Colorful fishing villages of the Bay of Biscay

We will go to the former capital of the province of Biscay - the town of Bermeo, a typical fishing port with its semicircular bay, full of fishing boats and framed by colorful fishermen's houses. The old port of Bermeo is still pulsating with life when ships with a catch arrive. Here you can find several cozy cafes where you can try fresh fish and seafood. In Bermeo, not only the fishing port deserves attention, but also its Old Town, with traditional medieval buildings, ancient churches, a monastery and a perfectly preserved fortress tower of the 15th century, in which the Fisherman Museum is located, with a fascinating exposition about the centuries-old traditions of fishing, shipbuilding, navigation, and the whole history of this town, firmly connected with the sea. About the whaling of local residents, reflected even on the coat of arms of Bermeo, resembles an ancient galleon moored in the new port of Bermeo. We will walk through the narrow old streets of Bermeo and reach the Arch of San Juan, in which, according to legend, John the Baptist himself left his mark, pursuing the devil.

The next city on our route is Guernica, immortalized in history by the genius Picasso in the painting of the same name depicting the horror and chaos after the bombing of the city in 1937. Located in the heart of the Urdaibay Nature Park, this town has received the UNESCO City of Peace Prize and is considered by the Basques a common spiritual center and a symbol of Basque democracy and freedoms. You can see the legendary oak of Guernica, under the shadow of which Basque elders gathered in ancient times, as well as visit the old parliament, where the president of the Basque Country, who miraculously survived the brutal bombing of a peaceful city, takes the oath. We will take a short walk through the city center, Peace Square, the former market square and look at the mosaic of the famous Guernica by Picasso, who made the city famous all over the world.

After a short move along a picturesque winding road with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the sea, we will arrive in the last town of our trip - the resort of Lekeytio. And although the old fishing port and quarter have also been preserved here, the town is more popular as a place of serene rest since the mid-19th century, where the artist Diego Ribera, Queen Isabella II of Spain, the Austro-Hungarian Empress Zita and other famous people loved to visit. From its small beach at low tide you can walk to the island, covering a cozy bay. Here reigns calm and measured pace of life, it is not for nothing that he is a member of the international association of “slow cities” (CITTÁ SLOW). Despite its small size, Lequeitio boasts a real treasure - his Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary hides in its bowels the third largest iconostasis in Spain (after the iconostasis in the Cathedrals of Seville and Toledo), which indicates its former prosperity and wealth.

At the end of the walk you can enjoy the famous Basque pinchos with a glass of Chacoli in one of the port taverns of Lekeitio in the peaceful atmosphere of an ancient fishing village.