Bermeo, Guernica & the Cantabrian Coast

Visit two former capitals on this half-day Basque country excursion. Explore Bermeo, once the provincial capital until 1602, and still a major fishing port. Then visit Guernica, the ancient Basque capital. Its destruction by German bombs during the Spanish Civil War inspired Picasso's great masterpiece. En route to Bermeo, stop at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, which offers a panoramic view of the Biscayan coast with its steep cliffs and stretches of white beach. Upon arrival, enjoy a brief walking tour. Stroll along the streets of Bermeo's Old Quarter, the Gothic Church of San Francisco, the 18th-century Town Hall, and the neoclassical Church of Santa Maria. View the petrified trunk of the oak tree that survived the air raid. Visit the Park of Europe's peace memorials and stop at Casa de Juntas, home to the Basque parliament since 1979.