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Days 1-2
Laguardia (La
Rioja)
We meet in Bilbao, then
travel south to the
picturesque walled
village of Laquardia, in
the heart of the Rioja.
From this scenic base we
will:
- Visit
the Wine Museum in
Brionas.
- Lunch
in a wood-beamed
17th-century wine
bodega.
- Stroll
(cars are banned)
through the medieval
town of Laguardia,
tunneled below with
more than 250 wine
cellars.
- Walk
in the footsteps of
the Santiago-bound
pilgrims.
- Visit
a private bodega
where careful hand
selections of the
grapes is one of the
hallmarks of their
complex and elegant
wines.
- Visit
the Marques de Riscal
bodega and Frank
Gehry designed hotel
in the village of
Elciego.
Days
3-4
Pamplona
(Navarra)
We enjoy a drive through
Navarra, crossing the
paths of pilgrims bound
for Santiago, while en
route to enchanting San
Sebastian, a famous
beach resort and
world-renowned food
capital.
Navarra
Highlights:
- A
visit to the Bodega
Otazu, a beautiful
estate along the Arga
River with its 19th
century French-style
wine cellar, the
Palace, the
ancestrial home
dating back to the
middle ages, a 17th
century hermatige and
Romanesque church of
St. Esteban. This is
the northernmost
winer producing red
wine.
- A
pintxos tour of the
old city, including a
stop at the famous
Café Bar
Gaucho in the Plaza
del
Castillo.
- Lunch
at the acclaimed
restaurant El
Embroja
- A
visit to the
Señorio de
Sarria Estate, where
wine has been
cultivated since the
middle
ages.
Days
5-6
Donostia-San
Sebastian (Pais
Vasco)
We enjoy a drive through
Navarra, crossing the
paths of pilgrims bound
for Santiago, while en
route to enchanting San
Sebastian, a famous
beach resort and
world-renowned food
capital.
- La
Brecha market, with
stalls devoted to the
bounty of the sea and
the
land.
- Pintxos
tour in the old
city.
- Lunch
at the highly
acclaimed Kokocha,
with chef Daniel
Lopez.
- a
private,
by-invitation-only
gastronomy society
dining
event.
- a
visit to the Chillida
Leku, a beautifully
restored 16th-century
farmhouse containing
the works of the
internationally
famous sculptor,
Eduardo Chillida.
Days
7
Bilbao (Pais
Vasco)
Guernica. Famous for its
"Tree of Guernica", the
Basque symbol for
heritage, law and
freedom. The village,
site of the first Nazi
saturation bombing, also
inspired Picasso's
controversial
masterpiece of the same
name.
We
travel along the coast,
stopping along the way,
we will:
- view
the sculptural
monuments by Henry
Moore and Eduardo
Chillida in
Guernica.
- Bakio,
known for its
delicious red peppers
and fruity wine
called Txakoli.
to visit a Txakoli
bodega.
- indulge
in a fabulous and
memorable farewell
banquet at Zortziko,
an elegant,
turn-of-the-century
restaurant. Before
our meal, Chef Daniel
Garcia, who is famous
for combining
classical dishes and
innovative touches,
will host a private
cooking demonstration
as a grand culinary
finale.
- We
also explore the
Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao. The physical
structure itself is
an artistic wonder,
not to mention the
impressive collection
of modern art found
inside.
Day
8
Taxi to the Bilbao
airport and board your
flight for home, or
continue your Iberian
adventures.
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