Explore Northern Galicia
In the Spanish history of tourism northern Spain and Galicia have been undiscovered jewels. Among the undiscovered jewels is Northern Galicia. Out of all the self governing regions of Spain, Galicia is the remotest region; therefore the treasures of Northern Galicia remain yet to be discovered.
For a long time, Galicia was considered to be a poor agricultural region. Its economy refused to change and grow into a modern region. Due to its refusal to change, it has managed to remain in contact with the past. Galicia still nurtures old traditional ways of life and has managed to preserve its charm. This charm appeals to the tourism factor where the tourists can catch a glimpse of the age old traditions and economy of Galicia.
The people of Galicia are of Celtic origin. They take fierce pride in their origin and culture including language. This characteristic sets them apart and makes them unique when compared to the modern day Spain.
Due to the resistance of the people of Galicia to change, they have managed to keep their economy and culture intact. They have strongly resisted any outside intervention. They were never conquered by the Moors, but in the middle Ages, it fell into the hands of the Kingdom of Asturias.
Eventually, Galicia started to develop in the 20th century. It has managed to mould with the modern tradition in such a way so as not to lose their rich history and culture. This gradual change has benefited Galicia and it is reflected in the local tourism where tangible changes are visible.
Northern Galicia is spread over the complete northern area. It is flanked on the East by Santiago de Compostela and on the West by Lugo and Reserva Nacional De Os Ancares. The two regions of Santiago de Compostela and Coruna have two of the biggest cities called the Costa de Morte and Rias Atlas which are major tourist attractions.
Santiago is the major tourist attraction of the region. It is the centre of attraction due to the “Way of Saint James” having routes that lead to it not only from from Galicia, but even from all of Spain.
There are plenty of interesting towns and tourist attractions in Northern Galicia. They consist of Lugo, Betanzos and Modonedo. A pleasant coastal drive is situated by the northern coast. The city of Rias Atlas starts in the East at Ribadeo and travels through Foz arriving in the West at Coruna. This drive covers the entire region of Rias Atlas known for its beauty.
Towards the west from Coruna, the tourists can head to an area called the Costa de Morta or the Coast of Death. It is so called because many shipwrecks are found offshore. The ride from Coruna leads through Caion to Carbollo which is situated in the inlands and finally arrives at Malpica. Heading south from Malpica through Laxe and Camarinas, you arrive at the west coast of Galicia at Cabo Fisterra. This drive is flanked by beautiful views along the way consisting of rugged coastline and windswept landscapes. Along the way, one can see natural beauty at its best. Celtic crosses are visible along the way indicating various stations in relation to where the ship wrecks have occurred.