This coastal town in Galicia draws seafood fans to its annual October shellfish festival. Rocky beaches and thermal springs dot the peninsula's shoreline.
O Grove stretches into the Atlantic Ocean on a peninsula in Spain's Galicia region. Fishing boats crowd the harbor while wooden mussel farms float in the bay. You can walk across the bridge to A Toxa island to see its shell-covered chapel and thermal springs, or swim at A Lanzada, a 5-kilometer beach with consistent waves. Local restaurants serve octopus, razor clams, and other seafood caught that morning, accompanied by crisp Albariño wines from nearby vineyards.
Getting to O Grove Peninsula
The peninsula connects to mainland Spain through an isthmus, with A Lanzada beach on the west side and the Umia-O Grove marsh complex on the east. You can reach O Grove by hourly buses from Pontevedra, which take about 1 hour and 15 minutes. By car, follow the PO-308 coastal road from Sanxenxo or take the AG-41 motorway exit toward O Grove.
Seafood and Local Food Scene
Fishing boats arrive at O Grove's port each morning with fresh mussels, crabs, scallops, and octopus. In October, the annual Shellfish Festival fills the streets with food stalls and seafood demonstrations. Try pulpo a la feira - octopus seasoned with paprika and olive oil - in the town's restaurants, where servers recommend glasses of local Albariño white wine to complement the meal.
A Toxa Island Experience
Cross the early 20th-century bridge to reach A Toxa island, where mineral-rich thermal springs bubble up from underground. The Chapel of San Sebastian's exterior walls display thousands of white seashells arranged in intricate patterns. You can book thermal treatments at several spa centers that use the spring water - the same springs that, according to local stories, once healed a sick donkey abandoned on the island.
Beaches and Swimming Spots
A Lanzada beach stretches for 5 kilometers along the isthmus, with white sand and consistent waves for surfing and kitesurfing. The Blue Flag beach has showers, changing rooms, and wheelchair access. For calmer swimming conditions, head to As Pipas or Mexilloeira beaches around the peninsula, where lifeguards patrol from June through September.
Natural Areas and Wildlife
Walk the paths through the Umia-O Grove marsh complex to spot herons, cormorants, and seasonal waterfowl. Information panels at observation points explain the estuary's ecosystem and the traditional mussel farming methods. The Red Natura 2000 protected area includes elevated viewing platforms where you can watch birds feeding in the wetlands.
Historical Sites
The 10th-century La Lanzada fortress sits at the southern end of A Lanzada beach, with one remaining tower and a Romanesque chapel. Archaeologists found evidence of an earlier Phoenician lighthouse at this site. In San Vicente del Mar, you can explore the Castro Marítimo de Adro Vello, where stone walls and ceramic pieces reveal traces of Roman settlement.
