Reporting for this story was supported by Journalismfund Europe under the Earth Investigations Programme GALICIA, Spain — The first sleepy rays of morning light are starting to illuminate the beach of Cambados a small Atlantic-facing town in the Spanish region of Galicia that’s famous for its shellfish and Albariño wine It’s a rainy morning in March and the mariscadoras — women shellfish pickers — are wading straight into the ocean armed with buckets and rubber boots for another day of work the tradition that has been passed down through generations of women and us too,” says Patricia Piñeiro between wind gusts and rain as she searches for clams big enough to harvest showing the measuring device from the local fishing authorities set to 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) which means she must return most of the clams she finds to the ocean “At this pace, the almeja fina [Ruditapes decussatus] and almeja babosa [Venerupis corrugata] will disappear,” says Maria José Cacabelos Domínguez a retired mariscadora who now organizes tours for people wanting to see the shellfish pickers in action an association of women in the fishing sector The lack of shellfish is now pushing many to take precarious informal jobs cleaning hotels or working in bars Besides sustaining livelihoods, shellfish play a vital role in regulating marine ecosystems they clean the water they live in by removing nitrogen making them an environmentally sustainable source of nutrient-dense protein A 2023 study from the local University of Vigo shows that the four main species of clams and cockles harvested in Galicia has proved to be more resilient to rising temperatures is vulnerable to prolonged periods of low salinity caused by heavy rains many of Galicia’s shellfish associations temporarily ceased activities to help stocks recover That includes the mariscadoras from the nearby town of Vilanova de Arousa They now receive a little more than 1,000 euros ($1,073) a month in government support who previously headed the town’s fishing guild the requirements are strict — those working a second job are often denied compensation — and payments are often delayed Rodriguez and her fellow mariscadoras of Illa de Arousa were among the last to quit working and they are now in the process of applying for monthly government support they are struggling to pick even 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of almeja japónica You can’t even pay your social security fees at the end of the month,” Rodriguez says “[A] lot of people have already left to go work on land because this is unsustainable.” Mass mortality events such as the one in December are likely to become more common as global warming disrupts rainfall patterns The problem is when that rain accumulates over a few days,” says Elsa Vázquez a University of Vigo zoologist who studies how changes in salinity and temperature affect the main shellfish species harvested in Rías Baixas the four productive estuaries in southwestern Galicia Torrential rainfall increases the amount of freshwater flowing from the river mouths into the estuaries, where the shellfish banks are located. Prolonged periods of low salinity affect bivalves’ ability to breathe Shellfish can close their valves during periods of low salinity to protect themselves but this uses up precious energy and weakens them Between October and November 2023, Galicia’s weather agency recorded more than 30 consecutive days of rainfall yielding more than 1,000 liters of rain per square meter (264 gallons per 10.7 square feet) — 127% more than normal salinity below 15 parts per thousand for several days causes mortality and this winter there were many days when salinity was as low as five parts per thousand,” Vázquez says The emptying of reservoirs during low tide by electricity companies also alters the estuaries’ delicate balance According to the Platform for the Defense of the Ría de Arousa the release of water should be timed to coincide with high tide to avoid freshwater inundating the shellfish banks a clear sign of global warming with significant implications for biodiversity Intertidal shellfish species bury themselves in the sand to keep cool but with heat waves becoming more intense the heat penetrates deeper which affects their growth and reproductive capacity Numerous shellfish pickers told Mongabay they want the Galician government to fund an in-depth study on the impacts of climate change to help inform potential solutions. Scientific models suggest 2060 could be a global tipping point for shellfish in many regions of the world with fisheries in Spain at high risk due to low species diversity and vulnerability to increased temperatures The development of clam hatcheries could be a solution While some commercial hatcheries exist for almeja japónica growing baby clams to be planted out on sandbanks more research is needed to cultivate almeja fina and babosa profitably She describes this as “the future of shellfishing” for its potential to establish enough reproducing adult shellfish to get stocks back to normal Another solution being explored is the real-time monitoring of salinity temperature and other variables in the shellfish banks This could help researchers create predictive models so mariscadoras could prepare for periods of low salinity and high temperatures adding that it would require dedicated government funding and support the mariscadoras are left with the few kilos of almeja japónica they manage to find Vales Martínez has worked as a mariscadora for 24 years just like her mother and grandmother before her “What’s really needed is to invest in the sea even if it means closing it for a year while stocks recover,” she says ”We need to address the root causes of the problem Can Spain keep the rising sea from washing away a critical delta? Carss, D. N., Brito, A. C., Chainho, P., Ciutat, A., de Montaudouin, X., Fernández Otero, R. M., … Jones, L. (2020). Ecosystem services provided by a non-cultured shellfish species: The common cockle Cerastoderma edule. Marine Environmental Research, 158, 104931. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104931 Des, M., Fernández-Nóvoa, D., DeCastro, M., Gómez-Gesteira, J., Sousa, M., & Gómez-Gesteira, M. (2021). Modeling salinity drop in estuarine areas under extreme precipitation events within a context of climate change: Effect on bivalve mortality in Galician rias Baixas. Science of The Total Environment, 790, 148147. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148147 A global assessment of the vulnerability of shellfish aquaculture to climate change and ocean acidification FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Already a member? Not a member? Sign up Explore our Food Tours → Step into one of Spain’s best marisquerías (seafood restaurants) and on the menu you will find a dazzling display of the ocean’s bounty: big meaty clams of different shapes and colors All will have their own delectable consistency and texture and evocative flavors – from intense sweet or floral to metallic or rich with umami And most will likely have come from the waters off the craggy coast of northwest Spain’s untamed Galicia region harvested by generations of artisan mariscadoras (seafood catchers) Galician women whose lives – and livelihoods – are intimately connected to the sea Shellfish catching and gathering is a practice that spans back to Galicia’s Bronze and Iron Ages the remains of shells much larger than what are found today still surface developed the mollusk trade and their participation in it is well-documented into the Medieval era Among Galicia’s thousands of mariscadoras is María José Cacabelos María José is also president of the Association of Sea Women (Guimatur) of Cambados one of the most productive seafood areas in Galicia She is our guide to this fascinating and ancient activity one that provides some of the best shellfish in Spain and – in the eyes of many chefs – the world On the day we meet her it is raining hard in Galicia’s Ría de Arousa region and the wind is driving the rain so that is falling almost horizontally But María José and her fellow mariscadoras are happily joking and comfortably isolated from the elements inside a rainsuit along with long neoprene boots. “My mother used to tell me that when she was young she and my grandmother would go to the seashore to catch shellfish in winter – cold hail or snow – without any coat or shoes,” María José says the seawater was so icy that they had to make a hole in the sand pee there and put their hands and feet inside to calm the pain.” women did their best to catch as much as they could “They would carry their catch in a net on their heads or shoulders the price of their catch changing depending on their relationship with the client It was a survivalist economy – not even recognized as a job but rather seen as the duty of a housewife we watch groups of dozens of women – on certain days their number can reach as high as 200 – work together with expert skill They can recognize the type of shellfish based on the tiny holes they make in the ground There is an atmosphere of constant activity excavating large swathes of dry or water-laden sand with special rakes hoes or long-hooked sticks that have been selected from their colorful marisqueo (shellfish) carts used to keep buckets afloat when the mariscadoras go wading in deeper waters from the Viscay Bay in the north to the Atlantic border of Spain with Portugal in the south The activity here represents 51 percent of the Spanish fishing sector and almost 60 percent of the country’s aquaculture – which includes shellfish gathering Galicia is also the top producer of canned seafood The harvesting takes place rain or shine – but always during the first low tide of the day but how it’s administered has greatly changed Training courses in