Juan de la Cosa

Today’s excursion takes us to the seaside town of Castro Urdiales for a historical half day overlooking the Bay of Biscay. It’s here we’ll learn more about the medieval legends of the Knights Templars as well as unearthing ecclesiastical etchings within the Church of Santa María de la Asunción. We’ll also experience the uniquely eclectic architecture of the Ocharan Palace and spend time in the gardens and admiring the multi-coloured tiled fresco designed by the 19th century ceramicist, Daniel Zuloaga. And where better to complete today’s excursion other than with an ice cream and a paddle on Playa Ostende.dle ages.

You’ll be whisked to Bilbao to explore with an expert guide today. The capital of the Vizkaya province stands on the estuary of the River Nervión and became a centre for shipbuilding and manufacturing during the mid-19th century. Its old town is a labyrinth of narrow pedestrian streets branching out from the Plaza Nueva. It’s one of the culinary capitals of Spain, whether you’re looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant or want to feast on tapas from the numerous bars. The most dramatic addition to Bilbao’s cityscape in recent years is the Guggenheim Museum, a branch of the famous museum in New York which opened in 1997, and which you’ll also visit. Designed by the North American architect Frank Gehry, the building is a contortion of shapes, with limestone blocks contrasting with curtains of glass and curved, bent forms draped in titanium. Its collection of modern art is no less fascinating, with work from the Guggenheim in New York and local acquisitions to admire.

We’ll experience a whole day in Europe’s largest national park, the Picos de Europa, where Cantabria’s highest mountain range creates natural habitat for deer, chamois, pine martens and wild boar. It’s the perfect excursion for lovers of the great outdoors with forested trails, narrow ravines and the green valley slopes of the river Deva providing ample opportunities to enjoy the cooler climate. We’ll also visit the mountain village of Potes and admire its natural amphitheatre surrounded by glacial limestone peaks. There will also be plenty of free time to soak up the scenery and stroll around the old stone houses before we head onwards and upwards on the Teleférico de Fuente Dé cable car as it rises to an elevation of 1823 metres (5980 feet). The views from the café at the top are simply breathtaking.

Drive across Cantabria to the beautifully preserved medieval village of Santillana del Mar. Stroll past 15th to 18th-century mansions to the Romanesque collegiate church, built to house the relics of St Juliana. While preserved and protected as a Spanish national monument since 1889 Santillana del Mar is still a living, working village. It's also said to be three times a lie, as it is not holy (santo), nor flat (llano) or by the sea (de mar)!