Spain, September 2008

Burgos, a city in Castilla-Leon situated in the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela, still preserves important vestiges of its medieval splendour. The city, which was the capital of the unified kingdom of Castilla-Leon for five centuries, boasts a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture: the cathedral of Burgos, declared World Heritage. Aside from a visit to the historic quarter, you can take a quite interesting walk along the banks of the Duero and Arlanza rivers. Great places to approach a delicious, varied cuisine.

Top 10 Must-visit Destinations in San Sebastian



1. The Beaches:

You must visit the three beaches: Ondaretta, Concha and Zurriola. People gather on the beach when the sun appeares and go for a day of swimming, sunbathing, relaxing and surfing. You can have a nice dinner on the seashore while watching how the lively nightlife of the city and beach starts.

2. Aquarium

The aquarium is a place filled with a large variety of wonderful subtropical animals. It also has a nice naval museum with a whale skelet in the middle. Take a good look around and go to the second floor to see it! You will walk in the dark through a huge glass tunnel, surrounded by hundreds of different fish species. A nice place to take photos but be sure that your camera also makes nice pictures without using a flash in this dark underwater areas.
3. Cathedral Buen Pastor

This old Neogothic cathedral watches over the city day and night. It owns the highest point of the city with its 75 meter high tower. Take a walk inside this church and be impressed by the interior built ages ago. For many tourists the tower is a point of reference from where they can see the city day and night!
4. Plaza de toros

In almost every city in Spain you will always find this place of bullfights. You will feel the influence of the Spanish crowd screaming and waving with their white tissues while the torero does the kill and cut of the ears as a trophy. Sometimes the torero throws the ears into the crowd so be warned!
And if you find yourself enjoying the excitement of a Spanish bull fight, you can seek thrills without even leaving your holiday villa the juegos de casino of Spain s online poker rooms can challenge even the most daring simply provide a fun respite from all the exhausting sight seeing. Playing cards is a typical Spanish activity (a popular game being Tute ) and so now you can experience a little of this Iberian culture whenever and wherever you like!
5. Remonte

This sport from origin Bask is practiced in "Estadio de Anoeta" not far from the old centre.If you like to walk I can recommend a route from the city centre towards the river. If you reached the river, follow it downwards and when you are at the big curve ask for Estadio de Anoeta and you will see how kind the Spanish people are with showing you the way.


The game looks a bit like squash because of the playground and the rules. There are four players in one game, two teams of two people.

6. The old quarter

In a city like this, this is the place where you can feel the atmosphere changing during day and nighttime. In the early morning you can go for a walk to a café with a nice breakfast. The Plaza de la Constitucion is highly recommended. Also in the evenings and during the nights this is the centre of the small metropolis you're being part off. Eating pintxos is something which you must do during the night. You must also taste a glass of Basque marvelous wine. Also in some bars the pintxos will come with a drink! Go to the Plaza de la Constitucion and then take a walk through every near street and you will have an amazing night.



7. Alameda del Boulevard

This is also a part of the old center but different because of the fact that this is the border between the old quarter and the newer centre. The boulevard starts at the city hall and ends at the Zurriola bridge. You can take a walk to the beach or from the Concha beach to the Zuriola beach and from the old to the new part and otherwise. The streets are more touristic; there are street performances, many terraces and all kind of restaurants.

8. Plaza de Gipuzkoa

This small park has a nice garden to walk through. You can rest on one of the little banks in the park and watch the birds wash themselves in the water. This park is visited many times a day by the older people from Spain who like to take walks through the city and have a chat.

9. Chillida Leku

A Basque artist famous worldwide because of his sculptures. In his own open-air museum his family stored forty pieces made of granite and iron in a beautiful exhibition. Between trees and fields of grass the sculptures arise. Go for a walk and end it in the house with sketches and earlier artwork of the artist.

10. Naval Museum

Don't miss this museum. San Sebastian has been very important in naval history. Even though the museum is not that big it encloses the most important history of this city. The naval museum is only at 100 meters from the Aquarium.

