Galicia, on the Western extremity of the North coast of Spain has a remoter, wilder feel to it. Steeped in Celtic tradition, the physical coastline and countryside here is also reminiscent of the West of Ireland.

Esteiro beach in Lugo province on a November morning

Fishing is historically, and to this day, the major industry of Galicia. Tourism is ever-developing, of course, but otherwise there are not vast amounts of industry and inland the region is sparsely populated. One by-product of this is the availablility of cheap property in beautiful locations.

The coastline is divided into two areas, Rias Altas and Rias Baixas - Ria meaning estuary and in this case referring to the many estuaries here that were drowned by rising sea levels after the Ice Age and which have resulted in fjord-like coastal landscape. Altas means high and baixas low; Rias Altas spans the area from the top of Galicia down to Vigo and Rias Baixas the area beneath this.

TOP PROPERTY