A wide variety of sporting activities are on offer in the region; including golf, horse riding, hiking, climbing, skiing,
white-water sports and both sea and fresh water fishing. Sailing, windsurfing and diving are also very popular.
The cooking in the region is well known for its fine and simple ingredients.
The most well known dishes include la fabada (stew made from large beans),
sobados (sponge cakes), quesada (cheesecake), cocido
(a stew made of dried beans, cabbage, meat and blood sausage), leche con bizchocho (traditional sponge
cake served with milk ) and sorropotun (a variety of fish stew).
The area also produces cheese and cider.
Lifestyle
The variety of sporting activities here is huge, from fishing to horse riding and hiking, climbing to skiing and white-water sports. There are also many good golf courses.
Green Spain is fast becoming a new industry in itself in the form of Éco-tourism´. Freshwater fishing particularly for trout and salmon is excellent in the many rivers, lakes
and reservoirs. Sailing, windsurfing and skin diving can be practiced anywhere along the coast and yacht harbours such as that at Gijon are particularly good.
Asturian cooking is well known for its fine and simple ingredients. The best known dishes include la fabada (stew made from large beans). Seafood from the Bay of Biscay
features highly in the menu, as do a number of locally produced cheeses, all washed down with locally produced cider.
Here the economy revolves around the production of sobaos (sponge cakes) and quesadas (cheesecake). Throughout the Cabuérniga valley you can savour the regional
specialty :cocido montanes (a stew made of dried beans, cabbage, meat and blood sausage). Take a few minutes to taste the local specialty of leche con bizchocho
(traditional sponge cake served with milk ).local specialty of sorropotun (a variety of fish stew).
The regions cities are a rich mixture of tradition and modernism and each has its own unique character. Within the Basque region you can do just about anything including
play golf, surf, ride horses in open countryside or even laze on the beach.
There is actually a popular ski resort near Ourense. When the north wind blows in the winter, night-time temperatures can fall to zero even on the coast, though
snow and ice are unknown there.
Areas
There are 4 main areas of North Spain: Asturias, Cantabria, Pais Vasco and Galicia.
Asturias
The principality of Asturias lies between Cantabria and Galicia. With tiny fishing villages and wide forests, Asturias has a wealth of landscape to see. The Costa Verde
(Green Coast) as the Asturias coastline is known is one of the major attractions of northern Spain and offers good fishing. At a length of 145km, the coast would take a good
6 or 7 hours to drive along it.
Mountains with high peaks, perpetual snow, lakes and narrow passes are provided by the Picos de Europa, just 40km from the coast. As you head for the valleys inland of
the mountains, you come across vast green and forested areas. On the coast where the scenery becomes more intense you will find an almost never-ending line of beaches
and cliffs.
The region has some of Spain's best natural parks. The mountains known as the Picos de Europa stand towering over a region of fast flowing rivers, vast orchards and tiny
farmhouses. Inland the area is rich in minerals. Oviedo, the capital of Asturias is home to about 200,000 people and is known for it's university and it's industry. The beauty
of the area is envied by many Spanish city dwellers.
Asturias is a prehistoric land as the many cave paintings illustrate and was inhabited by the Iron-age Celtic tribes who fought off the Romans and the Moors.It was in
Asturias that the first proper resistance to the Moors began. The whole region is scattered with impressive historical sites and monuments, many of them pre-Romanesque.
A fine example is the Cathedral in Oviedo, built during the 15th and 16th century, a magnificent example of late Gothic architecture.
There are many pre-historic sites worthy of a visit throughout Asturias, especially in the east of the region, around Cangas de Onís and Llanes. The Bustillo Cave in
Ribadesella, La Peña Cave in San Roman de Candamo and the Llonín Cave in Peñamellera feature some excellent cave paintings. The tourist board have produced an
interesting booklet 'Routes through pre-historic Asturian Art'.
Cantabria
Cantabria is a strip of territory sandwiched between the Bay of Biscay and the mountains of the Cantabrian Cordillera, merging into the Basque lands of the Costa Vasca to
the east and the Asturian Costa Verde further west. It probably sees as many tourists as any other area on this coastline but very few pause to draw breath before heading
south. On the other hand it has been popular with the Spanish as an escape from the summer heat, since the turn of the century.
