Mention Spain, and most people think of two things:
beach holidays or weekend breaks in Barcelona. But the north of the
country has much to offer beyond beaches and city
breaks.
Travel a little further and you’ll find authentic Spanish
towns and buzzing cities; history in the shape of castles,
cathedrals and medieval villages; the Picos mountains for scenic
splendour; and, if a beach is essential, the Cantabrian coast.
Access is easy – clients can take their own car on the
Brittany Ferries service or opt for a flydrive package, both
starting from Bilbao or Santander.
Operators including Magic of Spain and Mundi Color offer
flydrive itineraries in the north of Spain. Magic of Spain has a
dedicated flydrive section in its first edition 2005 brochure.
Mundi Color sales and marketing manager Tony Maniscalco said
these holidays suit people looking for culture. “The sort of people
north Spain will suit are maybe an older couple, whose children
have left home, and clients who appreciate culture, history,
gastronomy and wine.”
For the greatest variety, Travel Weekly recommends an east-west
route from Bilbao stretching almost to the Portuguese border, and
south as far as Salamanca. Those who want to see it all should be
prepared for a lot of driving, but the mountain roads are good and,
cities apart, traffic is light.
Visitors who wish to split the long drive might prefer to stay
for an extra night or two in the historic cities of Soria or
Segovia and those who really must mix sun with sand can always end
their holiday on the excellent beaches of Santander.
| Days one and two: Santander to Bilbao |
Highlights: Bilbao is really two cities
separated by the Nerbion River. On one side there’s the old
town, full of narrow, cobbled pedestrianised streets housing bars,
cafés and restaurants. On the other is the main business and
shopping district and the main thoroughfare, Gran Via, a cross
between Oxford Street and Bond Street. Take the modern metro to
avoid the many hills.
While no-one could, or should, miss the Guggenheim modern art
museum, the building has more to offer than its
collection, which is relatively small and extremely contemporary.
Art lovers may prefer the nearby Museo des Bellas Artes, a showcase
of Spanish art through the centuries.
Puento Colgante (Metro: Areeta), the oldest transporter bridge
in the world, is also worth a look. Opened in 1893, this iron
edifice holds two gondolas which carry pedestrians, cyclists, cars
and vans across the river, skimming a few feet above the water.
Visitors can take the lift to a footpath 60 metres high, offering
panoramic views of the city.
Minimum time needed: a 64 mile, hour-long drive
from Santander ferry port.
Accommodation: there is a good choice of styles
and prices. The stylish four-star Barcelo Avenida is quiet, despite
its main road location near to Abando Metro. Magic of Spain
features the four-star Hotel Ercilla in Bilbao from £295 for
two nights per person twin-share.
| Day three: Bilbao to Calahorra |
Highlights: almost Alpine scenery gives way to
typical Spanish mesas before reaching the hilly Rioja region,
dominated by vineyards. Calahorra is a medium-sized town combining
upmarket shopping with an old quarter whose Roman architecture
includes a fine Romanesque cathedral. Local wine is available in
the town by the bottle or the case; some bodegas welcome visitors,
usually by appointment.
A detour to Burgos is well worth it, if for no other reason than
to visit the huge and very ornate cathedral, set in a charming
square.
Minimum time needed: just under five hours for
the 113-mile trip via Burgos.
Accommodation: clients could do worse than
prebook from a network of state-run Paradores throughout their
journey. Parador de Calahorra offers four-star modern comfort in
the heart of town. Mundi Color has a seven-night flydrive at the
end of April including one night’s bed and breakfast here for
£543 per person, including flights and car hire.
| Days four and five: Calahorra to Salamanca |
Highlights: the longest drive, but there are
plenty of interesting places to stop. Segovia’s Roman
aqueduct, still in use, provides a particularly impressive backdrop
to this charming Gothic town whose pedestrianised centre bustles
with cafés and restaurants.
And the prize ‘Salamanca’ is worth the effort: it is
the highlight of the trip. With enthralling examples of
architecture, from Roman to modern, this university town and
2002’s European City of Culture also has a vibrant nightlife
scene. Salamanca’s two cathedrals – in essence two
parts of one building – should not be missed. The 12th
century frescoes and sepulchres are stunning.
Another must-see is the Art Deco museum, Casa Lis.
Minimum time needed: six hours driving time for
the 301-mile journey.
Accommodation: the modern, four-star Parador de
Salamanca sits across the river from the town – a 10 or
15-minute walk – but offers magnificent views of the
cathedral, as well as a swimming pool and sauna.
| Day six: Salamanca to Cervera de Pisuerga |
Highlights: the Cervera de Pisuerga national
park nestles in the Picos mountains, a home to bear, mountain goat
and a variety of bird life. Good walking, cycling and horse riding
country in incomparable scenery.
Minimum time needed: five hours if you go via
Leon, which is worth a stop to see the cathedral’s famous
stained glass windows. The journey is 219 miles.
Accommodation: Parador de Cervera, a few miles
outside the town, attracts huge numbers of Spaniards for weekend
breaks, so can be noisy. However, rooms are large and comfortable
and staff helpful.
| Day seven: Cervera to Fuente De |
Highlights: another Picos retreat, known for
its cable car which whisks visitors 900 metres up to a spectacular
scenic viewpoint. Man-made trails make easy walking, or travellers
can sit and admire the mountains.
Potes, a charming traditional market town, is 10 miles from
Fuente De, which has two hotels, the cable car – and little
else.
Minimum time needed: two hours for the 52-mile
journey.
Accommodation: Fuente De’s parador, like
Cervera, is a favourite with hikers and cyclists, but sound
insulation is advised.
The bar has a rustic charm and visitors may hear bells in the
morning – from the herd of cows grazing outside their window.
Magic of Spain uses the three-star Hotel El Jisu, five miles
outside Potes, from £365 for seven nights.
| Day eight: Fuente De to Santander |
Highlights: allow plenty of time to take the
scenic route, rather than the motorway, to permit stops at two
particularly attractive towns: Comillas, home to El Richio, one of
the few buildings outside Barcelona built by Gaudi; and Santillana
del Mar, one of the prettiest places in Spain, full of cobbled
streets, impressive medieval architecture, and a fine choice of
local crafts.
Minimum time needed: two hours without a stop
for the 86-mile journey.
