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Sample Itineraries: Discover Northern Spain – Santiago to San Sebastián

May 21, 2014 By International Lodging Corporation

ILC-blog-Itinerary-Suggestions-Northern-SpainIf 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.

Filed Under: Spain Tagged With: Bilbao, Burgos, Galicia, Leon, San Sebastián, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Spain Itinerary Suggestions

Sample Itineraries: City Slicker Trip – Madrid & Barcelona (Spain)

January 30, 2013 By International Lodging Corporation

ILC-blog-Itinerary-Suggestions-City-Slicker-Trip-Madrid-Barcelona-SpainTravelers who love the hustle and bustle of the big city will enjoy this itinerary, which combines visits to Spain’s two main cities – Madrid and Barcelona. Each city has its own vibe, with Madrid being a more traditional, capital city, with prominent museums and a royal palace. Barcelona has more of a hipster vibe, with its Modernist buildings, trendy neighborhoods, and vibrant dining and music scene, you’ll want to stay up all night (and many people do).

The addition of the high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Barcelona has made it even easier to combine these two cities in one trip.  In just 3 hours you can go from the city center of Madrid to the city center of Barcelona, without having to go through security or take your shoes off.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Madrid; afternoon sightseeing in the city
  • Day 2: Sightseeing in Madrid
  • Day 3: Sightseeing in Madrid
  • Day 4: Day trip to Toledo (71 km); evening return to Madrid
  • Day 5: Take the morning AVE train to Barcelona; afternoon sightseeing in Barcelona
  • Day 6: Sightseeing in Barcelona
  • Day 7: Sightseeing in Barcelona
  • Day 8: Depart Barcelona 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.

Photo credit: © Christopher Pappas · All rights reserved.

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

Filed Under: Places to See, Spain Tagged With: Barcelona, Madrid, Spain, Spain Itinerary Suggestions

Sample Itineraries: Madrid for Art Lovers (Spain)

November 28, 2012 By International Lodging Corporation

If your idea of a great vacation is spending time in museums admiring some of the world’s finest works of art, then this itinerary is sure to delight you.

In the heart of Madrid you will find the famed “Golden Triangle of Art”, which is an area that includes the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofia museums, all located within a short walk of each other.

The Prado is one of the world’s top museums, and has one of the largest and most impressive collections in the world. In addition to having the finest collection of Spanish art from artists including Velazquez, Goya and Zurbarán, they also have an impressive collection of European art from the 12th to 19th centuries which were from the Spanish Royal Collection.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is home to the second largest private collection that was amassed by Heinrich, Baron Thyssen Bornemisza de Kaszón, and his son. The collection includes works by Old Masters, including Van Eyck, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and Frans Hals, as well as Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Degas.

The Reina Sofía Museum is the national museum of 20th C. art that primarily features works by Spanish artists. The most famous painting displayed in the museum is Picasso’s Guernica, which was created during the Spanish Civil War.  The museum has an impressive collection of works by Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, and Juan Gris.

Please note that the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and El Greco Museum in Toledo are closed on Monday, and the Reina Sofia Museum is closed on Tuesday, so plan accordingly.

  • Day 1: Arrive in Madrid; afternoon sightseeing in the city – for info on Sites to See, click here
  • Day 2: Sightseeing in Madrid
  • Day 3: Visit to the Prado Museum – for more info, click here
  • Day 4: Visit to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum – for more info, click here
  • Day 5: Visit to the Reina Sofia Museum – for more info, click here
  • Day 6: Day trip to Toledo (71 km) – visit the El Greco Museum – for more info, click here
  • Day 7: Depart Madrid 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.

Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Your personal guide can provide you with information on the city and its historic sites. For more information, click here.

Photo credit: © Christopher Pappas · All rights reserved.

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

Filed Under: Music and the Arts, Places to See, Spain Tagged With: Madrid, Museums, Spain, Spain Itinerary Suggestions, Toledo

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