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Galician gastronomy

The combination of the cliffs with the peaceful estuaries fills Galicia with good fish and, above all, magnificent shellfish, which are prepared with maximum respect for the flavor of the raw material.

Galician soup: turnip greens, turnip tops (turnip stem), cooked potatoes, cabbage, pork fat and some additional ingredient, such as bacon, chorizo.

Octopus a Feira: cooked octopus cut into slices, sprinkled with olive oil, coarse salt and sprinkled with paprika, it can be sweet or spicy according to taste.

Lacón con grelos: lacón (meat dish), turnip tops, potatoes, chorizo, paprika and olive oil.

Empanada Gallega: the dough for this empanada is made with flour, yeast, lard, eggs, water, salt, olive oil and white wine filled with cod and raisins, tuna with peppers and onions.

Cooked Gallego: lacón, tail, pig's ear, veal leg, pork rib, chicken, chorizo, turnip greens, potatoes and chickpeas; It is accompanied with vegetables.

Santiago cake: eggs, almonds and sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest. It is, as its name indicates, typical of Santiago de Compostela, although it can be found throughout Galicia.

Larpeira: dough similar to stuffed kings thread pastry cream and drunk with syrup.

Gingerbreads: sweet threads of egg, flour, sugar and anise. Once fried, they are submerged in syrup.

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Asturias

Asturias Located in the narrow strip between the Cantabrian Sea and the Cantabrian Mountains, it thus forms part of the so-called "Green Spain", and it is this geographical location that has made it bear the nickname of Little Switzerland, due to the greenery of its meadows and the height of their peaks. Bathed to the north by the waters of the sea Cantabrian , it limits to the west with the Lugo province ( Galicia ), to the south with the province of Leon ( Castilla y León ) and to the east with Cantabria . Get the name of Principality for historical reasons, as the heir to the Castilla's crown the title of nobility Prince of Asturias. Since 1981 Asturias is an autonomous community within Spain. Divided into Councils or Municipalities form of government is parliamentary composed of General Meeting , the government council and the President ..

How to get there and get around Asturias

Plane: Asturias Airport, located in Santiago del Monte , 47 km from Oviedo, 40 km from Gijón and 15 km from Avilés, carries out national and international flights through the companies: Iberia, Volotea and Air Europa.

Train: In Asturias there are trains from RENFE and the former FEVE, a company incorporated into Renfe Operadora. The connection with Madrid is daily through the RENFE Alvia trains. There is also a line with Alicante. We are connected to Galicia with FEVE trains on the Ferrol-Oviedo-Gijón line. There are also lines with Bilbao or Santander.

Ship: the regular line ships that arrive in Asturias do so at the Port of El Musel, located six kilometers from the urban center of the city of Gijón/Xixón, and which is one of the most important port facilities in the North of Spain. Thanks to its location, deep drafts and sheltered waters, El Musel allows the entry and permanence of all types of large tonnage ships, including the scale of tourist cruises.

Bus: To get there it has to be through the company ALSA. From Oviedo there are connections with practically all the Spanish provinces and some international destinations.

Car: It is one of the fastest ways to get to Asturias. Depending on where you come from, there are different ways to access our community. Its road network is one of the most advanced in the country, with many kilometers of highway and free (there is a toll road to León).

What to see in Asturias

Oviedo

The municipality of Oviedo is the second most populous of the autonomous community behind Gijon, occupying the 23rd position among the most populous municipalities in Spain. The City of Oviedo is the capital of the autonomous community, the most important administrative center and touristic city with numerous samples of pre-Romanesque art being that its origin dates back to the High Middle Ages , 8th century. It is the geographical, university, religious, political and administrative center of Asturias , seat of the General Assembly of the Principality , of its institutions, of the University of Oviedo , from Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias , of the Princess of Asturias Awards as well as of the Archdiocese of Oviedo . According to European Commission is recognized as one of the cities with the highest quality of life in Europe.

Gijon (Xixon)

Located on the banks of the Cantabrian Sea next to a bay in the central-northern area, 28 km from Oviedo and 26 km from Avilés is the largest city in the principality and the seventh from Spain. Since its foundation at the time Roman its development has been linked to that of its port . In recent decades, the crisis in the steel and shipbuilding sectors has led to the reconversion of its productive fabric, which has transformed the city into a tourist, university and commercial center. Thus, in addition to having a municipal network of museums, it houses the cultural complex of the Labor University , a University campus and a scientific-technological park . The headquarters of the Consultative Council of the Principality of Asturias , the Radiotelevision of the Principality of Asturias and the Comprehensive Maritime Security Center from Maritime rescue .

Aviles

Located on both sides of the Avilés estuary , is only 25 km from Gijón , 27 km from the capital, Oviedo and is the third municipal capital in population of Asturias. It is connected through a wide network of highways, railways and buses, and is also one of the main fishing and freight ports in Spain. It is an industrial city that has several museums and buildings conserving a historical and artistic complex. made up of several palaces, noble houses, churches, squares, streets and large parks, together with a cultural heritage in which the Museum of Urban History and the Niemeyer Center .

