There are many historical documents and archaeological remains which show the importance of the Roman and Celtic shanty towns but it won´t be until the XII and XIII centuries when the city of Vivero really builds. The economic position that took place in this period, extended for the XIV and XV centuries and its old streets with guild features are proof of it – such as Pilitaria or Shoemaking street. These streets show the economic and social characteristics of the best medieval populations.

The remains of the old wall are important too because it was built to protect their inhabitants from the attacks or from the plagues. The remains of the wall, which succumbed to the modernity of last centuries in spite of its importance and simplicity, are easily localized in the old part of the city although they are situated near small moderns buildings. In spite of everything three of its original doors remain upright : the door of Valado with a Romanesque style, the door of Castelo da Ponte, also called the door of Carlos V, that is the emblem of Vivero. This door has the sculpted imperial arms of the monarch, the original arms of the kingdom and the own arms of the city.

The aristocratic families, such as Vivero, Cervo, Pedrosa, Andrade, Pardo de Cela ... are a clear evidence of the historic importance that these families had in the urban growth of this city.

Some of their enormous houses still remain upright like their gunsmith´s sculpted in stone and specially, some of their religious foundations, for example the monastery of the Concepcion which was founded by María de las Alas Pumariño ( +1601 ) or the chapel of Ecce Homo, also called the chapel of the Pity, which was built at the expense of Rodrigo Alonso Alfeirán. ( +1608 )

Moreover, there are some names of these old families which are emblems of the history of this old city : Mrs. Constanza de Castro ( 1498 ) was beatified after the intact appearance of her body at the church of Saint Francisco hundred years later of her death, Mrs. María Sarmiento ( 1563 ) was the founder of the famous collegue “ Insigne de la Natividad de Nuestra Señora” where later some illustrious people of Vivero studied, specially, for last century : Castro Bolaño, Trelles Noguerol, Vicente Manuel Cociña and above all Pastor Díaz ( 1863 ) who was called Prince of the Spanish Romanticism, was member of the Spanish Academy and also had a splendid career in the central goverment. There is a statue in Pastor´s honour at the main square of the city.

The Romanesque style left an indelible memory in this city. We can take as an example the churches of San Pedro, Santa María or San Francisco. We can also admire the Romanesque style at the church of Dominicas of Valdeflores´convent situated in Xunquera. Another evidence of the vast medieval legacy is the bridge over the river Landro. It was extended with all grandness for the XV, XVI and XVIII centuries.