An awe-inspiring island located just off the shore along the Bay of Biscay and connected to mainland by a man-made stone bridge. The views to and around the island are simply beautiful. At the highest point of the island there is a tiny church dedicated to John the Baptist. The island also has an intriguing history. Throughout the years it has housed a convent, served as a prison for Basque witches during the Spanish Inquisition, been used as a defensive outpost for the lords of Biscay, and was even ransacked by Sir Francis Drake.
We will have photo opportunities of this wonderful location form 2 viewpoints, but we will not make the whole walk to the summit of the island and back, as it requires a timeframe of at least 2 hours
On April 26th 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, the town was razed to the ground by German aircrafts,sent by Hitler to support Franco’s troops. When Picasso painted the Guernika in 1937, could not imagine that its vision of the bombing would become antiwarlike symbol.
Be introduced to the Basque History, in the heart of the Basque Nationalism
Designed by the North American architect Frank Gehry, this unique museum on the riverside is the highlight of Bilbao since 1997. The building itself is an extraordinary combination of interconnecting shapes. Impressive limestone blocks contrast with curved architectural forms covered in titanium. Glass curtain walling provides the building with the light and transparency it needs.
An abstract ship shape, and the titanium panels resembling fish scales pay homage to the fact that the river was historically the economic hub of Bilbao
Explore the museum by yourself, an audio guide is included in the ticket price.
If you are an art lover, we could organize the day visiting the Guggenheim museum in the morning and then come back near to San Sebastian to visit the open air sculpture museum of the famous local artist Eduardo Chillida, called Chillida-Leku in the afternoon.
Chillida-Leku is the culmination of one of the artist's lifelong dreams: to create a space for his work where it could be on permanent display. This monographic museum is a faithful representation of the sculptor's fifty year long artistic career.
Chillida-Leku is the perfect setting to enjoy the full magnitude of this internationally-known artist. The museum is divided into three areas: A 12-hectare hillside (nearly 30 acres) with beech trees, oaks and magnolias studded with over 40 sculptures. A service area featuring an auditorium, with images of the artist at work projected continuously, a rest area, and a gift shop. And finally, the centrepiece of the museum is the Zabalaga farmhouse, which houses the smaller format pieces in corten steel, alabaster, granite, terracotta, plaster, wood and paper.
Chillida-Leku is a sculpture in itself - another work of art in which the sculptor perfectly captures and renders his vision of shape, space and the passing of time. Chillida’s questions become answers as visitors make their way through the museum grounds.
Crossing the border to France
The Best OFF THE BEATEN PATH Tour
Espelette + Ainhoa + Sare + Quaint French villages
Discover this world-class Wine region!
