Galicia (Spain) facts for kids
Galicia or Galiza is a nationality in Spain that became a Spanish autonomous community in 1978. It is in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. It shares borders with Portugal to the South and the communities of Castile and León and Asturias to the east.
Contents
History
Galicia is a green country with Celtic features. Since re-gaining autonomy in 1978, Galicia has been governed by the Xunta de Galicia (government of Galicia). Galicia was strictly governed from 1990 until 2005, during the Manuel Fraga years. The Xunta de Galicia was then under a socialist president Emilio Perez Touriño, who had made Galicia more liberal than ever before, until 2009. From March 2009 Partido Popular (right-wing party) won power and the new president is Alberto Núñez Feijoo, who won a second term as President in 2012.
Language
Galicia has one main language:Galician "galego". It has many similarities with Portuguese. Galego and Portuguese have the same origin. Spanish is also spoken in Galicia, but mainly as a second language.
Cuisine
Galicia is very famous for its fishing industry and seafood remains an important part of its cuisine. A very popular dish in Galicia is polbo á feira, ("polbo" means octopus). There are many restaurants that serve seafood in Galicia.
Images for kids
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Bronze Age gold helmet from Leiro, Rianxo
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Palloza houses in eastern Galicia, an evolved form of the Iron Age local roundhouses
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Castro de Baroña, an Iron Age fortified settlement
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Miro, king of Galicia, and Martin of Braga, from an 1145 manuscript of Martin's Formula Vitae Honestae, now in the Austrian National Library. The original work was dedicated to King Miro with the header "To King Miro, the most glorious and calm, the pious, famous for his Catholic faith"
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Partial view of the Romanesque interior of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
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An illustration of the Cantigas de Santa Maria (13th century)
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Gothic painting at Vilar de Donas' church, Palas de Rei
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Maria Pita, heroine of the defense of A Coruña during the English siege of 1589
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Battle of Vigo Bay, 23 October 1702
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Battle of Corunna on 16 January 1809
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Re-enactment of the Battle of Corunna
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Cliffs of Vixía Herbeira near Cape Ortegal, the highest (613 m) in continental Europe
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Meadows in Pambre, Palas de Rei
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'Tres Bispos' peak, Cervantes, Lugo
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Riparian forest on the banks of the Eume
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The River Sil and its canyon
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Electric cars are made in the Citroën French factory in Vigo.
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An Aer Lingus plane in the Santiago de Compostela Airport.
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A cruise ship in the seaport of A Coruña.
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Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Santiago of Compostela, and third most important centre of pilgrimage in Christianity.
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The castle of Pambre, Palas de Rei, which resisted the Irmandiños troops
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Entroido: Peliqueiros in Laza, allegedly dressed as 16th-century Castilian tax collectors
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Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Galicia (L'armorial Le Blancq, c. 1560 AD).
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Fisterra or Cape Finisterre, meaning 'Land's End', one of the westernmost points in continental Europe
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Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse and a World Heritage monument, A Coruña
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Queimada, a traditional drink obtained after partially burning local augardente (grappa)
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Millenarian rock carvings, Laxe dos carballos at Campo Lameiro, in this detail depicts a deer hit by several spears
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Leña square, Pontevedra
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Castle and Monastery of San Vicente do Pino, Monforte de Lemos
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Roman Walls of Lugo, a World Heritage monument
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The rocky coast of Cabo Silleiro, Baiona
See also
In Spanish: Galicia para niños