Coelleira facts for kids
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 Coelleira
Location in Spain
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°45′32″N 7°37′52″W / 43.759°N 7.631°W |
| Area | 0.26 km2 (0.10 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Autonomous community | Galicia |
| Province | Lugo |
| Municipality | O Vicedo |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Illa Coelleira, also called Colleira, is a small island in Spain. Its name means "Rabbits' Island." It sits at the mouth of the Barqueiro river, near the town of Viveiro. This island is part of the O Vicedo area in Galicia. It was once home to a monastery. Today, it has a lighthouse that helps ships find their way.
Contents
What Does "Coelleira" Mean?
The island's name in Galician is Illa Coelleira. This means "island of the rabbits." It got this name because many rabbits live there. The island is mostly bare, so the rabbits are easy to spot. Old papers from the 11th century called it "Quonicularia." This also means "rabbit island."
Island History: From Monks to a Lighthouse
Illa Coelleira has a long and interesting history. People think a monastery was built there a very long time ago. This might have been around 573-586 AD. Some historians believe monks came here to escape trouble. They may have spread out to other parts of Galicia later.
Early Records of the Monastery
We know for sure that the monastery was active in 1095. A person named Vimara Menéndez gave a gift to the San Miguel de Quonicularia monastery. This gift included part of a church.
Templars and Later Years
Not much is known about the island from the 1100s to the 1400s. Some stories say that Templars lived on the island for a while. Later, in 1485, the island's monastery joined with another one on the mainland. This was the San Martiño de Mondoñedo monastery. The Coelleira monastery faced many challenges after that. Finally, in 1534, the Pope decided to connect it to the Mondoñedo Cathedral.
Today, the island is no longer home to monks. Instead, it has a lighthouse. This lighthouse helps guide boats safely along the coast.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Coelleira para niños