Langreo

It's a council industrial complex that houses an interesting mining museum and borders to the north with siero and with Noreña , to the west with Oviedo , to the south with wednesday and east with Saint Martin of King Aurelio . It was one of the most important industrial centers in the country where the history of mining and industry dates back to the second half of the 18th century, when he promoted the extraction of coal to make the country progress economically. Due to its location, it is one of the most important coalfields in Asturias, since Its economy revolves around the use of its soil, but the exploitation of coal mines led to the appearance of a relevant sector that, together with industry, stood out for more than a century, being marked by a crisis that continues to this day.

Villaviciosa

this municipality bordered to the north by Cantabrian Sea , to the south with the municipalities of sariego , Nava , Goats and Piloña , to the west with those of Gijon and siero and to the east with Colunga . It is known for the quality of its cider and for the abundance of apple trees. The historic center of the city has architectural, artistic and historical gems. It has several beaches among them Playa de Rodiles the best known of the municipality that arises from the mouth of the Ría de Villaviciosa to the Cantabrian Sea and has more than 1 kilometer in length. The fishing port of Tazones is in one of the most beautiful towns in Spain, whose foundation dates back to the 16th century. It is interesting to visit Sidra El Gaitero, founded in 1898 that manufactures one of the best ciders in Spain. In 2017 the town of Poreñu was awarded the Exemplary Town of Asturias Award.

Ribadesella

It is bordered to the north by the Cantabrian Sea , to the east with Llanes , to the south with Cangas de Onis and pairs and west with Caravia . Founded by Alfonso X el Sabio , was one of the main ports Asturians the 19th century . The council also has numerous companies dedicated to adventure sports, such as canoeing, caving or climbing, standing out for the variety of tourism it offers, especially for the activities that surround the Tito Bustillo cave . It is famous for its prehistoric paintings that they vary according to the times and overlap each other, depending on the preferences of those who inhabited the cave between 22,000 and 10,000 BC. C. Next to it is the Cuevona, a cave that gives access to the town of Cuevas del Agua, to which to access you have to cross it; inside you will find stalactites, stalagmites, columns and lava flows.

Asturian beaches

There are more than two hundred, kilometers, wild, sandy, boulders, virgin, urban beaches such as: Penarronda Beach, somewhat windy, full of dunes and cliffs and exposed to waves and currents, ideal for surfing; Playa de Poo, is funnel-shaped and is located next to the mouth of the Vallina River, in Llanes; San Lorenzo beach, located in the Gijón Bay, is one of the most beautiful in all of northern Spain and has a beautiful 3-kilometre promenade; Playa del Silencio (Cudillero), is located at the foot of a white cliff with a most peculiar access. You have to walk along a dirt path to reach the bay and climb a ladder with more than 100 steps; Cadavedo Beach (Valdés), has shell-shaped with numerous rock formations, dark sand and crystalline waters; Playa de las Cuevas del Mar (Llanes), an authentic white sandbank and rock formations pierced by the sea that show their caves and tunnels; Mexota beach, crystal clear waters and white sand protected by high cliffs; Ballota Beach (Llanes), with calm waters and little waves, fine white sand and a landscape crowned by the Castro islet; Playa El Aguilar (Muros de Nalón), with strong waves where the Ruta de los Miradores begins; La Franca Beach (Ribadedeva), located between cliffs and forests.

Asturian gastronomy

Asturias hides a delicious cuisine that is very particular and Although it shares characteristics with its neighbors, its gastronomy has remained faithful to its kitchen, without haste, always taking advantage of the resources of the land.

Fabada: bean stew based on typical Asturian white beans, chorizo red, morcilla (blood sausage) and diced bacon.

Cheese: the best known Spanish blue cheese is Cabrales cheese, which is produced only in the town of the same name and in three towns in the Peñamellera Alta district.

Cachopo: It is a delicious breaded and fried kid with ham and cheese.

Frixuelos: very similar to French crepes (they have the same origin) and are eaten as dessert.

Casadielles: wheat flour dough, which is filled with nuts, anise and sugar. They can be fried or baked.

Arroz con Leche: It is a very popular rice pudding dessert in Asturias because of the way it is cooked.

San Vicente de la Barquera

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Cantabria

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Cantabria is an autonomous community that unites the best of the inland landscape with the proximity of the coast that endows this region with a varied landscape where mountains, valleys and coast are combined that offers to travelers many tourist routes, adventure tourism and wonderful beaches. It belongs to Green Spain, the name given to the strip of land between the Cantabrian and the Cantabrian Mountains, named for its especially exuberant vegetation due to the humid oceanic climate. This area has prehistoric caves such as Altamira, the most famous of all, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and called the "Sistine Chapel of Cave Art. It is also part of the well-known Camino de Santiago and its towns have beautiful monuments such as the Palacio de la Magdalena de Santander, the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana or the Capricho de Gaudí de Comillas.Along its coast there are many beaches of fine white sand in tourist destinations such as Laredo or San Vicente de la Barquera. In the interior, in addition to several Natural Parks, the Picos de Europa National Park, perfect for practicing adventure sports.

