Camellias were brought to the Iberian Peninsula from the East by Portuguese sailors. They’ve been brightening the gardens of the Spanish region of Galicia from the early 19th century.

Road Trips Gardeners will enjoy following the Camellia Route — a journey from northern to southern Galicia through 12 manor houses and gardens (public and private) where the camellia reigns in all its glory.

There are some 8,000 varieties in gardens linked to the historical heritage of Galicia, such as the Quiñones de León Manor House, with a camellia whose crown measures more than 15 meters in diameter, or specimens of the “camellia reticulata” of the Oca and Santa Cruz de Ribadulla Manor Houses, perhaps the oldest in Europe.

These are the dozen stops along the route:

Pazo de Mariñán

Alameda de Santiago

Pazo de Santa Cruz de Ribadulla

Pazo de Oca

House and Museum of Rosalía de Castro

Pazo de Rubiáns

Pazo Quinteiro da Cruz

Pazo de A Saleta

Pazo de Lourizán

Soutomaior Castle

O Castro Park

Quiñones de León Museum

(Photo courtesy of Tourism Galicia)