A Brief Guide to Galicia, Spain

If you heard Galicia you’d be forgiven for looking a little lost. Few people even know about the north-western region in Spain that juts out into the Atlantic above Portugal.

It’s a region of rivers and fishing ports. It’s known as the “land of a 100 rivers”. These watery snakes sweep across the land and end up in either the beautiful sandy beaches of As Mariñas or into the dangerous sharp cliffs of Costa de la Muerte, which is the coast of death, but don’t be too scared.

Galicia could be called the garden of Spain. Unlike its deserty friends in the south of the country, the region is wet and damp and never as hot as the likes of Andalucía and Mercia in the south. It’s a temperate climate with plenty of rain. The riverbeds add to that rain so there’s a lush greenness to the region not too dissimilar to the likes of Sussex in England and Tuscany in Italy.

The history of the region dates back to the Celts but the Roman influences are more prominent today. The he walls in the ancient town of Lugo are thought to be the oldest in the region. There’s plenty to see and do in the whole region though.

As the capital of the region and UNESCO World Heritage Site, you won’t be disappointed with the beauty of the city Santiago de Compostela. It’s a lively and happening place to be and in 2000 was the European City of Culture. The city centres around the building which gave it its name. St James’ Cathedral marks a very significant point on the Christian pilgrimage route called The Way of St James. Since the 9th Century thousands of pilgrims have made the trip to the building to see the remains of Saint James in the building.

The city offers a lot more than this though. There is a divide between the old and new town, like so many places, but both have a lively nightlife and plenty of bars and restaurants. Look out for the famous Empanadas, which are little pasties made from pastry that looks like a Cornish pasty but are famous in the region for containing fresh fish (often cod) and shellfish.

The busiest city in the region, Vigo, is on the western coast of Galicia and is home to the biggest and most important port. Even though it’s not the capital of the region there are around half a million people living in the city and surrounding suburbs and a lot of them have a hand in the port’s activity. Sailing is a natural favourite for the locals and events such as the hugely prestigious Atlantic Week are a big part of the annual calendar.

Don’t go home with taking a trip to O Castro de Caldelas either. It’s perhaps the most beautiful area of the region and a short drive from the city of Ourense. You’ll be stunned by the beauty of the cliff-top castle, nearby churches and quaint little villages nearby that will show you the true heart of the hidden gem that is Galicia.

Top 5 Galicia Hotels Recommended by Venere.com Users:

• Farm House Casa Grande Do Bachao, Diáns Santiago de Compostela
• Hotel Hesperia Finisterre, La Coruña
• Hotel Husa Puerta de San Pedro, Lugo
• Chess Hotel Mexico, Vigo
• Hotel Husa Villa Covelo, Poio

Photo of Islas Cíes beach, Galicia, Spain, by Aprendiz de Amélie

Topic:  General Travel | 2 Comments
Tags:  Spain

About the author

Phil is a freelance writer working on various writing and editing projects ranging from feature film scripts to travel writing. He enjoys writing from experience and sharing information on the many places he has visited over the years