Northern Spain from Bilbao: Cantabria and Galicia

Arrival at the hotel. Meet the other tour participants and the tour leader at 8:30 p.m. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

40%

Nature

40%

Relax

60%

Food

30%

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure for San Sebastián, an elegant city overlooking the spectacular La Concha Bay, framed by Mount Urgull and Mount Igueldo. During the panoramic tour of San Sebastián, we will explore its refined avenues and elegant seafront streets, recalling the period when, in the early 20th century, the city became a favourite summer destination for European royalty and aristocracy.

Free time in the lively harbour area and the historic centre of San Sebastián, filled with traditional bars and welcoming venues where you can taste the famous Basque pintxos, small specialities of the local culinary tradition.

In the afternoon, return to Bilbao for a guided tour of the Casco Viejo, the historic heart of the city, with its lively lanes, squares and ancient buildings. The day continues with an exterior presentation of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture designed by Frank Gehry and a symbol of the city’s urban renewal. Admission and the interior visit are not included.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

40%

Nature

40%

History

40%

Food

30%

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Santander, an elegant city overlooking the Cantabrian Sea and, for centuries, an important commercial port for Castile. In the early 20th century, it became a renowned summer destination for the Spanish royal family and aristocracy, leading to the construction of many refined buildings. Among them stands the Palacio de la Magdalena, a former royal residence set on a peninsula overlooking the sea and now home to international university activities.

Continue to Santillana del Mar, a charming medieval town declared a Historic-Artistic Site. Free time to stroll along its characteristic cobbled streets, lined with stone houses and palaces adorned with wooden balconies, balustrades and ancient coats of arms.

The next stop will be Comillas, an elegant town on the Cantabrian coast renowned for its Modernist heritage. Here stands El Capricho de Gaudí, an original building designed by the celebrated Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, distinguished by its imaginative forms and colourful ceramic decorations.

The journey continues along the scenic Cantabrian coast, offering views of the Cantabrian Sea and San Vicente de la Barquera, a picturesque fishing village dominated by its castle and the Church of Santa María de los Ángeles. Continue towards Asturias and arrive in Oviedo.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

50%

Nature

30%

History

60%

Food

50%

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, guided tour of Oviedo, the elegant capital of Asturias. The itinerary begins with the two remarkable 9th-century Pre-Romanesque churches, Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. Built during the reign of Ramiro I, they are exceptional examples of Asturian art. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they form one of the most important early medieval complexes in Christian Spain.

The tour continues through the historic centre with an exterior presentation of the Cathedral of San Salvador, a predominantly Gothic building erected over earlier religious structures and an important landmark along the Primitive Way to Santiago.

Free time for lunch. We recommend visiting a traditional Asturian cider house, where you can enjoy regional specialities and the famous Asturian cider, poured using the traditional escanciado technique, with the bottle held above the head and the glass positioned below.

In the afternoon, departure for Santiago de Compostela, the final destination for pilgrims travelling along the renowned Way of St James.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

50%

Nature

30%

History

50%

Relax

30%

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, guided tour of Santiago de Compostela, one of Europe’s most important spiritual and cultural destinations. According to tradition, the relics of Saint James the Apostle were discovered here in the 9th century, an event that gave rise to one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage routes: the Way of St James.

The city developed around the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, built on the site traditionally associated with the discovery of the Apostle’s tomb and now the final destination for pilgrims arriving from across Europe. The guided tour passes through monumental squares, historic buildings and the charming arcaded streets of the historic centre, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before ending at the Cathedral.

Depending on the schedule of religious services, it may be possible to attend the traditional Pilgrim’s Mass. On special liturgical occasions or when scheduled, visitors may also see the Botafumeiro, the famous monumental thurible that swings across the Cathedral’s transept and has become one of the city’s symbols.

The afternoon is free to explore the characteristic streets of the historic centre, with their arcades, traditional shops, squares and stone palaces reflecting the centuries-old history of Santiago de Compostela.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

40%

Nature

60%

History

40%

Food

30%

Continue to Astorga, a historic town in the Maragatería region and an important crossroads between the Way of St James and the ancient Via de la Plata. Brief exterior panoramic tour of the Cathedral of Santa María, built over several centuries and combining Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements.

Next to the Cathedral stands the Episcopal Palace of Astorga, an original Neo-Gothic building designed by the celebrated Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and now home to the Museum of the Ways.

Free time for lunch. We recommend tasting the traditional cocido maragato, a hearty local speciality prepared with meat, pulses and vegetables and served in a distinctive order, beginning with the meat and ending with the soup.

In the afternoon, continue towards Madrid.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

50%

Nature

20%

History

50%

Food

50%

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure to explore Madrid independently and tailor the visit to your interests. You may stroll through the elegant squares and avenues of the city centre, visit the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace or the Reina Sofía Museum, or experience the atmosphere of the Spanish capital among traditional markets, parks, shops and typical restaurants.

Dinner at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Culture

50%

History

50%

Relax

30%

Food

30%

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Burgos, a historic city in Castile and an important stop along the Way of St James. Guided tour of the medieval centre, which preserves squares, palaces and streets rich in historical heritage, passing through the imposing Arco de Santa María, the ancient monumental gateway to the city.

The tour continues with the remarkable Cathedral of Burgos, a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begun in the 13th century and enriched over the following centuries, it houses important works of art and the tombs of the legendary knight El Cid Campeador and his wife Jimena.

At the end of the visit, continue towards Bilbao, arriving in the late afternoon, no earlier than 6:30 p.m.

End of services.