Sailing to Galicia

A map of the best ports and anchorages

A brief maritime history of Galicia

Ancient Celtic tribes first settled here. The rugged cliffs and deep fjord (called rías) provided natural harbors, while the rich waters offered abundant fish, drawing people to these shores. Even before the Romans arrived, Galicia was known for its skilled seafarers, who navigated the Atlantic in small wooden boats, much like the Dornas, traditional vessels that are still used by local fishermen today.

The Romans established the port of Brigantium in the 1st century BC, today A Coruña, as a key outpost. Galicia’s ports became vital in the empire, exporting precious metals like gold, silver, and tin, which were mined from the region’s rich earth and shipped across the empire. The Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse that still stands tall over A Coruña’s bay, is one of the oldest functioning lighthouses in the world, guiding ships through these hazardous waters for nearly two thousand years. The sea also brought waves of invaders to Galicia. The Vikings, drawn by the promise of wealth and Galicia’s strategic location at the edge of Europe, raided these coasts throughout the 9th and 10th centuries. These raids prompted the construction of coastal fortifications, some of which still stand today.

But the most significant moments in Galicia’s history came in the Middle Ages with the establishment of the Camino de Santiago. Santiago de Compostela, Galicia’s spiritual heart, became the endpoint for Christian pilgrims from all over Europe. Many of these pilgrims arrived by sea in A Coruña and Ferrol before continuing their journey inland.

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