Galicia

Book excerpt: "Galicia is the least known and the least written about of all the little kingdoms that go to the making of Spain. Her boundaries have been greatly reduced since the days when the Romans divided the Peninsula into five provinces and called one of them Galicia".The irruption of the Saracens in 713 again changed the aspect of the Peninsula, and the limits of Galicia were contracted; but Spanish geographers to this day call her a reino, or kingdom, and divide her into four little provinces 'Coru'a, Pontevedra, Orense, and Lugo." The history of this little known Spanish kingdom examines geography, early history, architecture, emigration, farming, monasteries and other topics. Chapters include: Ancient Galicia; The Geography of Galicia; The First Golden Age; The Salve Regina; The Language of Galicia; Pilgrims to Santiago; The Architecture of Galicia; The Cathedral of Santiago; The Portico de Gloria; Sculptured Capitals; The Royal Hospital; The Colegiata de Sar; La Coru'a; Emigration; Rosalia Castro; Santiago de Compostela; Galicia's Livestock; Padron; La Bellisima Noya; Pontevedra; Vigo and Tuy; Orense; Monforte and Lugo; Betanzos and Ferrol; The Great Monasteries of Galicia; Trees, Fruits, and Flowers; and Dives Callaecia. A map of Galicia, 105 illustrations (mostly photographs), a bibliography, and an index to full names, places and subjects add to the value of this work.