Places to Visit in Euskadi and Navara
About the region
Euskadi and Navarra are two regions situated in the northeast of Spain that have been united for centuries by the same language: Euskera. The 7,200 kilometers of coast belonging to Euskadi have been divided into three historical territories: Viszcaya, Guipuzcoa and the interior region of Alava.
Alava is situated at the border with Navarra, which is spread over 10,400 square kilometers and which offers the eye diverse landscapes, starting with the peaks of the Pyrénees and ending with the green valleys of the southern plains.
Places to see, things to do
When you decide to spend your vacation in this region, there are a few things that you shouldn’t miss, for example, the Olite Castle. The Castle is a massive construction with catellated towers and parapets. It was built in 1407 and used to have many Moorish elements, such as the hanging gardens, ajulejos (tiles) and stucco, but many of them have disappeared during the frequent restorations that the castle has undergone through the decades. Part of the castle is now a Parador.
In its vicinity, tourists can visit the Santa Maria la Real Church, dating back to the 14th century. The church has a Renaissance altar and the entrance door is sculptured. From Olite, a 30 kilometers’ long road will take you to Monasterio de la Oliva, one of the first monasteries built by the French Cistercian monks.
Orreaga
Orreaga is a natural mountain pass situated in the Pyrénees that has a special place in the poetic art and history: it is here that the Navarre Basques unleashed terror upon the army of Carol the Great in 778. Across the centuries, thousands of pilgrims have passed through this place on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
Tudela
Tudela is the second biggest city in Navarra, situated in the centre of the fertile agricultural region. It is also the place where the ingredients for the Tudela vegetable soup come from, as well as the robust, red, la Ribera wine. Tudela is worth visiting for its old Moorish district, Moreria, a mysterious maze of narrow streets, bordered by houses built in the Moorish style.
Here you’ll find the 12th century Cathedral, built on the exact place where a mosque used to be. Portada del Juicio, the sculptured entrance door, which presents the Doomsday, should also be on your sightseeing list.
As you can see, Navarra and Euskadi have many beautiful places to offer, so it would be a pity to miss them. Enjoy!