how to fish and forage are available for those who are interested and the seafood collectors are today well-organized into associations boots and professional raincoats so that they can wade through the area’s sand banks in all weather the shellfish catchers – mostly women and currently numbering around 3,700 in Galicia – started to organize themselves which resulted in them being officially recognized as “Mariscadoras” in 1999 they were simply considered agricultural workers they are managed by local fishermen guilds and are protected by laws governing work conditions and have access to social security but it also involves keeping an eye out for potential poachers and taking care of the sustainability and productivity of their fisheries Biologists working with the catchers’ guild now establish daily fishing and collecting quotas while a board establishes the top selling price for the daily catch The board also helps set prices and guarantee pay for the mariscadoras The shellfish goes from sands they were harvested in to a checkpoint for measuring and weighing and are then are sent to the fish market where the conservas factories and purification plants buy then store them for a few days in sterile water where any impure water is flushed out of the shellfish that vendors and restaurants must buy what they plan to sell the work of the mariscadoras and the rhythm of their day – dictated by the sea – remain the same María José and her compatriots are wrapping up the arrival of high tide signaling that it’s time to retreat from the sand and start getting the day’s catch to the afternoon shellfish auction As the sun peeks shyly from behind the clouds the mariscadoras change out of their protective gear and share a coffee leaving their colorful carts parked near the beach to await the next morning’s low tide Where to Find Galicia’s Seafood Bounty in Barcelona Netflix has unveiled today the final trailer of Gangs of Galicia, the new series produced by Vaca Films, inspired by a true story and starring Clara Lago and Tamar Novas, which will premiere on June 21. In Gangs of Galicia, a new lawyer arrives to settle in the small town of Cambados. Her name is Ana (Clara Lago) and her presence doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone, including Daniel (Tamar Novas), son of an important drug trafficker and visible head of the "Padín clan" while the father remains in prison. Ana, with extensive experience in one of the best law firms in Madrid, has decided to start from scratch in Cambados with the intention of settling accounts with her past. Clara Lago (The Neighbor, Spanish Affair) and Tamar Novas (The Mess you Left Behind, 1000 Miles from Christmas) head the cast of Clanes alongside Xosé Antonio Touriñán (Cuñados), Chechu Salgado (The Laws of the Border), Melania Cruz (Malencolía), Miguel de Lira (Cuñados), Francesc Garrido (I Know Who You Are) and Diego Anido (The Beasts) and María Pujalte (Los misterios de Laura). Jorge Guerricaechevarría is the creator and screenwriter of this new fiction, which will be directed by Roger Gual. Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb The three Fernandez Muniz brothers are pioneering a new form of shellfish farming on Galicia’s Ria de Arousa – ongrowing clams in lantern nets in order to improve the fortunes of the thousands of artisanal shellfish producers that operate in the Rias Biaxas region Antonio and Roberto are the second generation of their family to operate the famous bateas (floating rafts) that are the mainstay of Galicia’s extraordinary mussel farming sector The region is blessed by a combination of coastal upwelling and tide patterns that promote the production of huge phytoplankton blooms In the 1940s the first bateas were installed on the rias and they rapidly evolved to become home to a thriving shellfish sector Most famous for its Mediterranean mussels – there’s no coincidence that the second part of their Latin binomial is galloprovincialis – Galicia has over 3,300 of these rafts Between them they produce an astonishing 250,000 tonnes of mussels – accounting for almost half of the 600,000 tonnes of the bivalves consumed in Europe each year The region’s mussels rafts continue to provide livelihoods to some 8,000 farmers who operate in a manner largely unchanged since their inception The docks around Caraminal are home to hundreds of colourful boats but each armed with the crane that is the mussel farmer’s most vital piece of equipment in 2018 the brothers – who’ve been operating bateas since 2006 – decided to experiment with using some of their rafts for ongrowing clams “The idea was to grow a different species other than mussels We saw an existing demand for clam seed which needed to be bigger than those coming from a hatchery Applying our knowledge from mussel growing on mussel rafts we now use the procedure to grow clams on the bateas,” explains Jose Manuel when he meets The Fish Site on the dock at Caraminal Two years later and the brothers have five clam bateas – four in Cambados marine industrial park and one in Pobra do Caraminal – as well as the five mussel bateas that they inherited from their father and now trade under the name of Proameixa one of five companies that use lantern nets as clam nurseries As we reach the first batea – a grid of weathered eucalyptus beams which is anchored to the seabed 15 m below – Jose Manuel explains that they buy clams from the hatchery when they are one or two millimetres wide and then stock them in 8-tray lantern nets which protect the bite-sized bivalves with a double layer of mesh Up to four nets can be suspended off each of the 500 ropes that hang from each batea This equates to a lot a clams – currently 100 million a year The brothers keep them in the nets for a period of six months by which time those that have not been eaten by predators this is the optimal side size for ongrowing in the shellfish banks along the beaches of Galicia and they have no shortage of customers – the rias are full of shellfish farmers such as the 1,200 who make up the Parquistas de Carril then use tractors to seed the clams along their concession on the beaches They’re stocked at densities of around 800 per square metre Unlike sowing crops on land – the bivalves seed themselves once they’ve been scattered on the sand the clams take another six months or so to reach market size they should now be large enough to be safe from most predators Jose Manuel and Antonio add that nothing is safe from the voracious “Carneiro” the local name for a species of large-headed ray which can hoover up hundreds of clams in seconds and is the public enemy number one for the region’s clam farmers The good news – both for the rays and the farmers – is that the brothers have plans to double or even triple their production in the coming years They also plan to look into diversifying from the four clam species – japonica (Ruditapes philippinarum) fina (Ruditapes decussatus) and rubia (Venerupis rhomboides) that they currently produce We would also like to carry out the part growing or final growing of other species of shellfish – including scallops queen scallops and oysters – from the bateas “We would also like to carry out the part growing or final growing of other species of shellfish – including scallops queen scallops and oysters – from the bateas,” explains Jose Manuel Whether they will soon be joined on the bateas by their children remains to be seen given that Jose Manuel and Antonio both have two sons it seems possible that a third generation of the Fernandez Muniz clan will take to the water before too long All the more so if their fathers succeed in making a successful business from the evolution of the family firm has been writing about aquaculture since 2007 He has an MA in history from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in sustainable aquaculture from the University of St Andrews Netflix has set the global premiere date for Gangs of Galicia Created and written by Jorge Guerricaechevarría (30 Coins Gangs of Galicia (Clanes) stars Clara Lago (Limbo The Neighbor) and Tamar Novas (The Patients of Dr arrives and settles in the small town of Cambados Her presence does not go unnoticed by anyone the son of an important drug trafficker and acting head of the Padín clan while his father remains in prison With extensive experience in one of the best law firms in Madrid Ana has decided to start from scratch in Cambados — with the intention of settling accounts from her past Gangs of Galicia, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, June 21, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.) Costarring in the eight-episode series are Xosé Antonio Touriñán (The Mess You Leave Behind) the series is directed by Roger Gual (Cable Girls) affiliate links on this blog allow us to earn income from qualifying actions (at no extra cost to you) More titles on our DVDs page Italian crime drama Cold Summer has premiered in the US Sign up for free trials to streaming channels on Prime Video Channels Where to stream filmed adaptations of Shakespeare’s works in the US Students & young adults, sign up now for a 6-month trial of Prime for $0! Practical things to know about FAST free video streaming Check now to see if you’re eligible to access all of Prime for just $6.99/month. Sign up for Amazon Business to help reduce costs at your business. When the Fiesta del Albariño began in 1953 it was very low-key – there were so few Albariños produced at the time that the same producer won the Best of Show award three years in a row – but it’s mushroomed into something much more substantial A couple of weeks before this summer’s event, Galicia hosted another, much smaller festival in the village of As Neves, close to the Portuguese border. This was the 17th edition of the Feria del Tinto de Rías Baixas Red plantings