BeautifulGalicia

Old Portomarín Emerges: Ruins Beneath a Drained Reservoir

Michel — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 21:08:25 +0000

Most pilgrims who walk into Portomarín on the Camino Francés never realise that the village they are entering is not the original one. The old Portomarín lies beneath the Miño, and after this hot summer, part of it has come back into view. When we arrived, there was hardly any water left. Where the reservoir normally lies, we found ruins: low stone walls that once marked the edges of…

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Moving Abroad: Why Preparation Matters More Than People Think

Michel — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 07:07:48 +0000

Almost every message we get from readers who are further along in their move than they were a year ago says some version of the same thing: it went differently than we thought it would. A house fell through, an appointment took three times as long as expected, a piece of paperwork required a document nobody had mentioned. This is normal. What we have noticed, both in our own move and in the…

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Buying Property in Galicia in 2026: 5 Things to Know First

Michel — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 06:46:20 +0000

Every week we get emails from readers who are dreaming about the same thing we once were: a stone house somewhere in the Galician countryside, a bit of land, maybe a river view. It is a beautiful dream, and Galicia still makes it more affordable than most other parts of Spain. But the market here does not work quite like it does elsewhere, and a few things surprised us when we went through the…

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The Dark History of Galicia’s Meigas: The Witch Trials

Michel — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:07:21 +0000

The meiga is now a proud symbol of Galician culture, but behind the modern festivals and folklore lies a real history of accusation, trial, and punishment. The story is stranger, and in some ways gentler, than the popular image of a “witch hunt” suggests. The word meiga, as we use it today to mean a Galician witch, is younger than most people assume. It only starts appearing in documents…

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Renting a Car in Galicia: Everything You Need to Know

Michel — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:01:06 +0000

A rental car can make exploring Galicia much easier especially if you want to go beyond the main cities and discover the coast, countryside and quieter corners of the region. Galicia is a wonderful place to explore by car. You can leave Santiago de Compostela in the morning, stop for lunch in a small coastal village, drive through green hills in the afternoon and finish the day beside…

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Explore Galicia: Discover the Places, People and Stories That Make Galicia Special

Michel — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:16:58 +0000

Whether you’re planning a visit, thinking about moving here, already call Galicia home, or simply curious about this remarkable corner of Spain, start exploring below. Galicia rewards curiosity. From its Atlantic coast and historic cities to quiet villages, wild landscapes and traditions that have survived for generations, there is always another story, another place and another reason to…

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Fears Before Moving Abroad: What Worries People Most

Michel — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:34:35 +0000

Almost everyone who considers moving abroad feels doubt at some point. The doubts are rarely the same, though. One person lies awake over paperwork, another over missing their family, a third over whether they will ever feel at home. This article is not based on one personal story. It draws on the questions readers send us and on experiences that come up again and again among people who emigrate.

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Expat Health Insurance in Spain

Michel — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:35:35 +0000

Moving to Spain comes with a long list of paperwork, and health insurance is one of the pieces you cannot skip. Whether you’re applying for a non-lucrative visa, a digital nomad visa, or picking up your NIE as part of your residency process, Spanish authorities want proof that you’re covered. Not travel insurance, not a policy from back home, but a private Spanish policy that meets specific legal…

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Santiago de Compostela Airport (Lavacolla): Complete Guide

Michel — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:49:29 +0000

Santiago de Compostela Airport — officially Santiago-Rosalía de Castro (IATA code SCQ), and still widely known by its old name, Lavacolla — is Galicia’s main airport and the busiest of the three. It’s located about 12-14 km from the historic centre, in the village of Lavacolla, traditionally the pilgrims’ last stop to wash before entering the city. Iberia and Vueling cover most…

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The Knights Templar in Galicia: Myth, History, and Hidden Ruins

Michel — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:47:41 +0000

Most people know the Knights Templar from legend: secret treasures, hidden societies, a medieval order shrouded in mystery. What surprises many visitors is that Galicia has a real, documented Templar history, not just folklore. Stone churches, fortified crossings, and even a village still called O Temple stand as physical evidence that the Order was once a genuine power in this corner of Spain.

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