In places such as San Sebastián, there is so much to see that your holiday can end up being really quite tiresome - you may feel like you need another holiday to get over it! What is important is to make sure you rest well. Don t cut on accommodation costs - an air conditioned and comfortable room have a break in means that you can thoroughly enjoy seeing the attractions, feeling fresh and relaxed, not tired and stressed. The air conditioning is especially important should you take your holiday in the South of Spain - where summer temperatures can reach over 40 degrees! For example, the hoteles Málaga will be a great relief to escape to if they are cool and comfortable after a long day sight-seeing through the city - leaving you looking forward to dinner on the port come night-time!

Walking Tours of Santander

Tour 1: Monumental Santander (from City Hall to Puerto Chico)

This first tour of Santander starts at Plaza del Generalísimo, just opposite the Ayuntamiento (City Hall), in the heart of the city's shopping and financial district. Behind City Hall you'll find busy Esperanza Market, where it's easy to spend hours looking through everything for sale. From Plaza de la Esperanza on the north side of the market you can see San Francisco Church. Heading down Cervantes Street, you come to the Fine Arts Museum and the Biblioteca y Casa-Museo Menendez Pelayo (former home and now museum and library of the renowned writer, Marcelino Menendez Pelayo) on Rubio Street. From here, and by way of Jesús de Monasterio Street and Avenida de Calvo Sotelo, you will start making your way towards the cathedral containing la Cripta del Cristo (Christ's Crypt). Before that, the Central Post Office and the Banco de España buildings are worth noting. These are found next to Plaza de Alfonso XIII. Nearby, other places you can visit include the Pereda gardens and the Paseo Marítimo boardwalk which runs parallel to the docks.

To the north you'll find Paseo de Pereda, lined with beautiful buildings, such as Anunciación Church, dating from the 17th century, or Banco Santander's headquarters (both in Plaza Porticada). If you walk under the arch joining Banco Santander's two towers, you come to Calle Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola and the Ensanche district of Santander, where the city first grew beyond the old walls. Here you can visit Plaza de Jose Antonio, containing Casa Pombo or the building familiarly known as Botín's Arches. Another interesting landmark is Santa Lucía Church, just next to Plaza de Cañadío.

If you return to Paseo de Pereda, head east. From here you can take in all the new buildings, with the bay as the backdrop. You'll come to Plaza de Matías Montero, which is close to the Regional Historical and Archaeological Museum. Crossing back over to the dock side, you come to Castelar Street, one of the prettiest in Santander, lined with spectacular buildings, such as Banco Vitalicio or Siboney. You'll finally reach Puerto Chico (literally, Small Port), with its dock and the Real Club Marítimo (Royal Yachting Club), where the tour ends.

Tour 2: The Beaches of Santander (from Palacio de Festivales to Cabo Mayor)

This tour starts at Dique de Gamazo (Gamazo Jetty), to the east of the city center. From here you can visit one of the most spectacular buildings in Santander, the Palacio de Festivales de Cantabria, a cultural center. Attached to the side is the Escuela Superior de la Marina Civil, site of the Planetarium; nearby you'll also find the Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Vela (Sailing School). If you continue down Calle Gamazo, you'll soon reach the Maritime Museum.

Continuing with this sea-faring tour, take Avenida Reina Victoria, one of the most beautiful boardwalks in all of Spain. To your left is perhaps the most posh residential district in Santander, with famous buildings, such as Casa Pardo or Hotel Real. To your right, you can take in fantastic views of the bay and the city's many beaches, in particular Peligros, La Magdalena and Bikinis. On the other side of the bay you can make out the towns of Pedreña, Somo and the huge beach known as Puntal. This entire stretch can be done little by little, so as to enjoy fully the beautiful land and seascapes. Eventually, you'll reach Magdalena Peninsula, where you can visit the park of the same name and the Royal Palace.

If you continue heading towards El Sardinero district, you'll see Camello and La Concha beaches off to your right. Upon reaching Plaza de Italia, you'll find yourself in the heart of El Sardinero, with the Gran Casino and some of the city''s best hotels as well as swanky blocks of flats.

