Cortegada Island

The Atlantic islands offer incomparable landscapes and are home to an impressive biodiversity, both on land and on the seabed. Discover the beaches, cliffs, lighthouses and routes of this protected island territory that attracts visitors from all over the world to the province of Pontevedra.

A laurel forest in the middle of the Arousa estuary? The island of Cortegada, separated by barely 200 metres from the coast of O Carril (Vilagarcía de Arousa), is home to the largest laurel forest in Spain, a true jewel of nature. In this beautiful and particularly leafy island enclave, centenary trees coexist with autochthonous tree species such as oaks, pines and willows.

A series of small lagoons, the ruins of an ancient hermitage and a crossroads form part of this beautiful spot, inhabited in the past, creating a magical and mysterious atmosphere. The island of Cortegada is the largest of an archipelago that includes other islands such as Malveiras and Briñas. When the tide goes out, the old Camiño do Carro emerges from the waters, a path that allows access to the island on foot, used in former times to transport loads.

Mentioned in the 1st century by Pliny as Corticata, history has passed through it leaving many traces: a monastery in the Middle Ages occupied a plot of land where now only a church and a transept remain. Until the 20th century it was inhabited by settlers who tilled their land and paid rents to the Pazo da Golpelleira. There are still remains of its houses among the lush vegetation, a 19th century mansion, stables, wells and a hospital built in the 17th century and reused as a lazaretto.

It was in the 20th century when the town wanted to donate it to King Alfonso XIII, but he finally chose Santander to establish his summer residence there, in the Palace of La Magdalena. Subsequently sold, the declaration of the archipelago as part of the Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas will guarantee the survival of its laurel forest, remaining open to public use to learn about its history and nature.

Surface area: 191 hectares (43.8 hectares on land and 147.2 hectares offshore).