"The Edge of the Earth" - a name given to Spain's Galicia back in antiquity . This region stands out with a special natural charm . Having visited Galicia, one can fall in love with its high rocks, deep lakes, mountain villages, pastoral beaches . Here, tourists are not welcome flamenco festivals and festivities of bullfighting, quiet towns with a rich history will allow you to rest from the hectic days and fill the soul with serenity. . Paradise for ecotourists is not characterized by economic development, but that's why it is attractive for connoisseurs of solitary Ugo of the planet .

Galicia autonomous community was named after the Celtic tribes of the galleries, they were the first to develop The territory washed by the Atlantic Ocean from the west, the Bay of Biscay from the north, and in the southwest by the Miño River. The region also borders with Portugal in the south, the neighbors in the east are Castilla y Leon and Asturias. It is noteworthy that, along with the Spanish, the official Galician language has official status here as well.

The capital of the region is Santiago de Compostela

Largest cities - Vigo, La Coruña

How to get there

Emerald Galicia at all was recently considered a Spanish meadow. However, the attendance of the autonomous community has increased dramatically in recent decades due to the influx of pilgrims from around the world. And today Santiago de Compostela, a small city with a population of one hundred thousand, competes in popularity with Barcelona. To get to the capital of the region consisting of four provinces - La Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra, can be reached by car on the A6 and A9, by train or by plane from almost anywhere in Spain.

Galicia has three international airports - La Coruña, Vigo and Santiago de Compostela. The distance to the main city of the region from Moscow is 3550 km. There are no direct flights to this part of the country, the route from Madrid to the first city of Galicia will take 1 hour and 15 minutes, this is 480 km. A little longer flight from Barcelona - 1 hour 30 minutes

The climate of Galicia

Galicia rightfully deserved the title of the greenest region of Spain. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean has determined the fertility of local lands. The region is also famous for the presence of many thermal springs. The ecologically clean corner of the kingdom is characterized by a moderately hot summer with average temperatures from +26 ° C to +34 ° C and a rainy and mild winter - this season the air temperature ranges from +8 ° C to +14 ° C.

Nature of Galicia

The amazing region represents a series of mountain chains with numerous branches, labyrinths and valleys. The coastline is cut by bays and bays, dotted with capes. Despite the descending mountain descent to the beaches, the local harbors are safe for swimming. You can swim in the "rias-altas", this is a special kind of bays formed by the mouths making their way through the thickness of the river stone. The northern coast is bordered by eucalyptus groves and high hills

Entertainment, sightseeing and attractions of Galicia

There are many significant places in the greenest Spanish region. One of the symbols of the Galician culture is the fishing houses "palyaso" with thatched roofs. In a distinctive autonomous region, they can be seen in most villages. Be sure to visit the foot of the world's oldest lighthouse, the only functioning structure erected during the Roman Empire . The Tower of Hercules is located in the northern part of La Coruña, the lighthouse is listed as a World Heritage Site. Like the fortress of Lugo, preserved from the Roman period almost unchanged.

Santiago de Compostela

The city was formed around the Santiago Cathedral, which houses the relics of the Apostle James. The remains of the martyred apostle were sent across the Mediterranean Sea, the waves of which brought a boat with a load at the mouth of the Hive River, where the city later appeared. The old part of the "Christian Mecca" in 1985 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. One third of the local population are students of local universities, of which there are quite a few.

The historical center of Santiago de Compostela is united into a single architectural ensemble, and the connecting elements for the monuments are the porticoes . On this part of the town you can walk only on foot . narrow streets can lead you to museums of pilgrimage, carpets, ethnography, archeology . Or to the Jewelers Square with a unique sculptural fountain, to the Benedictine monastery of the 11th century, the church of Santo Domingo with a triple staircase leading to a separate tier led a fine tower . Rashoi Castle is worthy of attention in Obradoiro square and the convent, where the museum of crafts .

The path of St. James

The road, or the Path of St. James, is the legendary pilgrim route, the end point of which is Santiago de Compostela, or rather the grave of the apostle. The Galician capital is the third Catholic shrine after Jerusalem and Rome, the cathedral with the relics of St. James, the patron saint of the country, is located at the finish point of the pilgrim journey.

The legend says that this fertile route was seen in a dream by Karl the Great - he saw the Milky Way, izhenii the center of the capital of Galicia. The colossal flow of pilgrims to the relic faded away only during the period of global epidemics, and a holy journey began again in the 19th century.

Galicia's photo (8)