The next stop is at Piquío Gardens and Sardinero's two beaches, Primera and Segunda (literally, First and Second beaches). If you still have some energy left, head north towards Cabo Menor (Smaller Cape) to visit Mataleñas Park and two nearby beaches: Molinucos, which is small and peaceful, or Mataleñas beach, a beautiful cove surrounded by spectacular cliffs. If you continue along Avenida del Faro, you'll reach Parque de Cabo Mayor (Greater Cape Park), with a 19th-century lighthouse and impressive views of the cliffs overlooking the Cantabrian Sea.

Tour 3: Little-known Santander (from Calle Burgos to Calle Alta)

This route is a good way to get to know the western part of Santander, an area not often visited by tourists, though one that has a lot of interesting spots. The tour starts on busy Calle Burgos, a pedestrian street in the heart of the shopping district. Heading uphill towards the west, you reach Plaza de Numancia and the Volunteer Firefighters' Park Building.

Continuing uphill, you soon come to Alameda de Oviedo, with San Fernando and Vargas streets off to the sides. Still continuing along this street, you come to Cuatro Caminos roundabout. From here, take Avenida de Pedro San Martín until you reach Glorieta de los Osos (Bear Roundabout), in the Ciudad Jardín district. Here you can admire the ruins of the 16th-century Pronillo Palace, one of the oldest buildings still standing in all of Cantabria.

Heading back to Cuatro Caminos, you'll find Plaza de Mexico and the bullring, the latter also housing the Bullfighting Museum. If you take Calle Jerónimo Sainz de la Maza and cross the train tracks, you reach Parque de la Marga. Once on Calle Marques de la Hermida, you can stop by the Lonja de Pescado (Fishing Wharf) and the old fishermen's quarter, Barrio Pesquero. On Maliaño Dock, you can stop for a bite to eat at any of the numerous restaurants found here and sample some of the delicious fish and seafood caught fresh just off the coast.

Heading back towards Cuatro Camino, a little slower this time as it's uphill, take Calle Alta, where you can visit Santa Cruz Convent -although it no longer houses nuns but a tobacco factory-, the Regional Parliament (located in what was once the San Rafael Hospital, dating from the late 18th century) and Nuestra Señora de la Consolación Church, also from the 18th century.

Brief Description

Seventeen decorated caves of the Paleolithic age were inscribed as an extension to the Altamira Cave, inscribed in 1985. The property will now appear on the List as Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain. The property represents the apogee of Paleolithic cave art that developed across Europe, from the Urals to the Iberian Peninusula, from 35,000 to 11,000 BC. Because of their deep galleries, isolated from external climatic influences, these caves are particularly well preserved. The caves are inscribed as masterpieces of creative genius and as the humanity’s earliest accomplished art. They are also inscribed as exceptional testimonies to a cultural tradition and as outstanding illustrations of a significant stage in human history.

In the western coast of Cantabria, you can find two of the biggest cultural treasures in the region: Santillana del Mar and Altamira Caves.

Santillana del Mar is 30 km far from Santander and it is an “alive museum” of a medieval village developed around the “Santa Juliana” collegiate church, although most of the houses were built between the XIV century and the XVIII one. The whole Santillana can only be visited on foot.

You can walk north through the village by Santo Domingo Street, that becomes soon two streets in a “Y” bifurcation: Juan Infante St., that leads to the Ramon Pelayo´s Square, and the other one called Carrera St. (also known as Cantףn St. or Del Rםo St.). In the triangular square there are some of the most representative buildings: Barreda-Bracho´s Casona (XVIII; with a splendid shield) which is nowadays the “Parador Gil Blas” (a high-quality tourist hotel), Del Aguila y La Parra´s houses, the Town Hall, the Don Borja´s Tower (XIV; one of the noblest edifications in Santillana, owned by the Barreda family, where it is the “Fundacion Santillana”) and Merino´s Tower (XIV; fortified residence of the “merinos”, the old administrators of the sovereign properties). Cantףn St. presents and excellent collection of “casonas” (the old typical houses owned by the rural nobility), from the XV to the XVII; it is necessary to mention among them the “Leonor de la Vega” gothic house (XV century), who was the mother of the first Santillana´s marquis, and the Villa´s house too (also known as “casa de los hombrones”, with a big coat of arms with two knights with moustache. At the end of the street you can find the “Colegiata” (Saint Juliana´s collegiate church), the most important religious monument of the Romanesque in Cantabria.

