Poio, municipality of Spain
Poio is a municipality on the north side of the Pontevedra estuary in Galicia, Spain, divided into five parishes. It includes coastal villages such as Combarro, known for traditional houses, along with farmland and over twenty beaches offering calm waters and fine sand.
Rock carvings on stones in the area show prehistoric traces reaching back thousands of years, indicating people have lived here since ancient times. The monastery of San Xoán de Poio was founded in the Middle Ages and became an important religious and economic center, drawing wealth from fishing and farming activities.
The name San Xoán de Poio comes from an ancient monastery that has shaped religious life here for centuries. Walking through Combarro, you see traditional stone structures called hórreos used for storage, which reflect how fishing and farming have defined daily life in this region for generations.
The town is easy to reach, located near a main motorway through Galicia and close to the city of Pontevedra. Walking and cycling are practical ways to explore the narrow streets and coastal paths, with straightforward parking available in most areas.
The area is home to one of Europe's largest redwood forests called Columbus Forest, where visitors can walk among towering trees. The small island of Tambo sits in the Pontevedra estuary but is off-limits to the public because the Spanish Navy controls access.
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