The name Galicia derives from the Latin toponym Callaecia, later Gallaecia, related to the name of an ancient tribe that resided north of the Douro river, the Gallaeci or Callaeci in Latin, or Kallaikói (καλλαικoι) in Greek. These Callaeci were the first tribe in the area to help the Lusitanians against the invading Romans, and gave their name to the rest of the tribes living north of them, and to their victor, Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus, who defeated them in 137 BCE and was acclaimed in Rome.
Galicia has a surface area of 29,574 square kilometres (11,419 sq mi)Its northernmost point, at 43°47′N, is Estaca de Bares (also the northernmost point of Spain); its southernmost, at 41°49′N, is on the Portuguese border in the Baixa Limia Serra do Xurés Natural ParkThe easternmost longitude is at 6°42′W on the border between the province of Ourense and the Castilian Leonese province of Zamora) its westernmost at 9°18′W, reached in two places: the La Nave Cape in Fisterra (also known as Finisterre), and Cape Touriñán, both in the province of A Coruña
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Galicia has two official languages: Galician (Galician: galego) and Spanish (known in Spain as castellano, "Castilian"), both of them Romance languages, the former originated locally, the latter born in Castile. Galician is recognized in the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia as the lingua propia ("own language") of Galicia.
The interior of Galicia is a hilly landscape, composed of relatively low mountain ranges, usually below 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high, without sharp peaks, rising to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in the eastern mountains. There are many rivers, most (though not all) running down relatively gentle slopes in narrow river valleys, though at times their courses become far more rugged, as in the canyons of the Sil river, Galicia's second most important river after the Miño. Galicia is poetically known as the "country of the thousand rivers" ("o país dos mil ríos"). The largest and most important of these rivers is the Minho
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Topographically, a remarkable feature of Galicia is the presence of many firth like inlets along the coast, estuaries that were drowned with rising sea levels after the ice age. These are called rías and are divided into the smaller Rías Altas ("High Rías"), and the larger Rías Baixas ("Low Rías"). The Rías Altas. Erosion by the Atlantic Ocean has contributed to the great number of capes. All along the Galician coast are various archipelagos near the mouths of the rías. These archipelagos provide protected deepwater harbors and also provide habitat for seagoing birds. A 2007 inventory estimates that the Galician coast has 316 archipelagos, islets, and freestanding rocks.Among the most important of these are the archipelagos of Cíes, Ons, and Sálvora. Together with Cortegada Island, these make up the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park.
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Galicia has preserved some of its dense Atlantic forests, where wildlife is commonly found. It is relatively unpolluted, and its landscapes composed of green hills, cliffs and rias are generally very different from what is commonly understood as Spanish landscape.
Galicia has 262 inventoried species of vertebrates, including 12 species of freshwater fish, 15 amphibians, 24 reptiles, 152 birds and 59 mammals. The animals most often thought of as being "typical" of Galicia are the livestock raised there. The Galician Pony is native to the region, as is the Galician Blond cow and the domestic fowl known as the galiña de Mos. The latter is an endangered species, although it is showing signs of a comeback since 2001. Galicia's woodlands and mountains are home to rabbits, hares, wild boars and roe deer, all of which are popular with hunters.
Several important bird migration routes pass through Galicia, and some of the community's relatively few environmentally protected areas are Special Protection Areas (such as on the Ría de Ribadeo) for these birds.
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From a domestic point of view, Galicia has been credited for author Manuel Rivas as the "land of one million cows". Galician Blond and Holstein cattle coexist on meadows and farms. Galicia has more than 2800 plant species. Plant endemics are represented by 31 taxons. Also, Galicia is one of the more forested areas of Spain, but the majority of Galicia's plantations, usually growing eucalyptus or pine, lack any formal management. Wood and wood products (particularly softwood pulp) figure significantly in Galicia's economy
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The lands of Galicia are ascribed to two different areas in the Köppen climate classification: a south east area (roughly, the province of Ourense) with tendencies to have some summer drought, classified as a warm summer Mediterranean climate (Csb), similar to the climate of the coastal regions of Oregon and Washington, with mild temperatures and rainfall usual throughout the year; and the western and northern coastal regions, the provinces of Lugo, A Coruña, and Pontevedra, which are characterized by their Oceanic climate (Csf), with a more uniform precipitation distribution along the year, and milder summers.In comparison to the other regions of Spain, the major economic benefit of Galicia is its fishing Industry.
Galicia is a land of economic contrast. While the western coast, with its major population centers and its fishing and manufacturing industries, is prosperous and increasing in population, the rural hinterland — the provinces of Ourense and Lugo — are economically dependent on traditional agriculture, based on small landholdings called minifundios. However, the rise of tourism, sustainable forestry and organic and traditional agriculture are bringing other possibilities to the Galician economy without compromising the preservation of the natural resources and the local culture.
