Sálvora Island, Protected island in Ría de Arousa, Spain
Sálvora is a protected island in the Ría de Arousa off the coast of Galicia, extending about three kilometers across. It combines rocky coastlines with white sand beaches and holds the remains of a historic village alongside an old processing facility.
In 899, King Alfonso III granted the island to the Cathedral Chapter of Santiago to strengthen their financial base. This gift connected the island for centuries to the region's religious authority.
The empty village with its stone houses shows how people once lived from the sea here. The former fish-processing works reveal the traditional crafts that sustained communities on this shore.
Access to the island is seasonal and requires organized boat trips from the mainland coast. Visitors should check ahead since conditions and availability vary depending on weather and season.
A lighthouse on the island marks where the ship Santa Isabel sank in 1921. The wreck rests at roughly 15 meters depth and draws experienced divers to explore it.
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