EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Survey Bilbao’s alluring architectural landmarks, with a focus on the stunning Guggenheim Museum. Enjoy a brief panoramic tour of the city including privilege views over the from city at Artxanda Hill, before alighting at the Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece clad in swooping titanium plates and curving glass panes that is the pure, unmistakable signature of starchitect Frank Gehry. Gaze in awe at this marvelous creation, which fractures the sunlight into an effervescent shimmer. You’ll discover its interior of milk-white walls, soaring halls and intimate galleries is equally enchanting. Led by an informative tour guide, spend approximately 1 ½ hours browsing modern art from the mid-20th century to the present, studying masterworks by Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois and Richard Serra, to name but a few. Board your coach continuing the panoramic drive from majestic neoclassical façades to cutting-edge subway stations designed by revered architect Norman Foster: you’ll be thrilled by Bilbao’s embrace of both the old and new. Prior to return to pier , stop for pictures at the 1893 Vizcaya Bridge, a highly unusual hanging transporter bridge that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Delve into Bilbao’s historic heart on a brief panoramic coach tour.
• Appreciate nice city views from a priviledge view points at Artxanda Hill and stop for pictures and the famous Hanging Bridge of Getxo.
• Marvel at the swirling titanium and glass architecture of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Bilbao.
• Appreciate an approximately 1 ½ hour docent-led tour of the museum’s 20th-century and contemporary masterpieces.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

The historic beauty of Bilbao is yours to discover during a visit to Getxo, where you will ride above the Hanging Bridge and see the main highlights of Bilbao.

Departing from the pier, you will enjoy a short drive to Getxo, an elegant residential town nestled on the bank of the Nervion River and featuring large, English-style homes. Upon arrival, you will take a panoramic drive of the city and then proceed for a visit to the nearby Hanging Bridge, or Bizkaia Bridge. The Bridge joins the riverbanks at Portugalete and Las Arenas, allowing for free-flowing maritime traffic. Reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower due to its iron structure, this over 100 year-old old masterpiece of engineering is now the oldest transporter bridge in the world. During your visit, you will have an opportunity to ride take in spectacular views of Getxo, the Nervion River and Abra Port.

Next, you will re-board your coach for the drive to Bilbao´s charming riverside of Nervion river and stop for photos at the swirling titanium and glass architecture of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum . Gaze in awe at this marvelous creation, which fractures the sunlight into an effervescent shimmer .

Your visit will conclude with a drive up Artxanda Hill for spectacular views of the city and the Guggenheim Museum.

OVERVIEW

Experience the magnificent landmarks of Bilbao and a mouthwatering sampling of pintxos (how locals call tapas), on this captivating walking tour. Travel to Bilbao’s renowned Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece clad in swooping titanium plates and curving glass panes conjured by starchitect Frank Gehry. Gaze in awe at this marvelous creation, which fractures the sunlight into an effervescent shimmer. After your outside visit to this remarkable structure, continue to Bilbao’s Old Quarter for a repast of traditional Basque pinxtos accompanied by regional wine. You’ll enjoy a walking tour of the city’s historic heart, passing alluring sights such as the splendid Teatro Arriaga, the bustling waterfront promenade of El Arenal and the lovely Cathedral of Santiago, which boasts a beautiful neo-Gothic tower. Time permitting, enjoy free time on your own, wandering Bilbao’s elegant boulevards dotted with medieval landmarks and ultra-modern subway stations designed by Norman Foster, another celebrated architect. Perhaps you’ll browse an inviting shop for a memento of this compelling city, which is firmly rooted in the past, yet plunging headlong into the future.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the swirling titanium and glass architecture of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Bilbao.
• Sample the Basque region’s tapas, called pintxos, and wine.
• Immerse yourself in Bilbao’s scenic Old Quarter on a walking tour of its medieval and neoclassical landmarks.
• Delight in time on your own to find a perfect souvenir or further uncover Bilbao’s charms.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• If you wish to visit the cathedral during free time, dress appropriately for a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Embrace the beauty and flavors of the scenic Rioja Alavesa countryside during this memorable tour, tasting and lunch in El Ciego.

Depart the pier by coach for the scenic 2-hour drive to the town of El Ciego. Located in the Alava Province, El Ciego is the site of the new City of the Wine, a complex created by the Marques de Riscal cellars. The City of the Wine includes the old cellars, new Frank Gehry hotel, and new French wine spa, Caudalie.

