Group+8

Bienvenidos to the best tour of NW Spain you will ever experience! Using bus as our primary mode of transportation, you will see 11 incredible Spanish cities over a period of 11 days.

Day 1: Santander We will begin our tour in Santander, the capital and largest province in Cantabria, Spain. Located on the ocean, the small historic center features the Magdalena Palace, which will be a highlight of this trip. Since leisure and tourism are central to this city´s economy, other activities include a tour of the Maritime Museum of Cantabria and the Bullfighting Museum. The best area to eat fish is close to the fishing harbor, where we will eat both lunch and dinner. Fried calamaries and other seafoods are very popular with Santander gastronomy.

10am-12pm: Tour of the Magdalena Palace 1pm-2:30pm: Tour of the Maritime Mueseum of Cantabria 3:00: Picnic lunch on Magdalena Peninsula, a beautiful spot to dine. 4:30: Free time for beach 9:00pm : Dinner at a beach front restaurant

Day 2: Santillana del Mar We will begin the next day traveling by bus to Santillana del Mar, a town famous for its medieval architecture and still within the Cantabria province. The original medieval village still thrives in the city center and here we will begin our tour. From Santillana del Mar one may see the Picos de Europa and the Bay of Biscay. We will see the Altamira Caves, Colegiata de Santa Juliana, and swim at a nearby beach. The Colegiata de Santa Juliana is a beautiful 12th century Roman church and in ancient history one of the most famous and powerful monastaries of its time. The Altamira Caves are a popular attraction due to the ancient art inside on the walls. They are said to be from the world´s first human inhabitants and located 2 km away from the city center.

12pm: Arrive to Santillana del Mar and tour the Altamira Caves outside of the city center 2pm: Lunch that includes sabao pasiago and quesadas, the local gastronomy´s special pastries. 3pm: Tour of the Colegiata de Santa Juliana 5pm: Free time for beach 9pm: Dinner with local seafood delicacies and desserts

Day 3: Gijon Gijon is a coastal city in the Asturias province. Gijon is important to see because of its role in ancient Roman history, its museums, its gastronomy, and its cultural tours. We will begin a tour of Roman ruins with the Campa de Torres arqeological site and visit the Roman baths located in the vicinity. The LABoral City of Culture museum offers a creative space to enjoy design, art, and culture within the city. Shopping for arts and cultural crafts is also popular in Gijon and we will spend some time at the craft market. Gijon makes wonderful pastries and cocktails, especially hard cider drinks, cakes and chocolates, and of course seafood due to its proximity to the sea.

1pm: Arrive in Gijon and stop at the Campa de Torres 3pm: Lunch at the LABoral City of Culture museum 5pm: Arts and crafts shopping in La Calzada street 9pm: Seafood dinner and regional desserts

Day 4: Olviedo Olviedo is the capital of the Asturias province and is an interesting old town with many sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list. A tour of the Casco Antiguo, the old part of the city is vital, as it contains the Velarde Palace, the Town Hall, the Plaza del Fonton, and Palace de Torero. The Cathedral de San Salvador will also take precidence on our trip to Olviedo, and we will conclude the day with the Museum of Fine Arts to rest. Fabada Asturiana, or beef stew, is highly reccomended here in Olviedo, as are the local cheese and cider.

11am: Arrive in Olviedo and take a tour of the Casco Antiguo 3pm: Lunch in teh plaza of the Cathedral de San Salvador and tour after lunch 5pm: Museum of Fine Arts before dinner 9pm: Dinner of Fabada Asturiana with cider

Day 5: Lugo Lugo is the fourth most populated city in Galicia province and the location for day 5. Lugo is the only city in the world to be surrounded completely by ancient Roman walls. Besides the walls, sights to see include the Cathedral and the Covent and Church of Saint Francis. The walls are a main priority however and will be a focal point of this trip. Although not close to the sea, seafood and cheese are also popular in Lugo and will be devoured as such. Squid is very popular.

1pm: Arrive in Lugo and explore the ancient Roman walls 3pm: Break for lunch outside of the Cathedral 4pm: Cathedral tour and the Covent and Church of Saint Francis 9pm: Squid dinner with turnips and squash, another regional specialty.

