Legend has it that the Greek mithological hero Teucro founded the medieval city of Pontevedra, Spain, in the early 1100s B.C.. Teucro fought in the Trojan War alongside his half-brother Ayanx.

According to the myth, upon returning home from the war, his father, Talamon, rejected him for not having avenged Ayanx’s death, which led him to end up in Cartagena and Pontevedra, where he died allegedly trying to swim to a nymph or siren called Leucoina. A statue of Teucro still stands in the Plaza de San José in Pontevedra. 

The Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) presents a different account of Pontevedra’s history.

The Roman road passage

“Pontevedra’s first inhabited settlements date back to Turoqua, a mansion located on the Roman road XIX, which crossed the Lérez River. The ancient town was born linked to its oldest bridge,” it stated.

 “A milestone dating to the year 137 of the Emperor Hadrian was discovered in 1988 at the southern end of the bridge, confirming the passage of the Roman road through the city,” the FEMP added.

The first evidence of the existence of a place called “Ponte Veteri,” a direct allusion to the old Roman bridge, is found in a deed from the Monastery of Lérez, dated 1141.

The fact is, Pontevedra is a must-visit medieval city that, in essence, has it all, from ancient historic buildings to beaches and excellent Galician restaurants.

Presently, Pontevedra has become one of the very few cities worldwide whose city centre is pedestrian-only, a utopic aspiration many have.

A region full of hidden gems

Notable examples of pedestrian-only cities include Venice, the largest car-free historic centre in all of Europe. Other than that, there are ski villages like Zermatt, Switzerland, and islands like Fire Island, New York, and the Isle of Sark in the U.K.’s Channel Islands. 

However, lesser-known but equally impressive is the historic Pontevedra, a region in the northwest full of hidden gems, such as this little town on Spain’s rugged coast, offering panoramic views and unforgettable sunsets.

Apart from service vehicles, deliveries, and other specified autos, cars are allowed only on Pontevedra’s outer rings. 

The policy is not specifically unfriendly to motorists: In fact, you can leave your car for free, and without time limits, in designated areas. Drivers are encouraged to park and walk into the historic centre to enjoy its medieval squares, cobblestoned streets, and open-air cafés, all blissfully free of traffic. 

An influx of new residents

It’s no wonder the small city, with a population of 80,000, has seen an influx of new residents — estimated at 12,000 — since becoming a pedestrian-friendly community in the late 1990s.

“It was a sad and stressed city,” said Xosé Cesareo Mosquera, Pontevedra’s head of urban infrastructure, in an interview with CityChangers. “People felt like they had to escape to live on the outskirts.” 

The city’s new mayor, Miguel Anxo Fernández Lores, made waves in 1999 by prohibiting on-street parking, lowering speed limits, replacing traffic lights with roundabouts, and pedestrianising large areas of the historic centre. 

The city is a historic stop on the Portuguese Way, a section of the famous Camino de Santiago, and its landmarks are easily accessible on foot. 

Nestled around picturesque plazas are the 16th-century Basílica de Santa María a Maior, the city’s main church, which features a blend of Gothic and Portuguese architectural elements, and the 14th-century Convento de San Francisco, once home to Franciscan monks. 

The Ruínas de San Domingos, the remains of a 14th-century Dominican convent, are now part of the Museo de Pontevedra, a free museum that features archaeological exhibits and masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.

Apart from sightseeing, one of the great pleasures of visiting Pontevedra is just wandering around its quiet streets and squares. The colourful Mercado Municipal marketplace is a great place to pick up fresh fruit, locally produced cheeses, and wines.

Europe is grappling with its first major heatwave of the summer and extreme temperatures have already claimed lives across the continent.

Urgent warnings from health authorities to protect the vulnerable are being issued as the scorching heat, which has seen temperatures go beyond 40°C in parts of Southern Europe, have led to a sudden spike in heat-related sickness, including fatal cases of heatstroke.

In Spain, the heatwave has been particularly dangerous, with a reported seven deaths linked to extreme heat in recent days. France has also been hit hard, with two heat-related deaths recorded and over 300 people requiring emergency care. In Italy, two men over the age of 60 succumbed to heatstroke, and two construction workers in Vicenza were hospitalised, one left in a coma, after falling ill due to the temperatures. 

