Route of St. James |
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Day
1
Our trip starts in Bilbao, once a very important
stop for pilgrims on their way by the coast road
to Santiago de Compostela. This is the only city
in the country, apart from Santiago de Compostela,
to declare the saint patron of the city and therefore,
to name their cathedral after him.
The stopover includes a visit to the cathedral of
art: the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
After the guided visit and lunch at the museum,
our route takes us to Santander, the Pearl of the
Bay of Biscay.
Day 2
The whole morning is given over to the city. A stroll
along the flowery promenades affords the opportunity
to contemplate the beautiful belle époque
buildings. A short excursion to the town of Santillana
del Mar follows. Considered a "medieval jewel",
it was described by Jean- Paul Sartre as "the
most beautiful in Spain". A walk through the
narrow streets transports you to the Middle Ages.
After lunch in town, early evening sees us back
in Santander.
Day 3
En route towards Leon, our next destination is Comillas,
known as the "Town of Bishops", where
we are given the rare opportunity to visit one of
famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí's bizarre
architectural visions: "El Capricho".
Lunch en route while viewing one of the most impressive
stretches of countryside in Spain: the Picos de
Europa, a dramatic, snow capped range of peaks with
deep gorges, cascading rivers, and beautiful, isolated
valleys.
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| Cathedral of Santiago |
Day
4
Leon is without doubt one of the most charming medieval
towns in the country, situated on the main pilgrim's
route to Santiago de Compostela. The day is spent
visiting its late Gothic cathedral considered the
high point in Gothic architecture in the country.
The Basilica of St. Isidore houses the finest Romanesque
frescos in Spain. At dinner is an opportunity to
savour not only the fine food but also to appreciate
the 14th century timber and stone constructions
of Restaurante Bodega Regia.
Day
5
An early departure from Leon is planned in order
to take in Astorga, where the Route of St. James
meets the Silver Route. This town is a monument
in itself, with its walls, churches, parks, and
palaces, one of which is another of Gaudí's
wonders (the Episcopal Palace). Lunch is taken en
route and then onto our final destination, Santiago
de Compostela.
Day 6
This medieval town with its stone-paved streets
is Galicia's pride and joy, and the destination
of over a million pilgrims every year who travel
there in search of culture, history and religion.
Our visit includes a stroll along its famed granite-paved
streets and a visit to the cathedral in all its
monumental glory, and then a walk through the old
quarter of this incredible city.
In the afternoon, there is an excursion to Cambados,
the heart of the "albariño wine"
district. Here a visit to a bodega (winery) is planned
as is lunch at the Parador de Turismo (Pazo de Bazán).
Day 7
Today provides us with the opportunity to visit
the city of A Coruña. The visit includes
a tour of the old town, with its fantastic Romanesque
parish church and the Plaza de María Pita,
so-called in honour of the heroine who saved the
city from the invasion led by English commander
Francis Drake in 1589. The city is also home to
the oldest surviving Roman lighthouse. However,
yet another jewel is planned for the afternoon,
namely, the town of Betanzos, where, after lunch
we can take a stroll through the hidden treasures
of this quaint medieval hillside settlement. |
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