account for just under 1% of the Denominación de Origen’s 4,480ha And yet its significance is definitely growing but Rías Baixas’ reds are some of the most exciting in Spain right now – a secret that’s been shared by Hispanophiles for the past decade and is finally reaching a larger audience Anyone who’s tasted the wines made by the likes of Albamar Fulcro and Zárate – all brilliant Albariño producers They are what Xurxo Alba of Albamar calls ‘reds with the souls of whites’: fresh Wines from varieties such as Caiño Tinto or Espadeiro may seem new but Galicia has a long history of growing red grapes One of the most famous poems in the Galician language Ramón Cabanillas’ Facing a Cup of Espadeiro Wine hymned the latter grape’s nobility in 1917 the overwhelming majority of what are now Rías Baixas’ vineyards were red (The DO wasn’t created until 1988.) Marcos Barros of Maior de Mendoza who’s just released a new blend called Variedades Tintas told me that one of his strongest childhood memories was ‘treading red grapes with my grandfather’ most of them were produced in small quantities and drunk by the people who made them with tooth enamel-threatening levels of acidity and rough Several things have helped to revolutionise the image of Rías Baixas’ reds Galicia remains a comparatively wet place to grow grapes but harvests today are generally two weeks earlier than they were at the turn of the century red grapes often struggled to ripen – and failed to do so entirely on occasion Those warmer growing seasons started in 2011 and despite the odd exception in later-picked vintages like 2021 the region’s reds are much more consistent than they were just over the border into Castilla y León Rías Baixas started to take its own reds seriously again in 2005 That was the year when Rodri Méndez of Forjas del Salnés (aided by Bierzo superstar Raúl Pérez) and Señorío de Rubiós made their first reds but people gradually began to realise how brilliant these reds could be – and how much diversity they offer 45 of the region’s 178 bodegas make reds as well as whites the main grape in Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra is the second most planted red in Rías Baixas But the list of eight permitted varieties also includes Brancellao some of which are grown across the Miño river in Portugal but Espadeiro is the most fragrant and refined Rodri Méndez’s lipsmacking 93-point red Forjas del Salnés Goliardo Tintos de Mar 2020 (£20 Decántalo) uses more or less equal amounts of Caiño Tinto Espadeiro and Loureira Tinta from the Salnés Valley with Sousón from the warmer Condado de Tea sub-region top notes of mint and wild herbs and thrilling minerality This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page View upcoming auction estimates and receive personalized email alerts for the artists you follow Max Estrella is delighted to present Manolo Paz’s work for the first time September 9th within the framework of Apertura – Madrid Gallery Weekend Stone Worlds aims to recover the pulse of one of the most recognized Spanish sculptors in recent decades Paz’s first exhibition at Fernando Vijande Gallery in 1984 marks the beginning of a career with great national and international projection His sculptures are exhibited in fairs and institutions in Madrid a unique natural setting to enjoy his large-scale sculptures he dedicates significant efforts to the promotion of other Galician artists creating a dialogue between theirs and his work Even if the use of Galician granite has a major presence and stands out over other materials his sculpture has evolved throughout the years going through different creative stages and making use of diverse media and his environment have been cross-cutting elements This connection with the land acquires an anthropological nuance that directs the reflection to a sense of belonging within the natural environment epic Atlantic scenery and supreme seafood combine to great effect on Spain’s most beautiful coastline Lush green valleys and rugged mountains baroque cathedrals and the smell of grilled seafood The architectural grace of Santiago de Compostela and the industrial churn of Vigo but amid the variety there are two constants: first it’s one of the best places to eat seafood in the world; and is the most beautiful on the Iberian peninsula about three-quarters the size of the Netherlands and so for this guide we’ll travel along its coast coastal towns and seafood restaurants from Ribadeo and Ortigueira in the north via A Coruña and the Costa da Morte and then south to the area known as the Rías Baixas Although Galicia is good to visit all year round the best time to go is from June to September even during the hottest months of the year tranquil fishing village of multicoloured houses is the perfect place to pass the afternoon staring out at the bay while sipping a nice glass of albariño From here it’s only a 15-minute drive north to Estaca de Bares the most northerly point of the Iberian peninsula Its 19th-century lighthouse is a quiet place from which to appreciate the uninterrupted views of the Bay of Biscay and the relentless ferocity of the Atlantic Santa Maria do Campo in ViveiroSet amid rolling hills covered with pines and eucalyptus trees Viveiro is on the estuary of the river Landro with walls that have withstood pirate attacks and plagues and springs that have attracted countless Santiago pilgrims its grand entrance gates and over its medieval bridges Covas beach is also only a short walk from the town centre Isla Coelleira and the cliffs near Praia de Xilloi this kilometre-long beach is one of the best in Lugo province showers and restaurants nearby and is a good place for families Some 7km long this beach is considered the longest in Galicia white sand and framed by the majestic Mount Pindo it is a spectacular place to pass a few hours but lacks amenities like showers and changing rooms one of the best seafood restaurants in the area The traditional Galician calvary at Cape Finisterre Photograph: AlamyFor centuries this rugged outcrop was considered the most westerly point in Europe (though Cabo da Roca in Portugal is actually 10 miles further west) and The last stop before the beginning of the Mare Tenebrosum the cape is submerged in legend – tumble down the rocks and it feels like standing on the precipice of the world Photograph: AlamyOysters have been famous in the city of Vigo for hundreds of years Farmed on the estuary in the nearby town of Arcade they come in fresh every morning to the oyster shops of Rúa das Ostras (the street of the oysters) the many street stalls sell the shellfish for between €12 and €18 a dozen this village is perhaps one of the most beautiful on the Galician coast After the rustic stone houses that line the seafront the biggest attraction here is the hórreos traditional granaries built in wood or stone and raised on pillars There are 30 of these unique constructions dotted along the promenade and throughout the town From the towers of Catoira to the beach of A Lanzada while passing through the pazos (traditional dwellings) of Cambados or perhaps taking in the numerous viewpoints to be found in Vilanova There must be something special about Arousa to bring in thousands of tourists every summer Little wonder then that the end of the high season is a great time to discover this magnificent destination which avoids the tourist hotspots and offers more affordable prices As it is the largest estuary in Galicia and one that divides the provinces of A Coru�a and Pontevedra we will focus our gaze on the Pontevedra shoreline From the river Ulla to the island of S�lvora here are ten places you absolutely must visit Every first Sunday in August they see hordes of invading Vikings it is an essential visit if you are in the area The Torres de Oeste are in fact the ruins of a castle that was instrumental in protecting Santiago from marauding invaders such as the landing commemorated at the Viking Festival of Catoira there were several occasions on which this fortress acted as the “key and seal of Galicia” as it was used to prevent the passage of ships from the Arousa estuary to the river Ulla; a route steeped in Xacobean tradition and said to be how the remains of Saint James the Great were carried to his final resting place be sure to stroll along the wooden walkways that surround it which have become a paradise for influencers Defensive forts such as the one at Catoira extend along the entire length of the Arousa estuary one of the most recognisable symbols of the homeland of Albari�o wine is San Sadurni�o tower we are talking about one of the most emblematic postcard images of Cambados lying right next to the Pazo de Fefi��ns palace it would undergo subsequent extensions and modifications as new owners took over making it a stone canvas of sorts from which visitors can make out the history and architectural legacy of Cambados It currently houses two bodegas (wineries) with R�as Baixas Designation of Origin A great way to see this for yourself is to look down from up high at the countless vineyards dotted across the landscape below And where better to head than the viewpoint on Mount Lobeira it is the quintessential viewpoint on the Pontevedra side of the estuary The view stretches from O Grove to Catoira passing through the Umia valley and even the island of Ons which can be seen in the Pontevedra estuary The most spectacular panoramic view is from the Cruz de Lobeira a monument to the countless victims claimed by the sea located at an altitude of almost 300 metres When making the ascent you will also be walking among m�moas (ancient tombs) and remains from the Castro period If what you’re really after is to travel back to Celtic times the best-preserved site can be found in Vilagarc�a We are talking about the Castro Alobre hill fort a settlement dating back