Sálvora Island ( gl, Illa de Sálvora ; es, Isla de Sálvora ) is a small island located on the

Ría de Arousa The ''Ría de Arousa'' is a ria, a saline estuary, that forms a firth situated on Galicia, Spain. It is one of the five ''Rías Baixas''. The Ría de Arousa estuary is the largest of the estuaries of Galicia. It is part of the Rias Baixas and is ...

, coast of Galicia,

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It belongs to the municipality of

Santa Uxía de Ribeira Ribeira is the capital of the comarca of Barbanza, in the province of A Coruña in the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain. The capital and most populous urban center is Santa Uxía de Ribeira. Another of its major points is ...

and is integrated in the

Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park The Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park ( gl, Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia, es, Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia) is the only national park located in the province of Pontevedra, in the autonomous comm ...

. It is separated from the mainland by a distance of about 3 kilometers to the north. It occupies about 190 hectares and has a maximum height of 71 meters (''As Gralleiras''). Almost the entire perimeter of the island is rocky but has three beaches of fine white sand. Since 2001 it has been integrated into the

. Today, the island of Sálvora forms part of the civil parish of Aguiño (Riveira municipality). Previously the island depended on the civil parish of Carreira, which was for centuries the richest and most populous parish in the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

, also the oldest. In March 2007 the island was acquired by Caixa Galicia for 8.5 million euros. Later that same year the Ministry of Environment exercised its right of refusal, buying Sálvora, Vionta and Noro for the same amount. The Board of Galicia, which is the owner of the island since July 1, 2008, in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, have started work to rehabilitate the enclave.

History

In the year 899, King Alfonso II donated the island to the Cathedral Chapter of Santiago, who claimed it in order to obtain resources for their livelihoods. This grant, which included Ons, Tambo, Arosa, Cies and Framio, was confirmed by Ordoño to the Bishop Sisnando. In 1120 the island had already been invaded by Saracen ships who took refuge in the island waiting for reinforcements as they prepared to invade the land. The delay of that helped make the Christian ships sent by order of the archbishop of Santiago seized by the invading ships that stopped for a long periods of time. Thereafter, this unknown island began to be coveted by the nobility of the time.

References

Islands of Galicia (Spain) {{Galicia-geo-stub