A Spanish Heritage
Duration: 13 days
Highlights: San Sebastian, French Basque Country, Bilbao, Santillana del Mar, Altamira, Comillas, Cangas de Onis, Asturias, Oviedo, Gijon, Santiago de Compostela,
Galicia
This itinerary is ideal for those wishing to discover more about Spain's fascinating history.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive San Sebastian
On arrival, you will be met by your Guardian Angel and taken by private car and driver to your hotel.
Overnight: Maria Cristina
Day 2 - San Sebastian
Enjoy a day of sightseeing in San Sebastián, including the famed horseshoe bay of La Concha, ending at the spectacular “Comb of the Winds” cliff sculpture. See the
“Chillida Leku” sculpture park, once the home of Eduardo Chillida, Spain’s greatest 20th century sculptor before taking a stroll in the fascinating “Parte Vieja” old town, home
of countless bars and restaurants serving the finest “pintxos” in the world. San Sebastián is quite simply one of the gastronomic capitals of Europe, with restaurants totalling
no less than 17 Michelin stars boasting mythical names like Arzak, Aduriz, Berasategui, Subijana.
Overnight: Maria Cristina
Meal Plan: B
Day 3 - French Basque Country
Today, choose between a half or full day excursion across the frontier to visit the French Pays Basque (Basque Country). Not nearly so developed as the Spanish Basque
region, this is a delightful combination of green valleys, traditional half timbered houses and charming seaside towns. The fishing port of Saint Jean de Luz is well worth a visit
(and a delicious lunch) as is the regional capital of Bayonne. Alternatively, drive inland to visit enchanting villages like Sarre or Ainhoa.
Overnight: Villa Soro
Meal Plan: B
Day 4 - Bilbao - Santillana del Mar
Today drive westwards, first to Bilbao, the most important city in the Basque country and home of the stupendous titanium Guggenheim Museum, created by Frank Gehry.
You will have time to visit its soaring interior and exhibition spaces in the company of an expert local guide, followed by lunch, perhaps in one of the taverns or famous “cider
houses” of the historic “Siete Calles” district.
After lunch continue westwards following the coast into the region of Cantabria. Past the capital, Santander and on to the enchanting village of Santillana del Mar, one of the
most perfectly preserved in all Spain. Its streets, which herds of cows still pass through, are lined with elegant palaces dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Tonight you
will stay in one of the finest of Spain’s famed “Paradores”, once the home of a local nobleman.
Overnight: Parador Gil Blas de Santillana
Meal Plan: B
Day 5 - Santillana del Mar - Altamira - Comillas - Santillana del Mar
Today could be spent in the company of an expert local guide exploring the streets and houses of Santillana, its art museums and superb Romanesque Colegiata church.
In the afternoon, perhaps a visit to the fascinating museum and reconstruction of the world famous prehistoric cave paintings of Altamira (the original caves are closed to
visitors). Alternatively, head down towards the coast to the charming village of Comillas, a long-favoured holiday resort of local aristocrats. You may choose to have lunch in
the remarkable “Capricho de Gaudi” restaurant, one of the first structures built by the Catalan architectural genius Antoni Gaudi.
Overnight: Parador Gil Blas de Santillana
Meal Plan: B
Day 6 - Santillana del Mar - Cangas de Onis
Option 1
Today you head inland into the superb mountain scenery of the Picos de Europa mountains, some of the finest in all Europe. Your road takes you along narrow valleys,
beside rushing streams and up to superb viewpoints. You may wish to stop in a village to sample the amazing cheese of Cabrales (blue heaven for some gastronomes –
putrefaction for others!) If the weather is fine you may like to take the spectacular cable car ride up to the high mountain pastures at Panes.
Option 2
Take the coast road, often with spectacular views of the ocean, past the seaport of San Vicente de la Barquera, the small town of Columbres and on to the most delightful
fishing port of all, Llanes, with its narrow streets and gaily painted houses. A perfect place for a lunch of superbly fresh fish.
Option 3
If you enjoy hiking, then a walk (not too strenuous because there is no climbing) along the absolutely spectacular gorge of the Cares is a marvellous possibility.
The day ends in the delightful village of Cangas de Onis with its magnificent single span medieval bridge, built for pilgrims on one of the roads to Santiago. Check in to
another splendid Parador, once the important monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva.
Overnight: Village location
Meal Plan: B
Day 7 - Asturias
Travel up into the mountains to visit one of Spain’s holiest shrines, the Cave of Our Lady of Covadonga, visited by pilgrims from all over Spain, including the prince of
Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne. Covadonga is also the location of the semi-mythical fortress of Pelayo, a local lord who in the 8th century was the only Spaniard to hold
out against the all powerful Muslim armies which, in a few years, had conquered the whole of the Iberian peninsula. From here he began the “Reconquest’ which lasted over
700 years.
Continue upwards, along the breathtaking mountain road that is the most famous stage in the Tour of Spain bicycle race, to the exquisite mountain Lakes of Covadonga.