Upon arrival to the complex, your tour will begin with a visit to the cellars. Here, you will learn about the history of the region's wine-producing heritage and techniques, and hear about the latest wine-making technologies. After your visit, you will be invited to taste the white Verdejo and red Reserva Marques de Riscal wines.

Continuing on, you will make your way to the town of Laguardia, where you will enjoy a brief guided walking tour and then a typical local lunch at Posada Mayor de Migueola, a traditional restaurant. Following lunch, you'll transfer directly back to the ship.

Learn to tend and herd sheep at a shepherd’s school in the fiercely independent Basque Country and see how the sheep’s milk is used to produce local cheeses. The school will present the fundamentals of the ancient trade of shepherding. During the hands-on class, you will learn how to care for the indigenous Laxta sheep and how to milk them most efficiently. You will also see firsthand, the importance of Basque shepherd dogs, a highly intelligent, energetic breed with one of the world’s oldest lineages. These working dogs are naturals at helping shepherds tend their flocks. The sheep’s milk is used to make Idiazabal cheese, which you will sample with a glass of Txacoli wine. Following the enlightening experience at the shepherd’s school, you will stop at the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, which Franciscan monks founded centuries ago. It perches atop a rocky cliff and looks surprisingly unconventional, as its bell towers are made with blocks of diamond-point limestone.

Marvel at the vintage luxury automobiles in a Rolls-Royce Museum tucked away in a remote mountain fortress, and then marvel in front at the beauty of the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. Departing from the pier, it's a scenic drive inland through the enchanting mountains that define Spain's beautiful Basque country. In time, you'll come upon majestic Concejuelo Castle, a treasure hidden away off the main road. What's even more remarkable is the Rolls-Royce Museum that's all but hidden inside its tower, the Torre Loizaga.This little-known, yet amazing collection of luxury automobiles contains more than 40 vintage Rolls-Royces, including a 1910 Silver Ghost and a legendary Phantom IV, of which only 18 were ever made, strictly for heads of state such as Queen Elizabeth. To complement the priceless Rolls-Royces, there are more than 25 other makes of luxury cars, including a Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari Testarossa and several rare Bentleys. After you have filled your head with thoughts of owning one of these beauties, it's time to resume your tour and travel back to Bilbao charming´s riverside of Nervion river and stop for photos at the swirling titanium and glass architecture of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum. Gaze in awe at this marvelous creation, which fractures the sunlight into an effervescent shimmer. Next, you'll rejoin your coach and transfer directly back to the pier.

Follow the Nervión River into Bilbao to admire landmarks like its unusual transporter bridge and the Guggenheim Museum, a modern marvel of architecture on this mostly panoramic tour.

Depart from the pier and start driving towards downtown Bilbao, an energetic city on the Nervión River. Following the river's course, you will soon come upon the Great Biscay Transporter Bridge, a towering latticework of metal that opened in 1893. Ever since, it has been carrying people - and now cars, across the river in an open gondola suspended from the bridge high above. If the design reminds you of the Eiffel Tower, it's no coincidence; the bridge's architect was a student of Gustave Eiffel.

Next, you will drive up Mount Artxanda, one of the two mountains within the city limits. During a photo stop here, you will have an excellent panoramic view of Bilbao, one of the great cities of the Basque Country. While Bilbao's roots are definitely industrial, in the past two decades it has become passionately devoted to the arts. This cultural drive has been largely fueled by the celebrated Guggenheim Museum, where you will enjoy a brief amount of free time to take some exterior pictures and walk about.

Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum is clad in swirls of titanium, limestone and huge glass panes. Even before opening in 1997, it was hailed as the greatest building of its time. The Guggenheim is certainly the most photographed structure in Bilbao and after meandering about its grounds you will understand the attraction. Afterwards, you will return to the pier via a scenic route through downtown.

Experience the beauty of Guernica and the Biscaine Coast during this half-day visit to Bermeo and Guernica.

Departing the pier, it's a scenic 2-hour coach drive along the Basque Coast en route to Bermeo. Bermeo is one of the most important fishing ports on the Cantabrian coastline and home to a large deep-sea fishing fleet which operates in the Azores and Southern Africa. Upon arrival, you will take a guided walking tour of this charming little town, along the way observing the popular Basque architecture that is reflected in the fishermen's homes. Following your walking tour, you will have free time to explore the area at your leisure.

