Saturday
Departure from Leon Parador Nacional de San Marcos, 12:00 noon Plaza de San marcos, 7
León is a fascinating city that is full of history. St. Isidore’s, the cathedral, the old quarter and St. Mark’s. Lunch in León. Welcome on board the train and settling in. In the afternoon we go by train to Boñar, whre we would depart by coach to Sabero so as to visit the Iron, Steel, Minig Industry Museum. Dinner and overnight in Cistierna.
Sunday
While you have breakfast, the train will go from Cistierna to Guardo. Here we will board our coach to visit a Roman villa and the Palentine Romanesque art in Carrión de los Condes. Villalcázar de Sirga and Frómista. Lunch in Villalcázar. Back on the train, we will go from Mataporquera, around the edge of the fascinating Ebro Swamp and the region of Las Merindades, to Villasana de Mena. Dinner and overnight in Villasana de Mena.
Monday
While having breakfast, the train winds its way through the Valley of Mena and the lands of Vizcaya to reach Bilbao, a modern city, where the river searches for the sea. The tour of the city includes a visit to the famous Guggenheim Museum (closed on Mondays except July and August). Visit of Torre de Loizaga in Galdames. Lunch on board the train. In the afthernoom the train will arrive to Santander, capital of Cantabria, a beautiful coastal city with an enchanting past. Tour of the city and dinner. Optional excursion to the local Casino after dinner.
Tuesday
During breakfast the train will be arriving to Cabezon de la Sal. Our coach will take us to Santillana del Mar, a beautiful medieval village captured in time. The tour includes a visit to the Neocave Museum at Altamira which incorporates a replica of the nearby Stone Age caves famous for their Pre-Historic paintings. Lunch in Santillana. In the afternoon, we continue by train from Cabezon de la Sal to the province of Asturias where we will visit the beautiful seaside resort town of Llanes, Ribadesella and later we will enjoy dinner in Arriondas. Night in Arriondas.
Wednesday
Today we get into the heart of Asturias. We will go by coach up to the magnificent National Park "Picos de Europa" visiting the lakes, the sanctuary of Covadonga and then we continue on to Cangas de Onis. After lunch, the train will be arriving to Gijon, the impressive city of the Asturian seaboard. Dinner in Gijon.
Thursday
A short trip brings us from Gijon to Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias, a city of great elegance known for its gastronomic delights and some of the finest Pre-Romanesque monuments of Europe. Lunch in Oviedo. The journey continues on to Luarca, the "White Town" of the Green Coast. Dinner in Luarca
Friday
This morning we head further along the coast to Ribadeo, the first city of the province of Galicia on the border with Asturias, set magestically on the mouth of the River Eo. The landscape from here along the coast is called the "Rias Altas" or "Upper Estuaries" and is awe-inspiring. Lunch in Ribadeo. In the afternoon we continue by train to Viveiro. Boat trip on the estuary and dinner in Viveiro.
Saturday
Our last journey by train as we travel from Viveiro to Ferrol. In Ferrol we board our coach for our last destination: Santiago de Compostela, and the focus of the Pilgrimage. A city tour entreats us to savour the beauty of the old quarter, the Obradoiro Square, the Platerias and the Cathedral.
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