Green Spain route I

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

On the right bank of the estuary, where the waters of the river Asón approach the sea, is the welcoming and peaceful village of Limpias. A 20th century palace converted into a Parador awaits you there, in a secluded place that invites you to relax and stroll through the well-tended gardens. Limpias is an ideal starting point to visit towns such as Laredo or Santillana del Mar. In itself, Santillana del Mar, a medieval town with cobbled streets, is a real treat for the traveller. Its streets, its palaces and mansions, the Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana and museums such as the Regina Coelli Museum of Religious Art are waiting to be discovered at every turn. You must not leave the area without visiting the Neo-Cave of Altamira and its Museum to learn about our past and marvel at the "Sistine Chapel of Cave Art". Other recommended visits include Comillas, Santander and Cabárceno Nature Park. On your way to Asturias, be sure to visit El Soplao Cave, with its unique karst formations, or coastal towns such as San Vicente de la Barquera.

Wednesday

Asturias is at its highest expression in these lands. In the village of Cangas de Onís, we recommend discovering the Roman Bridge, from where a copy of the 10th-century Cruz de la Victoria that commemorates the battle of Covadonga hangs, the Chapel of Santa Cruz and the Cortés Palace. To soak the culture of the Principado, you should enter some chigre (a type of bar) to see the show of pouring cider and taste it together with Cabrales cheese or some other delight of the many prepared in this region. A destination for hikers and mountaineers, next to the National Park of Picos de Europa, visit Casa Dago (visitors’ centre). The Royal Grounds of Covadonga, a place of pilgrimage which houses the Santina, is one of the places of special interest in the area together with the Covadonga lakes (Enol and Ercina) and the Cares route.

Thursday

Gijón: historical, commercial and industrial, where the sea, the rolling mountains and the big city come together to create one of the most attractive cities in the north of Spain. Its mild climate invites you to enjoy it all year round. The San Lorenzo beach, the seafront promenade, the marina, the Semana Negra literary week, the social life and the party atmosphere make you want to get to know the city. You have to walk by the fishing neighbourhood of Cimadevilla and go up to the hill of Santa Catalina, where you will see the sculpture of Chillida "Praise of the Horizon", and from where the Cantabrian coast offers a beautiful panoramic view. Among its many attractions, Gijón has a museum network and diverse cultural offerings: International Film Festival, Salón del Libro Iberoamericano book festival, the Railway Museum, the International Bagpipe Museum, Jovellanos’ birth house, the Nicanor Piñole museum, the Revillagigedo palace, the Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura... And if you have not yet succumbed to its charms, it is time to taste a hearty fabada or other Asturian dishes such as cachopo or its unbeatable rice pudding. On the way to Galicia, Avilés is well worth a stop to visit the Niemeyer Museum and typical fishing villages such as Candás, Luanco and Cudillero. Pay attention to the majestic Indian mansions placed throughout the territory! Among its many attractions, Gijón has a museum network and diverse cultural offerings: International Film Festival, Salón del Libro Iberoamericano book festival, the Railway Museum, the International Bagpipe Museum and others display the city's incredible history, including the Jovellanos birthplace museum, the Nicanor Piñole museum and the Revillagigedo palace.

Friday

Following the coast along the Jacobean Route of the Northern Way we arrive in Ribadeo, a Lugo fishing town bordering Galicia and Asturias. At the end of the route, it provides us with the necessary rest to discover places of great beauty and several beaches, including As Catedrais beach, one of the most spectacular in the world due to its set of cliffs over 32 meters high that, sculpted by the wind and the sea, form arches and vaults, and it was declared a Natural Monument. It must also be noted the Ribadeo estuary, included in the Eo River Biosphere Reserve, Oscos and Tierras de Burón, a natural cove of great ecological and environmental importance, and it is also great for all kinds of nautical and sports activities. We also suggest visiting the Fuerte de San Damián fort, the Puente Do Santos bridge and the nearby town of Castropol. You can treat yourself by tasting great creations and products of the north with typical dishes from the traditional Galician cuisine, such as seafood, empanada, lacón, broth rice with lobster from the Cantabrian Sea, hake from Puerto Celeiro or delicious suckling beef tenderloin with Cebreiro cheese sauce.

Saturday

On our way to inland territories, our destination is ancient and stately Vilalba, a land full of legends where the river environment and the plain are the main features of the landscape. Close to Vilalba you will find the natural landscapes of the Magdalena and Ladra rivers and the medicinal pond of Alligal, with thermal springs. Here you will discover the most authentic Galician cuisine. We invite you to try traditional dishes such as pulpo a feira (boiled octopus with olive oil and paprika), meat and cheese pie or the delicious filloas (type of crepes) filled with cream, without forgetting some more comforting foods during the cold season, as Galician soup or the stews. If you travel during Christmas, don’t miss the opportunity to try the precious and superb “Vilalba's capon”, a cockerel castrated at a young age and fattened for being eaten. You can’t forget to visit two nearby urban centres: Mondoñedo, a little cobblestone town surrounded by green mountains and declared a Historical-Artistic Site. The atmosphere here is magical. During the winter, the fog slides through narrow streets where time seems to have stood still, while in the summer its stunning cathedral, declared a National Monument, shines even brighter. Don’t forget to sweeten up with the delicious Mondoñedo cake. Another city you will love visiting is Lugo, where you will find the Roman wall, World Heritage Site because of its perfect state of preservation, and one of the best cuisines of Galicia, where tapas are a religion.