Geography | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 42°29′22.0″N8°50′55.0″W / 42.489444°N 8.848611°W |
Area | 1.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi) |
Length | 2.17 km (1.348 mi) |
Width | 0.81 km (0.503 mi) |
Highest elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
Administration | |
Autonomous community | Galicia |
Province | Pontevedra |
Municipality | O Grove |
Demographics | |
Population | 47 |
A Toxa (also known as Illa da Toxa, A Toxa Grande, Island of Louxo or Island of the Baths of Louxo) is an island part of the municipality of O Grove, Galicia, Spain. Located east of the town, it's connected to the mainland by an 18th-century bridge. [1] [2] It has a small urban centre called Illa da Toxa, belonging to the civil parish of San Martín, which had 42 inhabitants in 2018. [3] It has an area of 110 hectares and is located about 30 km from Pontevedra.
The island is traditionally given the original Galician names, illa de Louxo or illa da Toxa Grande; the latter name was devised to differentiate the name of this island from that of the island of A Toxa Pequena, which is located about 100 metres east of A Toxa Grande.
The name Toxa has been explained as a pre-Roman hydronym derived from the Indo-European base *Tŭg-, more precisely *Tŭgia "muddy place", in reference to the therapeutic mud of the thermal springs that characterise the island of A Toxa. [4] This reference hides the etymology of Louxo, the other name of the island, which since the middle of the 20th century is derived from Lausio, from the Indo-European root *leu-, *lau- "to wash, to wash oneself", in reference to its very ancient thermal springs. [5]
For centuries, the island was used by the inhabitants of O Grove as a place to graze their cattle (which they transported by boat) and also for their agricultural work. [6] But following the rediscovery in the 19th century of its thermal mud (from which it takes the name A Toxa) and medicinal waters (from which it takes the name Louxo), it became privately owned to exploit its thermal advantages, building the old spa, which brought with it a spectacular increase in tourism and the birth of other facilities. [7]
In 1989, the island hosted the annual meeting of the Bilderberg influence group, which brings together the political and financial elites of the wider world. [8]
It is one of the most famous islands in Galicia due to its vocation as a spa, leisure and tourism centre: it has thermal baths, old soap and cosmetics factories, luxury hotels, a golf course, [9] a marina, a congress centre, the first casino in Spain, [10] tennis courts, padel courts, archery courts, swimming pools, housing estates, a shopping centre and other facilities. [11] However, the centre of the island still retains a dense pine forest. Thus, the island is divided into : 32 hectares of private housing estates (its southern part and the eastern and western flanks), 25 hectares of golf course for private use (its entire northern part) and 25 hectares of virgin pine forest (in the centre of the island).
The island has a characteristic chapel dedicated to Saint Caralampio [12] and the Virgin of Carmen, whose original plan dates back to the 12th century and which is now completely covered with scallops.
On this island, there are several recreational opportunities, including boating along the ria. The boats are catamarans whose keels are fitted with a special glass so that the marine fauna can be seen. On the route, a mussel farm is visited and its operation for cultivating mussels is explained.
The island Gran Hotel [13] is a good architectural example of the Belle Époque style.
Pontevedra is a city in the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. It is the capital of both the Comarca and Province of Pontevedra, and the capital of the Rías Baixas. It is also the capital of its own municipality which is often considered an extension of the actual city.
The church of the Pilgrim Virgin is a scallop-shaped Roman Catholic chapel located in the city of Pontevedra, in Spain, along the route of the Portuguese Way of St. James.
The Burgo Bridge(Puente del Burgo) is a medieval bridge, built over an older bridge of Roman origin, which crosses the Lérez River in the city of Pontevedra, Spain. It is on the route of the Portuguese Way to the north of the historic centre of Pontevedra and to the south of the Burgo neighbourhood. Between the arches above the pillars are carved the famous stone pilgrim's shells.
The Covo Island, better known as the Island of Sculptures or Illa das Esculturas in Galician, is a park and island located near the mouth of the Lérez River, in Pontevedra, Spain. It has an area of 70,000 m² and is connected to both banks of the river by footbridges and pedestrian bridges. It is the largest and most important open-air museum in Galicia and one of the most important in Spain.
The Palace of the Deputation of Pontevedra, in Pontevedra, Spain, is the seat of the Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra, the provincial government of the province of Pontevedra. It is located between the Alameda de Pontevedra and the Palm Trees Park.
The Pontevedra Auditorium and Convention Centre is a building that hosts conventions, exhibitions, concerts, plays and ballet and dance performances in Pontevedra (Spain). It is located in the northern part of the city, next to the Lérez river and the Tirantes bridge and was designed by the architect Manuel de las Casas.
The Lérez beach is a Galician beach located in the municipality of Pontevedra in the province of Pontevedra, Spain. It is a semi-urban river beach with a length of 100 metres.
The Ria de Pontevedra is located in the Province of Pontevedra, in Galicia, Spain. It is one of the three main maritime entrances of Galicia, the Rías Baixas, the most touristic area of the region. It is also the most regular of them and the third largest of all those in Galicia with a surface area of 145 km2 (56 sq mi).
Monte Porreiro is a residential area in the city of Pontevedra (Spain). It is the seat of the National University of Distance Education in the province of Pontevedra. The neighbourhood has a health centre, a school and a high school and a parish church since the end of the 20th century, its patron saint being the Good Shepherd. There are also green areas, the most important being the Belvedere Park.
The Tambo Island is an island in the middle of the Pontevedra bay, in Spain. It belongs to the municipality of Poio, from which it is separated by a 1.1 km long but shallow channel. Its surface area is 0.28 km2, with a maximum height of 80 m, although its entire central part is over 50 metres high. Its perimeter reaches 4 km.
The Palace of Lourizán is a manor house in Herbalonga in the civil parish of Lourizán, in Pontevedra, Spain.
The Botanical Garden of Lourizán is an arboretum of some 54 hectares in the municipality of Pontevedra in Spain. It has more than 850 catalogued species and one of the largest collections in Spain. It is the most important botanical garden in Galicia.
The Central Market of Pontevedra is a covered market located in Pontevedra, Spain. It is located at the north-eastern edge of the historic centre, close to the Burgo Bridge. It overlooks the banks of the Lérez river and was inaugurated in 1948.
The Gobierno Civil de Pontevedra, currently Subdelegación del Gobierno de Pontevedra, is an official building located in Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain). It has served since its construction as the government delegation office representing the Spanish state in the province of Pontevedra.
Méndez Núñez Square is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain).
The historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain) is the oldest part of the city. It is the second most important old town in Galicia after Santiago de Compostela, and was declared a historic-artistic complex on 23 February 1951.
The Convent of St. Francis is a Franciscan convent located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), overlooking the Plaza de la Herrería. The Gothic church of San Francis is attached to the convent on the southeast side.
The Plaza de la Peregrina is an 18th-century square located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the edge of the historic centre.
Curros Enríquez Square is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the Portuguese pilgrimage way.
St. Joseph's Square is a 19th century square located in the centre of the city of Pontevedra (Spain), in the first urban expansion area, near the Campolongo neighbourhood.