| Northern Spain and Galicia particularly | | | | became emigration. |
| has long been an undiscovered jewel in | | | | In what has been a mountain to climb |
| the whole of the Spanish tourism | | | | slowly but surely Galicia is now trying |
| industry. All over Northern Spain the | | | | to manage successfully the twin track of |
| climate is much more moderate than the | | | | its regional lifestyle with a much more |
| rest of the Iberian Peninsula and the | | | | modern society. |
| autonomous regions that make up this | | | | Galicia has always maintained strong |
| area of the country have exactly what it | | | | links with the sea and the port cities |
| takes to help visiting tourists have a | | | | of Vigo and Corunna are centres of |
| good time. | | | | culture and industry. As befits a |
| The Atlantic coast of northern Spain | | | | province that has such reliance on the |
| boasts extremely attractive sandy | | | | sea, the seafood here is amongst the |
| beaches whilst inland the mountain | | | | best in Spain and fishing is vital to |
| ranges are criss-crossed by numerous | | | | the economy. |
| foot paths. | | | | The small fishing villages dot the |
| If you look at all of the autonomous | | | | entire 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 of | | | | cases is almost better than ever. |
| vast contrasts. | | | | The most westerly point in Spain, Cabo |
| Galicia is proud to be the home of one | | | | Fisterra is situated in this rugged |
| of the most visited religious pilgrimage | | | | stretch of Galician coastline. Inland, |
| sites in the world whilst of a more | | | | the hillsides which are quite often |
| earthly nature the region is extremely | | | | shrouded in mist conceal the remains of |
| famous for its excellent cuisine | | | | Celtic settlements throughout the |
| especially the seafood. Such is the | | | | region. At road junctions and in towns |
| nature of the pilgrimage site at | | | | throughout the region stand various old |
| Santiago de Compostela that it appears | | | | stone crosses and in the villages old |
| to have inspired a tourism industry of | | | | stone 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 and | | | | there and also dominant in some of the |
| language. | | | | north-western territories of Europe such |
| Traditionally, Galicia was seen as a | | | | as Ireland, Scotland and Wales (not to |
| poor agricultural region, whose economy | | | | mention 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 very | | | | these connections is the traditional |
| closed and inward looking area being | | | | language of Galicia known as Gallego. |
| fiercely resistant to any formal | | | | The other way the Celtic tradition is |
| external invasion. For a region that | | | | also represented in Galicia is within |
| was so proud of being fiercely | | | | the various art and Cultural forms. |
| independent Galicia only really had an | | | | This is further exemplified with the |
| independent monarchy during between the | | | | slight theme of melancholy running |
| 10th and 11th centuries. | | | | through quite often the words and music |
| Bordering Portugal to the south and | | | | of 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 offer | | | | of Ireland), as anyone who has |
| its inhabitants little in the way of new | | | | experienced some of the fierce storms |
| land for cultivation. As with a lot of | | | | coming in from the Atlantic perhaps this |
| the major Celtic communities in Western | | | | is understandable. |
| Europe after a while the major industry | | | | |