WestboundLeón - Santiago de Compostela
Day 1, Saturday. Rendez-vous in León, ancient Roman city, dominated by its Cathedral of glass and Romanesque frescoes, elegant boulevards and chic shops. Enjoy lunch in León, then depart for Cistierna aboard the Transcantábrico. Dinner and overnight in Cistierna.
Day 2, Sunday. Breakfast aboard as you travel to Guardo, from where you'll explore Roman and medieval towns and sights along the 1000-year-old pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago. Lunch in Villacázar de Sirga, then on to the Romanesque church of Fromista. Back aboard, the route winds past the Canal de Castilla and along the Ebro River marshes, to Sotoscueva. Dinner on the train.
Day 3, Monday. Welcome to Basque Country. Visit the emblematic GuggenheimMuseum in Bilbao (the museum is closed on Mondays, except in July and August); lunch in this city of famous chefs, before continuing your journey to Santander, ancient maritime capital on the CantabrianSea. Before dinner, visit the city; later perhaps, try your luck at the Casino.
Day 4, Tuesday. After breakfast, transfer to Santillana del Mar, known for its Altamiraneo-CaveMuseum, ColegiataChurch with remarkable capitals and Renaissance buildings. Lunch in Santillana del Mar. Continue along the coast past Llanes to your overnight in the fishing town of Ribadesella, with its Baroque old quarter . Sleep soundly in the fresh sea air.
Day 5, Wednesday. Traverse Spain's little Switzerland, the Picos de Europa National Park. Travel winding roads through mountain passes, apple orchards with grazing goats and sheep, down the SellaRiverValley, to Lakes Enol and Ercina, to slate-roofed villages with craft centers, to the Covadonga Sanctuary and on to the mountain town of Cangas de Onís for lunch. From Cangas, continue to Gijón, with its beautiful beaches and historic fishing quarter. Dinner in Gijón.
Day 6, Thursday. Imagine Romans, Visigoths, and early Christian kings when Oviedo was capital of the Kingdom of the Asturias. Explore the city's old quarter, designated a UNESCO heritage site-markets, museums, palaces and pantheons. Sample local specialties over lunch, then travel to Cudillero, an unusual fishing village sheltered against the mountains. At Luarca, stroll the medieval streets of this white town on the GreenCoast before dinner.
Day 7, Friday. Enter Galicia, land of rivers and manor houses, vineyards and granaries, and a powerful drink/queimada to ward off witches/meigas. Descend Ribadeo's steep cobbled streets to the port, and lunch. Continue to Viveiro, at the foot of Mount San Roque; board a yacht to sail the Ria Eo, a rich source of marine life, reminder of what attracted the Romans here two millennia ago. Enjoy dinner where river, mountains, forest and sea merge.
Day 8, Saturday. Enjoy the last stretch by train to Ferrol. From there, transfer by coach to Santiago de Compostela, end of your pilgrimage at the great Cathedral, shrine site for over a thousand years. After a tour of the Cathedral and its plazas, retire for a farewell lunch.
Meeting point and time for Day 1: Parador Nacional de San Marcos, Plaza de San Marcos, 7, León, 12:00 noon.
EastboundSantiago de Compostela - León
Day 1, Saturday.Rendezvous in Santiago de Compostela. Tour the great Cathedral, shrine site for over a thousand years. Enjoy a welcome lunch before traveling to Ferrol to board the Transcantábrico. Savor the cuisine of Galicia as the coast rolls past en route to Vivero.
Day 2, Sunday. This morning sail the Ría Eo, a rich source of marine life, reminder of what attracted the Romans here two millennia ago. Afterwards, continue to Ribadeo and descend cobbled streets to the port for lunch. Travel on to Luarca for dinner--a white town of medieval streets in Green Spain.
Day 3, Monday. Enter the ancient Kingdom of Asturias. Explore Cudillero, an unusual fishing village sheltered against the mountains. Continue to Oviedo and walk the old quarter, designated a UNESCO heritage site-markets, museums, palaces and pantheons. Sample local specialties over lunch, then continue to Gijón, with its beautiful beaches and historic fishing quarter, your dining destination this evening.
Day 4, Tuesday. Traverse Spain's little Switzerland, the Picos de Europa National Park. Travel winding roads through mountain passes, apple orchards with grazing sheep, down the SellaRiverValley, to lakes, villages, Covadonga Sanctuary and the mountain town of Cangas de Onís for lunch. From Cangas, continue to the coast at Llanes, and dinner.
Day 5, Wednesday. After breakfast, transfer to Santillana del Mar, known for its Altamiraneo-CaveMuseum, ColegiataChurch and Renaissance architecture. Lunch in Santillana del Mar. Continue along the coast to Santander, ancient maritime capital on the CantabrianSea. Dinner features regional favorites.
Day 6, Thursday. Welcome to Basque Country. Tour the GuggenheimMuseum in Bilbao, then lunch in this city of famous chefs, before continuing your journey to Sotoscueva. Dinner on the train.
Day 7, Friday. Traverse the Canal de Castilla and explore the Camino de Santiago in old Castilla-Romanesque art and Gothic churches. Lunch in Villacázar de Sirga, then on to the pilgrim halt at Fromista, amidst fields of wheat. From the Roman town of Olmeda, continue to Cistierna and dinner.
Day 8, Saturday. Step down in León, ancient Roman city, dominated by its Cathedral of glass and Romanesque frescoes, elegant boulevards and chic shops. Enjoy a farewell lunch in the city of Legions and Knights
Meeting point and time for Day 1: Parador Nacional de Los Reyes Católicos, Plaza del Obradoiro, 1, Santiago de Compostela - 12:00 noon.