Galicia is formed by four provinces: La Coruña
(A Coruña), Lugo, Orense (Ourense)
and Pontevedra. In this region there are two
offical languages, Gallego and Spanish. Historically
the culture has a strong Celtic influence.
Area of fishing and hills, with a humid rainy
weather but with mild and enjoyable Summer.
A Coruña
Tower
of Hércules 
Tourism office:
Plaza de Mazarelos, 15. Santiago de Compostela.
General information: surface 7.950
Km2, It is the most western geographic location
of the entire Iberian peninsula.
Highlights: Ferrol, Finisterre, Ría
de Arousa, Costa da Morte.
Monuments: 'Torre de Hércules'
(Tower of Hercules).
Food: Fish and seafood at villages
on the coastline. Villages at the inside offer
beef of extrardinary quality. 'Pimientos del
padrón' (little green peppers grilled
with salt), 'repollos de Betanzos', 'Empanadas
de lomo', 'queso de tetilla' in Arzúa,
local liquors, and for desserts 'filloas',
'melindres' or almond cake of Santiago.
Santiago de Compostela is by far the most
famous city in the region, It attracts thousands
of pilgrims every year from all parts of the
world. Its's famous cathedral of the 'obradoiro'
is a religious landmark. The most celebrated
day in this city is the day of the 'Apóstol
Santiago', July 25th. Other monuments include:
'Casa de la Troya', cathedral including the
'Pórtico de la Gloria', 'Colegiata
de Santa María de Sar', 'Hospital Real',
'Hostal de los Reyes Católicos', the
'Azabachería', 'Museo de las Peregrinaciones'
(pilgrimage museum), 'Museo de Tierra Santa',
Convent of 'San Francisco', Palace of 'Gelmírez'.
Lugo
Tourism office:
Plaza Maior, 27. Lugo.
Celebrations: 'San Froilán',
October 4th to 12th.
Highlights: 2000 year old city located
465 metres over sea level. This is the province
where most routes of Santiago meet on their
way to Santiago de Compostela city (Coruña
province). Open air suggestions: beach of
the cathedrals in Ribadeo and the 'Sierra
de los Ancares' a mountain range.
Monuments: Roman city walls, 'Santa
Eulalia de Bóveda', cathedral, episcopal
palace.
Food: trout, salmon, 'bonito' (tuna),
sardines, beef and pork. Typical dishes: 'caldo
gallego', 'lacón con grelos', 'empanadas
de papuxas', 'pulpo a feira' (octopuss) and
'capón de Villalba'. Many of the cheeses
are excellent specially those from 'O Cebreiro',
'Ulloa' and 'San Simón'. On the plateau
area are the vineyards of 'Ribeira Sacra',
a certified wine. Among other local products,
we suggest: chestnut, nuts and honey.
Ourense
Tourism office:
Curros Enriquez, 1, edificio Torre. Orense.
Celebrations: 'San Martín',
November 11th. A celebration of 'Os Magostos'
to the first wines and chestnuts of the year.
Highlights: Natural Park of 'Baja Limia'.
Jew neighbourhood of 'Ribadavia'
Food: the popular 'pulpo á feira'
with bread from Cea and potatoes from 'La
Limia'. Stews, 'caldo gallego', the 'vitela'
(beef meat with barely any fat), game meat
with chestnuts, 'jarrete guisado', 'cabrito
asado'. Good white wines like 'Godello de
Guitiánlos', 'Treixadura' from Vilerma
or 'Emilio Rojo' from Ribeiro and Valdeorras.
Red wines like 'Mencía' from Ribeira
Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrei, are young
good value wines. Desserts: 'almendrados las
cañas de Carballiño', the 'bica'
from the highlands in the province.
Pontevedra
Cíes
Islands
Tourism office:
General Mola, 3. Pontevedra.
Surface 7.950 Km2, 1.097.511 inhabitants.
Its the smallest of the four provinces but
Vigo —Galicia's most populated city
and the most relevant economic town—
is here. It also has the best climate and
the beaches are the most liked.
Highlights: 'La Toja' island, beaches
in Samil, Canido, 'O Grove', Panxón,
Baiona. Market of 'La Piedra' in Vigo. Fish
market ('Lonja') in Baiona and Portonovo.
Natural Park of the Cíes islands.
Celebrations : in Vigo city 'San
Roque', August 16th. 'Santísimo Cristo
de la Victoria', on the first Sunday of August.
Seafood celebration of O Grove (of touristic
interest), from October 6th to 14th.
Food: stews (cocido) in Lalín.
The 'Rías Baixas' excellent white wines
come from this area, from which the most famous
is the 'Albariño'.