It has been inhabited since prehistoric times and both the Romans and Moors attempted to occupy the area but decided not to bother. Nevertheless the area has nice
countryside with tiny villages and is reputed to have more cattle than any other region in Spain. See a map of the region here. The capital of Cantabria is Santander, located
in the north. This is the best and easiest place to stay when in Cantabria.
The natural beauty
Cantabria’s natural heritage is exceptional. The rivers, beaches, cliffs and valleys, mountains and forests create a mosaic of contrasting landscapes. From among the
considerable number of places of interest, the ones with special official protection are particularly noteworthy, although there are others of exceptional beauty, such as the
source of the Ason River, Santander Bay, Abra del Pas, Ebro Marsh and the estuaries of Tina Mayor and Tina Menor. There are six protected nature areas in Cantabria.
Parque Natural de las Dunas de Liencres, located at the mouth of the Pas River, forms the most important dune complex in the northern Iberian peninsula.
Parque del Macizo de Peñacabarga, which includes within its borders the Cábarceno karst, a spectacular reddish geological formation, encompasses a nature park with
partially free roaming animals. The Parque Natural de Oyambre is a scenic park amid marshes and meadows with the Picos de Europa mountains as a backdrop. This is
the place where the most diverse ecosystems co-exist. The Parque Natural Saja-Besaya sits between the basins of these two rivers and preserves considerable forests of
beech and oak trees, where animal species threatened with extinction such as the brown bear and golden eagle can still be found. The Reserva Natural de las Marismas de
Santona y Noja is a nature reserve around one of the most valuable estuaries ecologically in northern Spain. There are regularly more than 80 species of birds in the
marshes .The Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa,a national park containing the highest peaks in the Cantabrian mountains, has elevations exceeding 2,500 meters
(8,200 feet) and landscapes of long narrow canyons and deep valleys.
History
Archaeological remains from the Late Paleolithic period found in different parts of the region, including Altamira and PuenteViesgo among others, are evidence of human
presence in prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages the first settlements were founded around various monasteries; refuges to those fleeing from the Arab invasion. The
boundaries of the different areas of the region were defined during this period, and the present day. Cantabrian borders (although slightly reduced) are basically the same.
The strategic location of Cantabria soon brought about trading by sea with the principal European Ports and later with America. The 17th and 18th centuries were times of
great commercial expansion characterized by heavy emigration to the New World. The 19th century produced the first traces of industry, a flourishing banking institution and
a well-to-do middle class. Nowadays, although agriculture, cattle-raising and fishing continue to occupy a good part of the population, the tourism industry, including the
hotel and restaurant business, as well as other service sectors, are the main pillars of the Cantabrian economy.
Exploring Cantabria
The region can be divided into 8 different areas, each having its own characteristics.
1) Liebeña and Picos de Europa
We begin this itinerary in Unquera on the N-621 road at the north-west end of Cantabria through the Desfiladero de la Hermida, a narrow canyon 19 kilometres long with
nearly vertical walls that run along the meandering course of the Deva River. In the canyon, we can go on foot to the right, over a difficult road leading to Tresviso where they
produce a blue cheese by hand. The end of the canyon approaches Lebeña. The church of Santa Maria here was built in the 10th century and is the best example of
Mozarab architecture in Cantabria. The term Mozarab refers to the Christians living in Moslem Spain and their style of architecture. You can then travel to the pretty hamlet
of Potes, capital of the region of Liebana and geographic and commercial centre of the surrounding five valleys. In the picturesque village centre, the chief monuments are the
towers of the Infantado and Orejon de la Lama, both dating from the 15th century. Also known as the village of bridges, market day is held every Monday throughout the
year. Continuing along our journey through the valley of Camaleño, we come upon the Monastery of Santo Toribio. Probably founded in the 6th century, it reached great
notoriety in the ninth century because the monk Beato resided here and wrote Commentaries of the Apocalypses, a masterpiece of medieval miniature art. The church is the
most interesting part of the complex. The present Gothic style was achieved when they built over the former ruins. At the beginning of the 18th century, construction was
completed with a building of a baroque chapel to house the Lignum Crucis (the largest surviving piece of the True Cross of Christ), attributing to Saint Toribio, bishop of
Astorga, the transfer of this relic to Cantabria. The Monastery of Santo Toribio is one of the four places in the world where it is possible to obtain the Jubilee or plenery
indulgence in addition to being on the pilgrimage road to Santiago de Compostela. Nearby is one of the most singular hermitage complexes in Spain. Proceeding on our
route , we can see small picturesque villages hanging on the sides of the imposing eastern massif of the Picos de Europa, such as Arguebanes, Brez, Tanarriou and
Mogrovejo, distinguished by the silhouette of its graceful medieval tower framed between the high mountain. All of the villages are charming rural hamlets immersed in
dreamlike scenery where the local specialty of the region ,cocido lebaniego (a stew featuring chickpeas) can be savoured. The end of the tour takes us to Fuente Dé. Here
we find a Parador de Turismo and a cable car which takes us almost vertically up the face of the central massif of the Picos de Europa . From the lookout, the panoramic
view is extraordinary . Other excursions through the other valleys of Liebana will guide us to Piasca, where we find the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria dating from 1174,
or the Llesba lookout, next to San Glorio pass, commanding a spectacular view of the Cantabrian mountains.
