Northern Spain: Basque Country

Welcome to the North!
We are going to visit the emblematic Basque Country and the wine capital - Logroño.

San Sebastian, Bilbao, Zumaia, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Butrón Castle, Faro de Górliz and much much more!

3 NIGHTS IN ACCOMMODATION - 4 COMPLETE DAYS OF EXCURSIONS

A trip by private bus and with local guides who will show us the main cities, their main monuments and tell us their history.
We will spend four incredible days together and it is an opportunity to make many new friends.
We will visit Bilbao, San Sebastian, the incredible coast of Vizcaya with its corners already worldwide famous for the series of Game of Thrones, and Logroño!

Day 1:
We will travel at night to get to Bilbao in the morning. We will visit the city with a guide who will show us its main monuments and tell us all its history, in a walk through the streets of the city center. We will have free time and enjoy the gastronomy of the north ;-)

Bilbao was chosen as the best European city in 2018.

Bilbao is the administrative centre of the vizcaya province and is the biggest city in the Basque country. ​The city is situated along the banks of the river Nervion with its unique tides. This place used to be a fishing village. The founding date of the city was the 15th July 1300. In 1511 Queen Juana de Castilla ​ordered the creation of the  Consulate of Bilbao which determined the fate of the city as the most important port in northern Spain in the subsequent centuries.

The city is very green and there are lots of beautiful parks and gardens. The walk along the banks of the river is lovely. In the city there are loads of old and modern attractions. The old city is found on the right bank of the river. In the central part of the old city you will find the Basilica of St James built in the 15th Century, and the seven oldest streets of the city. In this area you'll also find the Dona Casilda Iturrisa park. The most important milestone is the Guggenheim Museum. ​The architecture of the building is very unique and was designed by one of the most famous contemporary achitects. Its looks like a huge bird, looking skyward. The museum treasures a large number of various works of art from the twentieth century.

An interesting attraction for visitors is the ​glass bridge ​which crosses over the river to the Guggenheim museum. The main attractions of the city include the old church of St Nicholas of Bari, the Cathedral of Santiago built in the fourteenth century, the Basilica Cathedral of Santiago and the Church of San Antonio. In the old town there are beautiful old mansions in the Negura area. And of course it's interesting to visit one of the largest markets in Europe, the modernist ​Mercadi de la Ribiera. ​The people here are very hospitable and cheerful. Visitors can admire not onlt the history but the modernity, architecturally interesting buildings, beautiful museums and the famous local cuisine.

​Interesting fact: The Bilbao football team has always played and still plays in the premier league and has never dropped down to the second. Also only Basque players are on the team.



Day 2:
We will leave Bilbao in the morning and head to San Sebastian and on the way we will make a stop to visit a jewel on the coast - the Basque town of Zumaia - icon for its appearance in the series 'Game of Thrones'.

Zumaia
Hermitage of San Telmo: Located on the beach of Itzurun and on the cliff formed by the Flysch, the place is known for its appearance in the film "8 Basque surnames" This hermitage is dedicated to the patron saint of sailors. From this station you can reach the rock formations that have more than 60 million years of history.
 
Itzurun beach: for lovers of "Game of Thrones" this is the most interesting place because they filmed some scenes here. It is said that the sand and water of this beach have beneficial properties for health.
 
Cliff of Itzurun and Flysch: at low tide a peculiar phenomenon called Flysch occurs. It is a surface of abrasion originated as a result of the erosion of the sea, formed by different sheets of limestone and sandstone rocks, in the form of milly.
 
Historical center of Zumaia: Church of San Pedro. The impressive tower of the Church of San Pedro is the most outstanding element of the urban area of ​​Zumaia. Plaza San Juan Iturri. You will recognize the Plaza if you have seen the movie "8 Basque surnames", since some scenes have been recorded here.

San Sebastian
We will visit the city with a local guide. In addition to the visit with the guide through the main monuments and buildings of the city, there will be plenty of free time to stroll along the famous La Concha beach and its beautiful viewpoints with views of Santa Clara Island.

