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The region of Galicia

Galicia is the most western region of Spain with almost eight hundred miles of Atlantic coast which, perhaps more than any other feature, has shaped its history, forged the character of its people and offers the visitor a different, but very rewarding, insight into Spain.

The region has a population more than two and a half million people at a density of almost twice the national average - most people live in the six main cities.

There are four Provincial administrations based in the cities of A Coruña, Lugo, Orense and Pontevedra. The regional parliament and government is in Santiago de Compostela, the capital city.
The climate is mild, but wet. Not for nothing is the northern part known as the Green Coast. But this produces an exciting and colourful landscape,which matches its history.

Galicia's heritage

Galicia has a rich celtic, roman and medieval heritage.
But the destination of most visitors is, first of all, to Santiago de Compostela. Since the ninth century, when the remains of the apostle James were, reputedly, found there the place has been a centre of christian pilgrimage from all over Europe.

This brought wealth and the buildings, such as the cathedral, hospital and plazas, which reflect this importance. The routes of these pilgrims became important, in themselves and are now authentic heritage trails.

The city of Santiago de Compostela was declared a world heritage site in 1985. The Camino de Santiago was similarly recognised in 1993 and of special note is the Camino Frances which starts in the Pyrenees.

Three hundred years of roman occupation is best appreciated by a visit to the walls and bridge of Lugo, which also was declared a world heritage site in 2000.

Festivals, traditions and cooking

There are two festivals that have been recognised as of international importance. These are: Festividad de Apostol de Santiago on 25 July and the Romeria Viquinga de Catoira (Pontevedra) when every Sunday during August there is theatre recalling the Viking invasions.

There are many typical folkdances, such as the Muneira which has many forms, and is accompanied by the Gaita( bagpipes) and the Bomba(bass drum).

Like so much traditional cooking in Spain, great emphasis is put on good quality locally grown and produced ingredients. Typical dishes are often cooked with bread-crumbs, such as roasted ham, pork cracklings, shoulder of pork in turnip leaves and a wide range of fish, mollusc and crustacean dishes.
Galician wines are gaining greater recognition, especially the nominated whites, such as the Ribeiro and the albarino.

Some history

The Celts were the first people to invade Galicia and their most notable bequest, to be seen today, were the Castros - fortified circular enclosures usually on the tops of mountains and hills. The best preserved are at: Fazouzo, Barona and Neixon.
The Roman occupation in the year 19, lasted three hundred years and had a profound effect, the evidence of which is still to be seen today, especially in Lugo.
After the Romans came the Swabians, a northern Germanic people who stayed for 170 years.
When the Moors invaded Spain in 711 they reached Galicia, but were never completely comfortable or in control in this northern outpost.
In the ensuing centuries Galicia was claimed and tamed by the Catholic Kings. But the people have always had a national pride and a great attachment to their land.

This was expressed most powerfully during the second half of the nineteenth century by the “Rexurdimento” (Resurgence) cultural movement and the later development of Galician nationalism headed by Manuel Murguia and Alfredo Branas. With the arrival of democracy, after Franco, Galicia became an autonomous region in April 1981.

Galicia countryside and wildlife

The thirty thousand square kilometres of countryside in Galicia offers an exhilarating range of landscapes - high mountains, plunging cliffs (the Vixia de Herbeira has more than a 2000ft sheer drop into the ocean and is the highest in Europe.), wildlife rich estuaries and a countryside that has more shades of green than is imaginable.

The region has more than sixty nature protected areas, accounting for a third of the land. Outstanding among them are: the national park of Islas Atlanticas de Galicia which extends from the Arousa estuary in the north as far as Vigo in the south.
Important among the country parks are: As fragas de Eume, Dunas de Corrubedo and the lakes of Carregal and Vixan in Coruna; Monte o invernadeiro and Baixa Limia-Serra de Xures in Ourense and the isles of Cies and the Monte Aloia in Pontevedra.

Costa Gallega

The coast of Galicia which stretches for 800 miles and has 750 beaches is one of the most impressive landscape sights of Spain. The geological causes are many, but fortuitous. One of the distinguishing features is the large number of estuaries(called ‘rias’). In the north there are the Rias Alta and further south the Rias Baixas.
All the estuaries of the north coast, as far as Finisterre are classified as Rias Altas. These occur where the coastline is sharp or precipitous and the estuary provides a safe haven where settlements have grown up
South of Finisterre, where the coastline is lower and softer, are the Rias Baixes. These are usually in flat valleys where the rivers have broadened as they approach the sea. Though many rivers are deep and the valleys well protected. Here one finds pine forests, maize crops and vineyards up to the coastline.

Important local locations include the: Costa da Morte(coast of death) referring to the many shipwrecks that have happened due to the dangerous cliffs; and the Cabo Estaca de Vares - the most northerly point of Spain.

Activities and sports

Recreational sailing has developed considerably in recent years both in the number of those taking part and in the provision of facilities. Galicia has twenty two harbours with water sports facilities providing some one thousand five hundred moorings.

The coastal waters are excellent for diving and different to any other resort in Spain due to the confluence of the Cantabrian sea and the Atlantic ocean which produces a quite specific underwater ecosystem.
The easy accessibility of the sea, rivers, lakes and reservoirs means that all kinds of water sports are available - surfing, sailing, underwater fishing, rafting, water-skiing - you name it, its all there. And not forgetting the three thousand miles of rivers for trout and salmon fishing.
Favourite places to visit include: Santiago de La Toja, Vigo, La Guardia y Tui, Finisterre y la Costa da Morte, the western Sierras, Ribeira Sacra(Ourense), Rias Altas y la costa Lucense, Los Ancares(Lugo)and the route of the Monasterios de A Coruna.

Getting there and about

Galicia has four airports: an international one, La Labacolla at Santiago de Compostela and three national ones at - Coruna, Vigo and Lugo(recreational flying).
The main ports are at Ferrol, Coruna and Vigo.