2) Saja-Nansa Area
The Saja-Nansa river basins define the boundaries of the central-western area of Cantabria. Starting out from Cabezón de la Sal on the N-634 ,where they hold the festival
called Dia de Cantabria (Day of Cantabria) at the beginning of August, we will find Ruente. The famous “Fuentona” here is a geological feature of interest. Next is Valle, the
capital of Cabuérniga. At the crossroads, a right turn leads to Carmona , Tudanca and Polaciones which share the route with the Nansa River. The Reserva Nacional de
Caza (National Hunting Reserve) is the largest in Spain. Taking this itinerary, we pass by a series of villages with interesting rural architecture until we reach the National
Historic-Artistic complex of Bárcena Mayor, a storybook village seemingly frozen in time. Throughout the Cabuérniga valley you can savour the regional specialty :cocido
montanes (a stew made of dried beans, cabbage, meat and blood sausage). A turn-off to the right at Valle leads to a mountain village with equally handsome popular
architecture, Carmona. Particularly interesting is the Palacio de Rubin de Celis, converted into a charming hotel. In Carmona, they still preserve the tradition of handcrafting
abarcas (typical wooden shoes used in the villages). Our itinerary passes San Sebastian de Garabandal, a town which became famous in the 1950’s because the Virgin
Mary was said to have appeared to some young girls. Tucked on the side of a mountain along the route, La Cohilla reservoir provides access to the Polaciones valley with
magnificent examples of rural architecture (Puente Pumar, Uznayo, Lombraña).
3) Western Coast
The western coast of Cantabria boasts monumental towns, as well as traditional seafaring villages. We start out in Suances, a tourist hamlet in the region of the Besaya,
which has excellent beaches of fine sand and remarkable cuisine. Next, Santillana del Mar is the most important National Historic-Artistic complex in Cantabria and one the
best preserved in Spain. The entire town is a national monument and living museum of a medieval 9th century village, developed around the Collegiate Church of Santa
Juliana, although most of the town pertains to diverse architectural styles from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Suffice it to say that here we can uncover medieval towers
(Torre del Merino, Torre de DonBorja), Renaissance palaces (Palacio de los Velarde) and Baroque noble homes (Casona de los Villa, Casa de la Archiduquesa de Austria,
Casa de los Valdivieso). In spite of this diversity of styles, the town presents a harmonious and homogeneous aspect, approachable by a single access road: the Calle de
Santo Domingo. Here the old quarter begins, open only to pedestrian traffic. The road forks and one branch of the Y- shaped street leads to the Collegiate Church, the most
important religious monument in the Romanesque style in Cantabria. Erected over a former hermitage in the 12th century, it preserves a remarkable cloister with skilfully
sculpted capitals. Tucked among the stone buildings in Santillana del Mar are three interesting museums. Take a few minutes to taste the local specialty of leche con
bizchocho (traditional sponge cake served with milk ). Two kilometres from Santillana del Mar are the Caves of Altamira.Discovered in 1879 and declared a World Heritage
Site by the UNESCO, they enclose polychrome cave paintings made by early man during the Late Paleolithic period approximately 14,000 years ago.