to the 1st century BC and which remained inhabited until the 5th century we have the magnificent island of Cortegada The majestic Parque Nacional das Illas Atl�nticas (Galician Atlantic Islands National Park) is a treasure worth exploring among other reasons because it plays home to one of the few laurel forests currently existing in the world Also nestled among its ancient trees are an abandoned village and the ruins of a hermitage� —that of the Virgen de los Milagros— to which pilgrims would flock to have their afflictions cured Even reaching the island is an experience in itself as to do so you will need to cross the estuary The Arousa estuary features various islands some of them are not quite as isolated as you might imagine being one of the most touristy enclaves in the area and accessible via a bridge The entire municipality has been declared a nature reserve and to give its ecosystem a break following several months of heavy tourism our recommendation would be to visit Punta Cabalo Located in the northern part of the municipality the Punta Cabalo lighthouse stands on a rocky peninsula you can enjoy an invigorating dip in its coves or spend an afternoon chilling out in its beach bars If what you really want to do is to sunbathe and splash around among other like-minded beachgoers the most emblematic beach for tourism in the area is A Lanzada which can be found on an isthmus joining O Grove with Sanxenxo It boasts two kilometres of fine sand that every summer welcome the towels and sun loungers of those looking to enjoy a day in the sun surf or take part in one of the most famous fertility rites in Galicia women who want to become pregnant must jump nine waves on the night of the last Saturday in August In O Grove you can also do more than just lying on a towel you can walk along the Pedras Negras footpath which runs from the famous marina of San Vicente do Mar to the beach of Canelas As you walk along the wooden walkway you are sure to enjoy the sea breeze as you listen to the birdsong and look out to the island of Ons S�lvora is another of the islands that can be seen from O Grove the boats that can take you to this enclave of the Galician Atlantic Islands National Park typically set sail from O Grove there is no regular service running between the island and the mainland it offers a nature experience without all the crowds If you get the chance to head there on one of the excursions available you will discover the natural wealth and stunning beauty of the Arousa estuary where the archipelago acts as a natural barrier between the mussel rafts and the ocean S�lvora also maintains a well-preserved human footprint from times past Its rich history can still be seen in the buildings that remain standing today A prime example would be the Pazo de Goi�ns which now functions as a museum but was once a fish salting factory also gives visitors an idea of what life was once like for the island’s inhabitants Another must-see attraction is the lighthouse which was built after the Santa Isabel sank in a storm in 1921; a tragic event that resulted in 213 deaths who were rescued by a group of women from the island Yet this is just one of the stories for which the archipelago is known whose sculpture appears to welcome visitors To enjoy the Arousa estuary in all its glory you will need to experience it from the water There are numerous nautical tourism offers that combine boat trips with experiences such as visiting the islands tasting the local seafood and even visiting the mussel rafts Given the sheer number of mussel festivals at which you can sample this culinary delight by heading out to the rafts in a boat you can experience first-hand how the tasty mussels that fill the plates of the best restaurants to be found in the area are cultivated GaliciaDavid LoftusIt is a view that demands to be unpacked before my suitcase a hillside thick with pine and eucalyptus woods Rías Baixas is the term for the five estuaries that probe their way inland from west to east like crooked fingers their digit-like shape giving rise to the legend that God leant his hand here The Rías are sheltered by a series of islands - the Cíes Sálvora and other small atolls - creating a deliciously mild pocket where lemons GaliciaDavid LoftusAsking my best-connected Spanish friends I identified a clutch of Rías Baixas devotees: the fashion editor and several stylists on Spanish Vogue had been visiting since their teenage years a former director at Manolo Blahnik and the current Spanish president British architect David Chipperfield had long been a fan having built a cool little bolthole in remote Corrubedo more than a decade ago a town with the edge-of-the-world feeling of a Cornish fishing village There was also enticing talk of superlative seafood and wines, and some of the best beaches in Spain my plan was to swim against the current to the Rías the estuaries snaking in from the sea like a collection of giant lakes scattered along the coastline brooding shapes floating on a late-summer heat haze Buildings in PontevedraDavid LoftusFive days I traversed the Rías' intricate topography from calm inlets flanked by citrus orchards to the wilder waters of the open ocean tiniest and rarely visited is Ria de Corcubión Moving south there's wild Muros y Noia and Arousa while the Ría de Pontevedra contains the region's charming capital city is wider than a mile and harbours the biggest secret of all: the magical Cíes islands home to the prettiest beaches you've never heard of The one pleasantly old-fashioned seaside town is an agreeable place to hang out for a day or two a lovely provincial city that's not so much a symphony in stone as an operetta with plentiful outdoor terrazas for sipping local wines the Rías Baixas possess one of the world's finest whites mineral-rich wine that perfectly partners the area's excellent shellfish - mussels One was Quinta de San Amaro in the village of Meaño tucked into a valley carpeted side-to-side with Albariño vines A 14-bedroom spot with a pool and restaurant it channelled a colonial-meets-casa-rural feel The courtyard was a riot of hydrangeas (Galicia's omnipresent flower) and bright arrangements of pumpkins and lemons against granite walls Nacho Salcedo, the quinta's co-owner, had a busy life in Madrid until his partner, a gallego, persuaded him to leave the rat race and put down roots in the Rías. 'When we bought the property, it was like Angkor Wat,' he told me as we admired the estate's ancient stone granary or hórreo Such buildings are ubiquitous symbols of rural life here but this one had been cunningly made over as a beautiful chill-out room; glassed in on both sides it was the tailor-made setting for a crisp sunset G&T occasionally raising their heads to cast a glance over vineyards where blue-clad farmers worked their way along the rows a few minutes' drive from Salcedo's place This exquisite little hotel in Meis is owned by dapper young local José Luis Vilanova and is a collision of Galician country architecture with the more stylish end of contemporary European design a Campana Brothers umbrella stand and armchairs by Spanish designer Antonio Moragás are on loan from Vilanova Peña his mother Carmen's cult furniture shop in nearby Ribadumia He paints a picture of a summer scene with a glossy crowd guzzling white wine on the terraces of Pontevedra or partying at Sanxenxo's open-air Dux club Perhaps an even better choice than a hotel is to stay in one of the area's glorious villas such as Casa Minerva a Seventies beach bar transformed into a low-slung modern beach house it stands within a pebble's throw of sweeping Aguieira beach on the Ría de Muros y Noia - one of the least explored estuaries Wakefield told me his guests were mainly German but that a peppering of clued-up Londoners were arriving Clever Spaniards spurn the charms of Ibiza and Mykonos in favour of a summer spent on this coast Designed by architect Iñaki Leite in a take-no-prisoners modernist style it has vast sliding-glass windows that show off the water in widescreen The house is filled with hand-crafted wonders: furniture and shutters made of eucalyptus wood upcycled from bateas (mussel-farming platforms) and steel staircases made by local artisans and then potter along the tiny beach below the house speaks of Galicia's deep relationship with granite and the Celtic roots of this Atlantic culture Pobra do Caramiñal beachDavid LoftusThe chapel at CambadosDavid LoftusAnother day was spent with Adrian McManus a Galician resident who runs Northwest Iberian Wine Tours from artisan bodegas to château-like pazos Our wine safari covered some of the most forward-thinking Albariño producers as well as the semi-clandestine world of the furanchos rustic operations that serve their own vintages alongside plates of home-style food where we had lunch of clams and octopus and sipped wine from old-fashioned bowls known as cuncas McManus reminisced about landing in Galicia two decades before when he looked at Pontevedra and said to himself 'this is the place' GaliciaDavid LoftusAfter four days here I was closer to understanding why people wax lyrical about the Rías a London-based gallega who used to work for Manolo Blahnik and has been coming to Sanxenxo all her life with gardens and balconies staring directly out to the Atlantic and sunsets that are a fiesta of blazing colour a breezy mix of primary colours on a background of dazzling white told me about the three-day birthday bash Sagra had recently thrown for her Californian husband 'The Americans flipped out over the Rías Baixas and the quality of life - I hope you're going to the Cíes Islands?' The rumoured home of some of the world's most pristine the Cíes enjoy total protection as part of the Atlantic Islands National Park There are no cars and nowhere to stay but a simple campsite The ferry