Galicia - Green Spain

Day 1 - Arriving in Spain, we travel to our Galicia hotel where your evening meal is included.

Day 2 - The Monastery of San Xoán de Poio was founded in the 7th Century and became an important centre for culture. See objects from the Romanesque monastery in the Orange Tree Cloister.  Pontevedra -A guided city tour explains the long maritime and trading tradition and boasts one of the largest and most elegant historic quarters in the whole of Galicia. Combarro and its Granaries are an unmatched example of Galician folk architecture and is considered one of the best preserved villages in Galicia.

Day 3 - Santiago de Compostela at its peak during the Middle Ages, was a place of pilgrimage from the 9thto the 16th centuries when up to two million people a year (around 5,000 a day) came to worship at what was believed to be the burial place of St James. Emerging from Calle Franco into Santiago’s Cathedral square is an incredible sight as the square is made of golden granite. The Barossa Natural Park is home to the restored grain millsknown locally as horreos. The many elevated grain stores peppered around the towns and countryside were traditionally used to store maize and other grains. They were designed with rat and small mammal proofing in mind and it is for this reason that they are elevated on granite legs.

Day 4 - The Monastery of Armenteira  belongs to the Cistercian order and was founded by the Knight Ero de Armenteira in 1168. It has a square cloister, a kitchen, and a tower, all in an 18th-century Baroque style. O’Grove, once an island is today joined by sand to the mainland as a result of the south-westerly winds. The sight of its many-coloured boats forms an unforgettable picture. As well as shellfish gathering and shallow-water fishing, the population lives from the farming of mussels, oysters and scallops on wooden platforms out in the water. A catamaran ride to the mussel farms in the harbour is a ‘must’ as the boat has an underwater viewing area where the long lengths of rope around which thousands of mussels are attached can be seen. You will also sample some freshly steamed mussels whilst on board. La Toja and the Chapel of Shells is one of the most beautiful churches which is covered from the ground to the eaves in local sea shells.

Day 5 - Baiona was the first port in Europe to learn about the discovery of America. On March 1st 1493, Caravel La Pinta commanded by Martín Alonso Pinzón, arrived here. To commemorate the 5th centenary of this event a replica ship was built, which is today moored in a dock in the bay. In the town centre, especially near the port, you will still find typical fishery houses with wrought iron balconies, high double-leaf windows and shutters.  Monte Tecla and the Celtic Fortress. During the Iron Age, man decided to leave behind their itinerant existence and settle in villages of different sizes. This was the origin of the Celtic hill forts in north-western Spain, some of which survived until the arrival of the Romans. One of the most characteristic elements of the hill forts in Galicia is their setting.

Day 6 - Valenca isa historical town situated close to the Spanish border.See the impressive fortress overlooking the Minho River and Spain with a piece of gothic and baroque military architecture.