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Traditionally, Galicia depended mainly on agriculture and fishing. Reflecting that history, the Community Fisheries Control Agency, which coordinates fishing controls in European Union waters is based in Vigo. Nonetheless, today the tertiary sector of the economy (the service sector) is the largest. The secondary sector (manufacturing) includes shipbuilding in Vigo and Ferrol, textiles and granite work in A Coruña. A Coruña also manufactures automobiles, but not nearly on the scale of the automobile manufacturing in Vigo. The Centro de Vigo de PSA Peugeot Citroën, founded in 1958, makes about 450,000 vehicles annually (455,430 in 2006), a Citroën C4 Picasso made in 2007 was their nine millionth vehicle. Arteixo, an industrial municipality in the A Coruña metropolitan area, is the headquarters of Inditex, Europe's largest textile company and the world's second largest. Of their eight brands, Zara is the best known; indeed, it is the best known Spanish brand of any sort on an international basis. Galicia was late to catch the tourism boom that has swept Spain in recent decades, but the coastal regions (especially the Rías Baixas and Santiago de Compostela) are now significant tourist destinations.
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URBANIZATION
The principal cities are:
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Vigo is a city in the south west Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Vigo has 297,124 inhabitants, with an extended metropolitan population of 468,654, making it the 14th largest metropolitan area of Spain. In 2010 there were 16,735 foreigners living in the city, representing a 5.6% of the total population. The main nationalities are Portuguese (16%), Brazilians (11%) and Colombians (7%). Vigo's climate is usually classified as oceanic (Köppen climate classification Cfb); however, the summers tend to be warmer (and drier) and the winters milder than most areas of similar classification. Vigo is served by Vigo Peinador Airport with flights to Paris, London, Brussels and several domestic destinations. Due to increased passenger numbers in recent years, the terminal
10 with the parking facilities is being expanded to provide the airport with a capacity of four million people by year. A ferry service operates between the Port of Vigo and Cíes Islands, part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, the only National Park in Galicia. The main beach in the central island was declared best beach in the world in 2007 by the British newspaper The Guardian. European route E01 goes through the town. This highway goes south through Lisbon and north to the A Coruña area. A 52 goes inland, east to Ourense. Also at the center of the city is undertaking the construction of the AVE train station to connect the city with high speed. It has commissioned the development of a blueprint and a feasibility study for possible construction of a metro. Meanwhile, urban transport is carried out through buses by Vitrasa progestin, which has the largest number of buses northwest Spain. Vigo is one of the leading industrial areas in Galicia, with car factories, shipyards, and auxiliary industry. Situated in Vigo is Galicia's leading employer, PSA Peugeot Citroën, which in 2007 produced a total of 545,000 vehicles, of which more than 82% were sold outside Spain. Vigo has the largest fishing port in Europe as well, the home port of the world's largest fishing company, Pescanova and the most important center of the Galician canned fish industry. The headquarters of the European Fisheries Agency are placed in here. The publishing industry, especially in Galician, is very prominent in the city, with Editorial Galaxia and Editorial Xerais among others.
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Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James. In 1985 the city's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Under the Köppen climate classification, Santiago de Compostela has a humid oceanic climate, with dryer. The climate is mild: frosts are common only in December, January and February, with an average of just 8 days per year, while snow is rare; temperatures over 35 °C (95 °F) are exceptional. The population of the city in 2010 was 94,824 inhabitants, while the metropolitan area reaches 150,000. In 2010 there were 4,111 foreigners living in the city, representing a 4,3% of the total population. The main nationalities are Brazilians (11%), Portuguese (8%) and Colombians (7%). Santiago's economy, although still heavily dependent in public administration (headquarters of the autonomous government of Galicia), cultural tourism and industry, an in its
12 university, is becoming diversified in various sectors, most notably timber transformation (FINSA), automotive industry (UROVESA), and telecommunications and electronics (Blusens and Televés). Banco Gallego, a banking institution owned by Novacaixagalicia, has its headquarters in downtown rúa do Hórreo. Tourism is very important thanks to the Way of St. James, particularly in Holy Compostelan Years (when July 25 falls on a Sunday). Following the Xunta's considerable investment and hugely successful advertising campaign for the Holy Year of 1993, the number of pilgrims completing the route has been steadily rising. Following the Holy Year of 2010, the next Holy Year will not be for another 11 years. More than 272,000 pilgrims made the trip during the course of 2010. Editorial Compostela owns daily newspaper El Correo Gallego, a local TV, and a radio station. Galician language online news portal Galicia Hoxe is also based in the city. Televisión de Galicia, the public broadcaster corporation of Galicia, has its headquarters in Santiago.
