Visit Spain - Lesser-known places to visit in Spain
In this vlog I talk about some of the lesser-known places to visit in Spain for people that are looking to get off the main tourist route. Places like Caceres, Galicia, Bilbao and El Bierzo offer many things to see and do and are not overly crowded with foreign tourists.
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Best places to visit - Ponferrada (Spain) Best places to visit - Slideshows from all over the world - City trips, nature pictures, etc.
Pamplona Tourist Attractions: 10 Top Places to Visit
Planning to visit Pamplona? Check out our Pamplona Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Pamplona.
Top Places to visit in Pamplona:
Parque Natural Urbasa Andia, Parque de La Taconera, Fortress and Walls of Pamplona, Pamplona Catedral, Town Hall, Plaza del Castillo, Parroquia San Lorenzo, Monumento al Encierro, Museo de Navarra, Calle de Zapateria
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What is a Parador hotel in Spain?
'Parador' is the name given in Spain to luxury hotels managed by a state-run company and usually located in buildings of historic importance such as fortresses, monasteries and castles; but also new buildings set in nature reserves and areas of outstanding beauty.
Paradores de Turismo de España, the public company managing these luxury hotels, was founded by King Alfonso XIII to promote tourism in Spain. The first parador, Parador de Gredos in Ávila, was opened in 1928 by the King. Today there are 94 paradores from 3 to 5 stars all across Spain, many along the Camino de Santiago.
Parador comes from the Spanish 'parar' which means to stop, halt or stay. The concept behind paradores is to open exceptional historic properties to the public, and use the hotels profits to maintain these beautiful buildings. Most of them also have excellent restaurants offering traditional cuisine at a high standard using local and seasonal produce.
Regardless of the parador's date or style, they all are refurbished to high standard offering all modern comforts, as long as they comply with protected building regulations. Prices at Spanish paradores will vary depending on the room, region and season.
You will find various stunning 'paradores' along the Camino de Santiago:
-Parador de Santiago
The most famous parador on the Camino de Santiago is the 5-star Hostal dos Reis Católicos in the Praza do Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, just across from the cathedral.
-Parador de León (French Way)
XVI century Parador de León, the monastery-hospital Hostal de San Marcos, featured in the movie 'The Way' when the main character, played by Martin Sheen, and some of his fellow pilgrims decide to treat themselves to a pampering night before continuing on their journey to Santiago.
-Santo Domingo de la Calzada (French Way)
Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in section 3 of the French Way, has two beautiful paradores: 3-star Santo Domingo Bernardo de Fresneda by the Convent of Saint Francis and the 4-star Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, located in the building of a XII century pilgrims hospital.
-Parador de Hondarribia (Northern Way)
This 4-star parador is located in a X century fortress overlooking the Bidasoa estuary, in the Basque Country. The original medieval building was founded by King Sancho of Navarra.
tui-parador-camino-Parador de Tui (Portuguese Way)
The 4-star parador the Tui is a beautiful example of the Galician 'pazo' or grand house.
-Parador de Villafranca del Bierzo (French Way)
This is a new building and 4-star hotel in one of the most stunning towns on the French Way.
-Parador de Ferrol (English Way)
This is a 3-star parador in a coastal Galician mansion, combining traditional styles and materials such as granite stone and traditional white 'galerías' windows.
-Parador de Pontevedra (Portuguese Way)
The 4-star parador de Pontevedra is a XVI century Renaissance palace, former home of the Counts of Maceda, located in the historic centre of the city.
-Parador de Zafra (Vía de la Plata)
Zafra is a stopping point on section 2 of the Vía de la Plata. Its 4-star parador is located in an imposing castle built in the XV century for the 'Duques de Feria', a Spanish noble family.
Villafranca de los Barros, Extremadura Spain
Los pueblos del Valle del Silencio en el Bierzo, León (cerca de Ponferrada y de las Médulas), son muy bonitos y tienen un encanto especial. De hecho, alguno de ellos está en la lista de los pueblos más bonitos de España.