How to get there and get around Cantabria

Plane: Santander International Airport is located in Parayas, a short distance from the center of Santander with direct flights to Madrid, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Rome, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Malaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife North, Ibiza, Menorca, Seville, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.

Train: daily communications with Madrid and Valladolid with Renfe and with Bilbao and with Asturias with Faith. The FEVE-RENFE lines cross the Cantabrian territory in a "T" shape.

Bus: The company Alsa has lines between Santander and the main cities of Cantabria. Alternatively, public buses are available for larger cities.

Boat: there are ferries that connect Santander with Plymouth (England).

Car: communicated by toll-free highways with Bilbao and Asturias and with Madrid.

What to see in Cantabria

Santander

Capital of Cantabria forms with its bay a natural port whose first traces that are known date back to Roman times where today is the Cathedral. From that time to the present day, Santander has been one of the most important ports in the north of the peninsula, both commercial and military. The visitor finds in Santander the ancient and the modern, the traditional and the cosmopolitan around its large natural harbor.

The city combines its urban environment with beaches, nature, gastronomy and culture with a privileged landscape, with wide green spaces and beaches , such as the beach area of Matalenas , The Sardinero with extensive Beaches and one of the most exclusive neighborhoods and La Península La Magdalena , where Alfonso XIII had his summer residence. Near the city are the southern shores of the bay and the coastal strip that reaches the mouth of the Pas River.

Torrelavega

Belongs to the Besaya region and is located in a valley about 8 kilometers from the coast Cantabrian . The rivers flow into it Saja and Besaya . Of an industrial and commercial nature, it is the second most important urban nucleus behind the capital and one of the towns that crosses the Camino de Santiago del Norte along the Besaya route. With an area of 35.54 square kilometres, it is the fifty-seventh municipality in Cantabria by area. It is located about 24.5 kilometers from the Cantabrian capital. Archaeological sites have been located in the municipality, such as Mount Dobra or nearby caves located in neighboring municipalities where human presence has been confirmed in prehistoric times. It is interesting to visit The Herrero Palace, built in 1906, which is one of the most beautiful architectural works in the city, while in its historic center, among others Torrelavega Town Hall and the Church of the Virgen Grande built in 1964, the "cultural triangle" formed by the Concha Espina Municipal Theater , the Gabino Teira Municipal Library and the Mauro Muriedas Exhibition Hall, the Torrelavega urban park and the National Livestock Market.

Santillana del Mar

It is a picturesque town 33 km from Santander famous for its medieval architecture since the original core of the medieval town survives in the center. It was declared a historical-artistic complex in 1889 . Nearby is the Altamira cave discovered at the end of the 19th century, protected as World Heritage by UNESCO and which is known as the "Sistine Chapel" of cave art that it contains probably the most famous prehistoric paintings in the world. The towers of Merino and Don Borja (today the headquarters of the Santillana Foundation) are among the oldest civil constructions, the Santa Juliana Monastery , which would give way to the prestigious Santa Juliana collegiate church in the 12th century, the first and most important exponent of Romanesque art in Cantabria. In its cobbled medieval streets we can also find multiple craft workshops and taste the tasty milk with biscuits, most popular snack in the village.

Laredo

Located 50 km from Santander It has a majestic beach of 7 kilometers long, toasted sand and very safe. The first thing to see is the Puebla Vieja, the medieval old town, at the foot of the church of Santa María, a beautiful building built between the 12th and 18th centuries and declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1970. The medieval Puebla Vieja, which is considered to be one of the best preserved and largest in Cantabria and northern Spain It is made up of six streets within the old wall from the time of Alfonso VIII built around Puebla Vieja in the 13th century. Puebla Vieja shows many stately buildings with heraldic coats of arms of the oldest families in Laredo in the Middle Ages and later times, as well as the Risco viewpoint with panoramic views of all of Laredo, the gates of the aforementioned wall, the house of the Constable of Castile where the royalty stayed, the watchtower and the Fort of the Rake at the top of the Watchtower,

Castro Urdiales

Founded by the Romans it is a popular tourist destination offering a marina, a fishing port and two beaches. It is a modern town, although its castle and the Gothic-style parish church of Santa María de la Asunción date from the Middle Ages. Its main industries are tourism, fishing, and the preservation of fish, especially sardines and anchovies, in oil. In the center of the city, next to the sea, is the aforementioned Church of Santa María de la Asunción built under the protection of King Alfonso VIII of Castile in the 13th century, completed in the 15th century and declared a National Monument in 1931. Other places of interest are: El Castillo de Santa Ana, an old castle located next to the port; the Cotolino Park, a spectacular projection of the coast towards the sea; the Paseo Marítimo, which runs through a large part of the town where will you see Brazomar beach; Amestoy Park and the most popular area, its Puebla Vieja, where the visitor usually gets lost in its alleys to enjoy its typical marine atmosphere and its popular constructions.

