Historia de O GROVE

The first news of a human settlement in O Grove we must look for them in the Bronze Age, around 1500 a. C.

Among the numerous archaeological remains are two forts: one in the Siradella and the other in Punta Castriño.

The Roman presence, even though late, left various cultural events, a wide place names and a major population center. The strategic situation of O Grove Island then explain why the attraction exerted archaeological materials and abundance of Roman and pre-Roman cultures. As is shown by the necropolis of Cantodorxo and the rich and complex archaeological site of Adro Vello (I-XVIII d. C.).

O Grove always lived under the influence of mitra compostelana to the point that even in the seventeenth century Archbishop appointed the mayor of the town. Under a legal framework development life very hierarchical municipality throughout the Middle Ages, during which suffers frequent attacks by Normans; to address this the bishop of Santiago had built a fortress in A Lanzada.

Fishing occupy a prominent place in the local economy throughout its history, this meant that in times of scarcity catch the quality of life of the population was affected.

In the eighteenth century it will arise a conflict with the arrival to the Arousa estuary of Catalan promoters, bringing a new arts much more effective than traditional fishing. The shape of the traditional fishing employed by grovenses not acclimate to the system of industrial fishing which sought the Catalans.

Thus begins a new crisis that would be due to the lack of support for new developments, in other towns of the estuary they were underway. In the nineteenth century, with the emergence of the liberal state it removes the old municipal system and emerge the new municipalities. Santiago will see reduced their rights in the two parishes: San Vicente and San Martin. Also the development of salting factories, driven by the Catalans arrived from the Arousa estuary, the passage of the land disentailed into new hands and the thermal potential of Toja lead to the emergence of a small but diversified local bourgeoisie (from boosters fishing doctors, restaurateurs, etc ..). The finisecular crises punish the population and migration will be the only way out.

In the twentieth century , emigration was one of the most important phenomena , heading at first to America and from Europe face the '60s . Despite this , there was a population increase due to the rise of sea exploitation (fishing, shellfish farming and punts ) , the canneries , tourism and capital coming from emigration. In this new century , these sources of wealth that are the engine of the economy and life of O Grove are maintained.

O Grove peninsula located at the entrance of the Ria de Arousa. It bordered on the southeast by Sanxenxo. It occupies an area of ​​21 sq. Km and consists of two parishes (San Martiño and San Vicente) and a populated island, La Toja .