Galicia (Spain)

Galicia is an autonomous community located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

It is part of Atlantic Europe and sits along the coast. The Atlantic Ocean borders the region to the west. To the north, the Cantabrian Sea meets the land. Portugal serves as the southern neighbor. To the east, Galicia shares borders with Asturias and Castile and León.

The territory is organized into four distinct provinces: A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra. It functions as a historic nationality under Spanish law. This status allows the region to access self-government through its own legal framework.

The physical landscape of Galicia is varied and rugged. The interior is characterized by a hilly landscape with many mountains. These mountain ranges rise significantly in the south and the east.

Along the coast, the geography consists of an alternating series of beaches and rias. A ria is a type of coastal inlet. The climate is generally temperate and rainy. However, the summers are markedly drier than the rest of the year. This specific weather pattern is often classified as warm-summer Mediterranean. These conditions shaped how people lived for many centuries.

Historically, the economy of Galicia relied on the natural environment. For most of its history, animal husbandry and farming were the primary sources of wealth. The geography also supported a fishing economy due to the long coastline.

This combination of farming and fishing allowed for a relatively high density of population. Until the mid-20th century, the region remained largely agricultural. Since then, Galicia has begun to industrialize. In 2018, the nominal gross domestic product was €62.900 billion. The nominal GDP per capita was recorded at €23,300.

Human history in Galicia stretches back to the Middle Paleolithic period. The earliest evidence of humans was found in the Eirós Cave.

Later, the Gallaeci, a Celtic people, lived north of the Douro River. They were part of the Castro culture, which flourished during the Iron Age. These people lived in castros, which were fortified settlements.

These forts were often built on hills or seashore cliffs. The Romans incorporated Galicia into their empire in 19 BC. In the 3rd century AD, it became a formal Roman province. Following the Roman era, the Germanic Suebi established a kingdom in 410. This kingdom was later joined by the Visigoths in 585.

Political changes continued through the Middle Ages and into the modern era. In 711, the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate invaded the Iberian Peninsula. However, Galicia was incorporated into the Christian kingdom of Asturias by 740. During the Middle Ages, the kingdom was often linked to Leon and Castile. It maintained its own unique culture and legal practices. From the 16th century, an assembly of representatives known as the Cortes or Junta held voice for the kingdom. This system was discontinued in 1833 when the land was divided into four provinces. After the long dictatorship of Franco, democracy was restored. This led to the Statute of Autonomy of 1981. This law, approved by referendum, provides the current self-government.

Galicia is unique because it lacks a single metropolis that dominates the territory. Instead, the urban network is made up of seven main cities. The four provincial capitals are A Coruña, Pontevedra, Ourense, and Lugo. The political capital is Santiago de Compostela. The other two major cities are the industrial city of Ferrol and the large municipality of Vigo.

The population is concentrated in two main areas. One area runs from Ferrol to A Coruña on the northern coast. The other is the Rías Baixas region in the southwest. In 2024, the total population reached 2,705,833 people. Two languages are official in the region: Galician and Spanish. While many are bilingual, 51% of the population uses Galician most often.

The culture of Galicia is deeply tied to its ancient past and mythology. The name Galicia may come from the ancient Celtic tribe, the Gallaeci. Some scholars suggest the name refers to "the hill people" or "the forest people." Others believe it relates to the word for stone, describing the people who built megaliths.

This connection to stone is seen in the thousands of megalithic tumuli found throughout the country. Because of its rich history of myths, the land is sometimes called "Terra Meiga," or the land of the witches. This cultural identity remains a strong part of the region today.