The Cantabrian coast
This is the greenest part of the Iberian Peninsula. Backed by a mountain range, it runs among sandy beaches, tranquil towns and monuments along the Camino de Santiago´s coastal route. Among the many sights, Picos de Europa stands out as an ideal place for mountain climbing, trekking, cycling and other activities. The whole coast holds a wealth of cultural sites, from romanesque art to the important prehistorical sites of the Altamira Caves, and others in Asturias and Euskadi.

The near-by French Basque Country marks the beginning of the Camino de Santiago´s North route, which follows these coastal areas all the way to Santiago. This route is related to the Cult of the Relics, held at the Holy Chamber of Oviedo´s cathedral. Santander, Santillana del Mar and its famous collegiate, Colombres, Llanes, Comillas, Puente Viesgo, Laredo or Castro are some ideal places to discover hermitages, convents, churches, pilgrim´s hospitals, chapels, bridges and rural paths.

From Bilbao, it is very easy to reach the coast of Gipuzkoa, with atractive villages like Getaria (birthplace of Balenciaga), Hondarribia and of course, Donostia-San Sebastián. The French Basque Country is also a stone´s throw away, with beautiful towns like Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz.

+ info: cantabrian coast