Green Spain: The Northern Coast
Questions This Article Answers
What does Green Spain mean?
Which comunidades autónomas are part of la España verde?
Which languages are spoken in la España verde?
Popular destinations in Green Spain?
What are typical foods in la España verde?
Why Green Spain?
When people think about Spain, they may think of hot weather, dry conditions, and beaches. However, northern Spain has its own unique cultures and climate that are often a far cry from the toros(bulls), paella(paella) and sevillanas(flamenco dancing) people often associate with Spain.
Northern Spain: Geography
Northern Spain is often wet, chilly, and green—even more so after it rains! But, why? Northern Spain is separated from the Spanish meseta(Meseta, the central plateau in Spain) by the cordillera Cantábrica(Cantabrian Mountains), a mountain range that is around 300 miles long, and—at some points—around 60 miles wide. The majestic Picos de Europa, a short but mighty mountain range, are part of the cordillera Cantábrica.
Why all this talk about montañas(mountains)? You see, the mountains are what make green Spain green. The air coming off the mar Cantábrico(Cantabrian Sea, part of the Bay of Biscay) gets trapped by the mountains, and the rain falls on the windward side of the mountains. This means it rains much more in Green Spain than it does on the other side of the mountains!
Languages of Northern Spain
One of the interesting things about northern Spain is that each region has its own language (apart from Spanish). In some regions, like Galicia and País Vasco, the regional language is fairly widely spoken. In other regions, like Asturias and Cantabria, it’s less widespread. That being said, you will be fine in any of these regions if you just speak Spanish.
Gallego
Gallego(Galician or Galego), spoken in Galicia, is quite similar to Portuguese, which makes sense given that Galicia borders Portugal! Of the languages we mentioned, Gallego is probably the most widely spoken.
Asturiano
Asturiano(Asturian, Asturianu, or Bable), spoken in Asturias, is less-widely spoken than Galician, although there is a fairly strong movement fighting for the language to be used more.
Euskera
Euskera(Basque) is said to be one of the oldest—if not the oldest—in Europe, and its origins are unknown. Notable Basque loanwords in Spanish include izquierda(left, from the Basque ezkerra), chamarra(jacket, from the Basque zamarra) and sirimiri(drizzle, from the Basque zirimiri). If you’re keen to hear more of what the language sounds like, search for the song Txoria, Txori. It’s a haunting song about a bird that flew away. Even if you don’t speak Basque, it’s bound to move you!
Cántabro
Cántabro(Cantabrian or Cántabru), spoken in Cantabria, is currently the least spoken of the four languages we have mentioned.
Want to learn more loanwords? Check out this article!
Places to Go in Green Spain
Now that we’ve talked about the weather and languages, let’s talk about the must-see spots to visit in Green Spain!
Places to Visit in Galicia
Let’s start in the west. Galicia borders Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. The tourist destination par excellence is, without any doubt, Santiago. Santiago de Compostelais the terminus of the Camino de Santiagoor Way of Saint James. You can visit the gorgeous cathedral and see the impressive botafumeiro(censer) in action.
The Rías Baixasregion is your destination if you’re looking for beaches! The weather tends to be a bit warmer than on the northern coast, and the waters reportedly tend to be calmer.
Places to Visit in Asturias
Asturias has both gorgeous beaches and spectacular mountains. If you’re looking for cities, be sure to check out Gijónand Oviedo. In Oviedo you can visit the Santa María del Naranco, a tiny palace that was built in 842 and converted into a church centuries later.
As for beaches, Asturias does not disappoint. Be sure to check out the seaside villages of Cudilleroand Llanes.
If mountains are more your thing, be sure to head to the Picos de Europa in Asturias. If you’re up for a real adventure, take the funicular(funicular, which is a cable railway that goes up a mountain) into Buelnes. You can only reach this mountain village by funicular or by hiking!
Places to Visit in Cantabria
Cantabria is a hot summer destination for folks from the Basque Country and, to somewhat of a lesser extent, folks from the center of Spain. They come to the region to spend time in its beach towns, such as Comillas—home of the impressive Palacio de Sobrellano(Sobrellano Palace)—Laredoand Castro Urdiales. If you’re looking for history, check out Santillana del Maror the Cueva de Altamira(Altamira Caves). It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
If you’re a fan of cities, head to Santander. Locals claim it’s set on the most beautiful bay in the world.
Places to Visit in País Vasco
There’s loads to see in the Basque Country. Be sure to check out Bilbaoand San Sebastián. They’re both worth visiting, and we hope you’re hungry when you go! The cuisine in both locations is out of this world. Be sure to check out the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? If so, the iglesia de San Juan de Gaztelugatxeis sure to look familiar. It’s a little church on top of an island that you have to climb 241 steps to get to! Be forewarned: you may need to make reservations to visit, as it's popularity exploded after it appeared in Game of Thrones!
Learn more about Basque and the Basque Country in this article!
What to Eat in Northern Spain
The food in northern Spain is legendary. Here’s one dish from each region to try!
| Spanish | English | Region |
|---|---|---|
| pulpo | octopus | Galicia |
| fabada | pork and bean stew | Asturias |
| rabas | calamari | Cantabria |
| bacalao pil pil | cod in an emulsified garlic and olive oil sauce | País Vasco |
Useful Vocabulary: Green Spain
Here are some terms that are bound to come in handy in the north!
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| chubasquero | raincoat |
| cueva | cave |
| funicular | funicular |
| montaña | mountain |
| paraguas | umbrella |
| playa | beach |
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