Galicia

Sample Itineraries: Discover Northern Spain – Santiago to San Sebastián

May 21, 2014 By International Lodging Corporation

If you’re like a lot of people who visit Spain, you’ll fall in love with its many treasures – the people, the culture, the history, the food – and you’ll want to start planning your return visit as soon as you get home.

If you’ve already visited the most common cities for first time visitors (e.g. Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, etc.) and are looking for a new part of the country to explore, then check-out this itinerary and discover the treasures found in the northern part of the country in Santiago, León, Burgos, Bilbao and San Sebastián.

The itinerary begins in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, located in the northwest corner of Spain. Santiago is best known as the destination point for millions of pilgrims who follow the Way of St. James and visit the stunning cathedral that contains what is believed to be the remains of the Apostle St. James.

Following the Way of St. James, the next stop on the itinerary is the city of León, best known for its 13th C. cathedral with beautiful stained-glass windows. You can also visit the modern art museum MUSAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León), which opened in 2005.

The itinerary continues along the path of the pilgrimage with a stop in Burgos, considered the “cradle of Castile” and home to Spain’s national hero, El Cid. He is buried in the cathedral of Burgos, which together with the cathedrals in Santiago and León, represent the 3 most important cathedrals on the Way of St. James.

After Burgos the itinerary veers of the pilgrimage trail and heads north to Bilbao. This industrial port city was not always a popular tourist destination, but all of that changed in 1997 when the Guggenheim Museum opened. The building, which itself can be considered a piece of art, is made of curved titanium walls and was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry.

The last stop on the itinerary is the waterfront city of San Sebastián. Located on the north coast overlooking the Bay of Biscay, San Sebastián is a cosmopolitan city with beautiful beaches and a seaside promenade that attracts many visitors in the summer. Besides being known for its beauty, San Sebastián is also considered a mecca for foodies. Its Basque cuisine is heralded the world over, as evidenced by the fact that it has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin star restaurants in the world.

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago; afternoon sightseeing in the city
Day 2: Sightseeing in Santiago
Day 3: Drive to León (334 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
Day 4: Drive to Burgos (201 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
Day 5: Drive to Bilbao (158 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
Day 6: Visit the Guggenheim and Fine Arts Museums
Day 7: Drive to San Sebastián (119 km); afternoon sightseeing in the city
Day 8: Depart San Sebastián to return home

Information on what to see and do, and where to eat can be found on our website, click here. Simply search by city.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Sites to See…What to See in Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

March 26, 2014 By International Lodging Corporation

Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, is best known for its magnificent cathedral, which is the final resting place of St. James the Apostle. It is believed that his remains were brought back from Palestine and buried here.

The tomb was said to have been rediscovered in 814 AD. King Alfonso II built a chapel on the site in the 9th C., which was later replaced by the present cathedral in the 11th C. when the early church burned down. The cathedral is the final destination for pilgrims who follow the Way of St. James through Europe and across northern Spain each year.

Here is a list of some of the things to see during your stay in Santiago:

Catedral de Santiago – completed in 1211, it is largest Romanesque church in Spain, and one of the largest in Europe. For more information, click here.

Plaza del Obradoiro – the main square is bordered by the city’s most important monuments, including the Cathedral, Palacio de Rajoy (Town Hall), and Royal Hospital.

Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea – Contemporary art museum that houses a good permanent collection, along with temporary exhibits. For more information, click here.

Museo do Pobo Galego – the former Convento de Santo Domingo de Bonaval houses the Galician Folk Museum, which exhibits interesting info on traditional life in Galicia, including fishing boats, bagpipes, costumes, and crafts. For more information, click here.

Museo das Peregrinacións – the Pilgrimage Museum is housed in the 14th C. Gothic House, and provides an overview of the history of the pilgrimage routes and rituals, and its contribution to the development of the city. For more information, click here.

Pazo de Xelmirez – constructed between the 12-13th centuries, the palace of Archbishop Gelmírez is considered one of the outstanding examples of civic Romanesque architecture in Spain. For more information, click here.

Praza da Quintana – located behind the cathedral, this square is a popular meeting place in Santiago.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Next Stop…A Coruña, Spain

March 13, 2012 By International Lodging Corporation

The city of A Coruña is located on a peninsula in the northwest corner of Spain, in the province of Galicia. It is the second largest city in Galicia, and has a bustling port that is the second largest in the country. Although Galicia is not a region widely visited by foreigners, many Spaniards will tell you that they consider it to be the most beautiful part of Spain, with its lush, green landscapes and rugged shoreline dotted with towns and villages whose livelihood is tied to the sea.

Visitors to A Coruña will want to start with the Tower of Hercules, which is the oldest working lighthouse in the world. It was built by the Romans 2,000 years ago, and those who dare to scale the 245 steps to the top will be rewarded with panoramic views of the city and the coastline. If a casual stroll along the shoreline is more your speed, then be sure to visit the Dársena de la Marina, which is Europe’s longest seaside promenade. You can take in the views of the lovely 18th C. homes built by the fisherman that arc around the harbor and gave A Coruña the nickname of “glass city” or “crystal city”, referring to the glass enclosed porches that were built to protect the homes from the wind and the rain.

Sites to see in the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) include the Plaza de María Pita, with a neoclassical Palacio Municipal (city hall) that was built in 1908. The Church of Santiago, built in the 12th C. in Romanesque style and later remodeled in Gothic style, is the city’s oldest church. Other sites include the 13th C. Iglesia de María del Campo, and the Museum of Archaeology, which is housed in the 16th C. Castillo de San Antón (St. Anthony’s Castle).

No visit to A Coruña or Galicia would be complete without enjoying a meal consisting of the local seafood that is caught daily by the local fisherman, which is surely to be the freshest seafood you will find anywhere, and will likely include varieties of shellfish that you haven’t seen before. For more information on La Coruña, click here.

Photo credit: Marrovi

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.