Delve into the history of one of the smallest enclaves of the Vigo estuary on this excursion to the island of San Simón from Redondela. Despite its small size, it has much to discover!
San Simón Island Excursion
We'll meet at the indicated time at the Cesantes pier in Redondela, where we'll set sail for the island of San Simón.
After a 10-minute cruise along the Vigo estuary, we'll arrive at the island. Once we disembark, we'll pass through the fence at the main entrance and enter into the dark past of this small islet that is currently uninhabited.
First, on our 1.5-hour route around the island, we'll admire the Monument to the Troubadours. This monument is very important for the Rías Baixas, and as we continue to walk we'll discover the history of the monks who lived on the island. These monks gradually abandoned San Simón due to the constant attacks of pirates and corsairs that plagued the estuary. Among them, one of the most feared was Sir Francis Drake.
Next, we'll cross the bridge that connects San Simón with the island of San Antón. This islet had the function of serving as a lazaretto, meaning it was used to quarantine the sick from ships suspected of carrying a contagious disease. Afterward, we'll visit its cemetery and discover how San Antón became a concentration camp during the Spanish Civil War in the post-war years.
After learning about San Antón's dark past, we'll cross the bridge again to return to San Simón. On the island, we'll learn about the legend of the lavandeira and we'll reveal the connection this islet has with Jules Verne's novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
We'll continue the tour of San Simón at the back of the island, where, among other stories, we'll find out why Francisco Franco decided to leave this place.
Finally, we'll visit the Buxos forest and, after the visit, you'll have about 1 hour of free time to take pictures and explore the information center at your own pace. Then, we'll return to the San Simón pier, and after a short 5-minute crossing, we'll arrive at Cesantes pier. At this final point in Redondela, we'll bring the experience to an end after 2.5 hours.
