Discovering Mystic Northern Spain and Galicia

Northern Spain and Galicia particularly has longa while the major industry became emigration.
been an undiscovered jewel in the whole of theIn what has been a mountain to climb slowly but
Spanish tourism industry. All over Northern Spainsurely Galicia is now trying to manage successfully
the climate is much more moderate than the restthe twin track of its regional lifestyle with a much
of the Iberian Peninsula and the autonomousmore modern society.
regions that make up this area of the countryGalicia has always maintained strong links with the
have exactly what it takes to help visiting touristssea and the port cities of Vigo and Corunna are
have a good time.centres of culture and industry. As befits a
The Atlantic coast of northern Spain boastsprovince that has such reliance on the sea, the
extremely attractive sandy beaches whilst inlandseafood here is amongst the best in Spain and
the mountain ranges are criss-crossed byfishing is vital to the economy.
numerous foot paths.The small fishing villages dot the entire coastline.
If you look at all of the autonomous regions thatThe coast which was devastated by the damage
make up modern day Spain, Galicia has to be thecaused by the 2002 sinking of the oil tanker
most remote. Found in the North West corner ofPrestige has now by almost recovered and in
Spain, Galicia as has been said is a region of vastsome cases is almost better than ever.
contrasts.The most westerly point in Spain, Cabo Fisterra is
Galicia is proud to be the home of one of thesituated in this rugged stretch of Galician coastline.
most visited religious pilgrimage sites in the worldInland, the hillsides which are quite often shrouded
whilst of a more earthly nature the region isin mist conceal the remains of Celtic settlements
extremely famous for its excellent cuisinethroughout the region. At road junctions and in
especially the seafood. Such is the nature of thetowns throughout the region stand various old
pilgrimage site at Santiago de Compostela that itstone crosses and in the villages old stone
appears to have inspired a tourism industry of itsgranaries are quite commonplace.
own.There is a very strong connection in Galicia with
The Galicians, whose origins are Celtic, are fiercelythe Celtic culture found there and also dominant in
proud of their culture and language.some of the north-western territories of Europe
Traditionally, Galicia was seen as a poor agriculturalsuch as Ireland, Scotland and Wales (not to
region, whose economy did not lend itself tomention the Bretons in France and the Basques
modernisation. Galicia always seemed to be aelsewhere in Spain) and one of these connections
very closed and inward looking area being fiercelyis the traditional language of Galicia known as
resistant to any formal external invasion. For aGallego.
region that was so proud of being fiercelyThe other way the Celtic tradition is also
independent Galicia only really had an independentrepresented in Galicia is within the various art and
monarchy during between the 10th and 11thCultural forms. This is further exemplified with the
centuries.slight theme of melancholy running through quite
Bordering Portugal to the south and enclosed byoften the words and music of the region. With
the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the westregards to Galicia (as with County Donegal in the
Galicia could offer its inhabitants little in the way ofRepublic of Ireland), as anyone who has
new land for cultivation. As with a lot of theexperienced some of the fierce storms coming in
major Celtic communities in Western Europe afterfrom the Atlantic perhaps this is understandable.