Galicia, as a historical Community recognised by the Spanish
Constitution of 1978, is a vast region and one it would take years to explore fully.
The houses are in little villages and towns in Lugo, La Coruña and Pontevedra
provinces, along the deeply indented coastline that stretches from the northern
Rias Altas south to the Rias Bajas - a coastline of endless beautiful beaches
and rolling green hills. In the interior lies one of the world’s most
fascinating cities, Santiago de Compostela.
Farming and fishing are the main occupations - the sea cuts into the land and
into the lives of the people. Oxen and tractors often work side by side in the
fields; potatoes are a very important crop and vines are grown everywhere.
The traditional grain stores – horreos - standing on mushroom-like pillars,
dot the countryside.
Ancient Celts, the Romans and the pilgrims of many centuries have created layers
of history; there is much of interest to be found, although in country and
coastal areas you will have to be prepared to track down the sights - there is
little in the way of organised tourism.
Galicia is situated in the mid-northern
hemisphere. Its geographical location is determined by its finis
terrae condition, as Europe’s westernmost region, in the northwest corner of
the Iberian Peninsula.
Galicia is commonly associated with the intense green of its mountains and
the blue of an omnipresent sea, as well as a landscape marked by incessant
rainfall.
Galicia has numerous rivers; the ones running into the Bay of Biscay are
short and regular, while the Atlantic ones are longer with gentler slopes. The
main river course is the Miño, which is 340-km long.
Close to 69% of the territory is covered by forest. The typical vegetation
consists of oak trees, chestnut trees, birches, pines and alders. With the
passing of time, man’s influence has modified this landscape, covering it with
farmland and extensive areas reforested with pines and eucalyptus trees.
On the other hand, Galicia has the characteristic features of a transitional
climate between an oceanic and Mediterranean one, dominated by a moderate
thermal range and abundant winter rainfall. However, there are important
regional differences and, thus, the interior’s climate is much more
continental.
In relation to the population distribution, the most
characteristic features are the large number of small population centres
(approximately 30,000 entities divided among 315 municipalities), geographical
dispersion and a low degree of urbanisation.
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