SISARGAS  ISLES
CAPE SANTO HADRIAN
 
  
 
Located among ferocious waves and strong winds, the Sisargas Islands contain a great natural wealth in which they are found rare birds and botanic species.
 
Galician botanic reserve 

The Sisargas islands are accessible by renting a boat in Malpica's harbour. Although several families used to live there up to a few years ago, nowadays the human presence has been reduced to the Santo Hadrian lighthouse keeper and the memory of the Santa Marina hermitage, destroyed in the Middle Ages by the Normans. 

The Sisargas maintain some Galician characteristic botanic species like the Cistus carpaza psilosepalus, Tuberaria globulariefolia, Angelica pachycarpa, Rumex acetosa and the Centares corcubionensis, only present in the northwest of Galicia. The islands and the cape shelter the Armeria pubigera and Armeria maritima, which paint the cliffs once a year in pink and green colours. 

 
 
 
Exceptional shelter for migratory birds  
  
The Sisargas are a privileged habitat for migratory birds. The Atlantic solitude of its imposing and inviolable cliffs protects  a great colony of marine birds like the Uria aalge ibericus,  Larus cachinnans, Apus melba, Phalacrocorax aristotelis or even the Falco peregrinus. The biggest colonies in southern Europe of Rissa tridactyla and Phalacrocorax aristotelis are found here as well. 
  
Santo Hadrian, Costa da Morte's northest cape, is the best observation point for migratory currents from September to October. The cape shelters as well a great ornithological wealth of  species looking for food in the continent, among which they are the Corvus corone, Corvus monedula, Pica pica, Larus cachinnans and the Corvus corax.  
  
On the top of the cape  was built in the XVI century the little Santo Hadrian do Mar hermitage. In the way to the Seaia beach lays the Pedra da Serpe (Stone of the Snake), related to the one of Corme. The legends recalls the old Galician cult to the snake, later substituted by the Christians in honour of Saint Hadrian.  
 
 ... e van en ringleira
gritando e voando,
en demanda das illas Sisargas,
eu noto reparo.
Ah! quen fora como elas tan libre!..
 
... and they go in a line
screaming and flying, 
looking for the Sisargas isles, 
I feel sadness.
Oh! If only I was as free as them !...
  
Eduardo Pondal