Galicia
Guide to the Galicia region of Spain, located in the north-west of the country.
Spanish Regions - Galicia
Galicia Spain - In the extreme north-west of the Iberian Peninsular, the spanish region of Galicia is the country’s greenest and most verdant region. Its coastline, battered by the Atlantic Ocean, is wild and indented with a series of fjord-like rias, the best know area being the Rias Baixas, an area of great beauty with some fine beaches.
Galicia is still a relatively poor region in comparison with much of Spain, and its economy relies mostly on agriculture and fishing. In many ways Galicia is comparable to Ireland, its climate, culture and music, very similar and much influenced by its early Celtic inhabitants.
Settled at least 5,000 years ago during the Iron Age, Galicia was inhabited by Celts, who lived in small circular stone huts, bounded by defensive walls, in small villages known as “castros”. When the Romans arrived, they named the region Gallaecia, from which the present name is derived, and at the end of the Roman Empire, the Germanic Suevi took control (5th to 6th centuries), swiftly followed by the Visigoths. Unlike the vast majority of Spain, Galicia saw little of the Moorish invasion, and was firmly under the heel of the Christian Kingdom of Asturias.
Galicia’s most famous city and the main attraction for a large majority of its visitors, is Santiago de Compostela, the second most important religious shrine in Europe (after St Peter’s Rome). Built on the site of the supposed grave of St James the Apostle, which was ‘discovered’ in 813, Santiago de Compostella became the 3rd most important place of pilgrimage in the Christian world (after Jerusalem and Rome), it still attracts pilgrims today. Today the area around the Praza do Obradoiro is where the main historic attractions are concentrated and the highlight is the magnificent cathedral which dates from the 11th to 13th centuries and was built on the site of a former 9th century basilica built by Alfonso II.
Galicia comprises four provinces in all - A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra, three of which have an Atlantic coastline, influencing its culture and gastronomy, with seafood being a major feature of its cuisine. Apart from Santiago de Compostela, it has some other fine towns and cities that are well worth visiting, some of the best are Pontevedra, Lugo, Betanzos, Vigo, A Coruña and Mondoñedo.
The main airports for Galicia are located a A Coruña, Vigo and Santiago de Campostela.
Galicia Links: Galicia Map - Galicia Weather
Galicia Property: Advertise your Galicia property on this page: Advertise Here.
Galicia Places: Vigo - Santiago de Compostela - Betanzos - Mondoñedo - Pontevedra
Other Places: Oviedo - Llanes - Extremadura
Related: Andalucia - Catalonia - Valencia - Madrid - Barcelona - Builders
HOME