Informazioni di viaggio e video sulla Costa de Galicia

Costa Galicia

The Costa Galicia, or the Galician Coastline, is located in the far north western corner of Spain on the Atlantic Coast. It borders Asturias to the east and Portugal to the south and is the longest coastline of all the communities in Spain.

It’s a popular destination for Spanish holidaymakers, but is a relatively unknown region for foreign tourists, who are missing out on the one of the most stunning coastlines in Europe.

The rugged coastline boasts white sandy beaches and hidden coves, and is dotted with ancient seafaring villages and historical cities. The succulent seafood caught locally is second to none.

Inland there are many meadow and forests; the countryside is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The area has a farming, hunting and seafaring tradition.

History & Culture
Galicia has a culture all its own and a rich tradition of folklore. The region also has it's own language, known as Galego.

The region descends from the one of the first tribes of Celtic heritage in Europe and Galicians consider themselves as having a Celtic identity and background, rather than the predominantly ‘Latin’ or ‘Hispanic’ culture, which identifies most of the Iberian peninsula.

Having said that, Galicians have no separatist intentions, they consider themselves very much Spanish, despite the poorer nation attitude from the wealthy heart of Spain.

And if you hear the doleful strain of the bagpipes, don’t think you've suddenly been transported magically to Scotland; this is the ‘national’ instrument of Galicia too. The festivals of the region are the best way to discover the marvellous inventiveness of the Galician people, in the costumes, music, food and folklore.

Places to visit
The least populated province in Galicia is Lugo, here you can enjoy a quiet and tranquil holiday in peaceful surroundings. The charming coastal town of Ribadeo is an excellent place to enjoy a relaxing holiday, but with all the facilities needed to make it comfortable.

The towns of Foz and Burela in Lugo, are home to stunning blue flag beaches and the larger town of Viviero boasts the most beautiful beaches and scenery.

A Coruña is a beautiful historical city, located in the province of the same name. It has some very interesting architectural attractions and incorporates a wonderful harbour.

Beaches
The Costa Galicia is blessed with an astonishing variety of stunning beaches, which range from golden to white sand with seas that can be crashing rollers or almost lakeside calm.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean, which wash these spectacular shores of Galicia, are cooler than the Mediterranean.

Natural Galicia
Galicia is known as the land of a thousand rivers. These flow into the sea at estuaries and bays, or inlets, known locally as ‘rias’, which translates to a river.

Geographically the rivers are split into upper and lower rivers. The mid-point between the two is the well-known port of Finisterre (from the seafarers weather report) and whose name means the end of the earth.

Finisterre signifies changes in both landscape and climate. The upper rivers are backed by sparsely vegetated rocky mountainous hillsides. Temperatures are also often lower in the north, and the wind blows with a little more force. Generally it is also a little wetter in the north.

South of Finisterre the gentler backdrop to the coastline features pine and eucalyptus woods, as well as fields of crops and meadows; its an overall much greener and more benign region. The hills too are more rounded as you travel further south.

Cuisine
The uniqueness of the Galician culture is demonstrated in the local gastronomy: you will not find so much rice or pasta in Galicia as you do elsewhere. Potatoes tend to be the accompaniment of choice for fish and meat dishes.

Shellfish is very popular in Galicia and seafood is considered the staple diet. Galicia harvests more fruits of the sea than anywhere else in Europe; the sand beds of the coastline, and the many fishing ports, make this possible.

The astonishing variety of fish species and crustaceans are prepared and cooked in a myriad of dishes depending on the region within Galicia. With the main cities being so close to the ports, freshness is always assured.

Climate
The Galician climate is generally quite temperate; in the winter it is not uncommon for strong winds to blow off the sea. Throughout the year there is quite a bit of rain. Spring and summers are warm. Weather here is often changeable and can have several faces in one day.