Built over an old hermitage in the XII century, it has got a three apse ground plan, transept and three naves. In the main faחade there is a triangular pediment with the martyr’s image, and above it, a gallery with fifteen arcs framed by three towers, of them cylindrical. The cloister is leaned against the north nave, and it is considered as the master piece of the whole, because of the excellent engraving of its capitals. 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).

Near Santillana, just two kilometres far, it is one of the biggest treasures of Cantabria: Altamira Caves, universally appraised. They were discovered in 1879 by Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola and his daughter Maria, and they were declared by the UNESCO cultural heritage site. The cave, about 300 meters long, has 150 engraved figures made by the Palaeolithic man and great polychromatic paintings (based on natural pigments), especially the ones with bisons and wild boars.

The port of Vigo, one of the finest natural ports in the world, was the origin of this city fringed by mountains. Its maritime qualities, already exploited in Roman times, have given rise to the present-day marinas and the transatlantic harbour, as well as to the fishing and canning industries. All of this has contributed to the urban development of Vigo, which includes the traditional port area and boasts major historic buildings and wide tree-lined avenues.
Cidade Vella

The historic quarter, the so-called Cidade Vella, is articulated around the old maritime quarter of O Berbés, near the port. Situated in this quarter, which has Tourist-Historical Interest status, are the arcades around the Plaza de la Constitución, fishing streets and emblazoned houses. One of the main features of this network of tiny streets, in which most façades have glass-encased miradors, is the Collegiate Church of Santa María, the Procathedral of Vigo-Tui. Neoclassical in style, this edifice is constructed on the remains of a Gothic church burned down by the pirate Francis Drake. Also worthy of visit in this area is the do Pedra market, a fascinating place for buying and sampling Galician oysters.

The newer part of Vigo occupies a triangle formed by the Puerta del Sol, Colón and Urzáiz. Lining the wide avenues are notable buildings, one such being the García Barbón Cultural Centre, designed by Antonio Palacios. The modern sector contains one of the best miradors over the Vigo estuary, the Monte do Castro mount. Located amidst the forests and leisure areas are the remains of the hill-forts that constituted the early settlement, as well as the ruins of the 10th-century O Penso Castle, the layout of which was used for the construction of the 17th-century Tower Castle still standing.

The large Municipal Park of Castrelos is located on what once was the estate of the Quiñones de León country house. Amidst Neoclassical gardens and ancient trees, the Municipal Park contains an interesting collection of Roman steles, furniture and statuary, and an art gallery exhibiting European works from the Baroque period as well modern works by Galician artists. The park also boasts an open-air auditorium where key music events are held.

The mounts of A Madroa and A Guía that lay around the city of Vigo provide magnificent viewpoints from which to admire the surrounding landscape. Also worthy of a visit is the Zoo, situated on Mount A Madroa, whilst the Municipal Park also contains the hermitage of Nosa Señora da Guía.

The Galician Museum of the Sea, situated at the Punta do Muiño in the parish of Alcabre, comprises buildings, gardens, a square and a wharf. The work of Aldo Rossi and César Portella, this complex houses various items related to the sea.

The Vigo Estuary

The city of Vigo is easily accessible thanks to the motorway and airport, and there are also excellent nautical facilities and a golf course in the vicinity. At its maritime station it is possible to purchase passages to the coastal towns of Cangas and Moaña on the other side of the estuary, and even to the Cíes Isles. Part of the National Park of the Atlantic Islands, the sheer cliffs and dunes of these isles are the home of thousands of migratory birds.

The route along the Vigo Estuary affords the contemplation of historic country houses such as Baiona. Its parador, an incomparable viewpoint over the Atlantic, combines elements of the past, such as the medieval fortress, with vestiges of Galician stately architecture. The restaurant serves both traditional and highly imaginative dishes made with products from the region, such as sea bass with razor-shells in turnip green sauce. The beaches of Nigrán, the oysters of Arcade and, further inland, the Mondariz Spa, are just some of the area's numerous attractions.