Holidaymakers particularly vulnerable to heatstroke and should be mindful of symtpoms

The Spanish Ministry of Health warns that the first big heatwave of the season is often the most dangerous as many people are yet to acclimatise to the high temperatures, and without proper protective habits, the hot weather can be particularly aggressive. The Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) say that symptoms of heatstroke, such as headaches, dizziness, dehydration, and exhaustion, are often mistaken for minor ailments, which can delay taking necessary action. Many who visit from the UK and the north of Europe fail to see the symptoms coming. Accustomed to a cooler, more humid climate, on the second or third day of their visit to Spain (at any time of year) they begin to suffer headaches, a symptom of dehydration. Unfamiliar with the need to drink water as frequently as the Spanish, a run to the local Pharmacy for paracetamol is all too common. 

Recognise the symptoms of heatstroke

According to the Red Cross, all too common symptoms of heatstroke are often headaches, fatigue, confusion, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, intense thirst, dry mouth, a fever, excessive sweating, dry skin, convulsions, and even severe neurological symptoms like delirium. 

Doctors insist on immediate action if these symptoms appear: move to a shaded, airy area, cool the body with wet cloths or lukewarm water, and sip water frequently. For severe cases, such as loss of consciousness, medical help must be sought immediately.

Protect yourself from danger of heatstroke

Preventive measures are crucial. Staying hydrated, avoiding sun exposure, especially between noon and 6pm, wearing light clothing, and taking breaks in cool places can reduce the risk. Certain medications, such as antidepressants or blood pressure tablets, may increase susceptibility to heat and require extra caution. Beer and other alcoholic drinks might sate your thirst, but they will do little to hydrate the body, and may even compound dehydration.

The Red Cross provides clear guidelines for responding to heatstroke: move the affected person to a cool, shaded area, loosen or remove clothing, apply cold compresses, and offer small sips of water if they are conscious. Importantly, fever-reducing medications like paracetamol should be avoided, as they can worsen the condition.

As Europe braces for more intense and frequent heatwaves and medical experts are calling for stronger adaptation measures to protect vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and those with chronic illnesses. The recent deaths serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for public awareness and preparedness to mitigate the deadly impact of extreme heat.

It’s a quiet struggle many families in Spain never expected to face: years spent trying to bring their children home after social services stepped in on suspicion of risk.

Last year alone, more than 50,000 children were placed in state care in Spain – a striking figure compared to neighbouring France, where children are five times less likely to be removed from home. But why the big difference? Unlike France, where a judge must approve removals except in emergencies, Spanish social services can take a child into care administratively, based on their assessment that there’s a risk of harm — even if that risk is only suspected, not proven.

Why thousands of kids are taken on suspicion alone

Spain’s system was shaped in part by tragic past failures, including the 2006 case of five-year-old Alba, who was left quadriplegic after repeated abuse went unaddressed. The horror of Alba’s story left a lasting mark: today, many social workers prefer to act early — sometimes very early — to prevent another tragedy.

This approach means children can be removed as a precautionary measure if social workers suspect abuse, neglect, or serious risk. Supporters argue it saves lives; critics warn it can split families unnecessarily when suspicions turn out to be unfounded.

Difficult path home

Once a child enters care in Spain, getting them back can be a bureaucratic maze. While the law requires cases to be reviewed by a judge, months or even years can pass before a final decision, leaving parents fighting an uphill battle to prove their home is safe.

The case of Carlos

One recent case has drawn attention to the difficulties of Spain’s system. Carlos’ removal began during a horse-riding therapy class, when authorities took him without prior warning or clear explanation according to his parents Jonny and Rowena. Jonny and Rowena, say they provided extensive evidence of a caring, stable home — including school reports and therapy records — but they still face more than two years of limited, supervised contact.

Carlos’ mother claims he has suffered dental problems, weight loss, and emotional distress while in care. She also says they have not received a clear explanation for his removal. The full circumstances of the case, including any official assessments of the home environment, remain unclear.

Private care, public worry

Meanwhile, with 80 per cent of Spain’s children’s homes privately run, worries persist about oversight. Past scandals, such as the shocking 2020 revelation of 16 girls trafficked for prostitution from a Mallorca care home, have raised serious questions about how well children are protected once taken into care.

A difficult balance

Experts say Spain’s child protection system reflects a real dilemma: how to keep children safe without tearing families apart unnecessarily. While early intervention can prevent tragedies, acting too quickly based on suspicion alone can devastate families and leave children in limbo and scarred for life.

As more families come forward and care homes face investigations, Spain’s system may need to find a better balance between protection and proportion — ensuring every child’s best interests are served without sacrificing fairness or due process. But there lies part of the problem. Due process takes time, and in these cases, time is of the essence.

So, is it innocent til proven guilty, guilty til proven innocent, or something in between?

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