Day 6: Sightseeing in Ourense- Day 6: Sightseeing in Ourense-Although mainly a town of services, Ourense is not without its tourist sites. The town has three parts: the medieval, the area of 19th-century expansion, and the modern perimeter. Many who pass by on the highway linking Madrid to Vigo are unaware of the medieval quarter, with its narrow streets and tiny plazas. Once an area of a certain dilapidated charm the area is now undergoing renovation and is full of typical restaurants and bars patronized by the university students of the town. The Plaza Mayor is the center of city life with its arcaded shops and the simple, but beautiful Town Hall. The cathedral is the most important monument in Ourense. This cathedral (founded 572; rebuilt in the 13th century) is the second oldest in Galacia


 * . It occupies the same site as the Suevian basilica that stood there in earlier times. Romanesque**

The Miño is crossed at Ourense by one of the most remarkable bridges in Spain, the Ponte Vella. With Roman foundations, it was reconstructed by Bishop Lorenzo in 1230 but frequently repaired since then; it has seven arches and a central span of 141 feet (43 m). Now closed to automobile traffic, it is worth a crossing to contemplate the swirling waters of the Miño below. Another must is the former episcopal palace, which houses the Provincial Archaeological Museum. The collections found therein comprise an interesting series of the Bronze Age, as well as various Roman and Romanesque objects.
 * in structure, but with a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, it is rather hidden away but, contains a façade with the Door of Paradise in imitation of the Door of Glory of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Inside, the Capilla del Cristo, or Christ's Chapel (16th century), contains a crucifix venerated throughout Galicia.**

Day 7: Main sights of Vigo

 * Casco Vello, historic center
 * Puerta del Sol area
 * Principe Street

Museums
Arts and entertainment "//A movida viguesa//" was a hedonistic cultural movement that took place in Vigo during the 1980s triggered by the explosion of liberties after the death of dictator [|**Francisco Franco**]**. The most important artists of this postmodern movement were musicians; particularly punk and new wave bands such as** [|**//Siniestro Total//**]**,** [|**//Golpes Bajos//**]**,** [|**//Aerolíneas Federales//**]**, //Semen Up// or** [|**//Os Resentidos//**]**.** At the moment, the city still has notorious bands like [|**Iván Ferreiro**] **(ex-singer of Los Piratas) and Mon.** The locally produced award-winning feature movie [|**//Mondays In The Sun//**] **(original title //Los lunes al sol//) depicts the life of several men who have lost their work at the** [|**port**]**. This film is not based on a single individual's experiences but on the perceived collective experiences of many local port workers.** Day 8: Pontevedra
 * Naturnova Museum: Museum dedicated to environment. Interactive contents.
 * Museum of the Sea: Museum dedicated to the Sea, and to tinned food and to naval. Important building designed by famous architects Aldo Rossi and Cesar Portela.
 * Museum of Contemporary Art: One of the most important museums of Contemporary Art in Spain.
 * Museum of Castrelos

Sights
An ancient town and medieval port, Pontevedra has been described as a "definitive old Galician town". Sights include the pilgrim chapel in the //Praza da Peregrina//, the historic //Zona Monumental// (old city), the //Praza de Leña//, the market, and the //Alameda//, a promenade along the ria. Pontevedra has a large pedestrian centre (the old town and surroundings) which, together with a number of parks and public squares, makes the city quite pleasant for strolling. In recent years most historical buildings and streets have been either re-built or revamped, providing for a well preserved urban landscape.

Sports
Despite its relative small size, Pontevedra has a long sporting tradition, with a number of teams competing professionally in different categories. For example: Pontevedra is the seat of the //Centro Galego de Tecnificación Deportiva// (High Performance Sporting Centre of Galicia), and it also hosts a number of [|**rowing**] **and** [|**canoeing**] **clubs. In fact, world and Olympic** [|**canoeing**] **champion** [|**David Cal**] **used to train in the ria of Pontevedra.** Day 9: Santiago de Compostela
 * [|**Football**]**:** [|**//Pontevedra CF//**]**, playing in the Spanish "**[|**Second B**]**" division.**
 * [|**Handball**]**:** [|**//SD Teucro//**]**, playing in the Spanish** [|**Liga ASOBAL**] **(first division). There is also a minor handball team called //BM Cisne//.**
 * [|**Indoor football**]**: //Leis 26 Pontevedra//, playing in the Spanish second division of the Spanish indoor football professional league (**[|**LNFS**]**).**
 * [|**Rugby**]**: //Mareantes Rugby Clube Pontevedra//, playing in group A of the Spanish first division.**
 * [|**Volleyball**]**: //C. Durán// (amateur).**
 * [|**Waterpolo**]**: //CN Pontevedra//, playing in the Galician Waterpolo League:** [|**[8**]]**.**
 * [|**Fencing**]**: //Club Escola Hungaresa de Esgrima de Pontevedra//, founded in 2007, this is the only fencing club in Galicia specialised in** [|**sabre**]**. Members of this club compete regularly in the Galician leagues and in the Spanish Sabre Championship.**