Historic town of just 41 km2 surrounded by a privileged environment, in the heart of the Oyambre Natural Park, it is a protected natural area where tourism is its main economic activity. There is evidence of human settlement since the Prehistory . Fishing and seafaring town, whose port was and still is the heart of activity, also has beautiful beaches such as Oyambre and the extensive sandbanks of Merón, small coves such as Gerra, without forgetting the San Vicente estuary, the of the Tostadero and Sources. All of them have as a common denominator their transparent waters, surrounded by meadows. Its architectural heritage is represented by the Puebla Vieja, which is located on an arm of land between the forked channel of the estuary. Declared a Historic-Artistic Site, its most significant buildings are the King's Castle, from the 13th century and the Tower of the Provost. Other points are the Hospital de la Concepción, the church of Santa María de los Ángeles and the ruins of the convent and church of San Luis, built at the end of the 15th century next to the estuary and at one end of the Puente de la Maza.

Quotation marks

Half a hundred kilometers from Santander bordering to the north with the Cantabrian Sea , is this city with medieval and baroque buildings that was one of the few places outside of Catalonia in which modernist artists took part showing their abundant and visible works throughout the town. That's why it counts with some of the most emblematic buildings of Cantabrian modernism, highlighting the Palacio de Sobrellano -where the Chapel/Pantheon of the Marqueses de Comillas is located-, the Pontifical University or the internationally known "Capricho" of Gaudi . It was also the first Spanish town to have electricity. The town has a beach of fine sand close to the fishing port and due to the ecological interest of its coast it is included in the Oyambre Natural Park.

pots

Located in the Liebana region of which is capital was elected Rural Capital 2020. There the two come together rivers from Liebana : the Deva and its tributary Quiviesa at the confluence of four valleys and near the mountain Arabesque (694 m asl ), which can be climbed from the town. Have a microclimate of type Mediterranean that allows the cultivation of vine , walnut, poplar. There are no more vestiges of the antiquity , although historians They suppose that it must have been populated in the prehistory . Its main point of visit is the Torre del Infantado, which was the town hall of the town but today is a cultural center; the Almenada, an Italian-style castle and other towers such as those of San Pedro, Orejón de la Lama, Calseco, Linares and Osorio where in some of them you can see the Picos de Europa. Very close to the Torre del Infantado is the old church of San Vicente, a Gothic building with two naves that began to be erected around the 14th century.

Major Barcena

It is located almost 45 km southwest of Santander, in the Saja-Besaya Natural Park and 495 meters high in the valley of Argoza river. It's a well-preserved village of rural mountain architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries with stone houses and wooden balconies full of colorful flowers declared in 1979 as a set historical-artistic . It is one of the oldest towns in Spain, as there are citations about the Cabuérniga valley since the Middle Ages. In its surroundings you can enjoy oak and beech forests, the Church of Santa María from the 18th century and its urban area with cobbled streets. There are craft shops where you can buy articles made of wood, leather, wicker and ceramics.

Beaches

In its 220 kilometers of coastline there are more than ninety beaches, some urban such as the beaches of El Sardinero located in the neighborhood of the same name in Santander and Mataleñas, which is not too large with clean white sand and others such as: Berria, 2,200 meters long, located on the Trasmiera coast, very close to Santoña; Langre for many the most beautiful beach in all of Cantabria located in Ribamontán al Mar; Virgen del Mar, one of the most beautiful sandy areas in Cantabria, just 6 km. from Santander; El Pedrero one of the natural borders between Cantabria and Asturias, located at the mouth of the Tina Mayor estuary; He loved a tongue of sand that joins a small islet located right on the border with Asturias; war a virgin beach of almost a kilometer long near San Vicente de la Barquera; Oyambre a beautiful sandbank 2 km long 4 km from Comillas and about 6 from San Vicente de la Barquera; Noja, 45 km east of Santander; we are a 2-kilometer-long sandbank, which is added to the beaches of El Puntal and Loredo, forming a 4-km strip of golden sand.

Gastronomy of Cantabria

The profile of Cantabria presents two well-differentiated gastronomic zones: the Cantabrian coast, where the fishing tradition of seafaring towns brings to the tables very fine fish and shellfish cooked in aromatic sauces, and the inland mountains, where livestock plays a great role both for meat beef and dairy production.

Cheeses: Of the 11 denominations of origin that exist for cheese in Spain, Cantabria monopolizes three, which are: Queso de Cantabria, Queso Picón Bejes-Tresviso and Quesucos de Liébana.

Tenderloin with Tresviso cheese: beef tenderloin covered in a Treviso cheese sauce with cream, white wine and pepper.

Lebaniego stew: chickpeas from Potes, potato and compango (chorizo, cecina, bacon, knee bone).

Mountain stew: white beans, cabbage and compango (chorizo, black pudding, marinated rib, bacon).