San Sebastián is the city and the administrative centre of the Guipuzoca province and in Basque it's called Donostia. The city was founded in the XII century and for a long time it was a small fishing village near the port that handled the wine and oil trade with France and England.
​It's called the 'Pearl of the Cantabrica coast' and gained its fame as one of the most elegant and luxurious resorts in Spain. Its heyday came in the First World War in which Spain did not participate. During this period, San Sebastien became the most fashionable place for holidays during the reign of Alfonso XII and Franco.
You cannot talk about the city without mentioning the coast because it's completely unforgettable! San Sebastien is located in a beautiful bay surrounded bt mountains on both sides. On one side is the ​La Mota ​Castle ​where there is a statue of Jesus Christ, and on the other side of the park there is a cable car and a walk, and the views are stunning.

In San Sebastian you can not miss some places of interest such as The New Promenade, The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, The Old Part, The Comb of the Wind, Mount Igueldo, Mount Urgull, The Museum of San Telmo, Miramar Palace, City Hall from San Sebastián, La Concha beach.

After spending an intense day we will go back to Bilbao to sleep, go out and prepare for the next day which is full of incredible excursions!




Day 3:

We wake up and go to the most awaited tour of the trip: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Butrón Castle and the Hanging Bridge. An excursion where we can enjoy the best of the Bizkaia Coast.

In Bizkaia you have everything from impressive castles, historical bridges or incredible panoramic views, all of them in the Basque Country, one of the best tourist destinations in the country. Discover the locations and views of the famous series Game of Thrones.

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is the scene of the 7th season of 'Game of Thrones', if you are a fan of the HBO series it is an almost obligatory visit.
The hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is located on the islet of Gaztelugatxe, belonging to the town of Bermeo. The access to the hermitage is possible thanks to a bridge of two arcs that unites the continent with the islet. The hermitage, built in honor of San Juan, dates from the tenth century, although during its history it has suffered various mishaps and fires. The last one, in 1978, forced its complete reconstruction after some vandals set it on fire. According to tradition, you can make a wish to the saint after going up to the hermitage and ringing his bell three times.

Castillo de Butrón: Located in the Biscayan town of Gatika, Butrón Castle is one of the symbols of the Biscayan nobility. Although its origin goes back to the Middle Ages, when a tower house was built, its current appearance responds to the wide reform ordered by the Marquis of Cubas during the 19th century. This architect is also responsible for works such as the University of Deusto or the National Museum of Anthropology.
The Germanic style of this building contrasts with that of the other castles in the region, as the Marquis of Cubas built it as a hobby and in order to create a work that would be attractive to the eye. So much so, that living in the castle is extremely uncomfortable, since many of the rooms are connected through outdoor walkways.
Currently, Butrón Castle is closed to the public and for sale. But we can visit its surroundings and contemplate its nobility.

Hanging bridge of Bizkaya: the Hanging Bridge of Bizkaia is another of the symbols of the province. Located on a stretch of the estuary that joins Portugalete with Las Arenas, it was the first bridge of its kind to be built in the world. The construction of this bridge began in 1883 in order to transport passengers from one side of the estuary to the other. For more than 10 years it has been a World Heritage Site. The bridge, which is 61 meters high and 160 meters long, continues to function today as a method of transport between the two localities in Biscay.



Day 4:

We'll leave San Sebastian in the morning and head towards ​Logrono - it is the capital of Rioja wine - we will have the opportunity to taste some of the best wines in the world at popular prices. We'll eat here and walk through the bustling streets before continuing our return to Valencia where we'll arrive ​in the night.

Logrono is located in Northern Spain along the banks of the river Ebro ​and is the administrative centre of the Autonomous community of La Rioja. This small city is famous for its wine tradition and also serves as a transit point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

​One of the symbols of Logrono and its main religious building the ​Cathedral of the Virgin Mary La Redonda, ​with magnificent views of the ​Market Square.
​One of the livliest places in the city is the ​Paseo del Principe de Vergara. ​Another important attraction of modern Logrono is the iron bridge over the river Ebro built more that 100 years ago by the architect Fermín Manso de Zungia.

​A simple walk through the streets of the city will allow you to feel the typical atmosphere of this Spanish province.

​Culinary traditions ​combine the influence of Basque, Navarre and Aragon cuisines, so the dishes are very diverse and cater to the needs of even the most demanding eater! But the main highlight of any party, lunch, or dinner is the red and white wine ​made in a special way by the best craftsmen and winegrowers. It's also considered the most purchased souvenir by tourists.

​Logrono is not among the best known areas in Spain, however many tourists travelling to discover the north often include this city on their itinerary in order to enjoy its architecture, to visit the local temples and to taste the famous wines and cuisine.