Galicia and Asturias: Places to Explore

At the southern end of the AP9 freeway and the Ría de Vigo, Baiona (Bayona in Castilian) is a summer haunt of affluent Gallegos. When Columbus's Pinta landed here in 1492, Baiona became the first... Read more

The charming, slightly ramshackle medieval town of Betanzos is still surrounded by parts of its old city wall. It was an important Galician port in the 13th century but is now silted up.... Read more

This breezy seaside town has a charming, almost entirely residential old quarter. The impressive main square, Praza de Fefiñanes, is bordered by an imposing Albariño bodega.... Read more

The first capital of Christian Spain, Cangas de Onís is also the unofficial capital of the Picos de Europa National Park. Partly in the narrow valley carved by the Sella River, it has the feel of... Read more

This astounding pocket of Catalan Art Nouveau architecture in the green hills of Cantabria will make you rub your eyes in disbelief. The Marqués de Comillas, a Catalan named Antonio López... Read more

One of Spain's busiest ports, A Coruña (La Coruña in Castilian) prides itself on being the most progressive city in the region. The weather can be fierce, wet, and windy—hence the glass-enclosed... Read more

To see high alpine meadowland, some rare Spanish lakes, and views over the peaks and out to sea (if the mist ever disperses), take the narrow road up past Covadonga to Lake Enol, stopping for the view... Read more

There was a time when this lonely, windswept outcrop over raging waters was thought to be the end of the earth—the finis terrae. All that's left is a rundown stone faro (lighthouse) perched on a... Read more

Gijón is part fishing port, part summer resort, and part university town. It's packed with cafés.... Read more

This beach town is on a pristine stretch of the Costa Verde. The shores in both directions outside town have vistas of cliffs looming over white-sand beaches and isolated caves. Inland, the landscape rises... Read more

The village of Luarca is tucked into a cove at the end of a final twist of the Río Negro, with a fishing port and, to the west, a sparkling bay. The town is a maze of cobblestone streets, stone... Read more

Just off the A6 freeway, Galicia's oldest provincial capital is most notable for its 2-km (1½-mi) Roman wall. These beautifully preserved ramparts completely surround the streets of the old town... Read more

Muros is a popular summer resort with lovely, arcaded streets framed by Gothic arches. The quiet back alleys of the old town reveal some well-preserved Galician granite houses, but the real action takes... Read more

Deep within the Ría de Muros y Noia, the compact medieval town of Noia nuzzles up to the foot of the Barbanza mountain range. The Gothic church of San Martín rises over the old town's Praza... Read more

Deserted and haunting when it's not high season (and often fogged in or snowy to boot), O Cebreiro is a stark mountaintop hamlet built around a 9th-century church. Known for its round, thatched-roof stone... Read more

O Grove throws an illustrious shellfish festival the second week of October, but you can enjoy the day's catch in taverns and restaurants year-round. From O Grove, you can cross a bridge to the island... Read more

Inland, the Asturian countryside starts to look more prosperous. Wooden, thatch-roof horreos (granaries) strung with golden bundles of drying corn replace the stark granite sheds of Galicia. A drive through... Read more

Padrón grew up beside the Roman port of Iría Flavia and is where the body of St. James is believed to have washed ashore after its miraculous maritime journey. The town is known for its... Read more

At the head of its ría, Pontevedra is approached through prefab suburbs, but the old quarter is well preserved and largely unspoiled. Speckled with bars, it can get very lively on weekends.... Read more

Known for its fine cheeses made of milk from cows, goats, and sheep, the region of La Liébana is a highland domain well worth exploring. Potes, the area's main city, is named for and sprinkled with... Read more

Perched on the broad ría of the same name, Ribadeo is the last coastal town before Asturias. The views up and across the estuary are marvelous—depending on the wind, the waves appear to roll... Read more

The N632 twists around green hills dappled with eucalyptus groves, allowing glimpses of the sea and sandy beaches below and the snowcapped Picos de Europa looming inland. This fishing village and beach... Read more

Important as a Roman port long before many other larger, modern shipping centers (such as Santander) were, San Vicente de la Barquera is one of the oldest and most beautiful maritime settlements in northern... Read more

One of the great ports on the Bay of Biscay, Santander is surrounded by beaches that are by no means isolated, yet it lacks the package-tour feel of so many Mediterranean resorts. A fire destroyed most... Read more

A large, lively university makes Santiago one of the most exciting cities in Spain, and its cathedral makes it one of the most impressive. The building is opulent and awesome, yet its towers create a sense... Read more

This stunning ensemble of 15th- to 17th-century stone houses is one of Spain's greatest troves of medieval and Renaissance architecture.... Read more

From Vigo, take the scenic coastal route PO552, which goes up the banks of the Miño River along the Portuguese border, or, if time is short, jump on the inland A55; both routes lead to Tui, where... Read more

Vigo's formidable port is choked with trawlers and fishing boats and lined with clanging shipbuilding yards. Its sights (or lack thereof) fall far short of its commercial swagger. The city's casual appeal... Read more

Cider-capital Villaviciosa has a large dairy and several bottling plants as well as an attractive old quarter. The Hapsburg Emperor Charles V first set foot in Spain just down the road from here. The town's... Read more

The once-turreted city walls of this popular summer resort are still partially intact. Two festivals are noteworthy here: the Semana Santa processions, when penitents follow religious processions on their... Read more