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A visit to Galicia. Spain
Visiting any of Galicia's major cities can be both
enjoyable and educational. This part of Spain has a wealth of
historic buildings ranging from Celtic forts and roman ruins, to
Gothic and neo-classical architectural masterpieces. Many of the
latter are religious buildings although many grand civil
structures, from town halls to mansions, can also be found.
Museums are also plentiful and popular and most have a regional
or provincial theme to their exhibits.
For a view of real Galicia, many would suggest a visit to one of
the regions many coastal towns. Most of Galicia's towns are
situated close to a bay or cove and were originally connected
with fishing. The region has a long seafaring history and
although other enterprises now prosper in Galicia, the fishing
industry remains a large employer and economic contributor.
With a population of only three million inhabitants, Galicia has
plenty of open space and a drive into the region's interior
serves up some breath taking scenery. Forests, meadow land,
rolling hills and mountains, all populated with small villages,
are on the menu. Galician tourism is however very much there for
you to discover and help, in the form of guides and books, is
limited compared to many other places in Europe.
Part of Galicia's allure to the tourist is certainly the appeal
of visiting somewhere slightly off the beaten track. It is
certainly true to say that Santiago de Compostela now has a
cosmopolitan tourist trade, but most of Galicia's other cities
do not and an English voice is definitely still a rarity. Cities
like Lugo, Pontevedra, Ourense and the massive A Coruna and
Vigo, have little in the way of foreign tourism and although
British and American visitor numbers are on the increase, they
are still small. This should not detour the tourist though, all
of these cities have great visitor appeal and their inhabitants
are
generally friendly and helpful.
The time of year to visit Galicia is definitely something to
consider. The region has an extended summer that results in mild
temperatures starting in April and running through to October.
The best weather is normally reserved for June, July and August,
although in this part of Spain clear blue skies are never under
warranty. Visiting in the winter months will require the
addition of warm clothing, weather proof jackets and certainly
an umbrella.
Galician tourism is not geared up for foreign speakers, so if
you are English, American, German or French, you will have to
pick up a few basic phrases, use plenty of courtesies and
practice pointing and smiling a lot. As ever, if you want to buy
something, get your money out, this normally helps make your
request crystal clear.
Getting to Galicia
has become cheaper and easier over the last couple of years with
major carriers flying direct to Santiago's international
airport. Prices have also come down, particularly for those
departing from the UK. Flying from the USA is still
comparatively costly, but as visitor numbers increase costs will
inevitably come down to match them.
Car rental is pretty much essential for the Galician holiday
maker. Galicia is a place to be explored and the best way to do
this is independently with your own transport. If this is not an
option, the other alternative is to book a tour. Coach tours are
few and restrictive and are always limited to the major cities,
or predefined routes. If you decide to opt for this type of
holiday, make sure you know exactly what is on your schedule
before hand and check to make sure you have adequate time at the
main stop off points.
About the author:
Webmaster for galiciaguide.com and part time writer about
Galicia and its tourist attractions.
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