Anchovies from Santoña: once the process is finished, they are preserved in olive oil and are already ready to eat. The most renowned are those of Santoña, but there are other coastal towns that also produce them, such as Colindres, Castro or Laredo.

Sorropotún: tuna stew accompanied by potatoes, green pepper, loaf bread, tomato and onion.

Bonito marmita: chopped vegetables, potatoes plus fish broth, tomato sauce, hot paprika, white pepper and salt to which the bonito cut into cubes is added.

Quesada pasiega: curdled cow's milk mixed with flour, eggs, butter and sugar.

Sobaos pasiegos: very spongy biscuits with wheat flour, white sugar and butter.

Orujo de Liébana: liquor that comes from the Lebaniega grape; It is usually taken after dessert as it has digestive properties. There are several types of pomace of different flavors such as herbs, honey and pomace cream.

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Basque Country

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The Basque Country is located at the eastern end of the Cantabrian Sea coast, bordering France . It is made up of the Álava provinces , whose capital is Vitoria-Gasteiz; Guipúzcoa, whose capital is San Sebastián/Donostia , and Vizcaya, whose capital is Bilbao , the most populous in the country, followed by Vitoria , the official seat of Parliament and the Government of the autonomous community of the Basque Country . It is bordered to the east by Navarra and the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques ( New Aquitaine region ), to the south by La Rioja , and to the west by the province of Burgos ( Castilla y León ) and Cantabria . Its alpine relief is combined with 246 kilometers of coastline, alternating both with spectacular cliffs as with fine sand beaches (San Sebastián, Zarautz or Getxo) and Natural Parks. It has known how to preserve its ancestral culture, its language and its character throughout history with strong cultural traditions, a famous gastronomy and a characteristic language that predates the Romance languages.

How to get to the Basque Country

Plane: it has three airports, one next to each provincial capital, in Vitoria , San Sebastián and Bilbao (the largest), airports that you can reach from numerous points on the continent by plane. Biarritz Airport, in France, is only 11 km from the border with the Basque Country.

Train: the cities of Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastián receive daily trains from Madrid and Barcelona with routes that They last between 5 and 7 hours. As for long-distance lines and their international connections, in the border city of Irún there is a connection with the French TGV, which allows you to travel daily to Paris in just over five hours.

Buses: they arrive at the capitals of the Basque Country from various points in Spain and even from other European countries. The main terminals are: Termibús de Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz bus station and Donostia-San Sebastián bus station. All are located in central points in their respective cities. The main companies are Pesa, Alsa, Continental, La Unión and Bilmanbus.

Ship: the port of Bilbao is the main entrance by sea. Every three days a ferry leaves for Bilbao from the English town of Portsmouth.

What to see in the Basque Country

Bilbao

Located at the mouth of the Ría de Bilbao, it is not only the largest city in the Basque country, but it is also the most important economically and has the main port in the region. The name of Bilbao is very likely to have its origin in the Basque words "bi albo" which mean "two sides" since the city actually extends on both sides of the estuary, so the different neighborhoods are linked by bridges. . apart from the Guggenheim museum you can enjoy numerous attractions, such as: The Old Town one of the most important shopping and leisure areas in Bilbao; the new square arcaded square from the middle of the 19th century; the Plaza Elliptica with one of the most beautiful monuments in the city, the Chávarri Palace from the 19th century; Bilbao's Gran Vía where the Palace of the Provincial Council of Biscay is located, a building from the end of the 19th century; Bilbao City Council; the Bilbao Stock Exchange; The Arriaga Theater, neo-baroque style; the Campos Elíseos Theater, in a modernist style, and Deusto University; the Cathedral of Santiago, a Gothic temple from the 14th century; the Iglesia San Antón, also Gothic but with a Renaissance portal and a Baroque tower; the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Begoña, a 16th century basilica and the Church of San Nicolás, in baroque style. The Isozaki Towers (in Basque Isozaki Atea) are two twin towers of about 83 m. tall with 23 floors.

Riverside Market

Located on the right bank of the Nervión estuary next to the Casco Viejo and very close to the San Antón bridge, it has a commercial area of 10,000 m², making it the largest covered market in Europe. Popularly called "the Square" it was built in 1929 on what had previously been an open-air market. Its history dates back to the fourteenth century obtaining in 1990 the Guinness Record for being the most complete Municipal Food Market and the largest covered market in all of Europe. The enclosure is made up of three floors, where you can find a wide variety of food with a gastronomic offer of restaurants and bars where you can taste ham, seafood, gildas or enjoy the best live jazz.

Bilbao Guggenheim Museum

Built by Canadian architect and designer Frank O. Gehry, it is today perhaps Bilbao's most important hallmark. Its construction lasted four years and its architecture, made of glass, metal and limestone, it is characterized by its spectacular organic shapes that contrast with sober geometric shapes, creating a very original set. Its reflections of light and games of mirrors produce interesting optical effects caused by the glass cladding whose reflections multiply with those generated by the artificial lake and the same estuary where it is located. In an area of 11,000 m², it houses both a permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, specifically works that range from the second half of the 20th century to the present day. Additionally, the museum organizes the aforementioned temporary exhibitions that change frequently, offering activities for those who wish to broaden their artistic knowledge.

