Welcome to the "O Gaiteiro" web site, here you can find all kinds of information on Galicia from local Galician restaurants and hotels to cheap flights and tourism, from it's geography and history through to it's people and gastronomy.

Here you can find both local, literally on your doorstep, and worldwide Galician restaurants, and, hotels. Galician restaurants are famously known the world over, and, can be found in just about almost every capital city the world over. Just take London, for example, you are guaranteed to find Galician restaurants in North, South, East and West London, and, even if you think you have never sampled Galician food, then think again, as you may very well have done so in numerous Spanish restaurants in the Capital. Does 'Pulpo a la Gallega' (Octopus Galician Style), 'Rape a la Gallega' (Sliced Monkfish with Shellfish & Fish Stock), or 'Empanada Gallega' (Galician Pie) sound familiar, well they should, as the ending informs the client that the meal has been prepared and cooked according to, or rather in, Galician style.

Wonderful places, including UNESCO European and World heritage sites, to visit in Galicia such as Santiago de Compostela, renowned the world over for it's fabulous Cathedral; A Coruña, with it's historical past and oldest working Roman light house in the world; Vigo, with it's thriving port and aquarium, and, Lugo, with Roman city, walls and defences. Spectacular scenery, landscapes, panoramic views, and, glorious European blue flag beaches adorn the north western province of Galicia, in Spain.

You can explore the geographical and historical facts that make Galicia such a unique, fascinating and interesting place to visit, it's closeness both in language and cultural terms to most things Latin, Spanish, Portuguese and, indeed English, Scottish and Irish. Galicia has a rich Celtic past, a fact that tends to surprise a great number of visitors, used to a hitherto established familiar image of Spain with flamenco, desert-like browns, and other such images and symbols mainly from the south of the country, somewhat different to the climate and culture of many of the northern regions with bagpipes, rain-washed greens, traditional agriculture and fishing way of life, conservative and deeply Catholic traditions.

Galicia has happily lived side by side with Spanish, Portuguese and English influences, after all it is an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Spain, it shares it's border with Portugal, part of which had earlier compromised a Roman province of Gallaecia, and shared a common evolving language known as 'galego-portugues', and, it has a great seafaring tradition with Great Britain and fought alongside the Duke of Wellington, General Sir John Moore (buried in A Coruña), the Royal Green Jackets, and the British, in the Peninsular war against Napoleon's Imperial forces, or troops.

This can be easily witnessed by looking at sport where undoubtedly it's most famous football team, Real Club Deportivo La Coruña, initially established a healthy and much needed link between European and South American football, this club not only hires Argentinian, Uruguyan and other footballers from Spanish speaking countries in South America but it has also proved the link to the Portuguese portion of South America, being world famous for nurturing and fostering Brazilian talent, allowing these Brazilian players to break into the Spanish domestic club scene, 'La Liga', and competitions, 'Champions League'. Amongst the notable examples of famous Brazilian players that have played for Real Club Deportivo La Coruña are Bebeto, Mauro Silva, and Rivaldo, before his much publicised move to Barcelona.

Galician people are warm, friendly, welcoming, hospitable, kind, and, very generous. Galician 'marisco', or seafood, and other dishes are famous the world over for their extremely high quality, and standards.