San Sebastian: Weekend Getaways

Picos de Europa

The north central part of Spain offers a complete contrast to the countryside in Andalucia. The land here is green, misty, rugged and isolated affected by the influence of the Atlantic for much of the year. Although compact in size, the Picos de Europa have a remote feel, which can make touring and hiking quite an adventure. Legend has it that the Picos were so named by Spanish sailors who, when returning across the Bay of Biscay from Atlantic voyages, would catch site of the abrupt snow capped summits whilst still far from land. As seen from the sea, few European mountain ranges rise quite so dramatically on the skyline.

Torre Cerredo, the highest peak in the whole 500 mile long Cantabrian Mountains at 2648m/8688 ft. is but 20 miles from the Cantabrian beaches. Three separate massifs make up this small mountain range, forming one of the most compelling mountain areas on the continent. In the heart of the central massif rises Spain's most famous mountain, El Naranjo de Bulnes, a striking limestone cylinder with four sheer sides of up to 600m/ 2001 ft. The undisputed symbol of the Picos, this highly distinctive mountain is featured on many souvenirs and post cards.

In the evening sunlight the El Naranjo turns the rich shade of orange from which its name originates. Two Spaniards, the Marques of Villaviciosa and a local shepherd, Gregorio Perez, first climbed the peak in 1904. The Marques was concerned that a foreign expedition might be the first to reach the summit and hoist a foreign flag. So one day with a rope purchased in London, the pair of them climbed the North East face (the legendary 600m west face was not conquered until 1962, and still claims quite a number of lives).

The Picos offers some of Spain's most startling gorges. The Cares Canyon(known as the Divine Canyon) attracts walkers from all over the country as much as El Naranjo attracts climbers. The five mile long route takes you from the northern to the southern slopes of the Picos along a dizzy path cut into the rock face. At times it widens out allowing glimpses of the snowcapped peaks towering 1980m/6500ft above. This huge gorge separates two of the three massifs in the Picos - the central and the western. (The third, the eastern, is less frequented and not quite as spectacular). Above 1980m / 6500ft, limestone wastes dominate the landscape, and in between peaks, ridges, and pavements there are depressions that have in some cases formed sheltered meadows making the Picos appear to be a veritable paradise for goat herders, ponies, as well as for climbers, walkers, and geologists.

Madrid

No visit to Spain is complete without a visit to Madrid the capital of Spain. Just a quick 6-hour train ride from Barcelona, Madrid offers world-class museums, nightlife, architecture, and a happening cosmopolitan atmosphere. Start your city tour at the Plaza del Sol the zero kilometer marker from which all roads in Spain converge. Take in the amazing Parque del Buen Retiro or check out the Museo del Prado, which is home to the essential Spanish works of art from Velazquez, Goya, to El Greco. One could spend weeks seeing all the sites that Madrid has to offer so make a plan and stick to it.

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