The pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela is undoubtedly the most famous tourist destination in Galicia; but venture a little further inland and you'll discover historic towns, picturesque villages, and a unique landscape found nowhere else in Spain.
The choice of places to visit is endless but here are five suggestions to whet your appetite.
Monforte de Lemos
Situated approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Santiago de Compostela is Monforte de Lemos. Despite its size, Monforte is a city: an honour bestowed on the town in 1885 by King Alfonso XII. Two years earlier, Monforte had become a major rail junction on the Madrid to A Coruña railway. The Galicia Railway museum, located close to the station, reflects the economic importance of this historic rail link.
The city skyline is dominated by the Torre da Homenaxe or Homage Tower, the Palace of the Counts of Lemos, and the 17th century monastery of San Vincente do Pino: all of which are perched on a hilltop in the centre of town. In 2004, after major restoration work, the palace and monastery opened their doors to the public as the all new Parador of Monforte. A short walk down from the Parador is the restaurant O Grelo: an ideal location for a spot of lunch or cooling refreshments before continuing on.
