Northwestern Spain: Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña & Orense

Occupying its own corner in far northwestern Spain above Portugal, Galicia in topography resembles Ireland. It doesn't sound, smell or taste the same as what most have come to expect of Spain, either. The Gallegos are of Celtic origin - the name Galicia having been derived from Gallaeci, the Roman word for Celts. As if to debunk the charges that they inherited an introspective and aloof nature from their ancestors, the Gallegos strive to be courteous and friendly toward outsiders and come across sincerely in doing so. Though not always fair-skinned, they are dependably two shades lighter than an Andaluz from the south, play the bagpipes rather than the flamenco guitar and in certain communities believe in spirits as fervently as they do the Virgin Mary. Then there is the holy town of Santiago de Compostela, which for nine centuries has attracted pilgrims from the farthest reaches of Europe to its cathedral, said to shelter the remains of the Apostle St. James, Spain's patron saint and the reason that the country is Catholic. The numerous caminos followed by this pious and determined group blend into the Galician countryside like a natural feature, for the pilgrims arrive during the year as dependably as the rain. The author himself walked the entire route, over 500 miles, and made the pilgrimage. Every detail is here for the traveler - where to stay, where to eat, entertainment, activities of all kinds, from hiking to canoeing, concerts to festivals. An extensive section on what you need to know when traveling to Spain in general, plus a language and Spanish vocabulary chapter is included. "A great new resource." -- Travel + Leisure. "The perfect companion for planning." -- Rutgers Magazine. "These useful travel guides are highly recommended..." -- Library Journal