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Aragón, Navarre and La Rioja make up the countryside of northern Spain. This part of Spain has not yet been discovered by the age of mass tourism. It is quiet here, and the region has a great deal of variation; excellent cuisine, beautiful mountain areas, a rugged coast and fertile land—there is something here for everyone. The sport enthusiast will also find much to be experienced, including kayaking, cross-country skiing, skiing, hiking and mountain climbing. The pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela runs through the three provinces. There are incredible sights along the route, of which the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña is one of the most beautiful (located by the town of Jaca). The north of Aragón is mountainous, and it is here where the Pyrenees begin, with the highest peak at 3400 m. You can enjoy great panoramas in the mountains. The Pyrenees are also a great area to visit for those into winter sport. Zaragoza is the capital of this province. The historical inner city has a nice boulevard, nice squares, a Roman forum and the Moorish Aljafería Palace, the most beautiful monument of the city. These so-called Mudéjar cities are known for their buildings nicely decorated with ceramic. An example of this is Daroca, a lovely city with an old city wall, gates and a castle. A nice walk through the narrow streets or along the city wall is certainly recommended. Navarre is near the coast of the Basque Country on the Gulf of Biscay. The landscape is made up of rolling green hills, beautiful forests, vast plains and the foothills of the Pyrenees. You’ll find Roman ruins here on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, including the lovely cloisters of the Monastery of Leyre and the Sanctuary of San Miguel de Excelsis. Tudela, the second largest city of Navarre, has a nice old Moorish neighbourhood with winding narrow alleys and a nice cathedral which is open to the public. Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, has become known for the Festival of Sanfermines, or the Running of the Bulls (every year from 6 to 14 July). The city receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and has a lively, youthful atmosphere. The Ebro River forms the northern border between the Basque Country and La Rioja. La Rioja has a varying landscape with mountains. There are two mountain chains which are central in the area; the Sierra de la Demanda (with a peak 2000 m high) and the Sierra de Cameros. You can make great hiking trips in these mountains, and in the winter you can go skiing. Of course it is this province which has given its name to the famed Rioja wine. A visit to the area offers an exquisite opportunity for trying the world famous wines which originate here. The taste of these wines is done full justice on one of the cosy vineyards here. There are also many castles, royal palaces and other monuments. The capital city of this province is Logroño, on the Ebro River. This city has many nice sights to see, including a pilgrims’ fountain, church, cathedral, museum and an Art Deco market square.
Places of interest
Aragón- The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (the Basque Country).
- The city of Huesca with a beautiful old town, located on a hill.
- Aínsa, a charming old town, situated on the cliffs.
- Albarracín, a town which has been declared a national monument. There are Medieval streets, city walls and a museum (Aragón).
- The town of Jaca, located at a height of 800 m, is rather tourist-oriented and a good home base for winter sport enthusiasts in the Pyrenees.
- The Monastery of Piedra, where you can visit the beautiful waterfalls.
Navarra- The beautiful castle of Olite.
- Orreaga, a mountain route through the Pyrenees, along which many pilgrims have passed and continue to pass on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
- Bardenas Reales, a desert-like area.
La Rioja- Rioja Baja, a fertile area with many fruit orchards, Roman ruins and the largest number of fossilised dinosaur footprints in Europe.
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More regions of Spain, Andalusia Inland, Aragon/Navarre/La Rioja, Green Spain, Barcelona Maresme Coast, Castile-León, Costa Blanca, Costa Cálida, Costa del Azahar, Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, Ibiza, Majorca, Madrid, Minorca, Murcia, Catalonia Inland/Pyrenees, Valencia Region Inland
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