As Neves

As Neves
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms
Motto: Muy noble
As Neves
Coordinates: 42°05′17″N 8°24′54″W / 42.088056°N 8.415°W / 42.088056; -8.415Coordinates: 42°05′17″N 8°24′54″W / 42.088056°N 8.415°W / 42.088056; -8.415
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Galicia
Province	Pontevedra
Condado	O Condado
Government
- Type	Mayor-council
- Body	Concello das Neves
- Mayor	Raúl Emilio Castro Rodríguez (PPdeG)
- Council	List • María del Carmen Gil Álvarez • Carlos Manuel González Rodríguez • María Cristina Gil Barbeitos • José Blearmino Méndez Álvarez • Antonio Ricón Ubeira • Daniel Tienda Castro • Xosé Manuel Rodríguez Méndez • Santiago Marino González • María Asunción Cuntín Limeres • Benito Diz Quinteiro
Area
- Total	65.99 km2 (25.5 sq mi)
Population
- Total	4,429
- Density	67.1/km2 (173.8/sq mi)
Demonym	nevense
Website	www.asneves.com

As Neves is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. It has 4,429 people (2010). Until 1904 it was called Setados.

Geography

As Neves has four elements that make up its geography: the Xuliana river's valley in the western part, the Minho river's valley in the south, along the border with Portugal, the Termes river's valley in the east and the Mountains of Paradanta in the north.

Economy

Forest, wood, and wine "CONDADO" (is one the kinds into D.O. named certified origin: Rías Baixas^{[clarification needed]}) are the main economy sources. Also there are tourist services based in countrysides and natural products for eating (lamprea and Requeson).

Pilgrimage

It is the site of an annual pilgrimage on 29 July in which those who have experienced a near death experience express their gratitude by visiting the church Santa Marta de Ribarteme, the patron saint of resurrection.

Thousands of people descend on As Neves from 10 am on the day of Santa Marta. It is usually impossible to get a seat in the church but those who cannot get in to the packed church can listen to the service relayed over loudspeakers.

Those who have passed through a near-death experience use coffins as their emblems; they either carry them or place themselves in the coffins and are carried by friends or family. After noon mass, the pilgrims walk to the town cemetery and then return to make a procession throughout the town.

As in many pilgrimages, there is a mix of solemnity and celebration. While pilgrims chant "Virgin Santa Marta, star of the North, we bring you those who saw death", Gypsies play instruments and vendors sell food, especially the local delicacy of cooked octopus. During the day, and even more so at night, fireworks are set off by those in the procession to mark their progress through the town.

External links

• Official municipality web site
• (Spanish) [1]