Vitoria-Gasteiz

City of exemplary urban design founded in 1181 it is the official seat of the Parliament and the Government of the autonomous community of the Basque Country . It preserves a medieval quarter where it is possible to find innumerable charming places, gardens and tree-lined walks that make this capital a green lung with medieval streets that mix harmoniously with Renaissance palaces and neoclassical churches. Its nerve center is the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, presided over by the monument to the battle of Vitoria. In it is the church of San Miguel, which houses the image of the Virgen Blanca, patron saint of the city. In the highest part stands the Gothic temple of the Cathedral of Santa María or Old Cathedral declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. In its old streets you can find some of the most significant Renaissance palaces in the capital, such as the Palacio de los Escoriaza-Esquibel, the Casa de Maturana-Verástegui and the Torre de los Anda, the Palacio de Bendaña (16th century) and the Casa del Cordón, the Palacio of the Provincial Council of Álava, from the 19th century and the Tower of Doña Otxanda,

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

It is an islet in the town of Bermeo, 35 km east of Bilbao , linked to the mainland by a bridge with two arches. On the island, at the top of a rock, there is a hermitage dedicated to San Juan that dates back to the 10th century, although some discoveries refer to the 9th century. Until reaching the Hermitage there is a path and a staircase of 240 irregular steps, one of the most spectacular stairs in the world. It has historically been a place of pilgrimage built on the remains of a castle attached to the Kingdom of Navarre. His coast is wild where the The sea gradually erodes the rock, sandstone and hard reef limestone. carving in them tunnels, arches and caves.

Saint Sebastian

Donostia in Basque, is located 20 kilometers from the border with France and is the capital of the province of Guipúzcoa. Its Casco Viejo full of alleys and monuments is very beautiful and quiet with ancient monuments such as the "Museo de San Telmo", the "Church of Santa María" and the "Parish of San Vicente". The city has three urban beaches: Ondarreta, La Concha and Zurriola. Ondarreta Beach It is located between the Miramar Palace and Mount Igueldo. It is the smallest of the three and somewhat more informal than La Concha. Playa de la Concha which, with a length of 1,350 m, 40 m wide and with an area of 54,000 m², it has been an elegant summer destination since the 19th century. Zurriola Beach It is the most open beach to the sea that due to its strong waves is the most frequented by young people and surfers. In the center of the bay, 500 meters in front of Ondarreta, is the Island of Santa Clara.

Hondarribia

Or Fuenterrabía in Spanish, is located about 20 km east of San Sebastián, at the mouth of the Bidasoa River and is considered one of the most beautiful towns in the Basque Country. It has a walled historic center and beautiful Basque-style houses, most with wooden balconies painted in a range of colors. After the walk through the Casco Viejo, you can finally descend little by little towards the Church of Santa María de la Asunción (15th century), the Plaza de Armas and the Barrio de la Marina, a fishermen's quarter, where most of the bars and restaurants that have made the town famous are located. Another tourist attraction in Fuenterrabía is its beach, which stretches 800 m, offering sand and calm waters to both locals and tourists.

Gastronomy of the Basque Country

Basque cuisine is a true reflection of its own culture, which for centuries has maintained its own personality in a border environment that has always known how to combine sea and mountain products of each season.

Pintxos: small tapas or bites that are usually presented on bread in the most imaginative and delicious combinations of flavors.

M armitako : tuna in pieces with a sauce based on potatoes, onion and peppers.

Hake 'a la Koskera' : accompanied with a green sauce made up of olive oil, minced garlic and fresh parsley leaves, fish broth or fumet, dry white wine and salt to taste.

Bacalao al pil pil: based on a sauce called pil pil that forms when it comes together the oil where it is fried the cod to its juice. This releases a gelatin that binds with the oil to create a delicious sauce.

Bass a la donostiarra: roasted sea bass served with a garlic, cherry and oil dressing.

Piperrada: It is a basic vegetable to cook with tuna or as a garnish for other fish or meat.

Gilda: It is one of the most renowned pintxos, consisting of olives, chillies, anchovies rolled up on itself and olives again, skewered on a toothpick.

Goxua: typical sweet with cream plus a layer of sponge cake soaked in liquor covered with pastry cream and liquid caramel.

Basque cake or 'gâteau basque': dough made of flour, butter and eggs, sugar and cinnamon which is usually filled with pastry cream.

Navarre

Navarre officially called Comunidad Foral de Navarra It limits to the northeast with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques , to the northwest with the Basque Country , to the east and southeast with Aragón , and to the south with La Rioja .

The current Foral Community of Navarre covers the territory corresponding to the High Navarre of the Renaissance ; Lower Navarre is part of the so-called « French Basque Country ». Historically, it formally maintained its institutions and kingdom status until 1841 , when, for all purposes, it was one more province within Spain , although it continued to maintain high fiscal autonomy.

