Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

DISC OVERING NOR THERN SP AIN  15

Castles and its lofty castle, and enjoy a drink
Mountains on the handsome Plaza Mayor,
lined with stone houses.
• Duration Seven days.
• Airports The nearest Day 4
international airports are Pau Drive up to the Parque
(France), 112 km (70 miles) Nacional de Ordesa y Monte
from Jaca, and Zaragoza, Perdido (pp186–7) to enjoy a
150 km (93 miles) away. day’s hiking in one of the most
spectacular national parks in
• Transport A car is essential.
Spain. There are routes for
walkers of all fitness levels, and
Day 1 you can bring a picnic to enjoy
Explore the attractive town of on a mountain top.
Jaca (p179), set against the
peaks of the Pyrenees. Visit the Day 5
pentagonal citadel and Spain’s Head across the Catalan border
Colourful buildings and market stalls first Romanesque cathedral, to the Vall de Boí (p193), which
around Plaza Daoiz y Velarde, Oviedo and admire the Puente de San boasts UNESCO World Heritage
Miguel, a medieval bridge on status for its superb collection
Day 4 the pilgrimage route. Spend the of Romanesque churches, filled
Follow the Ría de Villaviciosa afternoon at the Monasterio with extraordinary murals. Most
river to reach the pretty town de San Juan de la Peña of the tiny villages boast their
of Villaviciosa (p99), the cider (pp180–81), an imposing own beautiful church, but the
capital of Spain. Stop for lunch monastery that is said to have finest are in Taüll.
at a local sidrería (cider house), once guarded the Holy Grail.
then head inland to Cangas Day 6
de Onís (p106), a small historic Day 2 Continue north to Vielha
town, and nearby Covadonga Spend the morning visiting the (pp192–3), a handsome town of
(p106), where the Moorish enormous Castillo de Loarre grey stone and slate buildings
advance was halted in 722. (p182), hugging a rocky outcrop typical of the Vall d’Aran (p192).
and enjoying stunning views Admire Vielha’s fine churches
Day 5 over the Ebro plain. Then drive and museums, then enjoy some
Drive back to the coast and east to Huesca (p191), a local food, before continuing
stop at the seaside town of charming mountain town through the valley to reach the
Ribadesella (p102), with great and former Aragonese capital, villages of Arties and Salardú.
tapas bars, a beautiful beach which is still home to a royal
and the Cueva de Tito Bustillo, palace and the Iglesia de San Day 7
a series of caves that contain Pedro el Viejo, burial place of Drive south, along another
remarkable prehistoric paintings. several Aragonese kings. beautiful road that follows the
Drop in at nearby medieval Noguera Pallaresa river, to Sort
Llanes (p102), before heading Day 3 (p194), a small town famous for
east to Comillas (p108) to see Take the 2-hour drive to its rafting and watersports.
unusual Modernista buildings. Aínsa (p183), wriggling over From Sort, the mountain road
the mountains via little villages winds east to La Seu d’Urgell
Day 6 such as Adahuesca and Arcusa. (p194), home to Catalonia’s only
Travel to the harbour town of Meander through the cobbled Romanesque cathedral and a
Santander (pp114–15), elegantly streets of Aínsa, climbing up to clutch of elegant mansions.
arranged around a beautiful
bay. The Cantabrian capital
offers museums, a fine cathedral
and the Playa el Sardinero, a
stunning white-sand beach.
Day 7
Continue along the coastline to
Laredo (p115), a popular resort
with a glorious 5-km- (3-mile-)
long beach. There are more
wonderful beaches to discover
on the way to Castro Urdiales
(p115), where fabulous seafood
restaurants surround the
picturesque harbour. The Monasterio de San Juan de la Peña, concealed under a rock overhang

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