5 Best Sights in Galicia and Asturias, Spain

Peaceful and well conserved, this plaza marks the center of the old town, which is partially surrounded by the remains of its medieval walls.

Make sure you check out the arcaded porticoes here and the view over the town from the Unquera road (N634) just inland.

In the old city, the center of life is this unassuming little square, officially called the Plaza Velarde. In August it's the venue for Santander's star event, the outdoor International Festival of Music and Dance.

The focal point of the old town, this bustling large plaza has a north side that's given over to the neoclassical Palacio Municipal, or city hall, built 1908–12 with three Italianate domes. The monument in the center, built in 1998, depicts the heroine Maior (María) Pita. When England's Sir Francis Drake arrived to sack A Coruña in 1589, the locals were only half-finished building the defensive Castillo de San Antón. A 13-day battle ensued. When María Pita's husband died, she took up his lance, slew the Briton who tried to plant the Union Jack, and revived the exhausted Coruñeses, inspiring other women to join the battle. The surrounding streets of the old town are a hive of activity, lined with tapas bars and shops.

The imposing baroque facade of the cathedral dominates this sprawling square. Look for the stone slab in the center, which indicates "kilometer zero" on the pilgrimage trail. It is also the setting for the spectacular fireworks display on July 24 (the eve of St. James's Day). Traffic-free and flanked on all sides by historical buildings—including the 16th-century Hostal de los Reyes Católicos—it is the quintessential place to soak up the city's rich history.