VACATION DETAILS

Santiago de Compostela is now considered by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site and attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its fantastic monuments. The town is named after the Apostle Saint James ("Santiago"), who is buried here. In 2000 Santiago de Compostela was given the title of European Cultural Capital. Santiago is certainly one of Spain's most monumental towns, with a particular architectonical style all of its own. But it is as well a town plenty of life, with one of the most famous Universities and a large number of students who guarantee youthful ambience inbetween the historical walls. The region's cuisine is of great reputation, and it is said that nowhere has better seafood than Santiago.

Excursions

Santillana del Mar has been called by many writers ‘the most beautiful village in Spain.’ Stroll through the rustic cobblestone streets that are lined with stone houses decorated with carved heraldic symbols and enjoy the delightful church square. It is located in the western coast of Cantabria, and is one of the biggest cultural treasures in the region. The other treasure, the Altamira Caves, are located just 2 kilometres away. Santillana del Mar is an “alive museum” of a medieval village developed around the “Santa Juliana” collegiate church, the most important religious monument of the Romanesque in Cantabria. Most of the houses were built between the XIV and XVIII century. The whole Santillana can only be visited on foot. But the genuine flavour of this stony and millennial museum, which is the village, is its own move of people, its always flowered balconies, the charm of its nooks and traditional shops, where you can have a glass of milk with “bizcocho” (the typical product of the local confectionery).

Bilbao, the capital of Vizcaya Province, lies seven miles from the sea and has a coastline featuring rocks and steep cliffs, creeks and small estuaries; small fishing villages nestle in the inlets below green hills. The port of Bilbao is the largest in Spain and is built against the mountains. The city's fine museums include Fine Arts Museum and Guggenheim Museum. The Guggenheim Bilbao Museum is devoted to American and European art of the 20th century. The Fine Arts Museum specializes in paintings by Spanish masters. Our Lady of Begona Church is a 16th-century church on a hill with a good view of the city and valley. Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art is located in an old convent of Dominican nuns, a 16th-century, L-shaped cloister housing this fine museum with an outstanding exhibit of silversmiths' crafts that is one of the best collections in Spain. The Bullfighting Museum shows interesting bullfighting paraphernalia, such as costumes, photographs of famous toreros and a collection of posters. Visitors can try their gambling luck at Gran Casino Nervion.