Discover the secrets of the Celts


 

Discovering Mystic Northern Spain and Galicia

Northern Spain and Galicia particularlybecame emigration.
has long been an undiscovered jewel inIn what has been a mountain to climb
the whole of the Spanish tourismslowly but surely Galicia is now trying
industry. All over Northern Spain theto manage successfully the twin track of
climate is much more moderate than theits regional lifestyle with a much more
rest of the Iberian Peninsula and themodern society.
autonomous regions that make up thisGalicia has always maintained strong
area of the country have exactly what itlinks with the sea and the port cities
takes to help visiting tourists have aof Vigo and Corunna are centres of
good time.culture and industry. As befits a
The Atlantic coast of northern Spainprovince that has such reliance on the
boasts extremely attractive sandysea, the seafood here is amongst the
beaches whilst inland the mountainbest in Spain and fishing is vital to
ranges are criss-crossed by numerousthe economy.
foot paths.The small fishing villages dot the
If you look at all of the autonomousentire coastline. The coast which was
regions that make up modern day Spain,devastated by the damage caused by the
Galicia has to be the most remote.2002 sinking of the oil tanker Prestige
Found in the North West corner of Spain,has now by almost recovered and in some
Galicia as has been said is a region ofcases is almost better than ever.
vast contrasts.The most westerly point in Spain, Cabo
Galicia is proud to be the home of oneFisterra is situated in this rugged
of the most visited religious pilgrimagestretch of Galician coastline. Inland,
sites in the world whilst of a morethe hillsides which are quite often
earthly nature the region is extremelyshrouded in mist conceal the remains of
famous for its excellent cuisineCeltic settlements throughout the
especially the seafood. Such is theregion. At road junctions and in towns
nature of the pilgrimage site atthroughout the region stand various old
Santiago de Compostela that it appearsstone crosses and in the villages old
to have inspired a tourism industry ofstone granaries are quite commonplace.
its own.There is a very strong connection in
The Galicians, whose origins are Celtic,Galicia with the Celtic culture found
are fiercely proud of their culture andthere and also dominant in some of the
language.north-western territories of Europe such
Traditionally, Galicia was seen as aas Ireland, Scotland and Wales (not to
poor agricultural region, whose economymention the Bretons in France and the
did not lend itself to modernisation.Basques elsewhere in Spain) and one of
Galicia always seemed to be a verythese connections is the traditional
closed and inward looking area beinglanguage of Galicia known as Gallego.
fiercely resistant to any formalThe other way the Celtic tradition is
external invasion. For a region thatalso represented in Galicia is within
was so proud of being fiercelythe various art and Cultural forms.
independent Galicia only really had anThis is further exemplified with the
independent monarchy during between theslight theme of melancholy running
10th and 11th centuries.through quite often the words and music
Bordering Portugal to the south andof the region. With regards to Galicia
enclosed by the waters of the Atlantic(as with County Donegal in the Republic
Ocean in the west Galicia could offerof Ireland), as anyone who has
its inhabitants little in the way of newexperienced some of the fierce storms
land for cultivation. As with a lot ofcoming in from the Atlantic perhaps this
the major Celtic communities in Westernis understandable.
Europe after a while the major industry



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