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Pontevedra is in the southwestern Galician coast, an area popularly known as Rias Baixas. The municipality covers 118.3 km² and is about 20 km wide from north to south. The city sits at the end of the ria that bears its name, occupying the valleys of the Lérez and Tomeza rivers. It extends southwards to the mouth of river Verdugo in Ponte Sampaio The municipality of Pontevedra is composed of the city of Pontevedra and fifteen rural parishes in close proximity, with a total population of 81,576. Pontevedra has a humid oceanic climate. The average temperature is 15 °C (59 °F), with a daily average of 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) in January and 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) in July. These are unusually mild for a city so far north, and are due to Pontevedra’s proximity to the sea and to the moderating effect of the ria. Pontevedra is well communicated by road and rail. It sits on the A Coruña Vigo railway and motorway corridor. Pontevedra is located between the Galician capital Santiago de
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Compostela (58 km to the north) and the largest Galician city, Vigo (30 km to the south). Pontevedra itself does not have an airport, but both Compostela and Vigo have international airports. A good network of roads and motorways efficiently connects Pontevedra with these cities, and also with Portugal (57 km to the south), and inland (100 km to the eastern city of Ourense). Pontevedra has traditionally been a trading city. At present, the tertiary sector employs 65 per cent of the population, while industry does the 17 per cent. Industrial activity is reduced to a handful of companies, namely pulp mills (in gradual recession) and construction. The tertiary sector is not especially dynamic, although a number of policies have been implemented to improve the situation. Tourism is slowly on the increase, with visitors coming mostly from Spain and Portugal. Sanxenxo is a municipality in the province of Pontevedra. It is a popular tourism destination. Sanxenxo is widely regarded as the best and certainly the most exclusive beach resort in Galicia. The busiest time to visit Sanxenxo is in July and August when this normally semi deserted town is full of tourists. The bay area at this resort enjoys some of the warmest waters in all of Galicia. The entire area around this beach mecca is full of outstanding beaches and numerous former fishing towns.
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The ancient city of Auria is located on both banks of the Minho River in the south central part of Galicia, at an elevation of 128 m above sea level. The city has a microclimate that brings abundant rainfall and allows for verdant vegetation on the nearby hills. Winters are mild with lows rarely falling below zero degrees Celsius. Because of the location in the river valley summers can be quite hot, often equaling temperatures of Andalucia. Many local families have apartments on the coast (Vigo is only an hour away by car) where they can escape the heat of July and August. The river divides a rather industrial western suburb, which contains the railroad station, from the main town. Three highway and one railroad bridge cross the river in addition to the famous Roman Bridge, which is now closed to vehicle traffic.
The economy in the city of Ourense is marked by a predominance of service sector, the city has the largest shopping and leisure in the province, and administrative services, Construction industry is also important.
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The industrial area of San Cibrao das Viñas has many light industries including several important clothing factories, like Adolfo Dominguez and Roberto Verino, as well as automotive supplier industries. Tecnopole, Technology Park of Galicia, situated in the outskirts of the city, is a 550.000 square metre area with advanced services for companies with a technological basis and high innovating profile. The following centres do their business work from the Tecnopole: the wood technological centres (CIS Madeira), the meat technological centre (Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne), the metallurgy centre (Aimen) and the Coren Incubation Centre (CTI), the Research, Transfer and Innovation Centre (Centro de Innovación, Transferencia e Investigación) of the University of Vigo, and the Official Laboratory of Meteorology of Galicia ( Laboratorio Oficial de Metereoloxía de Galicia or LOMG). As a producer, Ourense is world renowned as a producer of European chestnuts (Castanea sativa). Coren, one of the Spanish agricultural sector's most important companies, is headquartered in Ourense. Although mainly a town of services, Ourense is not without its tourist sites. The town has three parts: the medieval, the area of 19th century expansion, and the modern perimeter. Many who pass by on the highway linking Madrid to Vigo are unaware of the medieval quarter, with its narrow streets and tiny plazas. Once an area of a certain dilapidated charm the area is now undergoing renovation and is full of typical restaurants and bars patronized by the university students of the town. The Plaza Mayor is the center of city life with its arcaded shops and the simple, but beautiful Town Hall.
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Lugo is a city located in the north west part south in Galicia. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.
The population of the city in 2010 was 97,635 inhabitants, growing constantly since the first census in 1842, while the rest of the province is losing population dramatically.
In 2010 there were 5,373 foreigners living in the city, representing a 5,5% of the total population. The main nationalities are Colombians (18%), Moroccans (12%) and Brazilians (11%).
The town lays on a hill surrounded by the rivers Minho, Rato and Chanca. The difference in altitude between downtown and the river banks is considerable, while in the center of the city's altitude of 465 meters above sea level, at the height of the Miño River Walk is the altitude of only 364 meters. The municipality of Lugo is the second largest in Galicia, with 329.78 km ² and 59 parishes. It should be emphasized that the outline of the city was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO on 7 November 2002, this being the most important recognition at international level regarding the conservation of landscapes and habitats of this Atlantic European region.