Visits have been restricted for the last two years but soon the inauguration of an interesting replica should remedy this situation . Leaving Altamira in the direction of
Comillas, we pass by Cobreces with its Cistercian abbey (noted for its excellent cheese) and lovely beach. Comillas combines a popular architectural tradition, represented
by the old square, the parish church and some of the homes in the centre of the village , together with notable buildings erected during the period of splendour enjoyed under
the tutelage of the first marquis. Four buildings preside over the town. First, the Neo-Gothic Palacio de Sobrellano, residence of the marquis of Comillas and summer
residence of the Spanish royal family in 1881 and 1882. Next to the palace is the richly decorated villa known as El Capricho created by the internationally acclaimed
architect Antonio Gaudi, now used as a deluxe restaurant. Third is the cemetery with interesting Modernist mausoleums culminated by the famed angel of Llimona and last
of all, the monumental Pontifical University, Neo-Gothic in style with Mudejar influences, which has graduated notable archbishops. (Mudejar was a Moslem subject to
Christian rule , a term extending also to their architecture). Continuing on our route, we arrive at San Vicente de la Barquera, an old world fishing village and one of the
loveliest spots along the Spanish coast against the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-capped Picos de Europa. San Vincente de la Barquera also boasts a splendid group
of white sand beaches, a quaint old quarter with a church ,a castle and the remains of old walls, in addition to its characteristic old bridges . A fine assortment of fish and
seafood is an added attraction, along with its local specialty of sorropotun (a variety of fish stew).
4) Besaya River Basin
The Besaya river originates near Reinosa and together with the Saja drains into the Suances. Its natural course runs through the centre of the region and is a continuous
succession of narrow ravines and broad valleys which have formed the main route to the plateau of Castile since Roman times. Starting out in Torrelavega, where the
monumental ensemble of Viernoles with palaces and mansions from the 18th to the 20th centuries and the National Market of Ganados are of particular interest , the first
town we run into is Cartes with excellent examples of civil mountain architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries. Of special interest are the fortified towers joined by an
arch, symbol of the medieval power of the Manrique family. Cartes as well as the neighbouring town of Riocorvo have been declared National Historic-Artistic complexes. In
the vicinity of Riocorvo, we find the Church of Santa Maria de Yermo, a magnificent example of the Romanesque style. Next on the itinerary, we come to Las Caldas with its
health spa and a monastery from the mid-17th century which houses a notable and venerated altarpiece .
Accompanying the Besaya river while it flows through the Buelna valley, off to one side is the magnificent gigantic stele of Barros (a Cantabrian funerary stone)and the tower
of Almirante Pero Nino. Nearby, Bostronizo exhibits notable homes from the 18th century and a lovely Mozarab hermitage amidst the woods. In Las Fraguas, surrounded by
charming grounds, stands the sumptuous Palacio de Hornillo, an English style mansion and the interesting neoclassical Church of San Jorge. Arenas de lguña and the
entire valley (especially Silio) is the ethnographic reference point with traditional displays such as Las Marzas (canticles which celebrate the arrival of spring) and festivals
such as La Vijanera (a masquerade which takes place the first of the year). Between Pie de Concha and Somaconcha,a stretch of 5 kilometres is preserved of the old
Roman road which connected the Roman settlement of Juliobriga (in Campoo) with Portus Belendium (now Suances). It is specifically marked for visitors.
