Galicians

Galicians are the inhabitants of Galicia, an autonomous community in northwestern Spain that comprises the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense, and Pontevedra. The region is characterized by a rugged Atlantic coastline, estuaries, and rolling interior landscapes. The Galician language, a Romance tongue closely related to Portuguese, is co-official with Spanish in Galicia and is widely used in education, media, and daily life.

Galician culture includes distinctive music and dances such as the muiñeira, a strong maritime tradition, and a cuisine famous for seafood, including pulpo a la gallega (octopus), empanadas, and fresh shellfish. The Camino de Santiago routes cross Galicia, with the final stage often ending at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, a focal point of religious and cultural tourism. Galician culture also reflects Celtic influences and a tradition of folklore, literature, and crafts.

Historically, Galicia has roots in pre-Roman and Celtic settlements, later incorporated into the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages it formed the Kingdom of Galicia, which was united with the Crown of Castile in the 15th century. In the modern era, Galicia became an autonomous community of Spain in 1981, with its own government and statutes protecting the language and cultural identity. The region has a diversified economy based on agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and services, with major urban centers in A Coruña and Vigo and significant rural economies in the interior.

Today, Galicians form a large diaspora across Spain and Portugal and in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, and Brazil, maintaining linguistic and cultural ties with their homeland. The term Galician can also refer to the Galician language itself and to things associated with Galicia.