Gardens of Galicia
About this tour
Galicia is one of the quiet surprises of the garden world. Tucked into the green, Atlantic-washed north-west corner of Spain, it has a soft, mild climate that camellias adore, and a long tradition of grand manor estates, the pazos, whose gardens are among the loveliest in the country. In spring the camellias are at their peak, and the whole region feels like a secret the rest of Europe has yet to discover.
This is the Route of the Camellia, a gentle journey through sun-dappled pazos, botanical collections and historic cities, from Pontevedra and Vigo to UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela. There are camellia-lined walkways and ornamental waterways, ancient trees and Atlantic views, and the particular pleasure of gardens that most visitors never see.
Garden highlights
- Castillo de Soutomaior - a castle amid vineyards, camellias and magnolias
- Pazo de Lourizan - one of Galicia's most important botanical gardens
- Castrelos Park - French-inspired formality, exotic palms and romantic wooded surrounds
- Pazo de Rubianes - a stately manor renowned for camellias, vineyards and ancient trees
- Pazo de Mariñán - a coastal estate with camellia alleys and Atlantic views
- Xardín de Méndez Núñez and Xardín de San Carlos - peaceful oases in the urban heart of A Coruña
- Pazo de Oca - the 'Galician Versailles', with ornamental waterways and camellia-lined paths
- Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla - romantic woodland with an exceptional camellia collection
Destination highlights
- The Route of the Camellia, at its peak in early spring
- Galicia's pazos, its grand manor estates and their gardens
- UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela with its spiritual landmarks and parks
- The old towns of Pontevedra and Vigo, and the city gardens of A Coruna
- The mild, green Atlantic climate of north-west Spain
Booking details
Next departure: 10 March 2027
Operator: Travel Editions
Book with Travel EditionsWhat you'll learn
Galicia is blessed with a mild, moist Atlantic climate, the very conditions camellias and magnolias love. You will look at how the great ‘pazo’ gardens combine formal structure, water and woodland, how camellias are grown and displayed in collections of real depth, and how a garden can sit so comfortably in its coastal landscape. For anyone gardening in a soft, damp climate, or anyone who simply loves camellias, there is a great deal here to enjoy and take home.
Gardens you'll visit
Castelo de Soutomaior
perched on a hilltop with stunning, geometric formal gardens. It is particularly famous for housing hundreds of varieties of camellias, earning it recognition as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence
Pazo de Lourizán
Galician treasure where romantic 19th-century architecture meets a breathtaking botanical wonderland, boasting an extraordinary collection of historic camellias, majestic monumental trees, and enchanting fairy-tale fountains
Pazo de Castrelos
Vigo’s crown jewel, blending a historic 17th-century pazo with manicured French and English gardens, majestic monumental trees
Pazo de Rubianes
Galician wonderland blending an 18th-century palace with Europe’s most celebrated camellia garden, ancient monumental trees, and an enchanting, historic vineyard producing exceptional Albariño wine
Pazo de Mariñán
an artistic masterpiece where a historic 18th-century manor meets symmetrical French formal gardens, a collection of monumental trees, and a striking terrace overlooking the Mandeo estuary
Pazo de Oca
breathtaking Baroque masterpiece featuring a dramatic stone-carved bridge, symmetrical boxwood mazes, monumental camellias, and mystical water channels where granite boats floating on calm ponds reflect centuries of majestic history
Pazo de Santa Cruz de Rivadulla
majestic Galician paradise boasting an iconic avenue of ancient olive trees, a romantic cascading waterfall, and an internationally acclaimed collection of historic, vibrant camellias
Xardín de San Carlos
romantic bastioned oasis in A Coruña, framing breathtaking Atlantic harbor views around the historic tomb of Sir John Moore beneath a canopy of majestic, ancient elm trees
Beyond the gardens
The autonomous region of Galicia, in northwestern Spain, is not only lush and green, but is full of history and vibrant culture. There is Santiago de Compostela, the end of the great pilgrim route, with its magnificent cathedral and old town, the cobbled squares and tapas bars of Pontevedra, the sea views of Vigo and A Coruna, and the famous Galician food and wine. It is an unhurried, deeply characterful corner of this diverse and always surprising country.
My hope is that you come home with a feel for how a mild Atlantic climate shapes a garden, a new appreciation of camellias seen in their element, and the quiet satisfaction of having explored a beautiful region that most garden lovers have yet to find.