5) Campoo and Valderredible
The broad region confronting us now is the southernmost region in Cantabria. It has a rich fertile valley bathed by the Ebro river which flows slowly into a vast reservoir a
short distance beyond its source. Its vegetation and climate are remarkably different from the rest of the region. The land is not particularly uneven except for the peaks of
Alto Campoo where we find a winter sports resort. Our itinerary departs from Reinosa on the N611, the largest city and capital of the region. The primitive medieval citadel
developed early due to the strategic situation on the road to the plateau. An interesting group of buildings using ashlar masonry was erected in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Reinosa is also noted for pantortillas (a type of pastry). Heading in the direction of the winter sports resort of Alto Campoo, we come to the source of the Ebro river in
Fontibre at the foot of the road and the castle of Argueso, a medieval fortress consisting of two towers joined by a central section. In Espinilla, we find some stelae and in
Proaño a charming tower. Nearby in Abiada, they hold an unusual festival called “Los Campanos”, where cattle are adorned and exhibited with their characteristic bells. The
brown bear, a species in danger of extinction, roams in the area of Mazandrero on its way to the sierra of Pena Labra. Returning to Reinosa, we proceed until reaching
Bolmir and Retortillo, then to the marsh area; both villages made up the nucleus of what was once the main Roman settlement in Cantabria, Juliobriga, where some ruins
can still be seen. In Cervatos we can admire the Romanesque 12th century Collegiate Church of San Pedro, built over a primitive monastery. Also in Arroyo, at the foot of
the reservoir, a Romanesque church has been preserved , but the religious centre of the region is the Monastery of Montesclaros, a solitary haven in a superb natural
setting. Approaching Polientes, the capital of the municipality of Valderredible, we come across some Roman ruins (Santa Maria de Hito) and a large number of
Romanesque monuments, the best example being the Collegiate Church of San Martin de Elines, and some fortifications, such as the tower of Ruerrero. But the most
characteristic places of interest in this region are the primitive hermitages carved into the rock which gives us a look at Christian Cantabria during the Late Middle Ages. The
best examples are found in Cadalso, Arroyuelos, Santa Maria de Valverde and Campo de Ebro.
6) The eastern valleys
The eastern coast of Cantabria extends between Santander Bay and the village of Castro Urdiales bordering the Basque Country. This stretch of the coastline is a
continuous succession of cliffs, valuable marshlands and fine beaches . After leaving Santander , we come to Pedreña, where we find the golf course Real Club de Golf. Here
you can taste the famed amayuelas (exquisite clams). Pedreña is connected by a bridge to the first large expanse of sand on the coast: El Puntal de Somo (where
ceramics workshops abound) and Loredo, with more than 4 kilometers of beautiful beach, site of a spectacular horseraces every summer. From Loredo to the cape of Ajo,
the coastline becomes more rugged, alternating with lovely coves, among them Langre, Galizano, Antuerta and Cuberris in Ajo. Isla and Noja, tourist resorts par-excellence,
are the next coastal enclaves. In the former,the exquisitely prepared seafood, especially lobster, is renowned. With regards to architecture, of interest are three lovely towers
and the Palacio de los Condes de Isla, built in the 17th century. Noja boasts four splendid beaches which attract a large number of visitors to the village: Ris, Joyel, Noja
and Trengandin. Separated from Noja by El Brusco point, which gives way to Berria beach, is Santoña, a charming fishing village. Located in the area is a big canning
industry (the most important in Spain with 80% of the production), based around the capture of tuna and anchovies. The most important monument in Noja is the 14th
century Romanesque Church of Santa Maria del Puerto. Also characteristic are the military fortifications on the top of mount Buciero, overlooking the strategically located
old port. Juan de la Cosa, sailor and cartographer on the Santa Maria, one of Columbus’s ships, was born in Noja. Laredo “Capital of the Emerald Coast”, opposite Santona
dock , has one of the longest and loveliest flat beaches of fine sand in the region : Salve, a vast sandy expanse five kilometers long, has burgeoned around a prosperous
tourist industry. Its Old Quarter consists of a geometric network of streets (ruas), crowned by the Gothic parochial Church of Santa Maria which houses a magnificent
Flemish altarpiece. The most well-known festival called the Batalla de Flores (Battle of flowers) is held at the end of summer and is an authentic spectacle of light and color.
Castro Urdiales, the old Roman port called Flaviobriga, still preserves an elegant air which since the early 20th century made it a primary summer destination of its well-to-do
Basque neighbours . Its main monuments from different styles and periods with rich ornamentation contrast sharply with the quaint fishing quarter. The ensemble formed by
the Church of Santa Maria (the most important example of Cantabrian Gothic architecture) and the castle lighthouse, visible from any corner of the village, form the most
representative picture of Castro Urdiales. The taverns and restaurants in the port are the perfect places to enjoy snails and sea bream, especially on St Andrews Day as the
tradition requires, or the excellent traditional stews cooked at the kitchen range any time of the year. Coso Blanco and La Pasion Viviente are the most popular festivals of
regional interest. The former, held on the first Friday in July, consists of an evening parade of carriages beautifully adorned by local artists. La Pasion Viviente is a dramatic
theatrical staging of Good Friday which travels through the streets of the town.
