Location and Geography
The countryside here remains largely unspoilt with abundant wildlife such as wild horses, deer and birds of prey, all of which can be seen whilst on a walk along one of the ancient sendeiro
trails that are marked out across the region.
Along the coast the Atlantic flanks Galicia's northern and western borders, gently washing against the shores and into the Rias
. These wide inlets provide the livelihood for two of the big cities in Galicia, Pontevedra and Vigo. The waters here are calm and temperate, making them perfect for sailing, swimming, fishing and, our favourite, SCUBA diving!
Language and History
Galicia was populated mostly by the Celts and their influence is evident in Galician culture, especially music: a form of the bagpipes is a favourite here. Galicia has its own dialect that bears little similarity to mainstream Spanish. Known as Gallego
, it has its roots in both Gaelic and Arabic, and it sounds more similar to Portuguese than to the Spanish of the other provinces in Spain.
Galicia is steeped in history: from the ancient petroglyphs that are scattered across the hills to the full-size replica of Christopher Columbus's pinta
that returned to Baiona after discovering America. One of the region's highlights is the city of Santiago de Compestela, with its avenues of shops, cafés and ornate architecture that hints at a bygone age.
Events and Activities
40 minutes from Casa Quireza
The 11th-century cathedral of Santiago is also host to the tomb of St James, making it the final destination for thousands of pilgrims who make their long journey from Europe and follow the St James Way across Spain to Galicia each year.Take time out to enjoy the local Santiago Cake and the wines from Ribadeira.
The sea ports of Vigo and Pontevedra both have fascinating old town areas, with narrow streets, where you can try the local freshly-caught shellfish and seafood specialities, washed down with an Albariño or Ribeiro wine.
10 minutes from Casa Quireza
Spain is famous for its fiestas and Galicia is no exception. There are a number of special occasions throughout the year, and each is celebrated differently depending on where you are. These events include the Rapa das Bestas
in early summer, when the wild horses are rounded up from the hills and mountainsides for their manes and tails to be trimmed.
We have mapped and documented several local walks that allow you to enjoy the unspoilt countryside and take in some old roman roads and prehistoric stone carvings, dating back to pre-iron age.