Cantabrian Coast in 5 days
Day 1 - Santander
Day 3 - Picos de Europa
Day 1 - Santander
Santander is the capital of Cantabria and as such deserves to be the starting point of our trip. The city used to be the holiday destination of Spanish royalty. Palacio Magdalena, the summer residence of King Alfonso XIII is the reminder of the fanciful past. While the royals, just as most modern visitors, enjoyed the beaches, the locals were predominantly fishermen.
Day 2 - Altamira
Day 3 - Picos de Europa
Day 1 - Santander
It took a while for the scientists and historians to recognize Altamira cave for what it is: the first and one of the best examples of the Upper Paleolithic cave art. The amazingly well preserved and vivid paintings of stags, bison, human-like figures and abstract signs are now on the UNESCO World Heritage list, together with the art from 17 other caves in northern Spain.
Day 3 - Picos de Europa
Day 3 - Picos de Europa
Day 5 - Beaches of Western Asturias
There is an abundance of great mountain ranges in Spain and in northern Spain, well, the Pyrenees are hard to beat. Until you get to Picos de Europa. The mountains are a natural border between Cantabria, Asturias and Castille and Leon. There are plenty of hikes to choose from and even if you are here just for the photos, the national park is easily accessible and offers amazing views of its abrupt peaks.
Day 5 - Beaches of Western Asturias
Day 5 - Beaches of Western Asturias
Day 5 - Beaches of Western Asturias
Aviles, Cudillero and Luarca are just three of the picturesque towns in Asturias. Cudillero in particular, is a quintessential fishing village where families painted their houses the same vibrant colour as their boats, to be easily recognizable from the sea. Luarca in comparison, is known as the White Town after the predominant colour of the houses there.
Day 4 - Oviedo
Day 5 - Beaches of Western Asturias
Day 4 - Oviedo
Here we are, in the capital city of the oldest of the Spanish regions. As we saw in Picos de Europa, Asturias is where the Spanish nobility gathered after the conquest of Spain, and started the re-conquest that took over 700 years. The city is a perfect stop after a day in the mountains. Much of the city centre has been pedestrianized so it is extremely easy to move around. The main square is generally known as the Cathedral Square, Oviedo cathedral being a stop on one of the routes of the Camino de Santiago.
