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Galicia

The Emerald Corner Of Spain

Galicia is a region of Spain that transcends all the clichés normally associated with the rest of the country - it's green, often wet and with its separate Celtic culture and language, it's often more reminiscent of Ireland than the rest of Spain.

The region is known as the land of a thousand rivers, and these run through the mountainous interior down to the coast where their estuaries form the famous Galician Rias - inlets that are not dissimilar to fjords.

The greenery and the temperate climate - temperatures rarely go below 5ºC in winter and above 20ºC in summer - make the region a very pleasant place to stay. The interior is great for walking, the coast is perfect for a beach holiday in summer and its historic cities mean that there's always something interesting to do if the weather takes a turn for the worst.

Although the inland provinces of Lugo and Ourense are well worth exploring, most visitors make for the coastal provinces of La Coruña and Pontevedra - if you want a good general guide to the region I can highly recommend the DK Eyewitness Guide to Northern Spain, the Galicia section in The Rough Guide to Spain or one of the many books on the Camino de Santiago.

Of the major cities, La Coruña and Vigo have plenty to offer, Pontevedra is charming but there aren't superlatives to describe the regional capital, Santiago de Compostela - a living historical monument and the traditional journey's end of the Saint James' Way - many people these days go on to Finisterre.

Finisterre is literally Land's End and, along with the golden unspoilt beaches of the Rias Baixas and the sheer cliffs of the Costa de la Muerte, forms part of Galicia's breathtaking coastline.

And when a day at the beach, a brisk walk in the hills or gentle stroll around a medieval town centre whips up an appetite, Marisco Gallego - seafood, fresh from the sea, will be waiting along with a sparkling glass of Ribeiro and a few shots of the local liquor, Orujo.

Galician Football

The rivalry between the two main clubs - Deportivo de La Coruña and Celta de Vigo, which Phil Ball discusses in Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football is down to working-class support in the two major ports and industrial centres of La Coruña and Vigo.

Although Celta fans will surely disagree, Deportivo de la Coruña have got the upper hand at the moment - they narrowly missed out on European places in Primera in 2008-09 while their Vigo rivals were wallowing in the bottom half of Segunda.

With Racing de Ferrol, CD Lugo, Pontevedra CF, CD Ourense and SD Compostela all competing in Segunda B - the third tier of Spanish football - all the major towns in the region are well-represented.

Group One of Tercera is made up completely of Galician sides and the Federación Gallega de Fútbol also runs a full array of amateur, youth and women's sides as well as the Galician National Team, La Selección Gallega.

Where To Stay

If you're looking for somewhere to stay, please use Spain Accomodation Search to find hotels in the La Coruña, Pontevedra, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Ourense and Lugo areas.

The engine searches the databases of the companies listed below and returns with a range of hotels at all prices and star ratings. Once you click through, you can make the booking directly with the company and also browse for last minute deals.

Spain Accommodation Search

HotelBook * Ebookers * AlphaRooms * Great4Hotels.com * Holiday Nights * Hotels4U * Laterooms.com * GTA Hotels * Low-Cost Holidays * Sunshine.co.uk * Superbreak

If you're looking for something a little cheaper or even further off the beaten track, Click Here For The Best Prices And Widest Choice of Hostels in Galicia

One of the best ways of getting about the region is by car, so Click Here for Car Hire at the region's airports and major towns.

Provinces:
La Coruña Province | Lugo Province | Ourense Province |
Pontevedra Province

Airports:
La Coruña Airport | Santiago Airport | Vigo Airport

Football Clubs:
Deportivo de La Coruña | Celta de Vigo

Books and Guides to Galicia:
On Amazon.co.uk | On Amazon.Com

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