Top Galicia hotels
Redondela is a pleasant provincial town with about 30.000 inhabitants. The main landmarks of the town are the interesting railway bridges from the late 19th century. Of course you'll find some churches and other historical buildings here aswell. One being the Casa da Torre where pilgrims on the way to Santiago find shelter.
Pontevedra is a provincial capital with about 77.000 inhabitants. It's situated at the mouth of the Lérez river in one of those rias which are a main geographical feature in Galicia.The old town is very beautiful, the main sight being a church (sanctuary Virxe Peregrina) with a groundplan of a scallop shell from the 18th century. Unfortunately it was in scaffolding when I passed through Pontevedra. But of course there are many more churches and monasteries to visit.The albergue for pilgrims is new and very well equipped and located 1,5 km out of town.
Santiago de Compostela is an amazing town, a stony miracle which has been shaped around the Apostle St James's (Santiago) sepulchre along the centuries, and which has resulted in one of the most splendid and harmonic architectural ensembles in the world .It is considered one of the tree spiritual capitals of Christendom together with Rome and Jerusalem. Pilgrims come from every where.The most important building in the town is the Cathedral of Santiago, conceived as a small city of stone centred on holy relics and endowed with its own life.
If you've hiked the Ribiera Sacra/Ribas de Sil, you'll really enjoy this new science fiction adventure novel that has Galicia as an unexpected back-drop. Chock full of references to Galician folklore -- The Spanish Gatekeeper by Bernard Dukas -- available from Barnes & Noble as a NOOKbook or Kaladar Books (San Francisco).
The Episcopal See of San Martiño de Mondoñedo was moved from Foz to Vilamaior do Val de Brea, or Vallibria, the previous name of Mondoñedo, by the queen Urraca in 1112. Since then, Mondoñedo has been Episcopal See except for the period 1182-1230, when Ribadeo was the See.The main sight is the cathedral, in the Plaza de España, but there are other buildings, especially churches and monasteries, that bear witness of the importance of Mondoñedo. The town was declared a national cultural-historical site in 1985. The Cathedral was built in Romanesque style. The construction begun around 1230. Different styles are present: Romanesque and Gothic in the nave and the aisles, and Baroque in the its 18th century towers. The polychrome statue in the high altar, called Nuestra Señora la Inglesa (the English Madonna) was rescued from the St. Paul Cathedral in London during the Protestant Reformation...
Lugo is one of the cities of Galicia I most like. The city center is surrounded by the Roman Walls, built in the 3rd century. One can go up to the wall and walk all along the perimeter, about 2 km. There are ten gates and about seventy turrets.The Cathedral began to be built in 1129 in Romanesque style but also Gothic and Neoclassic styles are present. There are magnificent altarpieces. The Romanesque door facing north is wonderful and the Pantocrator is a masterpiece. The cloister was built in the 18th century and the west façade, facing the wall, at the end of that century.There are nice squares and churches within the wall: Praza de Santa Maria, a square between the cathedral and the Episcopal palace. The Praza Maior (Main Square) with the Baroque Town Hall.Praza do Campo, a small square near the cathedral. The square and the streets starting there are very busy at dinner time as...
Ferrol has been an important shipbuilding city. Now the activity has decayed but along the ria one can still see the dockyards with the big cranes and warehouses. It has been also the most important place for the Spanish Navy in the north. It was also the biggest arsenal in Europe.What to see in Ferrol?There are a series of Modernist houses along the city, especially along A Magdalena quarter.Naval MuseumNatural History MuseumSan Francisco ChurchSan Felipe castleThis is one of the most important fortress along the ria del Ferrol. It was built under the rule of the king Felipe II, in the 16th century. In that period, European powers were fighting for the maritime hegemony. Ferrol was in a strategic situation for provisioning the Spanish Navy and this made necessary the construction of a strong defense against French and English Navies.On the opposite shore of the ria, in front of San...
Viveiro is a coastal city, the third in population in the province of Lugo. Viveiro is a touristic center due to its beaches and its rich heritage. The economic development between the 12th and 13th centuries configured the town as we see it today. In the 19th century it was named city.Parts of the walls erected in the Middle Ages still surround the center. Inside the walls we can find: Convento de las Concepcionistas, a Monastery built in the 17th century in Baroque style. In front of the entrance is a replica of the Cave of Lourdes, where people present wax ex-voti.Near is the church of Santa Maria del Campo, Romanesque church built in the 12th century.Outside the walls, San Francisco church was built in the 14th century. It belonged to the convent founded by the Franciscan order in the 13th century. Three of the original gates of the wall remain: Puerta de O Valado, Puerta de A Vila...
Betanzos was a very important city in the 15th century. Under the rule of the Catholic Monarchs it was named capital of the province and a duty-free fair used to take place once a year. Two names are linked to Betanzos: Andrade and García Naveira.Andrade is the name of an aristocratic family who was very powerful in Galicia in the late Middle Ages. They held the titles of Condes de Andrade y Vilalba, amongst others. They owned numerous castles, palaces, manor houses and extensive lands. Regions of Ferrolterra (around Ferrol, in La Coruña province) and Terra Chá (Lugo province) were part of the domains of Fernán Pérez de Andrade in the 14th century.Garcia Naveira brothers (Juan and Jesus) emigrated to Argentina in 1870. When they returned, after having made money, they became benefactors of their birth town. They build the Jardin del Pasatiempo, a park where they tried to mould all the...
When we visited La Coruña, there was a book fair and a handcraft fair on the Jardin de Mendez Nuñez. We continued walking along the seafront (Avenida de la Marina and Paseo Marítimo). The houses with their glass covered galleries with white wood frames make the most typical image of La Coruña. There are some Modernist buildings in La Coruña that you will see walking along the streets. The city is on a peninsula with a capricious shape, so that one looses the orientation easily.In the old city, we saw the house of the Galician writer Emilia Pardo Bazán and the Romanesque church of Santiago, the first church built in the city. Then we went to Maria Pita square, where we could enter in the City Hall, a superb building. Very near the square is the church of San Jorge. As it was dinner time, we went to Franja, the most interesting street at this hour, and looked for a place to try the first...
Parador Los Reyes Catolicos Santiago de Compostela
9 Reviews and 187 Opinions This luxury Hotel was a hospital in olden days (see the Things to Do section), and it belongs to the...
Melia Maria Pita Coruña
1 Review and 116 Opinions this is possibly the best hotel in town. But the location was not suitable for the conference my...
Hotel Puerta Gamboa Vigo
58 Opinions
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Q: Hi, I´m planning to visit Galicia and Ireland, maybe also north Portugal. Any advise will be greatly appreciate (what to see,...
A: Last time I was in Galicia last May we returned to Santa Marta de Ortigueira (but mostly Ortigueira in the map) - but stayed a few km. away in Espasante. We stayed at...
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