La Toja Island

Last updated

A Toxa Island
A Toxa 0eue.jpg
View of the island.
Relief Map of Spain.png
Red pog.svg
A Toxa Island
Location in Spain
Geography
Coordinates 42°29′22.0″N8°50′55.0″W / 42.489444°N 8.848611°W / 42.489444; -8.848611
Area1.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Length2.17 km (1.348 mi)
Width0.81 km (0.503 mi)
Highest elevation42 m (138 ft)
Administration
Autonomous community Galicia
Province Pontevedra
Municipality O Grove
Demographics
Population47

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.

Contents

Name

A Toxa Island Illa da Toxa, O Grove, Galicia (Spain).jpg
A Toxa Island

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.

Etymology

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]

History

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]

Spa centre

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).

Chapel

St. Sebastian's chapel A Toxa 040516 54.jpg
St. Sebastian's chapel

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.

Tourism

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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontevedra</span> Municipality in Galicia, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Pilgrim Virgin</span> Baroque and neoclassical church in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burgo Bridge</span> Stone arch bridge in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island of Sculptures</span> Sculptoric park in Pontevedra (Spain)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palacio de la Diputación de Pontevedra</span> Palace of the provincial council of Pontevedra

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontevedra Auditorium and Convention Centre</span> Congress hall in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lérez Beach</span> Beach in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ria de Pontevedra</span> Body of Water in Pontevedra, Spain

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Porreiro (Pontevedra)</span> Neighbourhood in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tambo Island</span> Island in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pazo de Lourizán</span> Art Nouveau Building in Pontevedra, Spain

The Palace of Lourizán is a manor house in Herbalonga in the civil parish of Lourizán, in Pontevedra, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botanical Garden of Lourizán</span> Botanical garden 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercado central de Pontevedra</span> Public market located in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gobierno Civil de Pontevedra</span> Government building in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de Méndez Núñez</span> Medieval square in Pontevedra, Spain

Méndez Núñez Square is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Town of Pontevedra</span> Neighbourhood in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convent and church of Saint Francis, Pontevedra</span> Gothic church in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de la Peregrina</span> Medieval square in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de Curros Enríquez</span> Medieval square in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de San José</span> Square in Pontevedra, Spain

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.

References

  1. "Infraestutura de Datos Espaciais de Galicia (SITGA): Proxecto Toponimia de Galicia;" (in Galician). 18 January 2014. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014.
  2. "Instituto Geográfico Nacional; Mapa Topográfico Nacional". Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  3. "Instituto Nacional de Estadística; nomenclátor: 36 Pontevedra: 022 Grove (O): 011400 TOXA (ILLA DA)" . Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  4. Edelmiro Bascuas, Hidronimia y léxico de origen paleoeuropeo en Galicia
  5. J. Pokorny, Indogermanisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch
  6. "El inagotable encanto de un clásico". El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 January 2008.
  7. "El inagotable encanto de un clásico". El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 January 2008.
  8. "Bilderberg Conference Report 1989" (PDF). 1989.
  9. "La lucha por el control del Club de Golf A Toxa desata una fuerte batalla entre los socios". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 19 August 2009.
  10. "La Xunta advierte de que el Casino de A Toxa no se puede cerrar y dejar solo la sala de Vigo". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 6 September 2020.
  11. "¿Por qué la Capilla de las Conchas es tan especial para Mariano Rajoy?". LaSexta (in Spanish). 14 November 2016.
  12. "Estas son las historias perdidas de A Toxa". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 13 December 2020.
  13. "El lujo más imponente de Galicia, a tu alcance". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 6 September 2019.

See also