Punta da Portela

The autonomous community of Galicia is situated in the North-Western side of Spain, being bordered by Portugal. The name of the province is also known as Galiza and it is pronounced in various ways, depending on the area. This province has earned the title of a historic nationality and it is composed of the provinces A Coruna, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra. Galicia is bordered by Atlantic Ocean and it is one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

The greatest parts of the landscapes here are picturesque and have a rather raw, celtic aspect, by comparison to the southern side of Spain, which tends to be more exotic. The cliffs are extremely high and covered by grass and vegetation and the villages are traditional and exhale the Spanish culture through its pores.

This region is extremely old, dating from the Middle Palaeolithic. The first inhabitants that could be detected through archaeological evidence were the Gallaeci, who were Celtic people living in the northern side of the Douro River. The Visigoths, the Romans and the Arabs evolved on these lands. Many castros, the houses of Gallaeci, were discovered here, as well as temples, baths, statues and carvings that were turned into monuments. The history of Galicia is long and complex, enriched by wars and extreme movements. Even so, the beauty of the lands has regenerated century after century, being able to offer today one of the most attractive touristic objectives in Spain.

The capital of Galicia is Santiago de Compostela, also known as A Coruna. La Coruna, Vigo, Sanxenxo, POntevedra and Ourense are also favourite destinations of the holiday makers from the entire world. Except for the extraordinary mountain landscapes, Galicia also offers long coastlines with light blue, crystal clear waters, exquisite monuments, imposing structures and natural reservations. Galicia is known to be the land of the 1000 rivers, due to the rivers that cross the area, from the mountainside to the coastline.

Santiago de Compostela, the capital, has some of the most important monument and buildings in Spain in its heritage and some of the most distinguished architectural styles. The main landmarks that are must-sees in this city are Botafumeiro, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Praza do Obradoiro, Portico de la Gloria, Monasterio de San Martin Pinario, Santo Domingo de Bonaval Park, Museo de Pobo Galego, Plaza Cervantes and many more. Long walks amongst the outstanding buildings can make the tourists forget about everything and turn back in time.

There are many guided tours that can be taken, such as the Gallaecia Tours, the Camino Ways Day Tours, private tours, bike tours, etc. This is a fascinating destination where the tourists can find the most suitable activities for all of the tastes and age categories, depending on the area of interest. There are high and low estuaries and 700 beaches of an enormous beauty, geo-destinations that are simply breathtaking, natural spaces and city monuments. There are accommodation services all over the region and the tourism offices will be more than happy to assist anyone who desires to live a unique experience in Galicia.