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Autonomous community in the northwest of Spain
Photo: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Galicia or Galiza is a region in the northwest corner of Spain, part of "Green Spain". It's bordered by Asturias to the northeast, Castile and León to the east, and the Minho region of Portugal to the south. Its chief city is the pilgrimage destination of Santiago de Compostela; its coast is riddled by rías, long inlets of the sea.
By road
From Madrid follow A-6 (toll) northwest. For towns in the south of Galicia branch off at Ponferrada onto N-120. For Santiago branch off at Lugo onto N-547.
By train
Trains from Madrid Chamartin run every couple of hours, taking about 3 hr 30 min to Santiago, 4 hours to A Coruña or 4 hours to Vigo.
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Santiago de Compostela · International · SCQ
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Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of Galicia in northwest Spain. It's named for Saint James, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, and in legend is his burial site.
A Coruña (Spanish: La Coruña) is a large port in Galicia in northwest Spain. Its sights reflect its heritage as a fortified harbour much battered by other nations.
Ferrol is a port in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 64,000 in 2024. It's Spain's Atlantic navy base and ship-building centre, so it's industrial but with a long heritage.
Vilalba is a town in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 13,800 in 2024. It has few visitor attractions but makes for a stopover on the Camino del Norte branch of the pilgrimage trail to Santiago.
Ribadeo is a town in Galicia in northwest Spain. It's on the coast at the east edge of the region, separated by the broad river from the region of Asturias.
Lugo is a city in Galicia in northwest Spain, encircled by intact Roman walls, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's a popular start point for pilgrims on one of the trails to Santiago de Compostela.
A Fonsagrada is a village in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 3100 in 2025. The name derives from fontem sacratam, a holy or healing spring.
Fisterra or Finisterre means "land's end" and is in Galicia near the northwest tip of Spain. The name refers both to the rugged headland and the nearby village, which had a population of 4700 in 2021.
Muros is a town on the coast of Galicia in northwest Spain. With a population of 8200 in 2024, it's the largest of a string of fishing villages along this coast, with Serres to the north and Louro to the south.
O Grove is a peninsula, and the main town on that peninsula, linked by a tombola and highway to mainland Galicia in northwest Spain. It's a beach resort and in 2024 had a population of 11,000.
Combarro is a village in Galicia in northwest Spain. It's on the north shore of the Ría de Pontevedra, a relaxing place with a population of 1250 in 2023.
Pontevedra is a city in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 83,000 in 2024. Its old town has a fine collection of 16th - 18th century churches, and stands on the Portuguese branch of the pilgrimage route to Santiago.
Ribadavia is a town in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 5000 in 2024. It has an old quarter but is short of visitor accommodation.
Ourense is a city in Galicia in northwest Spain, with a population of 105,000 in 2024. It's mostly modern and industrial but has a medieval quarter around its cathedral, a stop on the Via de la Plata branch of El Camino pilgrimage trail to Santiago.
Vigo is a port in Galicia in northwest Spain. It's industrial but has an old town and lots of maritime heritage.
Baiona (Bayona in Castilian Spanish) is a town in Galicia on the Atlantic coast of Spain, 20 km south of Vigo. It has a small fishing fleet but is mostly a tourist resort, with a resident population of 12,500 in 2024.
Tui is a town in Galicia on the north bank of the Miño River, on the border with Portugal. In Castilian Spanish it's "Tuy" but Galician place names are now the official version.
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