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Custom
Guided and Self-Guided Tour Programs
prepared exclusively by Maribel of
Maribel's
Guides.
Navarra
This autonomous region known around the
world for its famous Fiesta de San Fermin
and the encierro, the "running of the
bulls", also produces an abundance of
excellent wines grown in the fertile lands
stretching south from the capital city of
Pamplona to the rich lands of the Ebro
river, bordering La Rioja Alta and
Alavesa. Both its reds (tintos) and
rosés (rosados) are considered to
be among the finest wines in Spain, or
elsewhere.
With its diverse terrain, Navarra has long
been regarded as the food basket of Spain
with its delectable "asparagos blanca",
white asparagus, considered the best in
the world by the true connoisseur of
gastronomic delights, as well as its
renowned Piquillo peppers and perfect
artichokes.
You
will find a wide variety of land and
nature in Navarra, from the lush green
forest of the Pyrenees in the north with
deer and wild boar running free, to the
rich rolling hills of the wine region
spreading south from Pamplona and arid
countryside of Baja Navarra that border La
Rioja in the south.
Wine
&
Gastronomy
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Sanfermines
Join
us in Pamplona for the Fiesta de San
Fermin and the encierro, the "running of
the bulls". The fiesta begins with the
opening ceremony, the
chupinazo
, at noon on the 6th of July in the Plaza
Consistorial as the rockets explode high
overhead announcing the start of the
Fiesta.
Sanfermín
2009, the running of the
bulls
Getting
to
Pamplona|
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La Rioja
The
Rioja Alavesa is the one section of the
three wine producing regions of Spain's
Rioja, which is located in the Basque
Country. The other two are
designated as the Rioja Alta and the Rioja
Baja. A tiny section of neighboring
Navarra also belongs to the Rioja
Denominacion de Origen. Arguably,
the very best Rioja wines are produced in
the Alava region.
Wine
&
Gastronomy
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Pais Vasco - (Basque
Country)
The
Basque culture and people possess a
mysterious quality. Neither French nor
Spanish, the Basque language and way of
life are centuries old.
Descended
from unknown origins, the Basque speak
Euskera - an ancient language unlike any
other. It is spoken by about 20 percent of
the population.
A
part of "Green Spain," the Basque
countryside spans northern Spain and
southern France. There are seven
provinces: four in Spain (Vizcaya,
Guipúzcoa, Álava and
Navarra) and three in France (Labourd,
Haute-Navarre and Soule).
No
written historical records exist for the
Basques; however, recent discoveries
indicate ancestral connections to
Cro-Magnon man. Perhaps the chief reason
the Basque culture remains intact is the
character of the people and the natural
boundaries.
We
offer three tours, either devoted to or
focusing on parts of the Basque
Country:
Bilbao
&
Beyond
Barcelona
to
Bilbao
Wine
&
Gastronomy
Take
a Virtual Tour of
Bilbao|
Jazz
in the Basque
Country|
Getxo,
Vitoria-Gasteiz and San
Sebastian-Donostia
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Catalunya
Steeped
in a rich history that predates the Greek
and Roman days, today's Catalan Spain
nurtures a well-preserved language and a
distinct culture. More than eight million
people speak Catalan.
Catalan
Spain occupies a small northeastern part
of Spain, touching the Pyrenees Mountains,
France's southern border and the
Mediterranean coastline. One-sixth of
Spain's population call this area home.
The Catalan heritage actually dates as far
back as the Paleolithic Era. Later,
Iberians and Celts arrived. Greek
colonization introduced crops such as
grapes and olives, along with the alphabet
and metal coinage. The Romans occupied
this area for six centuries, forming a
strong foundation for the new
country.
One-hundred-fifty
years ago, Barcelona's unprecedented
wealth forced the city out of its medieval
walls. Modernist architects such as Antoni
Gaudí designed buildings that
epitomize the virtuosity and the delirium
of the times. Barcelona continues to
transform itself today.
Our Barcelona
to
Bilbao
tour showcases the best of this region and
parts of the Basque
country.
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Portugal
Located on the western edge of the Iberian
Peninsula, Portugal not only looks to the
Atlantic Ocean but embraces a strong
seafaring heritage. Although the country
has been inhabited for more than 100,000
years, a written account of the Portuguese
history only began in the 3rd century
B.C., with the arrival of the
Romans.
The
country's history offers contrasts as rich
as its people. Aristocrats and seamen
alike call Portugal home. However, because
so many of the early Portuguese explorers
sailed off in pursuit of new trade routes,
the country's culture is matriarchal and
family-centered.
Salty
ocean breezes to the fragrant aroma of the
lush highlands also define this country.
Barefoot Carmelite monks of the 17th
century gathered samples of trees and
flowers from across Europe to create the
250-acre Buçaco Forest located in
the Beiras region.
We
offer a tour that covers the Porto and
Douro region, Beiras territory,
Estremadura and Ribatejo, and the upper
part of the Lisbon coast:
Portugal
Discoveries.
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