Destination Green Spain, Spain

Green Spain consists of the northern regions of Galicia, Asturia, Cantabria and Basque Country. Green Spain does mean it gets more rain than the rest of Spain, but this area is well worth a visit! The Green Spain scenery is characterized by green pastures, valleys, apple orchards, and fantastic mountain scenery. The coast boasts long beaches, spectacular cliffs, secluded inlets and fishing villages.

Galicia is right on the Atlantic. This remote region has a coastline with many small islands, inlets, beautiful white sandy beaches, but also rugged rock formations. La Coruña is the only sizeable coastal town with some beautiful beaches. More inland you will find oak, pine, and eucalyptus forests, undulating farmland and many natural areas. Here, you will also come across ‘hórreos’, traditional granaries. You can visit a number of monumental cities in this region. The main attraction is the pilgrimage town of Santiago de Compostela, a listed UNESCO World Heritage site.

Asturia is characterized by impressive mountains, river valleys, undulating pastures, and forests and along its coast you will find fine sandy beaches, sheer cliffs, and protected fishing harbours. It is separated from Castilla y León by the mountain range of Cordillera Cantábrica. This area features the Garganta del Río Cares gorge, which is actually part of the Picos de Europa. It has spectacular views and it is one of the most beautiful walking spots of Spain, along waterfalls, gorges, bridges and rivers.

Cantabria borders on Asturia. Its diverse scenery offers green valleys, high mountain peaks, forests, rivers, and beaches. The southern part of this region borders on the high mountains of the Cordillera Cantábrica. This region has no fewer than six protected nature reserves, the most important of which is the fabulous mountain area of Picos de Europa, partly a national park. It is an interlinked area of gorges and ravines - a walkers’ paradise.

Spain’s largest reservoir, the Ebro reservoir, can also be found in this region. Along the coast you will find monumental seaside resorts, such as Santander, and small fishing villages. Santillana del Mar is of the major coastal towns. This mediaeval town has a beautiful historic centre. It is not far from the famous prehistoric caves of Altamira. The diverse scenery has many opportunities to offer for the sporty type: mountain climbing, sailing, walking, caving, horse riding, golf, parapente, and even skiing.

In Basque Country you will find beech and oak forests, rolling green hills, reservoirs, and a number of interesting natural areas. The coastline is rugged and has nice beaches. A very popular holiday spot is Donostia-San Sebastián.

Places of interest

• Cañón del Sil, a spectacular ravine. A number of monasteries were set up on the embankment of this region, the ‘sacred embankment’ (Ribeira Sacra). Boat trips through the gorge are available, and if you are driving from Loureiro naar Parada do Sil you will enjoy the beautiful views.
• Castro de Santa Tegra, a Celtic settlement from prehistoric times.
• Spain’s most important pilgrimage town of Santiago de Compostela. Here you can visit the impressive cathedral.

• The picturesque mountain village of Covadonga. Here, you will find the cave of the Holy Virgin (Santa Cueva) and the beautiful lakes around it.
• The Garganta del Río Cares gorge, one of Spain’s most beautiful walking spots.

• The famous caves of Altamira in Santillana del Mar, known for its prehistoric rock paintings and listed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Please note: in order to preserve the precious paintings, the original cave was closed to the public and an exact replica of the cave can now be visited. Entry tickets should be booked in advance.
• Picos de Europa, an area for walking, climbing, mountain biking, or canoeing. You can take the cable lift from Mogrovejo (Funete Dé) to enjoy spectacular views.
• The seaside resort of Santander. Here, you will find beautiful beaches, great monumental buildings, shops, and a vibrant nightlife scene.

• The peninsula with the medieval chapel of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. It is a mythical and sacred place for fishermen, because its bells warned seamen about storms.
• The open salt mines of Salinas de Añana, a terraced valley where salt is still extracted.
• The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Well worth a visit for its interesting architecture alone, in addition to the impressive art collection.

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

FEATURED PROPERTIES

Green Spain, Spain. Semi-detached rural property located on a private estate in Quirós, Asturias. Semi-detached rural home, located on a private estate in Quirós, Asturias. An old property in stone and wood with a full range of commodities and decorated in a rustic style. The house is surrounded by fruit trees and is close to the River Quirós. The pr... read more

Green Spain, Spain. Quiet rural house with apartments. The 'El Roxu' rural home has been split into 3 independent and fully equipped apartments. They are situated between the two main villages to the east, Asturias Cangas de Onis (3 km) and Arriondas (3.5 km). The area is a haven of peace and tranquillity, ab... read more