afora);
10. Solobeira (San Félix);
11. Vilagarcía (Santa Eulalia e A Nosa Señora de la Junquera);
12. Carril (Santiago de Afuera).

San Roque and the Festa da auga

The Patron Saint festival of Vilagarcía de Arousa takes place during 10 days around 16 August, the day of Saint Roch (San Roque). On that day two celebrations take place consecutively. The first one, of religious nature, starts with a mass and the procession of the image of the saint from the parish church (Iglesia de Santa Eulalia) to St. Roch's Chapel. Thousands of people accompany the image during its way, which is carried out moving to the beat of the Triunfo paso doble. Subsequently, the second celebration takes place, what is called Festa da Auga ("the water festival"). Thousands of people from all ages go through the streets shouting for water ("¡agua!"). The neighbors respond to their prayers by throwing water from the windows with buckets, hoses, etc. The goal is to get everybody wet. In addition, the city firefighters cooperate by drenching the participants from the firetrucks. The celebration does not end until the beginning of the evening. A certain area, comprising the main streets of the city, is designated as "the wet area", where getting wet is well received. Usually between 20,000 and 30,000 people take part in the Water festival.^[3]