Another attraction of the province of Pontevedra is its capital city, which is situated on the estuary of the same name. The network of streets and squares that make up its historic quarter contain major civic and religious buildings. The palace of the Counts of Maceda houses the city's parador, which provides privileged accommodation for over-night stays. Another of the major ports along the Pontevedra Estuary is Marín, famous for the Naval Military School. Other places of interest, and also boasting excellent beaches, are Combarro, Sanxenxo and Portonovo; so too, the Ons Isles, which close the estuary and form part of the Galician National Park.

The Arousa Estuary leads to Villagarcía de Arousa, O Grove and the island of A Toxa, which boasts one of Galicia's most impressive spas. Visitors to Cambados can stay at its parador, housed in the former Pazo de Batán country house dating back to the 17th century.

Towards the south of the province, almost on the Portuguese border, the itinerary continues with the Monte Aloia Nature Reserve, which contains highly interesting archaeological remains; the historic city of Tui, the point of entry into Spain for the Northern Road of the "ruta jacobea" pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where the parador is situated amidst mountains and rivers; and A Guarda at the mouth of the river Miño, where the hill-fort of the Monte Santa Tegra is a worthwhile visit.

All of these places offer the opportunity to sample the delicious cuisine that Galician tradition has preserved and that is now exploited by the most innovative chefs. The Rías Baixas provide hake, turbot and sea bass, not to mention a whole range of shellfish including goose barnacles, oysters, clams, mussels and cockles. These raw materials are served in stews and pies, on their own or combined with other flavours and textures. Veal and Galician potatoes, known as "cachelos", both have Label Guarantee status and are used in the tastiest of dishes. Wines with the Rías Baixas Label Guarantee make an excellent accompaniment to any of these dishes. Local cuisine sampling can be rounded off by a slice of Santiago cake (an almond-based sponge) and a "queimada", a traditional beverage obtained by flaming the local eau-de-vie.

Segovia is Spain and Castile at its best - twisting alleyways, the highest concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe, pedestrian streets where no cars are allowed, the aroma of roast suckling pig around every corner - all surrounded by the city's medieval wall which itself is bordered by two rivers and an extensive green-belt park with miles of shaded walks. On the north-west extreme of the wall is the famous Alcázar castle, source of inspiration to Walt Disney, and where Queen Isabel promised Columbus the financial backing he needed to discover America. On the south-east extreme is the world renowned Roman Aqueduct, the largest and best preserved of its kind anywhere, which served as the mintmark on all coins struck in the city from 1455 to 1864. The tallest building in Segovia is still the 16th-century Cathedral, a prominent landmark as one approaches from any direction.

A city of great importance in Roman and medieval times, Segovia's population has remained relatively stable over the centuries and today hovers at around 50,000. Famous in the 15th-century for its wool production, today's activities are based on agriculture and tourism. The tourist sector was greatly assisted in 1985 when UNESCO declared Segovia "Heritage of Mankind". The future of Segovia is closely linked to the protection and promotion of the city's monumental complex, in which the Mint is given a unique distintion as the world's oldest, still standing, industrial manufacturing plant (1583).

Visiting all these attractions in Segovia is particularly easy due to the city's close proximity to Madrid and its international airport. The 54 mile drive is done in less than an hour via a twin-bore tunnel going under the Guadarrama Mountains, which totally and quite effectively separate this sleepy Castillan town from the over 3 million people in Spain's capital city. The mountains also provide a dramatic backdrop to Segovia's monumental skyline, particularly in winter and spring when covered with snow. The city's elevation of 3,280 ft. provides a refreshing atmosphere during the long summer evenings for enjoying the dozens of sidewalk cafes and terraces, especially on the streets and plazas where no cars are permitted. Buses leave Madrid for Segovia every half hour and trains every two hours, with round trip fares for under $10 US.

Here are some photographs and links which will give you an idea of some of the other historic monuments in Segovia, Spain, (pop. 53.237, elev. 3,280 ft.) whose entire monumental complex was declared Patrimony of Mankind by UNESCO in 1985.