Rejoining your coach, you will next travel to Guernica, making a brief photo stop at the Mirador viewpoint en route. The former capital of this Basque country, Guernica was the meeting-place for local lords and kings who assembled here to pledge to uphold the laws of Vizcaya. On April 26, 1937, the town was completely devastated by German aircraft sent by Hitler to support Franco's troops. Upon arrival, you will see the petrified trunk of the symbolic oak tree that miraculously survived this horrific bombing raid. Another of the sites you will see is the Park of Europe where you will find the famous sculptures symbolizing Guernica-Lumo as a city of peace.

Your time in Guernica concludes with refreshments and an aperitif before visiting the Casa de Juntas, where the Basque Parliament has convened since 1979. Following your Parliament visit, you will re-board your coach for the return drive to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a tasting of the Basque Country’s most characteristic wine and behold the beauty of a natural reserve renowned for its biodiversity. UNESCO declared the Urdaibai estuary a Biosphere Reserve for the richness of its environment. As you will see, the flora includes holm oak forests, heathland and countless aquatic species. The diversity of fauna, especially water birds, is just as impressive. You will stop for photos at a particularly scenic spot that will present the reserve’s natural beauty in all its glory. You will also pause at the Casa de Juntas in Gernika, a provincial assembly hall outside of which grows a legendary oak tree. The vineyards at the Itsamendi winery reflect the fecundity of the Basque Country as well. A tasting there will reveal the attributes of txakoli, a mild sparkling wine that is closely connected to the region. Pintxos appetizers and a traditional main course will also be served.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the natural beauty within the Urdaibai estuary, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Stop at a legendary oak tree at Casa de Juntas, a cultural heritage complex.
• Sample dry white txakoli wines that are synonymous with the Basque Country.
• Savor a selection of tapas-like pintxos and a traditional entrée.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Browse the spectacular collection of modern art in the iconic Guggenheim Museum at your own pace and explore Bilbao’s nearby Old Quarter for a historical perspective with a guided walk. Even the museum’s exterior is captivating, as architect Frank Gehry designed it to be sculptural with swirls of titanium and huge glass panes. As you will discover inside, the majority of the collection features modern art from the mid-20th century to the present. The names of the artists read like a Who’s Who of talent that includes Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, Jeff Koons, Robert Rauschenberg and several contemporary Spanish artists. A guided walk through Bilbao’s pedestrianized Old Quarter will present plenty of urban charms as it is a wonderfully vibrant district full of historical monuments and picture-worthy corners. Tapas bars and one-of-a-kind shops will be at your fingertips during free time.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the extraordinary whimsical exterior of the Guggenheim Museum.
• See modern works of art that are as spectacular as architect Frank Gehry’s museum design.
• Walk through Bilbao’s Old Town with the guide and explore it further on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Bilbao that focuses on its art museums, one of which you will visit before dining in the Old Quarter. As you will discover, many of the museums are works of art themselves, especially the Guggenheim. Clad in swirls of titanium, limestone and huge glass panes, the Frank Gehry-designed museum is the most photographed building in Bilbao. The exterior of the Museum of Fine Arts may not be as iconic but the works inside are just as masterful. You may see paintings such as “The Annunciation” by El Greco, portraits by Goya and modern pieces by the likes of Francis Bacon. Gauguin’s “Washerwomen in Arles” is historically interesting as he painted it during the time spent in Arles with Vincent van Gogh. In the pedestrian-friendly medieval Old Quarter, you will enjoy a traditional Basque seafood lunch and a wine that perfectly pairs with it.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Bilbao’s most representative landmarks on a panoramic drive through the city.
• Pass by the iconic Guggenheim Museum and browse the Museum of Fine Arts.
• Dine on traditional Basque cuisine in Bilbao’s medieval Old Quarter.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Travel approximately 30 minutes from the pier to a protected natural park, where your hike begins. Your three-mile trek takes you over paved and natural pathways to the Gorliz lighthouse. Built in 1990, the lighthouse is unique, as it isn't fashioned after traditional lighthouses, but instead is a slender, white column resembling a silo.

After taking a moment for photographs, rejoin your motor coach and return to the pier, making a stop at the Great Biscay Transporter Bridge en route. This suspension bridge, which was built in 1893 to connect Portugalete and Las Arenas is located on opposite sides of the Nervion River. The design features metal latticework reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower and tall piers with a suspended gondola running in between, shuttling travelers back and forth across the river.

Arriving at the iconic bridge, you will have the choice of crossing it either via a pedestrian walkway or aboard the suspended gondola. You may even do both, crossing one way in one direction, and the other way on your return.

Once you have had the chance to experience the Transporter Bridge, enjoy the short motor coach transfer to your ship.