Open-air galleries, festivals, and mural trails make Galicia a top street art destination

In Galicia, urban art has grown from a grassroots movement into a cultural strategy with a global reach. Cities such as Lugo, Vigo and Santiago, along with smaller towns like Fene and Quiroga, are championing large-scale murals that boost local tourism, combat urban decay, while giving a voice to established and emerging artists alike. What were once dull, gray walls have been transformed into vibrant canvases, with trails and festivals attracting thousands of visitors every year. The Galician community has embraced urban art as a powerful tool to breathe new life into neighborhoods, create visual identity, and foster an emotional connection to the region. In Ferrol, the As Meninas de Canido movement sums up the transformative power of community action: what started out as a single menina painted on a crumbling façade has blossomed into an international festival that brings together over a hundred artists every September.

One of the murals from the As Meninas de Canido movement in Ferrol © Galicia Tourism

In Carballo, the walls tell stories too. At the Rexenera Fest, visitors can explore areas such as O Chorís and A Milagrosa by following a marked route, marveling at the striking contrast between the urban landscape and large works of art. Visitors to the festival can also get the opportunity to meet the artists and engage in interactive art projects. Through its City of Color initiative routes, Vigo offers alternative walks to get a fresh perspective on the city center: contemporary muralism. The Batalla Mural (Mural Battle), where graffiti artists go head-to-head, is an engaging and entertaining activity for visitors. Art also has its rightful place beyond the urban hubs. In the Ribeira Sacra, the small town of Quiroga has created the “Art in the Air” trail, a 1.5-kilometer walk passing by murals, sculptures, and themed benches that pay tribute to the region and its local produce. Fene, on the Ferrol estuary, has made a name for itself all over the world thanks to works such as La violonchelista (The Cellist) by Sfhir and El charanguista andino (The Andean Charango Player) by Cristóbal Persona, both of which were rated the world’s best murals by the Street Art Cities platform in 2023 and 2024.

La violonchelista de Sfhir (A Coruña) is a striking example of how art can brighten up public spaces and forge deep connections with the community © Galicia Tourism

In this way, urban art in Galicia emerges not only as an aesthetic resource, but as a new way to explore, inhabit, and reinterpret cultural heritage from the streets: direct, emotional, and dynamic.