On a trip through this community you will be able to enjoy great landscape contrasts, from the green and mountainous Navarrese Pyrenees, to the semi-desert landscapes of the Bardenas Reales as beautiful villages of great beauty and a great gastronomy.

Ancla 5

Reservá los mejores Paseos y Tours por el País Vasco

How to get there and get around Navarra

Plane: Pamplona has an airport located in Noáin, 6 kilometers from the city, which connects Pamplona with Madrid, Barcelona or Gran Canaria and in summer with some of the Balearic Islands and Frankfurt.

Train: there are daily direct trains to Donostia-San Sebastián, Irun, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Zaragoza, Tarragona, Lleida, Barcelona, Madrid, Gijón, Oviedo, Palencia and León. Also, several days a week there are direct links to Burgos, La Coruña, Orense and Vigo.

Bus: there are both national and international services. Twenty bus companies connect Pamplona daily with many regional and national destinations such as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Murcia, Bilbao, Donostia-San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz or Logroño and to some French towns. To move around Pamplona there are very good means of public and tourist transport, although it is advisable to walk it.

Car: there is a good road network with a center in Pamplona from where the main roads to the rest of the community depart.

What to see in Navarre

Pamplona
Capital of the province of Navarra extends to both banks of the river Arga . It is known for the bullfight of the Fiesta de San Fermín in July that lasts for several days where daring runners lead the bulls through the streets of the city. It is also an important stop on the Camino de Santiago. Traditionally it has been believed that the city was founded in 74 BC. C. by the Roman general Pompey as Pompaelo or Pompelo. Among its most representative monuments are the Cathedral of Santa María , the Church of San Saturnino , the Church of San Nicolás , the Citadel or the Chamber of Accounts , all of which have been declared Assets of Cultural Interest . It is the financial and commercial center of Navarre, in addition to also being the administrative center of the community because it is the headquarters of the institutions of the regional administration and the territorial administration of the State.

Olite

About 40 kilometers south of Pamplona, you can stroll through the narrow pedestrian streets of a medieval town with stately houses with coats of arms and a large castle that dominates the city, an outstanding example of Navarrese and European civil Gothic. You can walk the narrow streets of this city and contemplate the stone facades of its ancestral homes, its walled enclosure, impressive churches such as Santa María la Real, a heritage of Spanish Gothic. Its origins date back to the 12th century and in its beautiful interior you will see a single nave and a large Renaissance altarpiece from the 17th century, as well as two Gothic carvings from the 14th century.

Ochagavía

It is located at an altitude of 764 meters north of the Salazar Valley, northeast of the Navarrese Pyrenees, 85 km from the capital of the community, Pamplona. It is located next to the limits of the Selva de Irati , one of the most beautiful natural landscapes you can see in Navarra. This town seduces the visitor with its cobbled streets, its houses with steep roofs, always separated from one another, the stone church and the medieval bridge that crosses its river where you can visit the medieval palaces of Urrutia, Iriarte and Donamaría and the different emblazoned houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. In the Navarrese Pyrenees you will also find various examples of beautiful rural architecture.

Stella

Capital of the region of Tierra Estella has its origins in Roman populations; It was born under the Camino de Santiago and already in the fifteenth century it was known as Estella la bella. Crossed by the river Ega, it has a medieval old town where the Romanesque and Gothic buildings tell us about its historical splendour. Walking through its streets gives you the opportunity to contemplate its palaces, stately homes, bridges and churches of Romanesque origin. The Palace of the Kings of Navarre located in Estella is one of the few examples of Romanesque still in Spain. You can also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with its Gothic façade, the Eguía palace or the Fray Diego house. At the top of a large staircase is the church of San Pedro de la Rúa. The historic center, on two sides of the Ega River and crossed by the Puente de la Cárcel, also has Renaissance palaces such as San Cristóbal (today Fray Diego de Estella House of Culture) and Baroque palaces, such as the Palace of Justice . The Plaza de los Fueros is the center of the city, where the traditional market is held and where the neoclassical façade of the church of San Juan stands.

Queen's Bridge

This medieval town is located 24 kilometers from Pamplona and is one of the places with the most Compostelan symbolism in Navarra. Two of the main routes of the Camino de Santiago meet here, so you can continually see pilgrims on that route. It has preserved its initial urban layout, built around its main street. Some of the architectural jewels of this Navarrese town are the churches of the Crucifico, Santiago and San Pedro and the Romanesque bridge over the river Arga whose length is 110 meters, with a 4-meter-wide roadway, supported by 7 half-span arches. point and 5 pillars. There are several archaeological sites in Puente la Reina that suggest an early human occupation of the territory; in fact in the town of Mendigorria, just 6.8 km from Puente la Reina, are the ruins of the Roman city of Andelos.

