Basque Country Holidays - Bilbao, San Sebastian and Vitoria

The Basque Country is an autonomous community in northern Spain with capital city Vitoria. The region borders France, and the locals harbour a proud and defiant nature with strong support for a separate, united Basque state. The origins of their local language Euskadi cannot be traced, like that of the Basque race itself.

Basque Country Coastline The coastal road from Bilbao to San Sebastian offers some spectacular scenery with small fishing villages and coves overlooked with jagged and dramatic cliffs. The town of Bakio has a long beach, often frequented by the locals, and a rocky island that is joined to the mainland by a small bridge. The picturesque port of Bermeo offers a goof selection of bars and restaurants, while the fishing villages of Lekeitio and neighbouring Ondarroa both offer historical architecture in their Gothic churches. The coastal town of Zarautz as well as having a 16th century Town Hall, Palacio Narros and the church of Nuestra Senora de la Real, also hosts the annual International Surfing Championship.

Bilbao holiday attractions Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country region and is the capital of Vizcaya province. The city is a major seaport and in the past has offered little in the way of attractions to the visiting holidaymaker. However, major urban renewal has helped to move it away from its industrial roots and more towards tourism. Many developments within the city have helped to improve its image including new parks, Metro system and at the heart of the renaissance, the Guggenheim Museum.

Guggenheim Museum - Bilbao The Guggenheim Museum was opened in 1997 and is one of the most visited museums in Spain. It offers constantly changing exhibits along with a permanent collection focused on the second half of the 20th century. The building was designed by Frank Gehry and is a masterpiece of modern architecture built out of titanium, glass and limestone. Inside, the huge windows of the central atrium bring natural light into the building and outside stand a surrealistic floral structure of a giant puppy.

San Sebastian holiday attractions San Sebastian is the capital of Guipuzcoa province and has been visited by Spanish aristocracy for hundreds of years due to the quality of its beaches and beautiful city. Much of the original city was destroyed in 1813 during the Spanish War of Independence, so few historical buildings can be found within the centre. However, the city does offer a unique atmosphere and distinguished cosmopolitan feeling making it different from many other Spanish towns. In summer, the resort is packed with holidaymakers, and even in the winter the beach and its wonderful promenade of tamarind trees, Edwardian lampposts and beachfront cafes is a popular destination with the locals.

Vitoria holiday attractions Vitoria ranks second in standard of living out of all the cities in Spain. It has a huge number of green parks around the city including Florida Park that was created in 1820 with its huge variety of plant species, and San Juan de Arriaga Park, which is the largest in the city. Vitoria is the capital of Alava province, which as a whole offers a tremendous diverse amount of protected spaces including many Nature Reserves including the Izki Nature Reserve with its melojo-oak forest and Gorbeia Nature Reserve, one of the Basque Country's biggest natural tourist attractions.

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