Top 5 Attractions In Northern Spain
By Robert Gillies
When people think of holidaymaking in Spain, their mind generally jumps to one of two things: either the vivid, nonstop cultural and social life of Barcelona or the lazy by day, hopping by night resorts of the south. In amidst all this, the portion of the country known as 'Green Spain' ends up being unfairly forgotten. In Northern Spain, villas may not be state-of-the-art, and the climate not quite as warm, but there is a lot to see and do outside of going to the beach and partying. Here are five of the region's main attractions.
1. The Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao is an excellent location for those seeking to rent Northern Spain villas, as it is a fairly large city that offers a perfect base to explore the surrounding regions. Furthermore, it boasts at least one attraction of its own, in the form of the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum. Although not as famous as its New York counterpart, the Bilbao branch of the world-renowned museum has attracted its fair share of visitors in its decade of existence, and established its reputation as one of Spain's main showcases for art. It is certainly a mandatory stop in any tour of the north of the country, especially for art and culture lovers.
2. The Altamira Caves
History buffs will no doubt want to visit the Altamira caves, one of the world's main sites for cave paintings. In ancient times, these caves were the pre-historic equivalent of Northern Spain villas, where nomadic tribes of early humans settled for more or less extended periods of time. And much like we nowadays like to share our experiences on Facebook, so did these cavemen tell their stories through crude artwork on the cave walls.
The big advantage of this method over Facebook is, of course, that the Altamira paintings can still be admired today, millions of years later, making this complex a must-see for those interested in early human life.
3. Picos de Europa
Fans of hiking and mountaineering will find absolute bliss in the mountain range known as Picos de Europa. Stretching across three counties and over 800km, this imposing natural marvel is surrounded by quaint, typically Spanish villages and towns, with plenty of Northern Spain villas to relax in after a long day communing with nature! Whether you are a fan of biking, walking, rock-climbing or any other sort of outdoor activity, the 'Picos de Europa' will no doubt have something for you.
4. Santiago de Compostela
No visit to the region would be complete without a trip to one of the world's most famous religious sanctuaries. Real pilgrims walk to Santiago de Compostela, or even go there on their knees, but more casual tourists may prefer to stay in one of the Northern Spain villas on offer around the area, and just drive there. Either way, the magnificence and special aura of this world-renowned spot is not to be missed.
5. San Sebastian
Just... San Sebastian. All of it. As one of the best alternatives to Spain's "traditional" beach resorts, this city certainly asserts itself as one of the region's main attractions for fans of a more traditional summer holiday. The added perk of being able to experience the charming local dialect, euskera, should only be further incentive for beach and nature enthusiasts to seek out one of the many typical Northern Spain villas on offer in the region.
As you can see, then, there is plenty to see and do in this gorgeous region, especially if you are looking for an alternative to the typical sun-and-beach holiday.
Robert Gillies works for Casas Cantabricas, who specialise in a unique selection of hotels and self-catering Northern Spain villas. Each property in this glorious region is personally selected and visited by our representatives to ensure we offer only the best hotels and Northern Spain villas.
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