The Spanish Green Path

Beaches, cliffs, fishing villages, millenary traditions and an excellent gastronomy. That is what Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Euskadi can offer you. In Asturias we will enjoy the most authentic cider in the world (already mentioned by Estrabón 2000 years ago). We will be charmed by the more than 200 kilometers long coastline in the Basque country with the unique steep cliffs and with sandy beaches. That we visit the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao and the famous city of Santiago de Compostela speaks for it self.

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1st Day: BILBAO - SAN SEBASTIÁN (102 km)
Arrival at Bilbao airport. Welcome of the group and leaving for San Sebastian. During the journey, the group leader will explain the scheduled programme and will give a short briefing about the trip. Arrival at San Sebastian. Wandering around the old town we find the Constitution Square where the first bullfight took place. The baroque style Church of Santa Maria and the Miramar Palace were built for the Queen Maria Cristina. Afterwards, we will walk along la Concha Promenade. From the seaside we can appreciate the Kursaal, a building designed by Rafael Moneo. Finally, from Ondarreta Beach, we travel to the top of the Monte Igueldo, the highest point of the city, to see the monument by Chillida, "Peine de los Vientos" and enjoy the superb view over the bay and the city. Transfer to the hotel. Welcome cocktail, dinner and accommodation.

2nd Day:SAN SEBASTIÁN - BASQUE COAST - BILBAO (107 km)
Breakfast. On the way to Bilbao, we will stop at several interesting places: Chillida-Leku, the museum where most of Eduardo Chillida's works are exhibited, and the town of Zarautz to look at the beautiful beaches and elegant mansions. Lunch and free time. Arrival at Bilbao. Visit to the Guggenheim Museum, by Frank Gehry built in titanium, calcium stone and glass. Walking around the old town we can appreciate the construction of the seven streets along the Nervión riverbanks. Later on we will reach the top of the hill where the Santuario de Begoña is located to enjoy a magnificent view over the city. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

3rd Day: BILBAO-SANTILLANA-COMILLAS-SANTANDER (193 km)
Breakfast and leaving for Santillana del Mar. Pilgrims from the whole country came to the Monastery of Santa Juliana in the Medieval Times and this is the reason why the town has kept the flavour of those times. Visit to the medieval houses, the Colegiata and the splendid Romanic Cloister. Lunch and leaving for Comillas. Visit to Sobrellano Palace by Joan Martorell, the new Gothic-mudejar University Pontificia and some other modern design buildings, all by the same architect. The Capricho, by Gaudi, is a Mudejar inspired Palace with an alminar tower covered with tiles. Leaving for Santander. Arrival to the hotel, Dinner and accommodation.

4th Day: SANTANDER-CANGAS-COVADONGA-OVIEDO(222 km)
Breakfast and visit to Santander. Walk along the bay, one of the most beautiful in Spain. We will then enter the monumental part of the city, starting at the Pereda Gardens, a long avenue surrounded by magnificent buildings, such as the Santa Lucía Church, the Porticada Square, the Church of Christ and the Santander Bank Building. Our tour continues to the Magdalena Peninsula, where the 1912 Royal Palace is located. This Palace was given to the Monarchy as a present by popular subscription and nowadays it is the International University Menéndez Pelayo headquarters. We travel to Cangas de Onís to visit the Sanctuary of Covadonga: its small chapel contains the image of the virgin Maria inside a cave. Lunch. Departure to Oviedo, arrival and walk around the old town, starting at Alfonso II Square and the Cathedral. It was built between the 15th and 16th centuries in Gothic style and here we must highlight the Camara Santa dated 11th century. Transfer to the hotel. Free time. Dinner and accommodation.

5th Day: OVIEDO - CUDILLERO - LUARCA - RIBADEO (142 km)
Breakfast and departure for Mount Naranco where we find The Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo Churches; both are examples of the Pre-Romanic art in this region. From the top of this mountain we can appreciate a superb view over Oviedo and the majestic Picos de Europa. Leaving for Cudillero, a fishermen village, where the houses seem to be hanging over the cliffs. Lunch and we continue the journey to Luarca. Walk along the port with its colorful boats.
We head to Ribadeo, a town located by the estuary of Eo River. Walking through the old town we will appreciate the fishermen's houses in sheer and narrow streets until we reach the España Square surrounded by civic and religious buildings. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

6th Day: RIBADEO - LUGO - LA CORUÑA - SANTIAGO (251 km)
Breakfast and departure for Lugo. The roman walls surrounding the city can be visited through staircases located at the side of the gates. Visit to the Romanic Cathedral, of a similar design as the one in Santiago; we continue to Santa Maria Square, where the 18th century Episcopal Palace is situated; the Campo Square, surrounded by old-fashioned houses, and the Plaza Mayor headed by the Town Hall.
Lunch and leaving for La Coruña, a maritime town and the gateway of a mosaic of people and cultures. We will see the Hercules Tower, one of the two symbols of the city; the other is the glazed gallery of the fishermen houses that has given the name of "City of Glass" to La Coruña. The María Pita Square is the centre of social life in the city and next to it, in the old town, many are the fountains, squares, churches and gardens that enhance the area. Free time. Dinner and departure to Santiago de Compostela. Arrival at the hotel. Accommodation.

7th Day: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Breakfast and visit to Santiago de Compostela, an UNESCO World Heritage City. Our tour will start in Obradoiro Square. This central square is surrounded by some of the main monuments of the city: Gelmírez Palace, headquarter of the Archbishopric (12th century); the Town Hall, former Raxoy Palace in classic style, and the San Jerónimo College whose façade reminds us to the Romanesque style and nowadays it is a Hotel-Parador. We continue to the Cathedral, the key to the city's identity for centuries. Although it has a Baroque appearance, it was built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The Obradoiro Façade, dated 1750, is the most prominent work of the Spanish Baroque. Behind this façade, we find the 13th century Pórtico de la Gloria, by the master-craftsman Maestro Mateo, with two hundred Romanic sculptures in relief.
The baroque altar of the Main Chapel rises above the crypt that contains the remains of St. James the Apostle. Visit to the Museum, the Cloister and, finally, the Puerta de las Platerías, Romanic style. Lunch and free time in the afternoon. Back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

8th Day: SANTIAGO - MADRID (by plane) - DEPARTURE
Breakfast and departure to Santiago airport. Arrival at the airport and end of the trip.