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Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain
Guggenheim Bilbao should be on every world traveler’s bucket list. An icon of 20th-century architecture, this groundbreaking Frank Gehry-designed masterpiece was a game-changer for architects and aesthetes alike, as well as for the citizens of Bilbao. Constructed on the site of a post-industrial wasteland in this once thriving port city, the museum, which first opened its doors in October of 1997 after four years of construction, breathed new life into Bilbao and the surrounding Basque region. The prosperity that ensued…
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Beaches of the Basque Coast
With autumn setting in and winter on its way, I’ve been feeling nostalgic for the beaches of the Basque Coast – from the flysch-carved cove of Zumaia’s Playa de Itzurun to the white sands of San Sebastián’s iconic Playa de la Concha and the bustling energy of Biarritz’s La Grande Plage. Fed by the Atlantic waters of the Cantabrian Sea, the beaches of the Basque Coast span the shores of northeastern Spain and southwestern France. The vibe is more relaxed…
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Getaria, Spain
This tiny coastal village on the Cantabrian Sea packs a big punch. Aside from its picturesque old town centered around the dramatic Gothic Church of San Salvador, Getaria is renowned for its grilled fish jatetxeak (restaurants) and rolling hills covered in Txakolí vineyards. Txakolí (pronounced cha-ko-LEE), a refreshingly young and fruity white wine with slight acidity and effervescence, is served throughout the Basque region. For me, it was love at first sip. The most noteworthy jatetxea in town is Elkano,…
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Ruta del Flysch, Zumaia, Spain
Set within the Basque Coast Geopark, the Ruta del Flysch offers visitors 13 miles of scenic coastal trails, access to secluded coves, close-up views of some remarkable rock formations, and a chance to see over 60 million years of Earth’s history in the making. The Basque region is situated at the intersection of the Western Pyrenees and the Atlantic Ocean. Positioned literally along the brink of this formidable mountain chain, the Ruta del Flysch boasts miles of wave-cut cliffs (flysch)…
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Hotel Iturregi, Getaria, Spain
Situated on an edenic hilltop in Getaria with commanding views of the entire Basque coastline, Hotel Iturregi was our little paradise for seven days earlier this summer. Surrounded by verdant hills covered in txakoli vineyards, this eight-room country estate offered luxury and exclusivity, but in a relaxed and easy atmosphere with an incredibly helpful and friendly staff (that spoke a multitude of languages). Upon first arriving, we couldn’t get over the views…the hills, the sea, the sky. We had never…
