Neither prehistoric remains nor castrexos were found so far, and from Roman times we know the reference to the island as Corticata or the appearance of amphorae in its waters. Like the rest of the islands of the park, in the High Middle Ages , it would be donated to the church of Santiago after the supposed discovery of the remains of St. James , very close, in Iria Flavia , Padrón environment. As this island was located in the estuary of river Ulla, was a waterway towards Santiago de Compostela. So it was an attractive place for the incursions of the Normans and Muslims who attacked Compostela on several occasions. Before that, they left his mark on the coastline of Arosa estuary.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with the black plague devastating Galicia and in the middle of countless conflicts, a sanctuary would be established on the island of Cortegada, the hermitage of the Virgin of Miracles, to plead for the healing of those affected by this disease.
In the modern era, sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, pirates and corsairs are seen throughout the Galician coast, but do not know the influence it may have on this island.
From 1596, on the island given to church, it was built a leper hospital for pilgrims who carried out the way of Santiago (the way of St. James) through this sea-river route of Arousa.
