Porto is Portugal’s second largest city after Lisbon. The city is set on the northern bank of the Douro River. It is a historic and varied city, from the warren of narrow streets that make up the ancient Ribeira district through the grand plazas of the Avenida dos Aliado.

Located along the Duoro river estuary in Northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centers, and its historical core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

Vigo, the Gateway to the Atlantic, is a great combination of ancient history, beautiful beaches and a modern cosmopolitan outlook. A truly amazing city, that offers a warm welcome along with beautiful surroundings. Which, together with its water reforms, amazing landscapes and friendly atmosphere will give even the seasoned traveller a truly unique experience to take home. Travelling in Vigo is just like exploring heaven with your own eyes. With its strategic location in Galicia, Vigo provides the ideal setting for relaxation, pampering and enjoying the picturesque views of Ria de Vigo.
Vigo is located just north of the border with Portugal and its nearest larger city is Portugal’s second largest city of  Porto.

The province of Pontevedra is one of the four which comprise the autonomous region of Galicia northwest of Spain. Its capital city, of the same name, is known for its natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. Its Old Town is home to many historic landmarks that will delight the history enthusiast. Just as pleasing is its strategic setting on a hilltop offering wonderful views of the Lerez River and the surrounding countryside.

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia in northwestern Spain.

The city has its origin in the shrine of St. James the Great, now the city’s cathedral, as the destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route originated in the 9th century. The city’s Old Town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The cathedral borders the main plaza of the old and the well preserved city. Legend has it that the remains of the apostle James were brought to Galicia for burial. In 813, according to medieval legend, the light of a bright star guided a shepherd who was watching his flock at night to the burial site in Santiago de Compostela. To honor St. James, the cathedral was built on the spot where his remains were said to have been found.

Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Galicia.

Lugo is the only city in the world to be surrounded by completely intact Roman walls, which reach a height of 10 to 15 meters (33 to 49 feet) along a 2,117 meter (6,946 ft) circuit ringed with 71 towers. The walk along the top is continuous round the circuit, and features ten gates. The 3rd century walls are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The bridge over the Minho is essentially of Roman date, though many repairs over the centuries have effaced its Roman character. It is along the Camino Primitivo path of the Camino de Santiago.

Canga de Onis is a municipality in the eastern part of the province and autonomous community of Asturias in the northwest of Spain.

The Roman Bridge is the symbol of Cangas de Onis and probably one of the best known sites in Asturias. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and provides a beautiful foreground to the lovely countryside in which it resides. The Roman Bridge has been declared to be a Historic – Artistic site in 1931.

Cangas has long since been a backwater for more than a thousand years now, but it was a charming introduction to Spain’s most stunning natural wonder, the Picos de Europas mountain range.

Comillas is a small township and municipality in the northern reaches of Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. The Marquisate of Comillas, a fiefdom of Spanish nobility, holds ceremonial office at the seat of power at a small castle which overlooks the town. The Comillas Pontifical University was housed here before it moved to Madrid, and the old university buildings are among the finest examples of architecture in the town. Besides this, there are many notable medieval and baroque buildings.

Comillas was the capital of Spain for a day, the 6th of August 1881, following an agreement between King Alfonso XII and the Minister’s Council to gather at a formal meeting in town.

Situated on the northern route of the Pilgrims’ Road to Santiago de Compostella, Santillana del Mar is a beautiful medieval town which was developed around the collegiate church of Santa Marian. Its various defence towers and Renaissance palaces make Santillana one of the most important historical areas of Cantabria

However, this Cantabrian town houses its greatest treasure on the outskirts: the Altamira caves, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Paleolithic Age” and declared World Heritage.

The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. It is located east of Gijon and west of Bilbao. Santander houses the headquarters of multinational bank, Banco Santander, and is the location of the founding of the namesake company.

Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the province of Biscay and in the Basque Country as a whole. Bilbao is the 10th largest city in Spain.

Bilbao was at one time the wealthiest city in Spain. Its  wealth at the beginning of the 20th century due to mining, steel and shipbuilding. Later the city began to move away from industry towards tourism and underwent a major urban renewal.

Bilbao is the new modern face of the Basque Country. The city has been able to successfully mix traditional Basque culture with a new vision for the future.  It is the most cosmopolitan of the cities in the region and is constantly evolving. Bilbao now boasts having the Guggenheim Museum,  a timeless Metro system and an airport from Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, etc.

Bilbao was recently proclaimed as the 2018 European City of the year by the Academy of Urbanism.

The Franciscan Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu is located in Onati, in the province of Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, Spain.

The location enjoys the peaceful atmosphere of the Aizkorri mountain range. At this site, according to very old legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd, Rodrigo de Balanzategui in 1468.

According to this legend, the figure of Mary was in a thorn bush, and Rodrigo cried out, “Arantzan zu?” (Thou, among the thorns?!). This gave rise to the place’s name. An explanation of the word origin is that it stems from a combination of arantza and zu, “place abounding in hawthorn.” Thus Mary is often referred to here as Our Lady of the Thorns.

St. Ignatius of Loyola spent the night in vigil at this shrine and made a vow of chastity.

The Sanctuary of Loyola or Shrine and Basilica of Loyola consists of a series of edifices built in Churrigueresque Baroque style around the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola,  founder of the
Society of Jesus.

The sanctuary stands along the river Urola in the neighbourhood of Loyola (Loiola, a place-name meaning ‘foundry made in clad’, or possibly ‘hut made in clad’) in the municipality of Azpeitia, Basque Country, Spain.

Ignatius of Loyola, whose real name was Iñigo López de Loyola, was the son of the Lord of Loyola, Beltrán Ibáñez de Oñaz and Marina Sánchez de Licona, member of an important Biscayan family. He was born in 1491 in his family house in Loyola.

After he died, his birthplace became a place of veneration. In the seventeenth century the house where he was born was given to the Society of Jesus. The Order built there, near the birthplace of its founder, the Sanctuary of Loyola.

San Sebastian is a coastal city and a municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay.

San Sebastian’s picturesque shoreline makes it a popular beach resort. The seaside environment is enhanced by hilly surroundings that are easily accessible. San Sebastian is a city that boasts a range of natural beauty. Its fabulous architecture, plazas and parks dotted throughout the city adds to its well deserved label as the “pearl” of the North of Spain.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey.

It is the country’s economic, cultural and historical heart. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally.

Istanbul was called Byzantium in ancient times, the city’s name was changed to Constantinople when it was rebuilt by the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine. It was renamed once again in 1928, becoming Istanbul, a name which had already been in use for centuries.

Istanbul is primarily known for its Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, but its buildings reflect the various people and empires that have previously ruled the city.