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Located in the Baztán valley, 65 kilometers from Pamplona, where upon arrival you will be greeted by a striking entrance arch with white wood-framed houses in a lush green setting. Later, as you walk through its streets, you will discover the magnificent red façade of its farmhouse, made of stone from the Almándoz quarries. At the top of its mount Gaztelu, was the Castle of Amaiur where one of the last resistances of the Navarrese to the Conquest of Navarre took place. Recent archaeological excavations have brought to light some towers of the now disappeared castle. Among the obligatory visits are the Palacio Arretxea, the Casa Arriada and, above all, the mill that offers various products related to corn or wheat flour and taste fine corn cakes that are consumed accompanied by other products such as cheese and chocolate.

Artajona

This small town is located 30 kilometers from Pamplona. Its medieval fortress from the 11th century and its labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets, together with its monumental houses and palaces will give you the feeling of having gone back centuries in the history of Spain. I know its palaces, the gothic church of San Pedro and the basilica of Our Lady of Jerusalem stand out. Its most impressive space is the walled complex of El Cerco, of medieval origin. The tower of the church of San Saturnino stands out majestically above the walls what had fourteen towers, of which nine have been preserved, cubic and battlemented, joined by the twelfth-century wall and a walkway.

Sanguesa

Located on a terrace on the left bank of the Aragón River about 44 kilometers from Pamplona is the capital of the region; In addition to being part of the Camino de Santiago, it is important for its historical-artistic heritage of medieval origin, such as the doorway of the church of Santa María, which is considered a National Monument and is one of the peaks of Romanesque. Its streets recall that past with numerous religious and civil buildings originating from the era of great medieval splendor of the city such as the roofs of the palaces of Calle Mayor and Alfonso el Batallador. Within a few kilometers there are such outstanding monuments as the Javier castle and the San Salvador de Leire monastery, as well as spectacular landscapes: the Lumbier and Arbayún gorges and the Roncal and Salazar valleys, already in the Pyrenees. No less important is its crafts and its delicious gastronomy, where vegetables and legumes, red meat, cheese, mushrooms, game and fishing are not lacking.

Roncesvalles

Located 47 km from Pamplona and in the heart of the Pyrenees, it is the 'official' gateway to the Peninsula and the most frequent starting point where many of pilgrims start the Camino de Santiago. Everything in the place is imbued with that atmosphere of pilgrimage and wrapped in the legendary halo of the famous battle that took place here in the year 778. One of its most important points of interest is the Collegiate Church of Orreaga / Roncesvalles, a space of architecture 13th century mediaeval In whose three-nave Gothic interior the 14th-century wooden carving of the Virgin of Roncesvallesa is preserved. Its historical and cultural heritage is exceptional: Pilgrim Hospital, Chapel of Sancti Spiritus, the old mill converted into a Tourist Office, the monument with the mythical fight between Roldán and Ferragut and the beautiful cross that marks the exit from Roncesvalles, on the way to Burguete.

Elizondo

is the capital of the Baztan valley located 57.5 kilometers from the capital Pamplona. It is a settlement that is more urban than rural given the abundance of shops, bars, restaurants, workshops and bank branches, with services being its socio-economic base. The combination of a natural environment of great beauty and stately homes and palaces in its streets makes this town an idyllic setting where various fairs and markets are held. The white walls, the gabled roofs, the wooden balconies characterize the landscape of the streets of Elizondo, in which the stately homes and palaces of the old neighborhood stand out especially. You cannot miss visiting, among many others, the imposing baroque palace of Arizkunenea; the Datue Palace built between the 17th and 18th centuries; the Church of Santiago and the City Hall of Elizondo original from 1695, and located in the Plaza de los Fueros.

Gastronomy of Navarra

With strong influences from its neighboring communities, such as La Rioja, Aragón or the Basque Country, its recipes have managed to differentiate themselves and create a own identity that has traditional dishes and recipes for all tastes.

Idiazábal cheese: one of the most prestigious that is made with raw milk from sheep of the Latxa and Carranzana breeds.

Asparagus: they are very recognizable due to their white color and their smooth texture, and they are one of the most important products of Navarra gastronomy. They are grilled and add pure pine nut paste, chive flowers , salt and extra virgin olive oil.

Tortas de Chanchigorri, or Txantxigorri: desserts made with fatty products from lard, sugar and bread dough.

Pisto: fried vegetables and one of the most famous is the Pisto de Tafalla.

Curds: sheep's milk and natural rennet, to which sugar or honey is added, a natural coagulation process, where dairy enzymes act on their own.

Chilindron: lamb stew with olive oil, garlic, parsley, lemon peel and salt cooked with water.

Bacalao ajoarriero: cod with various vegetables whose paste, the ajoarriero, is made from potatoes, oil, eggs and garlic.

Navarra trout: fish stuffed with ham crumbs and fried in a frying pan, to later wrap everything with slices of Iberian ham.

Txistorra: sausage made with pork, garlic and paprika, it is usually eaten fried and accompanied with bread.

Pochas de Navarra with chistorra: variety of white beans that are consumed before they reach maturity; they are stewed with carrot, pepper, tomato, garlic, leek and spring onions.