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Like most of Galicia, Lugo has and humid oceanic climate, with dryer summer. Lugo is a city of services. The steady increase of population of the city makes the construction of major economic sectors of the municipality. The industry is very scarce and almost exclusively dedicated to the processing of agricultural products (dairy, meat, timber ...).
Lugo is the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls, which reach a height of 10 to 15 metres along a 2117 m circuit ringed with 71 towers. The walk along the top is continuous round the circuit, and features ten gates. These 3rd century walls are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The bridge over the Minho is essentially of Roman date, though many repairs over the centuries have effaced its Roman character.
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Ferrol is a city in the province of A Coruña in Galicia, located on the Atlantic coast. The city has been a major naval shipbuilding centre from the 18th century, being the capital of the Spanish Navy's Maritime Department of the North since the time of the early Bourbons. Today, the city is also known as the home of the shipbuilding yards of Navantia.
As in most of Galicia, Ferrol climate is a humid oceanic climate, characterized by year long mild temperatures, rainy winters, and relatively dry summers.
Primary Industries include horse breeding, fish farming and fishing (specializing in the Atlantic shoals), mining (ENDESA), non timber forest products, quarries and timber.
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Secondary Industries include shipbuilding, ship engines, wind turbines, electrical equipment, ironworks, Textiles, food (canned fish) and wood made products.
Tertiary activities include mercantile, fishing and military ports, restaurants, media, hotels and tourism.
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It is the second largest city in Galicia. Coruña is a busy port located on a promontory in the entrance of an estuary in a large gulf (the Portus Magnus Artabrorum of the classical geographers) on the Atlantic Ocean. It provides a distribution point for agricultural goods from the region. Although much of the heavy industry is based on the shipyards and metalworks of the neighbouring city of Ferrol, there is an oil refinery in A Coruña itself.
The municipality of A Coruña has 246,047 inhabitants, and has one of the highest population densities of Spain and Europe, with around 6,700 inhabitants per square kilometer.
In 2010 there were 12,344 foreigners living in the city, representing a 5% of the total population. The main nationalities are Brazilians (10%), Colombians (8%) and Peruvians (7%).
The climate of A Coruña is temperate maritime and heavily moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. In short, the climate more closely resembles the oceanic climate that is common in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Autumn and winter are often unsettled
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The city is the site of the Roman Tower of Hercules, which is a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation for nearly 2,000 years. It has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It's surrounded by a big park, which has a public golf course, bike lanes, a former muslim cementery, a sculpture park and beautiful views over the Atlantic.
Coruña is nowadays the richest region of Galicia and its economic engine. There have been various changes in the city's structure over the last few decades—it now shares some administrative functions with the nearby city of Ferrol. Companies have grown, especially in sectors such as finance, communication, planning, sales, manufacturing and technical services, making A Coruña the wealthiest metropolitan area of Galicia. The port itself unloads large amounts of fresh fish, and with the increase in other port activities like crude oil and solid bulk, which make up 75% of Galician port traffic.
In 1975, the clothing company Zara, founded by Amancio Ortega Gaona, opened its first store in the city and has since become a national and international clothing chain.
Inditex, the main textile manufacturer of the world, has its headquarters in the nearby town of Arteixo. A Coruña concentrates the 30% of the GDP of Galicia and in the period between 1999 and 2001 it grew 35%, surpassing Vigo which was traditionally economically stronger. A Coruña is also an important retail center. El Corte Inglés, the main department store chain in Spain, has two centers in the city, one of them in the new commercial area Marineda City, opened in April 2011, the biggest shopping center in Spain, which also includes, among others, IKEA and Decathlon stores, cinemas, an ice rink, a bowling court and a kart circuit. Other hypermarket chains present in the city are Carrefour (two centers), Auchan (known in Spain as Alcampo) and Eroski.
Over the last few years, emphasis has been placed upon better access and infrastructure, especially cultural, sporting, leisure and scientific areas. Following a spectacular oil spill when the Aegean Sea wrecked and exploded, considerable resources have been used in the recovery of the shoreline and strengthening the tourist sector. All this has reaffirmed the
23 city's existing character as a centre for administration, sales, port activities, culture and tourism. The city also has a regional airport, used by 1,101,208 passengers in 2010.
Tourism in A Coruña has increased in recent years to the point of receiving 62 cruise ships a year.
The two main beaches of A Coruña (Orzán and Riazor) are located in the heart of the city and are bordered by the promenade above. This location makes them a great attraction for tourists, being also a meeting point for surfers much of the year. Moreover, the city has other beaches like As Lapas, San Amaro, Oza and Matadero. These four beaches, along with Riazor and Orzán, were recognized with blue flag certification in 2011.
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