pulled out of Vigo harbour on a morning simultaneously warm and crisp that carried with it a hint of summer's end a long arc of sand with the texture of soft brown sugar framed by a gentle landscape of rocks and farmland A few little boats seemed to float in the celestial calm of the bay There was no doubt in my mind that this place could hold its own among the finest beaches of the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean Scallops at A MecaDavid LoftusI plunged into the unruffled water The shock of the cold Atlantic came as a reality check: the Rías Baixas aren't the Mediterranean or the Indian Ocean after all The whole point of Spain's secret summer destination - the costa the crowds forgot - is that it happily refuses to be anything but itself Paprika octopus at NovavilaDavid LoftusThe mesmerising views of the Ría from this minimalist dining room in Pontevedra compete for attention with Javier Olleros' cooking His dishes are a simple exaltation of local products: octopus caught on the rocks with a garlic emulsion; hake with a citrus sauce and pickled seaweed Address: Calle Reboredo, 73, 36980 O Grove, Pontevedra, SpainTelephone: cullerdepau.comPrice: About £75 for a six-course tasting menu for two this Pontevedra basement-bar-restaurant is top-drawer taking in great Albariños and a careful selection of fascinating wines from across the world Address: Rúa Michelena, 20, 36002 Pontevedra, SpainTelephone: vinotecabagos.comPrice: About £55 for two The pool at Casa MinervaDavid LoftusYayo DaportaA house in CambadosDavid LoftusContemporary Galician cuisine hitherto best represented by Pepe Vieira and Casa Solla (both near Pontevedra) who showcases original creations such as oysters with caramelised cauliflower and carrot vinegar at his slick restaurant in Cambados Address: Rúa do Hospital, 7, 36630 Cambados, Pontevedra, SpainTelephone: yayodaporta.comPrice: About £75 for two Hake and John Dory at Culler de PauDavid LoftusHead to 'Uncle Benito's' in Barrantes for traditional cooking at its best Choose from classic dishes such as salt cod or a deeply savoury octopus and potato stew so dark it stains the porcelain cup it's drunk from SpainTelephone: +34 986 710287Price: About £35 for two This family run marisquería in the diminutive port of Xufre on Arousa is well-known for its seafood - sardines mussels and clams - brought in by the island's own fishing fleet SpainTelephone: +34 986 551551Price: About £50 for two A converted salt warehouse right on the seafront in Corrubedo this destination restaurant combines the virtues of a new-wave tavern The path to Serafin restaurantDavid LoftusAddress: Travesía Torreiro 1, 15969 Ribeira, C, SpainTelephone: +34 981 865128Website: benboacorrubedo.comPrice: About £45 for two This feature first appeared in Condé Nast Traveller September 2017 was born out of a contest between two men — Bernardo Quintanilla and Ernesto Zàrate — to determine the best wine of 1952 The following year pioneered the Albariño Day celebration The albariño grape is grown in several countries Albariño grape has a distinctive botanical aroma and is used to produce white wine varietals International Albariño Day takes place on the last day of the Albariño festival this festival occurs during the week leading to the first Sunday of August in Cambados The festival originated from a challenge between two men ‘Albariño’ or ‘Alvarinho’ is a variety of grape grown mainly in Galicia Varietal white wines are brewed from the grape which belongs to the ‘Vitis vinifera’ species Oregon and Washington State also produce this grape Contrary to the popular theory that albariño grapes were brought to Spain by French monks from Cluny in France research suggested the existence of these grapes in Spain for centuries Albariño is mixed with other grapes like Loureiro Wine brewed from albariño grapes is unusually light with an alcohol level of about 11.5% to 12.5% the grape itself is known for its distinctive botanical aroma with a citrus undertone; it also has thick skins and numerous pips Ancient winemaking and viticulture spread from Phoenicia Wine first arrives in northern Africa and southern Europe Albariño wine originated sometime during the 12th century Albariño is a wine grape; wine grapes are usually not eaten raw Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular wine grape variety Celebrate by sampling some delicious grapes They are sweet and also contain nutrients with immense health benefits Attend a wine-tasting event if one’s happening near you learn about the aging process of some of your favorite wines Spread the word about International Albariño Day Tell others about it and create a post with the hashtag #AlbariñoDay on social media spitting out wine after tasting it is acceptable women didn’t drink wine and could be killed if caught women are more sensitive than men to alcohol over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes exist Wine-tasters swirl wine in the glass to release its aroma Wine is one of the oldest and most loved drinks globally Albariño wine has made its mark in the wine industry; thus International Albariño Day celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Galicia and other albariño-producing states Since research has proven that the albariño grape is native to Galicia this gives them a unique claim and sense of cultural pride As a result of the awareness created on International Albariño Day more people have the opportunity to learn about this unique wine We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks is the location of the headquarters of what is currently the only Fruit and Vegetable Producers Organization (FVPO) of Galicia "The cooperative was founded in 1986 by a group of growers in order to better defend their productions they mainly cultivated green beans intended for marketing in central markets but speculation and the lack of transparency of intermediaries led them to joining forces and forming the current Horsal cooperative," says Fernando Veiga "Today it is made up of 92 horticultural partners most of them working with local and sustainable models of family farming The farms stand out for being small in size and the vegetable growing activity is usually combined with other activities It is worth remembering that we are in a shellfishing and Albariño wine production area we closed 2021 with 3.2 million kilos marketed and 4.4 million Euro in turnover." The tagetes are used in the biological fight against thrips. These are remarkable figures that highlight the value of associativity and cooperative collaboration Horsal was able to obtain its FVPO status in 2009 "Last year we obtained reasonable prices for our production but they were lower than the CPI variation and it is very difficult to pass those costs on to the final price," says Fernando (in the picture) pricing laws follow very common trends everywhere as most of the products end up in the hands of very few distributors the fact that we are fundamentally oriented to the market of the northwest quadrant of the peninsula which accounts for 80% of our turnover with mostly local production sometimes gives us a certain advantage over the generic market Galician vegetablesThe Padron pepper is a bell pepper variety native to Galicia which the Padron pepper season starts at the beginning of May and lasts for 5 months The Galician production is highly appreciated and although it is not the product from which we obtain the highest turnover it is our most commercially attractive pepper." our partners started with the bell pepper plantings the Padron peppers that are on the market come from other Spanish Mediterranean production areas or from Morocco," says Fernando Veiga "Another purely Galician bell pepper variety that we grow in Horsal is the Arnoia bell pepper This bell pepper is protected under a PGI in A Arnoia and our partners have chosen to continue growing it in Pontevedra even though it falls outside the PGI's geographical scope." This onion stands out for its flattened shape and is an autochthonous typology of Galicia where there is a great variety of local ecotypes: Betanzos Our production groups all those flat onions from the autochthonous ecotypes that growers plant with the seeds they collect from their own plantations to the commercial variety Paja Virtudes developed from the Betanzos ecotype by breeders." we are producing winter leafy vegetables: lettuces turnip greens (the traditional vegetable of Galicia) as well as fiddlehead squash for another 2-3 weeks." New projects: Fresh-cut convenience food and an organic lineAccording to Fernando Horsal is immersed in two new projects that have been undertaken in the last year "We have launched a certified organic production line with which we expect to achieve significant growth in the coming seasons last year we started with great enthusiasm a line of fresh-cut Batavia lettuce and turnip greens two niche products for the northwestern market of the Iberian Peninsula," says the manager of the Galician FVPO For more information:Fernando VeigaHorsal S.C.G.C/ Pardiño 10 B36633 Vilariño, Cambados, Pontevedra. SpainTelf.: +34 986 542 195[email protected]www.horsalscg.com FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 HortiDaily.com Essentials Stroll around the city centre, visit this great museum and enjoy a drink or a meal at any of its squares Views with the Cíes Islands in the background Visit the old towns of Vigo and Baiona and immerse yourself in their fascinating history Enjoy the thermal springs of Mondariz and discover the wines from O Condado de Tea The paradise of the scallop is located in Cambados. This village in Pontevedra, recognized in 2017 as the European Wine City, honours every year this valued bivalve in a festival which was declared Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia in 