Nosotros hicimos una ruta en furgoneta camper por el Valle del Silencio, que pasaba por varios de sus pueblos: Valdefrancos, San Clemente de Valdueza, Montes de Valdueza (con su monasterio), y Peñalba de Santiago.
Fue un fin de semana que pasamos en León , visitando las médulas, Ponferrada, y el valle.
Mi recomendación es ir con una furgoneta pequeña, ya que una grande o una autocaravana puede tener dificultades en las carreteras estrechas, sobretodo subiendo al monasterio de Valdueza.
¡Espero que os guste el vídeo! :)
Palacio de Canedo, a fairytale winery at the heart of Spanish El Bierzo wine region
Palacio de Canedo, a fairytale winery at the heart of Spanish El Bierzo wine region
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======================================================Discover the secrets of the wine making process at one of the most promising wine regions in Europe: Bierzo. Its primary grape, Mencia, is found nowhere else in the world.
Two of the best Spanish Winemakers,Alvaro Palacios and Raúl Pérez, started producing their signature wines here and now some of them are awarded with 100 points by Robert Parker' Wine Advocate list, the maximum score possible for a wine.
Rural and remote, lushly beautiful but little known, Bierzo is the kind of region wine lovers dream of discovering. It is an important stop along Spain’s legendary pilgrim’s route, the Camino de Santiago so you will find here delicious wines, mouthwatering food and an impressive cultural heritage.
Palacio de Canedo is the most important wine estate in Bierzo, where you can enjoy a spectacular palace made of wood & stone, beautifully restored and turned into a rustic-chich luxury hotel surrounded by vineyards.
A stroll through the vineyards and a wine tasting of their famous wines paired with delicious local food while you contemplate a spectacular sunset will be the cherry on the cake to a visit to this magical region.
Because there are few greater experiences that to simply enjoy a glass of wine looking out over the Spanish sunset...
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Craving for more? Check out this video with another amazing experience
Places of the Camino: Villafranca Montes de Oca
Villafranca Montes de Oca, in the province of Burgos, is the town located in the middle of the Montes de Oca stage, one of the toughest on the Camino Francés due to its hills.
The small town's main attractions are the St. James Church (XVIII century) and the hermitage of the Virgen de Oca, located 1.5 km. (approx.) of the village.
Further apart from the Camino, there is also a beautiful view at the Alba dam, located about 4 km. from the village, which was finished in 1995 near the abandoned town of Alba.
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Hotel Posada Plaza Mayor en Villafranca del Bierzo (León)
¡Reserva ya! Book now!
El Hotel Posada Plaza Mayor está ubicado en Villafranca del Bierzo, en el corazón del Camino de Santiago. Ofrece un total de 15 habitaciones de estilo antiguo pero con un mobiliario moderno (televisión pantalla plana, internet, climatización y baños completos) En el mismo edificio del hotel, se encuentra una farmacia histórica con grandes reliquias.
Algunos servicios que ofrece el alojamiento:
-Calefacción y aire acondicionado en las habitaciones
-Internet en las habitaciones
-Ascensor
-Parking
-Bar
-Teléfono y televisión en las habitaciones
Sobre León:
León ha sido, es y será una ciudad de un continuo ir y venir de gentes de diversos sitios y con diversas formas de entender la vida. Por esto, desde tiempos de los romanos y hasta nuestros días, la ciudad leonesa ha ido acumulando una riqueza patrimonial digna de una capital europea.
Cuando vengas a León olvídate de usar el coche, es una ciudad lo suficientemente pequeña para prescindir de él pero lo suficientemente grande como para estar todo el día admirando sus edificios y sus rincones. La catedral es visita obligada así como el antiguo Convento de San Marcos y la Casa Botines, entre otros.
Cuando llegue la noche y la ciudad comience a prepararse para la vida nocturna, deberás dirigirte al Barrio Húmedo, zona antigua de la ciudad que acoge todos los locales de tapeo, comida y ocio de León. Al estar localizados en una zona muy concreta (y bonita) de la ciudad podrás ir de un local a otro simplemente cruzando la plaza o pasando bajo un arco medieval.
