Sanxenxo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sanxenxo
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Beach of Sanxenxo.
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Region | Galicia | ||
| Province | Pontevedra | ||
| Area | O Salnés | ||
| Founded | The oldest remains date from 4000 BC-Neolithic | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 44 km2 (17 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 17,212 | ||
| • Density | 391/km2 (1,013/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Lilaino, -na | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
36960
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| Official language(s) | Galician | ||
Sanxenxo (pronounced like "san-SHEN-sho") is a popular town in Galicia, Spain. It is located in the province of Pontevedra.
This town is found in the southern part of the O Salnés area. It is about 15 kilometers west of the city of Pontevedra. Sanxenxo is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and two river mouths, called estuaries. About 17,347 people live here (as of 2019).
Sanxenxo is a very popular place for tourists to visit. Many famous Spanish people, like Mariano Rajoy (a former Prime Minister of Spain) and Amancio Ortega (who helped start the Inditex fashion group), enjoy vacationing here.
The Volvo Ocean Race, a famous sailing competition, visited Sanxenxo in 2005-2006. The race organizers and the teams chose Sanxenxo as their main base in Spain. A special "In Port" race was held in Sanxenxo on November 5th. This allowed people watching to see the big race boats up close.
In 2013, the Tour of Spain, a major bicycle race, came to the Rias Baixas area of Galicia. Sanxenxo was the finish line for the first stage of the race, which started from a special floating platform in Vilanova de Arousa.
Contents
Where is Sanxenxo Located?
The town of Sanxenxo shares its borders with other nearby towns. These include O Grove and Meaño in the Salnés area. It also borders Poio in the Pontevedra area.
What's in a Name?
In the Galician language, San Xenxo means Saint Genesius. This saint is the special protector of the town, along with Santa Rosalia. The name for the town in Castilian Spanish is Sangenjo.
However, many Galician people did not agree with this Spanish name. Because of this, the government of Galicia decided in 1983 that Sanxenxo would be the only official name for the town.
Beautiful Beaches of Sanxenxo
Sanxenxo is famous for its many beautiful beaches. Here are some of the most well-known ones:
- A Lanzada: This beach has small stones and faces the open ocean. It's a great spot for surfers because it gets good waves all year. Sanxenxo shares this beach with the town of O Grove.
- Silgar: Every summer, this beach is full of visitors from Spain and other countries. A special statue called "The Madame" sits on a rock in the water here. It's a symbol of Sanxenxo.
- Baltar: Also known as Portonovo beach, this sandy area is separated from Silgar beach by a small point of land. It has a large green area behind it and two walking paths.
- Caneliñas: This is a small beach with soft, white sand. Young people often enjoy the "Covas" here, which is a narrow channel of water between two rocks. It becomes completely dry when the tide is out.
- Canelas: Located near Caneliñas, this beach has small sand dunes. It's another popular spot for young people in Portonovo during the summer.
- Paxariñas: This small beach is hidden among rocks. You can reach it by a path built by the town council.
- Montalvo: This beach faces the island of Ons and has a well-known forest behind it. There are two campsites located near this beach.
- Areas: Many tourists and people from nearby towns like Pontevedra and Poio come to this beach.
- Lapa: This beach is located in the Noalla area, between Area Gorda beach and A Lanzada. It has a half-shell shape.
- A Nosa Señora: A small cove found near the A Lanzada shrine. It has both fine white sand and areas with larger rocks.
- Areas Gordas: This is a semi-circular beach known for its clean water and fine, white sand.
- Panadeira: A small, shallow beach right in the center of the town's coastline. It's next to a playground and is very popular with local people.
- Lavapanos: Another small beach located in the heart of Sanxenxo.
- Other beaches with a "Blue Flag" award (meaning they are very clean and safe) include Maxor, Nanín, Pragueira, and Foxos Santa Mariña. There are also smaller beaches like Carabuxeira, Praia dos Barcos, Agra, A Granxa, and Fontela.
Famous People from Sanxenxo
- Juan Norat (1944–2021), a professional footballer (soccer player).
- Fran Rico (born 1987), also a professional footballer.
Related Information
- Ria de Pontevedra
See also
In Spanish: Sangenjo para niños