7) Pasiego Valleys
The Pasiego region is unquestionably the area with the most distinctive personality in Contabria, holding onto a traditional way of life of great ethnographic interest. Its
geographical isolation, favoured by its extraordinary wild terrain of verdant landscapes cut off from the main transportation routes, its extremely humid climate (with the most
rainfall in Cantabria), as well as its dedication to livestock breeding, produced a very unique form of migration for generations. This consisted of moving families and their
belongings from cabin to cabin in search of better pastures for the livestock. A large number of these cabins with stone roofs are scattered on the mountainsides, giving a
disdinctive appearance to the landscape. The Pasiego region is centered around three villages: Vega de Pas, San Pedro del Romeral and San Roque de Riomiera. The first
two are located in the Pas valley where the river of the same name runs through. The third one is in the neighboring Miera valley. Many of the neighbouring municipalities,
such as Luena, Ruesga,Soba, also take part in Pasiego customs. Quality dairy products used in the age old process of making exquisite butter are the basic ingredients is
the sobaos (sponge cakes) and quesadas pasiegos (cheesecake), giving them a delicious texture and flavour. We will depart from Solares (mineral water springs) on the
N634 and travel to Pamanes. Here, the Baroque Palacio de Elsedo is from the 17th century and palace now houses an interesting museum of contemporary art. Tracing the
natural course of the Miera River, we reach Lierganes, set at the foot of two small mountains called “las Tetas”. The town has a concentration of valuable classical
architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries, Also famous for its sacristanes (a type of pastry), the town has kept alive the legend of the “Fish Man” who supposedly went
into the waters of the Miera river and surfaced five years later in the coastal town of Cadiz in southern Spain covered in fish scales, barely able to utter a word. Following the
course of the Miera, we come to San Roque de Riomiera, surrounded by spectacular landscapes. Snow in winter is a typical sight here. After crossing the valley , we reach
Selaya and find the sanctuary of the Virgin of Valvanuz, worshiped with great devotion by the Pasiegos. One kilometer later we arrive at Villacarriedo, where the lavish 18th
century Palacio de Sonanes stands , a jewel of the Cantabrian Baroque. We return to Selaya before going through the winding and perpetually green pass of Braguia to get
to Vega de Pas, an original rural hamlet with an ethnographic museum. Here the economy revolves around the production of sobaos (sponge cakes) and quesadas
(cheesecake). Towards the south, near the province of Burgos, we find the last of the Pasiego towns, San Pedro del Romeral, a charming village surrounded by green
countryside and mountains.
8) Ason and Soba Valleys
The region bathed by the Ason River and its tributary, the Gandara, which joins up in Ramales, is found in the eastern portion of Cantabria. Occupied largely by vast
limestone massifs sheltering hundreds of caves. The area also boasts imposing forests of native trees and lovely sparsely populated landscapes. The impressive waterfall
with a 50 metre drop at the source of the Ason is a spectacular site. Following the course of this river as it drains into the Treto River, we come upon Limpias, an old port.
The town is noted for the miraculous image of Santo Cristo de la Agonia (Sacred Christ in Agony) and exhibits noteworthy civil architecture. Hot chocolate with picatostes
(fried bread fingers) are a local speciality. Not too far away we find Ampuero, a place with picturesque enclosed glass galleries. Good food as well as a lively ambiance on
the weekends are an added attraction. A nearby side road leads to upper Somahoz, an enclave affording a lovely view and the location of the Sanctuary of La Bien
Aparecida, patroness of Cantabria. The small Gothic sculpture, the reason for a popular and multitudinous pilgrimage ,owes its name to a mysterious apparition in 1605,
Once again on the road, we pass by Ramales de la Victoria, capital of the Alto Ason. The village takes its name in honour of the victory won in its territory by the liberals
during the Carlist Wars (1839). Every year since they have held the “Verbena del Manton”, called this because during the confusion of the battle, a trunk appeared, filled with
mantones, embroidered silk shawls from Manila. Remales de la Victoria has an excellent gastronomic tradition as well as an important group of caves, some of which have
magnificent cave paintings (Covalanas). Our next stop is Arredondo, nicknamed “capital of the world”, due to the numerous Spanish emigrants who left Spain to seek their
fortune in Latin America and later returned to the village. The town boasts a neoclassical church, flanked by a huge cylindrical tower where the new world emigrant Antonio
Gutierrez Solana tried to view the sea.