Una idea: si no te importa hacer algo de cola para probar uno de los mejores establecimientos, visita La Bicha, situada en la Plaza San Martín del Barrio Húmedo, y que es conocida por visitantes y parroquianos por servir la mejor morcilla de León.
About Hotel Posada Plaza Mayor:
Hotel Posada Plaza Mayor is placed in Villafranca del Bierzo, in the heart of St James Way. It comprises a total of 15 rooms, designed with an old style but with some modern furniture (flat screen television, Internet, heating and fully equipped bathrooms). Inside of the building, there is a historic pharmacy with enormous relics that nowadays has been converted into a museum.
About Leon:
Leon has been and will be a crowded city full of people from all over the world with different ways of life. That's why, from Roman times to the present day this city has been assembling a great wealth of heritage worthy of any European capital.
Don't use the car when you come to Leon, because it's small enough to go on foot and big enough to spend all day admiring its monuments and corners. The Cathedral is worth visiting as the old Convent of San Marcos and Botines House, among others.
When the sun goes down and the city is starting to prepare for the nightlife, you can visit Barrio Humedo, an ancient area of the city where you will find many places of tapas, food and leisure. It's located in a beautiful area, that will allow you to go from one bar to another just crossing the square or a medieval archery.
A suggestion: If you don't mind waiting a little bit to eat in one of the best restaurants in the area, you should visit La Bicha, located in Plaza San Martin (Barrio Humedo) It's a very popular establishment because of its morcilla (black pudding).
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Walking Tour Pilgrimage Camino de Santiago Spain by Caspin Journeys
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The Walking Tour & Pilgrimage to El Camino de Santiago Spain is one of our most popular European hiking tours. It's a magical destination full of ancient, historical and religious importance.
El Camino de Santiago is one of the most important medieval Christian pilgrimages. The route we are exploring goes through Roncevalles, Pamplona, Burgos and Leon with lots of historical sites, breathtaking scenery and beautiful villages to explore along The Way. This is an all exclusive and unique adventure holiday.
Our luxury guided walking tour and pilgrimage includes;
All accommodation
All meals -- except one lunch/dinner
Wine & ales, water & coffee with meals
All transport within the tour
And absolutely no hidden extras!
Everything except postcards, stamps and phone calls is included in this unforgettable Caspin Journeys adventure.
Available dates for the Camino de Santiago guided walk for 2016 are;
June 19th - June 22nd - Number of Nights/Days: 12/13
Prices are - €3995.00 per person. Approx $4,389 or £2897
For booking details and availability, visit here -
Walking the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Facts;
Traditional legend states that St. James’s remains were carried by Boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain – today the province of Galicia – where he was buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. The pilgrimage to Santiago has never ceased from the time of the discovery of St. James the Apostle’s remains.
The Camino de Santiago guided walk itinerary starts as follows;
Day 1
Bilbao – St Jean
We meet at 14.00 at Bilbao Airport and drive along the Spanish northern coast to St Jean Pied de Port. Here we enjoy a leisurely stroll around the town’s medieval streets and up to the citadel where you can view the Pyrenees. After collecting our pilgrim passports we head to our hotel and then get together for a lovely welcome dinner. From then on you will be staying at these much loved and well known pilgrimage walk locations along the way;
St Jean Pied de Port, French border: 1 night
Roncesvalles: 1 night
Pamplona: 1 night
Santo Domingo de la Calzada: 1 night
Burgos: 1 night
Leon: 1 night
Astorga: 1 night
Villafranca del Bierzo: 2 nights
Portomarin: 1 night
Santiago de Compostela: 2 nights
For all the details and to read the rest of the itinerary for this world famous walk, visit the website page below;
Thank you for watching our Camino de Santiago Walking Tour Video, See you there! Pino & Caroline Nobile of Caspin Journeys.
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