- Region: Galicia
- Province: Pontevedra
- Declared a Natural Park: 1978
- Park surface area: 746 hectares
- Towns and villages: Tuy
Points of interest
Located in the south of Pontevedra province the Monte Aloia Natural park (the first natural park in Galicia) is basically the summit of the Sierra de Galiñeiro mountain range.
There are prehistoric and Roman remains in the area and the fascinating local history is surrounded by legends such as this is place of the mythical mountain called Monte Medulio where the collective suicide of the Celtic tribes rather than falling into the hands of the Romans took place.
Forestry engineer Rafael Areses Vidal was born in Tui in 1878 who died in 1953. He was a man born before his time and transformed this landscape a hundred years ago with a reforestation project that included autochthonous vegetation as well as other exotic species, such as cypress, spruce and Lebanon cedar. He promoted the reforestation of Mount Aloia, creating in 1906 the Viveiro Forestal de Areas on Mount Seixos Albos (the first woodland plant nursery of its kind in Galicia) and In 1909 he started the first official plantations in Oia, Tui , A Guarda (on the mountain of Santa Trega), Baiona and Ponteareas. The supplies from his forest nurseries promoted the extension of the pine plantations in the whole of Galicia.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