Pais Vasco
The Basque Country or Euskadi as it is known locally is a place of enormous vitality and has a rich historical background. It is one of Spains northernmost regions and
comprises of 3 provinces, Bizkaia (Biscay), Gipuzkoa and Araba. Important places include; Bilbao, Donostia San Sebastian and Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Tourism has always been part of the Basque Country and here is where the Royals chose to spend their summers. In recent years the region has become even more
popular with the tourist and the new ´rural tourism ´trend.
The regions cities are a rich mixture of tradition and modernism and each has its own unique character. Within the Basque region you can do just about anything including
play golf, surf, ride horses in open countryside or even laze on the beach.
The Basque region has a population of just over 2.1 million and covers 7,261km.sq. It has 197km of coastline and 19 principal rivers. The average annual temperature here is
13.36º.
There is much evidence of prehistoric life in the region and throughout time, it has played a major historical and political role in Spanish history.
Throughout the Basque Country there are numerous castles and other defensive constructions, symbolising the conflicts of the Middle Ages. Some of them represent the
most beautiful in Spain.
The region is the proud owner of the oldest transporter bridge in the world. The project was initially started in 1890 and took three years to complete. The bridge, known as
Puente Colgante spans the river at Bilbao and since being built, 650 million people have crossed it.
The views from the top of the bridge are spectacular and there are shops selling souvenirs. The upper span is accessed by panoramic lifts.
Just 20km from Bilbao is the Castillo Butron, a 13th century castle that is now open for viewing. The dreamy castle has been restored and sits amid a forested park of more
than 500 trees of 70 species.
The castle is open to the public. You will find bars and restaurants here and a well organised tour of the castle with multi-media presentations, depicting castle life.
The province of Biscay includes the municipality of Getxo.
Galicia
Galicia is unlike anywhere else in Spain and is best described as similar to Ireland or Cornwall. The coastline comprises of tiny coves, beautiful sandy beaches, flanked by
high cliffs and fishing ports and sheltered harbours. Inland the region is green and wooded, especially along the valleys where trees overlook lush meadows and orchards.
Known as the land of a thousand rivers. Galicia is separated from the rest of the country by extensive mountain ranges on all sides and only the river Miño separates it from
Portugal. Until recently, the roads through the mountains were less than adequate and the journey from say, Vigo, to Madrid would have taken up to 12 hours. With the
opening of the A52 and A6 autopistas, this can now be done in less than 5 hours. Galicia is now an increasingly popular destination for those Spaniards who don’t want the
heat of the Andalucian, Murcian or Valencian summer but do want the scenic beauty and culinary delights. Along the coast, Galicia has a flourishing economy which now
includes its own brand of tourism. The coastline is popular with all manner of outdoor activities that cannot be found along any other coast.It is still a place in which you can
enjoy Spain at its simplest and its best
Geography
Galicia is one of Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities, located in the northwest corner of Spain, the region of Galicia is an area comprising of grass and granite that has a
rugged coastline. It comprises of four provinces, LaCoruña, Pontevedra, Lugo and Ourense, named after their capital cities. It is Europe’s western most region. West and
north it faces the sea. East, it faces the mountains shared with Asturias and Castile y Leon and south, it faces Portugal. In effect, it is somewhat hemmed in. Its coastline is
perhaps the most spectacular in the peninsula, featuring many fjords and numerous outstanding beaches. For the purists, there are 1,200km of winding coastline, 750
beaches and 275km of fine, white sand.
History
Galicia has had its fair share of invasions – the Celts around 600BC, the Romans around 50AD, the Visigoths around 400AD, the Normans during the Middle Ages and the
French in 1808. The region was also visited from time to time by Francis Drake in the 16th century. Interestingly, though, the region was largely unaffected by the occupation
of Spain by the Moors from the 8th century onwards. True, the Arabs ransacked Santiago de Compostela in 977 but they didn’t hang around much after that, perhaps finding
the mountains and the winter rains too much to bear. The Celtic influence is most prominent in Galicia and it has been described as Ireland but with sun.