2013. Local bars and restaurants, together with renowned chefs, participate in a celebration where food tasting is combined with a range of attractive activities During these days, different scallop dishes can be tasted: natural scallops, scallops empanada (a kind of savoury pastry) or scallops with albariño wine, among other dishes. Bars and restaurants also participate in this event and they organise free tastings with original tapas prepared by them. In addition, renowned Michelin-starred chefs offer food workshops, held in the marquee located in the pedestrian street A Calzada. In previous years, Yayo Daporta, Xosé Torres Cannas, Pepe Solla or Rafa Centeno gave these workshops. These chefs will show visitors the endless possibilities to turn a scallop dish into a delight for the senses. The Scallop Fair was first celebrated in 2002, after the coalition of the fishermen's association Confraría de Pescadores Santo Antonio and the local government. At that time, the sector was about to disappear, as scallop harvesting had been prohibited for more than a decade due to a toxin. The Galician scallop belongs to the species Pecten maximus, which grows in the Atlantic Ocean until 100 metres depth, in clean waters with high salinity levels. The mollusc hides under sandy seabeds and uses its powerful muscles to move its valves, jumping long distances. They reach a marketable size in four years, and the largest specimens are about 15 centimetres long. Symbol of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela The Codex Calixtinus also registers the meaning of these shells as well the fact that pilgrims often wore a scallop shell attached to their cloaks as a sing to honour the Apostle. Gino & Fred: Road Trip4 episodesGordon Gino and Fred head on to northwest Spain and Galicia starting with a search for shellfish in Cambados with some truly inspirational women Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road TripAudio DescriptionSSubtitlesEntertainment & Reality1hGuidance Icon With strong language and adult humour. Turn on Parental controls Contains spoilers for 'Gangs of Galicia' on Netflix CAMBADOS, GALICIA: All episodes of 'Gangs of Galicia' have officially dropped on Netflix The seven-part series claims to be inspired by true events and follows a woman named Ana (Clara Lago) who is deeply disturbed by the unexpected and suspicious murder of her father. Determined to unravel the mystery behind his murder Ana meets Daniel Padin (Tamar Novas) and falls in love with him Ana is torn by her secret mission to find her father's killer There's a lot to uncover in Netflix series 'Gangs of Galicia' Episode 7 He is the leader of a drug empire in Cambados which was originally started by the Padin family and has since expanded its operations across Mediterranean countries was the original head of the business until he was apprehended by law enforcement Daniel appoints Ana as the official lawyer for his family's smuggling business Ana discovers that her father had been leading a double life in Madrid He was previously involved with the Padin drug gang Ana's father's real name was Jose Silva (Monti Castiñeiras). it is revealed that Jose Padin was allegedly having an affair with Jose Silva's first wife Jose Silva and his first wife already had a young daughter named Laura (Melania Cruz) The police manipulated the situation to make Jose Silva believe that Jose Padin was actually Laura's biological father Jose Silva decided to cooperate with the police leading to the arrest of Jose Padin and the dismantling of the drug empire They started a family together and had Ana Ana unexpectedly encounters a man during a mission who bears a striking resemblance to the male tourist seen on Jose Silva's boat on the day of his murder She discovers that Daniel had diligently searched for Jose Silva and it was actually Jose Padin who hired the thugs to kill Jose Silva Daniel's father informs him that Ana is actually Jose Silva's daughter the police arrest Daniel and dismantle his drug operation as she has already fallen in love with Daniel during which Daniel asks if their relationship was genuine saying that if he had been standing in front of Ana's father that day he probably wouldn’t have pulled the trigger. Ana also reveals that she is pregnant with his child circumstances prevent them from reuniting at that moment Ana reluctantly leaves as their allotted meeting time in prison comes to an end The episode leaves viewers on the edge of their seats wondering what lies ahead for Ana and Daniel. All episodes of 'Gangs of Galicia' are currently streaming on Netflix CAMBADOS, GALICIA: Netflix has officially dropped all the episodes of 'Gangs of Galicia', a Spanish thriller series that follows Ana (Clara Lago) a woman who uncovers shocking secrets about her dead father's life. Set in the Galician town of Cambados, the Netflix show explores Ana's quest for redemption after meeting Daniel (Tamar Novas) Delving into the dark and dangerous world of drug smuggling Ana uncovers shocking secrets about her late father. Viewers have been wondering if there will be a 'Gangs of Galicia' Season 2 fans are eagerly awaiting news of a potential continuation While Netflix hasn't officially announced 'Gangs of Galicia' Season 2 the unanswered questions from Season 1 suggest there's enough material for another season Ana reveals to Daniel that she is pregnant with his child leaving viewers wondering what will happen next This suggests that there could be a Season 2 on Netflix The unresolved issues and open-ended finale of Season 1 lay the groundwork for a continuation of the story keeping viewers intrigued and eager for more However, the absence of a green light from the makers makes it uncertain when the show will return. Netflix may take its time to assess the show's performance before making a decision about Season 2 'Gangs of Galicia' Season 2 could explore the aftermath of Daniel's arrest and Ana's pregnancy reveal The new season could delve into the challenges Ana faces as a single mother Daniel's storyline could focus on his life behind bars and how he seeks redemption and reunites with Ana It is possible that Ana will take on Daniel's case herself and work to free him from jail who revealed that she was Jose Silva's (Monti Castiñeiras) daughter This revelation could potentially lead to a confrontation between Jose Padin and Ana the situation could change once Jose Padin discovers that Ana is carrying his grandchild Ana and Daniel may start their family and get their happy ending As they navigate the challenges and dangers around them their love and determination could lead to a brighter future. it is possible that Jose Padin may try to harm Ana after taking his grandchild This could create a dangerous situation for Ana as she tries to protect herself and her child from Jose Padin's vendetta 'Gangs of Galicia' Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix Netflix has started becoming a content platform like social media rather than a streaming platform Its insistence on trying to find a wide range of audience for its mishmashy content pieces is ruining its catalog “Gangs of Galicia” (Original title: Clanes) begins as a crime thriller series about a female lawyer’s revenge against the murderers of her secretive father it turns into a tedious saga of inane plot points that offer nothing substantial it simultaneously feels like underwritten & overcooked There’s no real pathos in the series to elevate it to the level of television classics “Gangs of Galicia” (Clanes) roughly follows a lawyer’s journey as she settles in a new town to settle some old scores she gets caught in a series of new conflicts that trap her in a world of criminals Ana Gonzalez Soriano (Clara Lago) is a young lawyer working in Madrid transporting tourists around Fuerteventura she learns that he has a secret bank account and he has left its funds to two women Laura (Melania Cruz) and Berta (Maria Pujalte) Ana or her mother had never heard of these women Ana assumes her father might have been involved in drug trafficking or have dealt with some wrong people she decides to settle in Cambados and start her practice there The small town of Cambados is a pit of criminal activities Daniel (Tamar Novas) is one of the drug traffickers He is embroiled in these muddy waters after his father We are introduced to their clan from the cops’ attempt to imprison them Daniel meets Ana and asks her to represent him She also sees it as an opportunity to find the truth about her father and believes Daniel is behind Jorge’s death she learns that Padin is about to be released and is on probation Ana meets Laura & Berta working in their modest café She learns that Padins’ clan is trying to snatch their café because they spoke against Padin during his past court trial Nilo (Xosé Antonio Touriñán) & Toño (Chechu Salgado) know that their father left some of their precious belongings tucked somewhere before the cops swarmed his house Marco wants to get in on the crime scene even though his family members insist he stays out of it Daniel finishes their next mission with his clan members Daniel wants Ana to represent him and his associates she wants him to let Laura & Berta have their café he agrees to extend their license and not snatch their means of livelihood But Ana doesn’t reveal the actual reason she moved to their small town from a reputed organization in Madrid Marco keeps seeing the glamorous side of the drug business Maria (Laura’s daughter) about his hope to join it the Padins’ attorney offers all their files to Ana after Daniel hires her The attorney threatens her for snatching his business The Padins enter the café with masks on to terrorize Ana Laura learns about Ana’s romantic relationship with Marco she warns her of its dangerous repercussions Ana starts going through the Padins’ questionable businesses Daniel falls for her and takes her out on a helicopter ride with him Marco keeps wanting to be a part of the drug trade even though Nilo is against it Daniel takes Ana on a business trip and treats her It seems like he wants to show off his wealth while trying to win her over He thinks she is using Daniel’s lust for attractive women Padins suspects Samuel is exposing their secrets to the police they kidnap him to make him spill the beans he manages to cut his cuffs and get out of the place To send a message of their terrorizing presence they throw him in a hole and add cement inside to trap him Maria goes to the police station to talk about the attack on their family café Muniz (a cop who provides Padins with the intel from his department) tells Padins about her Nilo arrives at the café and threatens to burn it with her inside Berta calls Maria to leave the station immediately Maria refuses to live in fear like her mother & her grandmother Daniel takes Ana on another fancy trip to impress her After Samuel is found stuck in a cement hole his wife blames police officer Naranjo (Francesc Garrido) because he made Samuel snitch on the Padins Marco learns about his family terrorizing Maria & her family he plans to leave the place for good with her he decides to find and use it for his & Maria’s future finances Muniz follows Maria as she meets Marco and takes their photos who questions Tono why he didn’t keep an eye on the kid Naranjo’s wife is hoping to leave their hellhole of a town and move to Madrid Naranjo says he will do that once he imprisons the Padins Nilo & Tono keep terrorizing the locals for not doing things to feed their greed her mother shows up in the town to warn her against staying there a cop bugs the Padins’ boat to get more intel to reveal details of her work for the Padins while Marco & Maria find the hidden treasure A local reporter follows Jose Padin in his garage and secretly shoots a video of him blabbering against the cops It worries his clan members as they start gearing up for their next mission Rosa follows Naranjo’s orders and bugs Ana’s office to offer him intel on her discussions with the Padins she meets Ana outside Laura’s café and ends up telling the truth about Naranjo’s threat Samuel arrives there with a shotgun to take revenge against the Padins He shoots Samuel and starts looking for Daniel & Nilo Nilo brings Marco & Maria to their house so that Daniel can confront them Samuel shows up there to shoot him & Nilo he ends up killing Maria & shooting Daniel in the leg Laura receives a letter from her where she talks about her plans to leave the town for good Ana meets wounded Daniel in the hospital and agrees to do his job for him She joins Jose Padin in a secluded house to learn about their mission Jose Padin sends Ana to Africa to take care of his new plan He also hires some people to keep an eye on her to ensure that she doesn’t run away Berta thinks Daniel should have done something better with his life Laura meets guilt-struck Marco and tells him to lead his life in a better manner even if Maria is not with him she joins Naranjo in his mission to take down the Padins’ empire as an act of revenge against them for killing Maria Daniel plans to suddenly change his life and lead it with Ana He professes his love for her and she doesn’t know how to respond She calls her mother and cryptically asks for advice about an unlikely person she has fallen in love with her mother can only cryptically advise her ambitionless Marco decides to choose the criminal path with Nilo While Laura helps Naranjo with his investigation She evades him and meets Naranjo to speak with him Muniz shows up at Laura’s café to intimidate her he follows her and tries to choke her to death Berta arrives there in time to stab him with a knife to save Laura’s life learns about Ana’s past about her father’s death In the seventh episode of “Gangs of Galicia” on Netflix As they try to find the snitch between them Nazario threatens Ana with her mother’s life Laura calls him for help as a lawyer in their self-defense case Ana arrives at a house to meet and help Daniel’s associates That’s where she learns crucial details about her father’s death It turns out Daniel wanted to kill Ana’s father after he learned Ana’s father had spoken against his father Ana notices one of Daniel’s associates in the house and recognizes him as her father’s murderer (having seen the security footage from the time of his death) she secretly escapes the house and drives to her mother Daniel & Marco get arrested by the cops after Daniel learns about Ana’s betrayal Ana returns to Cambados to meet Daniel in prison She reveals that she is pregnant with his child They try to grapple with their reality and their unclear future “Gangs of Galicia” is an overlong tedious show filled with genre tropes and infused with a needless romance arc that does not help its central plot of a revenge thriller in any significant way The script deviates from its core quite often and turns into a mess with no clear direction This is particularly depressing considering the acting talent it has on board Some of its cast has worked on some wonderful projects in the past it feels sad to see their talent being wasted in this convoluted mess the worst part about “Gangs of Galicia” seems like its association with Netflix The Netflix-alization of all such shows has ruined so many promising premises that could have worked with better scripts it seems mandatory to have a steamy sex scene with a catchy pop track even if it hinders the pace of the narration It feels even more bothersome since the pair has no romantic chemistry to begin with Even the script doesn’t care enough about giving enough reasons to buy into their mutual attraction beyond its ‘fancy’ trips you hardly care for any character since they keep acting like chameleons with no moral ground whatsoever Only the character arcs of Laura & Berta or that of Officer Naranjo seem promising But the series reduces it to mere cliches and turns it into another forgettable crime thriller in its gigantic catalog An applied arts graduate who loves to share his obsession with cinema and television Loves listening to music and exploring new artists Still not over the second season of The Bear and the last scene of Another Round Designed by Two Words Crime mafia thrillers are always interesting to watch and the illegal activities they involve themselves in They also expose the corruption in the local system there is always a person who genuinely wants to get rid of the mafia syndicate and plants a mole in the enemy team to demolish their stronghold and it always ends tragically for many involved in the life of crime Gangs of Galicia is a Spanish Netflix original that is about a young woman seeking revenge after her father was killed Her journey to find answers leads her to a coastal town and her saga to find the perpetrator begins Jose Silva’s will stated he would be leaving the boat and their house to his wife and daughter Ana a part of his earnings was shared with a certain Berta Figaredo and Laura Silva Ana and her mother were not familiar with these women They were soon informed that Jose Silva was in town as a part of a witness protection program Ana and her mother learned that Jose had left his real family and betrayed the people he worked for by ratting them out to the police This revelation left the mother and the daughter feeling betrayed but Ana was keen to find the people who killed him and seek revenge Ana quit her job and moved to the coastal town of Cambados without informing her mother Her plan was to seek out the mafia family and be a part of that circle She was aware of Jose Padin being in prison and that he was working as a parking lot attendant. Daniel Padin was the only son of Jose Padin and the heir to his father’s syndicate which dealt with drug peddling and distribution and many of the local police were on their payroll Ana was slowly setting up her small firm in the town and she soon became a popular face known as the woman who moved from the city to try to find a foothold in this town and he found Ana at the court premises and requested that she be his counselor for the day and get him acquitted Ana was excited to have made contact with Daniel Padin without having to put in any effort He was impressed and asked her to help him make purchases that would aid him evade taxes legally who was struggling because of Daniel’s family harassment and Jose Silva’s actions Daniel and his brothers Nilo and Tono were after Laura’s bar Ana agreed to work with Daniel if he gave up on Laura’s bar and Ana soon became his unofficial legal adviser Daniel’s official legal counselor was Nazario along with the local police headed by Naranjo and his team who were planning to get hold of a major shipment of narcotics reaching the coastal town Daniel had taken over his father’s business at a young age and he’d turned it into another massive mafia gang Naranjo wanted access to the gang in the hope of getting the son arrested as well had their man with GRECO (Group of States Against Corruption) who was providing all the intel about police movements in the hope of avoiding any major arrests Naranjo was the first person to notice Ana hanging out with Daniel to plant a bug to capture their conversations in the hope of acquiring evidence against Daniel Nilo and his brother Tono’s father died suddenly but it was open knowledge in the family that his father had buried a secret stash of money but left no details about its location Nilo and Tono’s brother-in-law were constantly in a clash about the property settlement along with wanting a portion of the hidden stash Nilo’s nephew Marco was fascinated by the work his uncles and Daniel were into and begged them to be a part of it There was never any proper