Galicia

Galicia is an autonomous community and historic region in northwestern Spain.

Galicia is an autonomous community and historic region in northwestern Spain. It consists of the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra, with Santiago de Compostela as its capital. The region is known for its Atlantic coastline, Galician language and culture, and historical links to the medieval Kingdom of Galicia.

Geography

Galicia occupies the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Its coastline includes inlets and rías, and the region covers about 29,574 square kilometres.

History

The region’s name is derived from the ancient Celtic Gallaeci. Galicia was conquered by Rome, later ruled by the Visigoths, and subsequently became part of medieval kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula before losing much of its autonomy after the union of Castile and Aragon.

Government and administration

Galicia is one of Spain’s autonomous communities, established in 1981, and has its own regional institutions. It is divided into four provinces—A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra—and governed under Spain’s constitutional framework.

Economy and culture

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing remain economically important, alongside food processing and other coastal industries. Galicia is also known for the Galician language, its cultural identity, and the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela, which is associated with the shrine of Saint James.