Language
In Galicia, more than 80% of the people speak Galician well, though nearly all of them will also speak Castellano (which is what they call Spanish) and may even chose to
use it most of the time. Galician is known as Galego in the local language and Gallego in Castellano. Galego is one of the five Iberian languages into which Latin transmuted
itself. The other four are Spanish (Castellano), Catalan, Asturian and Portuguese. In addition, there is, of course, Basque, which bears no relation to any of these or to Latin.
It is said that Portuguese developed from Galego, the original language having spread south before it was standardised in Lisbon. Even now, the people of Galicia and north
Portugal can understand each other reasonably well.
People and Culture
Galicia has a population of over 3 million people, widely dispersed throughout the region. When Spain itself was still reasonably poor in the 1960s, Galicia was even poorer,
and now that Spain is on par with the rest of Europe and still getting better, Galicia still seems relatively worse off. Things certainly are cheaper here, though there are
naturally pockets of great wealth and it is not too hard to find expensive places. Galicia is a mythical place and has a great tradition of myths and legends. Galicians like to
think of themselves as having deep Celtic roots and affinities with Ireland. In fact, one local myth is that Galicia was ‘colonised’ by settlers from Ireland and Scotland in the
3rd century BC. This, of course, would make the Galicians very different from the rest of Spain. As for superstitions - legends of werewolves and witches, goblins and fairies
continue to feature in the lives of many. Most visibly, fortune telling is a widespread activity in Galicia.Whether Celtic or not, the Galicians certainly do uphold one Spanish
tradition – they throw fiestas whenever they can. During the summer months, there is bound to one somewhere near wherever you are, on whatever day. Many of these have
a gastronomic theme.
Galicia is slowly losing its population, especially in the interior. Since 1986, there has been a net loss of about 10,000 people a year. This is despite the arrival of
‘immigrants’ and returning emigrants. The main reason is that the death rate is higher than the birth rate, though departure from the land certainly plays a role.
The climate
Generally, the weather in Galicia is good to very good between May and September. There will be plenty of sun and temperatures will be in the 20’s most days. There may
well be some rain but this will rarely last for more than a day or two. This is particularly true if you take your holiday in the lower half of Galicia, especially in the Rias Baixas.
Overall, because of Galicia's location, it has both a maritime and an Atlantic climate. Galicia gets less rain than the UK but, because it is concentrated in fewer months, it
may sometimes seem like more in winter/spring. Once you move in from the coast the land quickly starts to become mountainous. The weather inland is colder and wetter
than it is on the coast. There is actually a popular ski resort near Ourense. When the north wind blows in the winter, night-time temperatures can fall to zero even on the
coast, though
snow and ice are unknown there. To compensate for this, the days are gloriously sunny. Otherwise, when the wind is from the south-west the winter days are cloudy or wet
and the daytime temperatures are around 15 degrees and the nights average around 9 or 10.
Living in Galicia
There are not many foreigners currently living in this part of Spain, although the numbers are beginning to rise.
Visiting Galicia
Galicia offers some of the finest hotels in Spain, making it a pleasant place to visit. Galicia is a region of contrasts and as you explore, you will find the area offers very
different backdrops. Galicia’s coast is known as the 'Costa de la Muerte' or 'Coast of Death', predominantly because of the number of shipwrecks along the rocky coast. The
coast offers tiny fishing villages, unspoilt coves and fine, sandy beaches.
The most welcoming sight is the greeness of the valleys and plains. Rivers run wild and fast and offer great opportunities for canoeing and rafting. The architecture in Galicia
is also a unique feature and much remains as it was centuries ago.
Major villages, towns and cities in North Spain
A Rua, Algorta, Asturias, Bilbao, Boiso, Burela de Cabo, Camarinas, Cangas de Narcea, Carbello, Carrinha, Elbar, Ferrol, Fondagrada, Foz, Gijon, La Coruna, Langreo,
Llanes, Lugo, Medina de Pomar, Meres, Miranda de Ebra, Monferte de Lemos, Navia, Oleiros, Orense, Oviedo, Peidras Blancas, Pontevedra, Pota de Sorio, Quiroga,
Redondela, Reinosa, Samia, San Sebastian, Santa Uxia, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, Santona, Tineo, Tomino, Torrelavega, Viagacia de Arousa, Vigo, Vilalba,
Villaba and Vimianzo.
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