settlement in matters of property or hidden cash who was his family’s arch enemy ever since her grandfather snitched on Daniel’s father who was trying his best to impart helpful knowledge about life to the boy Maria was a witness to a police informant named Samuel being taken away by Nilo and Tono and his identity was blown by the mole in the police department working for Daniel She wanted to rescue him and hoped Marco would be of help Maria was upset at Marco’s uncles and the kind of cruelty Samuel was put through Even though Maria’s mother Laura and grandmother Berta wanted to stay away from Daniel’s family it was her need to save Samuel by approaching the police that made matters worse but he could not do that thanks to his uncle school-going teenagers were in love and wanted to elope but they had no money to begin their lives Marco claimed to know the spot where his grandfather buried the secret money which they could use to rebuild their lives in another town They were ratted out by the mole in the police and Nilo quickly reached the spot to get hold of the money he and his brother were looking for Maria and Marco’s plan to elope was busted. but somehow he survived the ordeal Nilo and Tono put him through for betraying them He barely recovered from the torture and has been mentally unstable ever since he was discharged He felt betrayed and wanted to take revenge on Daniel and all his friends He headed towards Nilo’s home all in a rage Since Samuel was not mentally sound he shot at Daniel and Maria and slowly she began to develop feelings for him was not shy about sharing his feelings for her Daniel had asked her to meet a group of Colombian drug dealers in Dakar This was his way of indicating that he trusted her enough to carry out this sensitive mission while Ana was not sure if he was serious about it or needed only one night of gratification Ana also informed him of the police trying to get to him by bugging her office They would have to keep their distance when in public as a result Laura was on the warpath against Daniel and his mafia syndicate Her father had had to leave them and escape and years later she lost her own daughter because of the same mafia gang It only made sense for her to become a person of interest to the police and offer intelligence to exact revenge on the people who destroyed her family Even though her mother had stopped seeking vindication and retribution Laura’s anger was reignited because of her daughter’s killing She chose to manipulate Marco to turn him into a mole and acquire information for Naranjo Marco was also deeply affected by Maria’s death and decided to go against his uncle and both had decided to make a future out of the money they had unearthed and he decided his retribution would be to expose his uncles was not trusting of Ana right from the start He had shared his concerns about her sudden arrival he began his investigation into her past by questioning her old employers Nazario did not delay meeting Ana’s mother Nazario was quick to inform Jose Padin about Ana’s parentage and about her being in Cambados seeking revenge for her father’s killing. who were preparing for the arrival of the shipment Ana chose not to join them for the mission and asked Daniel to give her his phone to avoid being traced by the police who claimed to have killed the GRECO officer who was Daniel’s informant Laura revealed her role as a mole and she manipulated Marco to work against his uncles and extracted information who informed her that Daniel was the one who was adamant about locating Silva she assumed it was his father who did the deed She was not ready for the shock that befell her knowing it was Daniel who was seeking revenge for the breakup of his family Just like she wanted to get back at Jose Padin for breaking up her family her boyfriend must have felt the same years ago and he never stopped his search for Jose Silva Daniel Padin and Marco were together when they were keeping track of the shipment Nilo and Tono were on the boat that would bring back their narcotics shipments While Daniel was keeping track of the boat Daniel decided to quit his father’s business after the completion of this mission and planned to live the life of a law-abiding citizen with Ana and that could be the reason she developed feelings for him She was also supportive of him until she learned Daniel could be the person who killed her father Her feelings were conflicted after that point Marco shared the details of the location while sitting next to his godfather The young boy wanted retribution for Maria’s death and he felt no guilt in betraying his uncles in that process It was his first major loss after his grandfather’s death and his emotions made him make some bad decisions and Laura took advantage of it for her benefit As they learned of the force arriving to arrest them Daniel was not aware of anything brewing against him This was possibly the first time one could feel bad for him as he had almost closed the deal and walked away from the life of crime Ana could not get through to him to help him escape and Tono’s arrest was the end of the syndicate Gangs of Galicia ended with Naranjo moving out of Cambados and moving to Madrid He had had a difficult married life thanks to his overwhelming job taking down the drug mafia The arrest of the Padin family means he concludes his career on a high note He could finally prove to his wife that his loyalty was always to his family and not work and she chose to color her hair to avoid being recognized by the people from his syndicate and the Colombians It was assumed at this point that Daniel was aware of her parentage yet he was civil to her throughout the conversation Daniel revealed his only intention was to meet Jose Silva and ask for the reasons behind his betrayal This indicates he never wanted to kill him It also confirms Ana’s theory that Jose Padin killed her father His confession was enough for her to continue being in love with him Daniel turned out to be a lot nicer than she had expected yet he joined his father’s business out of obligation His love for Ana made him follow his plan to move away from his father He only wanted to know if she was in love with him or if everything was a façade Ana declared her love was genuine and she was pregnant as well His confession probably made her want to keep the child there was never any conclusion given to Nilo The makers either ignored or forgot to address the conclusion of their arc There could be season two that could further discuss the lives of Daniel Contains spoilers for 'Gangs of Galicia' on Netflix CAMBADOS, GALICIA: 'Gangs of Galicia' is a Netflix thriller series about a woman who uncovers shocking secrets about her dead father's life set against the backdrop of hardened criminals running a drug smuggling business in Galicia Netflix officially dropped all the episodes of 'Gangs of Galicia' on Friday Starring Clara Lago as Ana and Tamar Novas as Daniel 'Gangs of Galicia' is packed with numerous plot twists aiming to keep viewers on the edge of their seats despite the unexpected turns and suspenseful moments the overall storyline tends to feel predictable. The Netflix series could have effectively concluded in five episodes as it doesn't require seven episodes to convey the entire story to the viewers. Their performances brought depth and authenticity to their characters making the story more compelling despite its pacing issues 'Gangs of Galicia' is filled with plot twists and intense drama but it's Clara Lago and Tamar Novas' on-screen chemistry that truly steals the show a determined lawyer who moves to the town of Cambados to solve the mystery of her father's murder Ana discovers a shocking and heartbreaking truth: Daniel's father is responsible for her own father's death she can't help but fall in love with Daniel as she successfully captures the character's grief Portraying a character with depth and complexity like Ana is no easy feat From her body language to her facial expressions Clara brings Ana to life in a way that feels genuine Tamar's portrayal of Daniel in 'Gangs of Galicia' is equally good Daniel is not just a criminal; he is a man who falls deeply in love with Ana and is willing to do anything for her Their on-screen relationship feels genuine despite the major plot revolving around drugs the portrayal of Ana's feelings for Daniel despite knowing the truth about his father's involvement in her father's death determined woman who seeks justice for her father's murder her romantic involvement with Daniel seems to contradict her initial motivations. Her character arc should have led to a more decisive and empowering conclusion rather than one that seemingly diminishes her agency Clara also does justice by portraying a conflicted and emotionally complex Ana who continues to feel for Daniel despite his father's actions Throughout the seven episodes of 'Gangs of Galicia' the series establishes familiar tropes and themes common to crime and love stories. Despite the revelation that Daniel's father is responsible for Ana's father's death Ana's feelings for Daniel remain unchanged Ana is portrayed as the strong-willed heroine seeking vengeance while Daniel is the brooding anti-hero with a troubled past contribute to the predictability of the story Viewers already know that nothing can stop the love between Ana and Daniel but the story dragged on with unnecessary subplots and filler episodes that detracted from the overall narrative the pacing of the series was a major issue with some episodes feeling slow and drawn out. it was the strong performances of its lead actors that helped to elevate the series While it may not be a groundbreaking Netflix series 'Gangs of Galicia' is still an enjoyable watch particularly for fans of the thriller genre 'Gangs of Galicia' is now streaming on Netflix