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Alternative Spain

By: Martin Lambert, Mon Dec 26th, 2005 12:53:02 PM

Most tourists think of beaches and cheap alcohol when Spain is mentioned, but this holiday Mecca has another very different side and it is to be found in the north of the country.

Beyond the stifling heat, endless bars and towering hotels of the Costa's there is another Spain where overseas tourism is limited, the sound of a foreign voice still turns heads and every shop, business and even tourist office closes for the afternoon siesta. The place is Galicia, alternatively know as green Spain, wet Spain and the region of rivers.

Galicia lies just above Portugal and has scenery and people that are distinct and different from those of the country's southern provinces. Galicia has a seasonal climate, plenty of rain in winter and, unfortunately, sometimes some in summer as well. The scenery is a combination of lush meadows, dense forests and mountainous vistas and the coastline is filled with many picturesque bays. Galicia has more beaches than any of Spain's other regions, but it also has a drawback in the form of cooler sea temperatures.

History and culture are two of the big draws for tourists thinking of visiting this region of Spain. Galicia is a Celtic nation and still has the ruins of ancient Celtic settlements called Castros as well as a multitude of churches, cathedrals, monasteries and convents.

In keeping with the rest of Spain's regions, Galicia is itself subdivided into provinces of which there are four. The best known and most visited of these provinces is that of "A Coruna". The "A Coruna" province also holds the famous city of "Santiago de Compostela", famed for its massive cathedral and holy pilgrimage known as the "Way of Saint James". The provincial capitol of "A Coruna" has also become increasingly appealing to holiday makers and possesses the world's oldest lighthouse dating back to Roman times. It is also a beautiful city with a harbour surrounded by tall buildings composed of many windows giving it the nickname of the "glass city".

Leaving A Coruna, Galicia's other provinces are Pontevedra, with the regions largest city Vigo, Ourense with a medieval old town and Lugo, whose capitol has a complete Roman wall surrounding it. The big cities though are not the only attractions of Galicia and many would argue that it is the towns and villages, many of which are on the coast, that represent the real spirit of the region. A large number of these towns still operate as working fishing villages and in some respects their way of life has changed little over the last century. Examples of these towns include Muros, A Pobra do Caraminal and the larger Ribeira .

Finally any visitor to Galicia will sell themselves short if they fail to sample some of the regions famous seafood. The speciality of the area is "pulpo" (octopus), but if that does not appeal, try "calamares" (fried squid rings) with a squeeze of lemon. Shellfish are also part of the staple diet in Galicia and the many crustaceans, of which "percebes" is a particular example, will give you an indication of a Galician delicacy.

About the author: Webmaster for galiciaguide.com, the nets biggest English language guide to the region of Galicia in Spain.

For a complete guide to Galicia's regions, main cities, towns and tourist attractions visit galiciaguide.com, the webs largest English language Galician resource. Here you will find 250 pages of content and more than 400 photographs describing and depicting Galicia.

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