Main sights

 * 16th century [|**Baroque**] [|**Abbey de San Martín Pinario**]
 * [|**Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela**]
 * [|**University of Santiago de Compostela**]

The City Santiago de Compostela has a substantial nightlife. Divided between the new town (//la zona nueva// or //ensanche//) and the old town (//la zona vieja// or //a zona vella//), a mix of middle-aged residents and younger students running throughout the city until the early hours of the morning can often be found. Radiating from the center of the city, the historic cathedral is surrounded by paved granite streets, tucked away in the old town, and separated from the newer part of the city by the largest of many parks throughout the city, //Parque da Alameda//. Whether in the old town or the new town, party-goers will often find themselves following their //tapas// by dancing the night away. Day 10: A Coruna

Tourism
Tourism in A Coruña has increased in recent years to the point of reaching received 62 cruise ships a year. One of the drivers of this tourism is the promenade that skirts the entire city, the longest in Europe. It measures 10 kilometers. There is also a tram and a bike path that runs through most of the journey. Also, there is a cultural tour, passing several museums such as The House of Man and La Casa de los Peces (Aquarium Finisterrae) and it also visits the Castle of San Antón, which contains the archaeological museum, or the Tower of Hercules. Riazor beach with sports palace in the background The two main beaches of A Coruña (Orzán and Riazor) are located in the heart of the city and are bordered by the promenade above. This location makes them a great attraction for tourists, being also a meeting point for surfers much of the year. Moreover, the city has other beaches like Bens Creek, Las Lapas, Adormideras, San Amaro beach or Oza.An important holiday is on the night of San Juan, celebrated with a massive fireworks celebration, parade, burning fails and the ancient fires on all city beaches well into dawn.In 2006 and for the first time ever, the number of tourists has doubled the population of the city, virtually to 500,000 the number of people who chose the city as a tourist destination.The city has an extensive network of hotels, international chains and local businesses offer between them a hotel offer over 3,500 beds, which puts the city at the forefront of Galicia. La Coruna has a five-star hotel, Hotel Finisterra, (Hesperia chain). Four-star hotels, Alfonso Molina, María Pita Trip, the Trip Cuatro Caminos, Hesperia John Florez or the Eurostars Ciudad de La Coruña. Day 11: Ferrol Background and overall information/facts about the city Ferrol or El Ferrol is a city in the [|**province of A Coruña**] **in** [|**Galicia**]**, located on the** [|**Atlantic**] **coast in north-western** [|**Spain**]**. As of 2007**[|**[update**]]**, it has an urban population of 77,859 and a metropolitan area population of over 241,528.** The city has been a major naval shipbuilding centre for most of its history, being the capital of the [|**Spanish Navy**]**'s** [|**Maritime Department of the North**] **since the time of the early** [|**Bourbons**]**. Before that, in the 17th century, Ferrol was the most important** [|**arsenal**] **in Europe. Today, the city is also known as the home of the shipbuilding yards of** [|**Navantia**]**.****[1]**

The city was the birthplace of the Spanish General [|**Francisco Franco**] **in 1892, and was officially known as //El Ferrol del Caudillo// from 1938 to 1982. It was also the birth place of the founder of the** [|**Spanish Socialist Workers' Party**] **(PSOE),** [|**Pablo Iglesias**]**, in 1850.**

Economy
[|**Primary Industries**] **include horse breeding, fish farming and fishing (specializing in the Atlantic shoals),** [|**mining**] **(**[|**ENDESA**]**), non-timber forest products,** [|**quarries**] **and** [|**timber**]**.** [|**Secondary Industries**] **include** [|**shipbuilding**]**,** [|**ship engines**]**,** [|**wind turbines**]**,** [|**electrical equipment**]**,** [|**ironworks**]**, Textiles, food (**[|**canned fish**]**) and wood-made products.** Tertiary activities include [|**mercantile**]**, fishing and military ports, restaurants, media, hotels and tourism.מועדון סייף** Sources: Wikipedia, regarding the information about the provinces and cities in Spain.