The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Spain:
Galicia
Brushing aside the raindrops as you hike through a forest, savoring ribeira wine and fresh octopus, or lying on a beautiful beach where you hear only Spanish or Gallego voices, you may begin to understand why Gallegos, the Galician natives, don't quite understand why foreigners seem to think Spain is all dusty roads, bullfights, and flamenco. Galicia is green and mountainous, and its independent character depends heavily on the sea: the area is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the tidal estuaries known as the Rías Altas and Bajas. This is the basis of both its most important industry, fishing, and its sense of connection to the outside; much is made of the ancient cultural links to the Celts, whose influence may be felt in traditional Galician music, based on the gaita, or Gallego bagpipe. The area's draws include its remarkable countryside; great seafood (local specialties include navajas, or razor clams, and about a million recipes for octopus); beaches such as Bayona, El Grove, Noya, and Miño, still unspoiled by international tourism; and the usual mind-boggling array of churches and monuments, including the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Christian world.
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