Popular Destinations along the route of the Gran Lujo

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago is one of the most important centers of Christian pilgrimage and pilgrims have come to its cathedral from all over the world since the Middle Ages. The city has been designated a World Heritage Site and also has the distinctive air of a university town.

Viveiro

Viveiro has had its city charter since 1891. Its origins are medieval and its old quarter has been declared a Historical and Artistic Monument. During our visit we will see the remains of the city wall with the Charles V, Valado and A Vila gates, the Misericordia Bridge, the Plaza Mayor (main square), the Calexa das Monxas, the monasteries of the Conception and St. Francis, the Lourdes Grotto and the churches of St. Mary and St. James.

Luarca

The village is still a typical seaport and the port is one of its main attractions, around which the life of Luarca is concentrated. Worthy of note are the 18th century palace of the Marquises of Gamoneda and the parish church of St. Eulalia. Luarca can boast of being the birthplace of Severo Ochoa de Albornoz, who won the first Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1959.

San Sebastián

This city, also known as Donostia, lies along a white sandy bay between the Urgull and Igeldo hills. Fishermen’s houses, a smart suburb and modern districts make it one of the most attractive cities on the Cantabrian coast. The Museum of San Telmo, the Peine de los Vientos (Comb of the Winds) and the Kursaal are examples of how the city brings together modern and traditional features. Meanwhile, the province of Guipuzcoa, of which San Sebastián is the capital, blends sea and mountains, offering the traveller landscape, sports and cuisine, as well as interesting monuments.

Oviedo

The jewel of Oviedo is its Flamboyant Gothic Cathedral in Alfonso II square, which is surrounded by palaces and churches. Its construction began in 1348 and ended in 1556. The relics preserved in its Cámara Santa have made Oviedo the second most important site for pilgrimages on the Peninsula. The Holy Shroud is its most venerated relic but here too can be found the Cruz de los Ángeles (Cross of Angels), Cruz de la Victoria (Cross of Victory), Arca de las Ágatas (Chest of Agates) and Arca Santa (Holy Chest), which together make this one of the oldest cathedral treasures in Spain.

Arriondas

This village, surrounded by mountains, is a paradise for hiking lovers and fans of active tourism.

Arriondas is in the Region of Asturias, in northern Spain. The village is in a large valley surrounded by mountains, where the Sella and Piloña rivers converge. They are an important part of its natural heritage, with an abundance of beautiful streams and canyons. The area is also home to many prehistoric sites. Outstanding amongst these is Taragaño Cave. Don’t miss the village’s monuments, with various churches, palaces, mills and stately houses with centuries of history.

Llanes

Llanes, a natural bridge between Cantabria and Asturias, is the capital of eastern Asturias. This port and residential town is now an important centre for tourism.

The highlights are the Benedictine monasteries of St. Antolin de Bedon and St. Salvador de Celorio, the remains of the 12th century city walls and the church of the Assumption.

Santander

Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, Santander owns a great part of its charm to its peculiar topography. The Magdalene Peninsula, where the famous Menéndez y Pelayo Summer University is located, divides the coast of Santander in two.

Bilbao

Bilbao is the heart of a metropolis where more than a million people live. It is the centre of the economic-social development and the main factor of the modernization of the Bay of Biscay. The great architectural and infrastructure projects have been the driving force of the urban and economic regeneration of the city. The Guggenheim Museum, the Euskalduna Conference and Music Centre, Norman Foster’s Underground, Calatrava’s airport, the new tram, the projects by the architects Arata Isozaki and César Pelli… are all examples of the dynamism that exists in Bilbao. The city is situated in the area of Bizkaia and is surrounded by a fertile landscape with forests, mountains, beaches and steep coasts. All this makes Bilbao a privileged destination for visitors.