North Zone (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Basque Country)
The Cantabrian region includes four independent communities:
the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, which
extend from the French frontier to the most western vertex
of the Peninsula -Finisterre Cape-. Is the greenest zone
of all Spain and its landscape conjugates beaches bathed
by the Biscay Bay with mountains.
The Basque Country is formed by three provinces: Guipuzcoa,
Biscay and Alava. Bilbao was founded on the 14th century.
In the Old city, outstands its gothic Cathedral but the
main international attraction of the city is the Guggenheim
Museum, one of the masterful architectonic pieces of the
20th century with a good modern art collection. San Sebastián,
near the French border, is the most lordly city of the
Basque Country and during decades it was the destiny of
vacations of the Spanish aristocracy and bourgeoisie.
It is worth the trouble to take a walk by Playa de la
Concha in downtown and to make a route by the typical
bars of the Old city to probe tapas, wines (the typical
is txacoli) and zuritos (small beer glasses). Only 7 km
to the west of the city is Monte Ulia, with splendid views
on the Bay of Biscay.
The historical capital of Cantabria is Santander, seated
in a precious bay surrounded by hills. In the city are
the Sardinero beach, the Municipal Museum - with paintings
of 17th and 18th century artists- and the gothic Cathedral,
destroyed in 1941 but recovered afterwards. The city receives
a cosmopolitan air during the summer months, when the
Magdalena Palace becomes the Summer University with an
ample courses and conferences program that attracts the
most intellectual people of the cultural world, national
as much as international.
From Santander can be done excursions to the coastal towns
of Comillas, San Vicente de la Barquera, Castro-Urdiales
and specially the medieval town of Santillana del Mar.
The cave paintings of Altamira have special interest with
more than 13,000 years of antiquity, the visitor has to
remember that the entrance is limited and that there is
to ask for permission of entrance with enough advance.
Asturias has two important cities: Oviedo and Gijón.
Oviedo is the old and lordly city, dominated by its cathedral,
while Gijón is an industrial and harbour city that
attracts the summer tourism thanks to its beaches and
those of the near localities.
Galicia is a mountainous community, with firs and eucalyptuses
forests, fine sand beaches, cliffs, and little rivers
watered by the Biscay Bay and by the Atlantic Ocean. La
Coruña -probably founded by the Phoenicians- it’s
the greater city of the region, and its characteristic
more remarkable is the Vega City. In the same province
is Santiago de Compostela, seat of the government of the
Independent Community of Galicia and full stop of the
most important pilgrimage of the catholic faith. During
the Middle Ages, the tomb of Santiago became the destiny
of pilgrimage of the Christian faithful worldwide. Today
it continues being one of the main sanctuaries, as much
for the fervent devotees as for those who appreciate the
culture, architecture and landscape of the route with
all the religious meaning that accompanies it. The route
can begin from France or from Canfranc or Valcar (Navarre).
It passes through Pamplona, Santo Domingo del Camino,
Logroño, Burgos, Leon and Astorga, arriving at
Santiago de Compostela. The monasteries, churches, chapels
and religious centres offer lodging and aid to the travellers.
The route can begin from any part and it is possible to
be done on foot, in bicycle, car or by intervals. The
festivity of Santiago is the 25 of July and in Santiago
de Compostela it’s celebrated by all the stop, but
to spend a night in the city is necessary to reserve the
lodging with enough anticipation.
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