Alternatively, you may choose to travel the short distance down to the coast, for lunch in the delightful holiday resort of Ribadasella overlooking the Atlantic rollers.
Overnight: Village location
Meal Plan: B
Day 8 - Oviedo
This morning take a short drive to Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias (from which the heir to the throne, Don Felipe, takes his title). Oviedo is one of the most
attractive and elegant of all Spanish provincial capitals. Its historic centre, situated around the Cathedral, is a magnificent example, not just of conservation, but of the
incorporation the old into the life of the city today. It is filled with delightful bars, restaurants, cider houses and spectacular pastry shops and the cathedral itself is superb, as
is the Fine Arts Museum. Your hotel is another landmark; originally a vast noble palace, today it is the centre of life in the city and the annual scenario of the Prince of
Asturias Prize ceremonies which might be seen as the Nobel Prizes of the Hispanic world.
Overnight: Hotel la Reconquista
Meal Plan: B
Day 9 - Oviedo - Gijon
The greatest treasures of Oviedo are not in fact in the city but just outside. In this region of Spain, shortly after the Reconquest took foot in the region, a number of exquisite
pre-Romanesque little churches were built; unique shrines like San Miguel de Lillo or Santa María de Naranco.
Continue towards the coast to the city of Gijón. Originally built as a port by the Romans, it still has some interesting remains close to the harbour. But perhaps more surprising
are the splendid mansions built in the late 19th century by poor emigrants, known as “indianos” who had escaped poverty in Spain to make their fortunes in the Americas,
particularly Cuba and Mexico, and returned home to dazzle their fellow citizens with the opulence of the homes they then built.
Overnight: Hotel la Reconquista
Meal Plan: B
Day 10 - Oviedo - Santiago de Compostela
Today you again have a choice of routes.
Option 1
Returning to the coast, the road first passes westwards through Cudillero, one of the most enchanting fishing ports in all Spain, which also boasts some fine “casas de
indianos”. Past the resort of Ribadeo, the road turns inland and after passing though the tiny cathedral town of Mondoñedo takes you to Lugo, still surrounded by the perfect
circle of its walls built by the Romans. Continue down to Santiago de Compostela where you stay in the superb Parador of the Reyes Católicos, founded by the Catholic
Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella as a hospital to care for the pilgrims.
Option 2
Return to the coast road and drive towards the northwestern tip of the Iberian peninsula. The road ducks in and away from the coast and, after the town of Ortigueira, diverts
to take you to the enchanting villages of Cariño and San Andrés de Tejeido. You are now in the heart of the dramatic scenery of the Rías Altas and the quite extraordinary
geological landscape of Cape Ortigal where the black granite is some of the oldest stone anywhere on earth.
Continuing southwards you rejoin the motorway system at the naval base town of El Ferrol, and from there quickly to the World Heritage city of Santiago de Compostela
which was, for over a thousand years, the end of the road of the greatest pilgrimage in Europe, still made annually by thousands of devout and less devout present day
pilgrims. Your hotel, the most magnificent of all the Paradores, was built at the end of the 15th century by the Catholic Kings, Ferdinand and Isabella, as a hospice for
pilgrims. Standing beside the great Cathedral, it is one of the most magnificent buildings in all Spain.
Overnight: Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos
Meal Plan: B
Day 11 - Santiago de Compostela
Today is spent exploring this fascinating city. Pride of place of course goes to the cathedral, a Romanesque jewel encased in a magnificent Baroque shell. The Pórtico de la
Gloria entrance is arguably the finest example of 12th century sculpture in Europe. Like the other pilgrims, you can stand behind the statue of the saint and, in true Spanish
style, put your arm over his shoulders in a friendly embrace. But there is much more to Santiago than that: arcaded streets (built to protect the inhabitants from the
all-so-frequent rain), countless churches and monasteries, large and small, and – not to be missed on any account – the market, where fresh fish and seafood from the
nearby ocean abound and little old ladies offer you samples of their delicious conical cheeses.
Overnight: Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos
Meal Plan: B
Day 12 - Galicia
The most famous natural feature of Galicia is its coastline, pierced everywhere by the long, often tortuous, fjord-like arms of the sea, the “Rias”. Today will be spent following
the edge of some of the most beautiful of the “Rias”. Each has its own character, most are filled with rafts and abandoned fishing boats which serve as supports for the
productions of millions of mussels and oysters. At low tide in the estuaries, women dig unceasingly for clams whilst from the cliffs, daring fisherman, suspended from ropes,
dangle to snatch the elusive goose barnacles from the waves that pound the cliffs. On the Rias of Muros and Arousa you will be able to visit small villages with busy ports
and enchanting little churches such as Cambados or Padrón.
Overnight: Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos
Meal Plan: B
Day 13 - Depart Santiago de Compostela
Today you will privately transferred to Santiago de Compostela Airport for departure flight.
Meal Plan: B