81 Best Sights in Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria, Spain

This 12th-century church, the oldest in A Coruña, was the first stop on the Camino Inglés (English route) toward Santiago de Compostela. Originally Romanesque, it's now a hodgepodge that includes Gothic arches, a baroque altarpiece, and two 18th-century rose windows.

The 1292 monastery of San Francisco was converted into a church in 1387 by nobleman Fernán Pérez de Andrade. His magnificent tomb, to the left of the west door, has him lying on the backs of a stone bear and boar, with hunting dogs at his feet and an angel receiving his soul by his head.

This 15th-century church, a few steps uphill from the church of San Francisco, is a national monument. It has Renaissance statues that were stolen in 1981 but subsequently recovered.

The tailors' guild put up the Gothic-style church of Santiago, which includes a Pórtico de la Gloria inspired by that of Santiago's cathedral. Above the door is a carving of St. James as the Slayer of the Moors—a title that hasn't aged particularly well.

Dotting the Asturian coast east and west of Llanes are bufones, cavelike cavities that expel water when waves are sucked in. These active blowholes shoot streams of water as high as 100 feet at unpredictable intervals. They are clearly marked so you can find them, and there are barriers to protect you when they expel water. There is one east of Playa Ballota; try to watch it in action from this mirador east of Llanes, between the villages of Cué and Andrin. If you miss the spurt, the view is still worth a stop—on a clear day you can see the coastline all the way east to Santander.

Housed in the splendid Monastery of San Vicente (behind the cathedral), this museum contains fragments of pre-Romanesque buildings. Descriptions are in Spanish only, but pamphlets are available in English. 

North of Acibechería (follow Ruela de Xerusalén) is the Museo das Peregrinacións containing Camino de Santiago iconography: sculptures, carvings, azabache (compact black coal, or jet) items, and more. For an overview of the history of St. James, the cathedral, and the pilgrimage, as well as the Camino's role in the development of the city itself, this is a key visit.

Housed in a refurbished prison on Vigo's main shopping drag, this museum doesn't have a permanent collection but hosts intriguing temporary exhibitions and solo shows of featured artists.

Housed in a converted convent on the edge of the old town, this fine-arts museum has French, Spanish, and Italian paintings from the 16th through 20th centuries and a curious collection of etchings by Goya.

Housed in two 18th-century mansions connected by a stone bridge, this museum includes exquisite Celtic jewelry, silver from all over the world, and several large model ships. The original kitchen, with a stone fireplace, is intact; below, descend steep wooden stairs to the reconstructed captain's chamber on the battleship Numancia, which limped back to Spain after the Dos de Mayo battle with Peru in 1866. Complete the loop by going upstairs in the first building, where there are Spanish, Italian, and Flemish paintings.

Inside the 16th-century Regina Coeli convent is a museum devoted to liturgical art including wooden figures of saints, oil paintings of biblical scenes, altarpieces, and a collection of plundered treasures from the so-called New World.

Next to the Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea stands the medieval convent of San Domingos de Bonaval. The museum within holds photos, farm implements, traditional costumes, and other items illustrating aspects of traditional Galician life. The star attraction is the 13th-century, self-supporting, spiral granite staircase that still connects three floors.

The Romanesque portals of this 15th-century church are extremely striking.

Three lighthouses can be visited by car within an-hour-and-a half of driving along this landmark route. Expect extraordinary views of the vertiginous rocky cliffs and churning waters that earned this part of Galicia its nickname, Costa da Morte. Begin at Faro de Cabo Touriñán, which guards a narrow peninsula marking what was once believed to be the westernmost point of continental Europe. A 25-minute drive away is Faro da Punta da Barca, a stone lighthouse built in 1926 alongside the 16th-century Virxe da Barca sanctuary. Finish with Faro de Cabo Vilán, dramatically jutting above a red-rock promontory; it was the first in Spain to be powered by electricity. Alternatively, the 200-km (124-mile) route can be hiked on a well-marked trail that runs from Malpica to Finisterre.

A Coruña's Paseo Marítimo winds along two pleasant, well-maintained urban beaches, Playa del Orzán and Playa de Riazor. These long curves of fine golden sand tend to be busy in summer with chattering groups of local families and friends enjoying the milder climate. The area of Playa del Orzán in front of the hotel Meliá María Pita is popular with surfers. Cross the Paseo Marítimo for a choice of cafés and restaurants with animated terraces. Seafront kiosks sell ice cream and snacks. There is no natural shade, but you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas in summer. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Built on the highest point of the Peninsula de Magdalena and surrounded by 62 acres of manicured gardens and rocky beaches, this early-20th-century palace is the most distinctive building in Santander. It was originally a summer home for King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia, and it has architectural influences from France and England. Today it is a venue for meetings, weddings, and classes. There are also daily guided visits (available only in Spanish).

Built in the late 19th century by Catalan architect Joan Martorell for the Marqués de Comillas, Palacio Sobrellano is an exuberant neo-Gothic mansion. It now holds surprising collections of sculpture and paintings as well as archaeological and ethnographic material. The chapel has benches and kneeling stalls that were designed by Gaudí.

South of Vigo's Old Town, this is a quiet, stately park with sandy paths, palm trees, mossy embankments, and stone benches. Atop a series of steps are the remains of an old fort and a mirador (lookout) with fetching views of Vigo's coastline and the Islas Cíes. Along its shady western side lies the Castro de Vigo, the remains of Vigo's first Celtic settlement, dating to the 3rd century BC.

Reservations required for Castro de Vigo and guided tours are available for groups of three or more, as well as for the fortress.

To see why sailors once nicknamed A Coruña "la ciudad de cristal" (the glass city), stroll the Paseo Marítimo, said to be the longest seaside promenade in Europe. Although the congregation of boats is charming, the real sight is across the street: a long, gracefully curved row of houses. Built by fishermen in the 18th century, they face away from the sea—it's said that at the end of a long day, these seafarers were tired of looking at the water. Nets were hung from the porches to dry, and fish was sold on the street below. When Galicia's first glass factory opened nearby, someone thought to enclose these porches in glass, like the latticed stern galleries of oceangoing galleons, to keep wind and rain at bay. The resulting emblematic glass galleries spread across the harbor and eventually throughout Galicia. The 12 km (7½ miles) of flat surface with ocean views make it a wonderful jogging spot.

Surrounded by Albariño vineyards, this 15th-century stone manor house stands in pleasant contrast to its 100-year-old boutique wine cellar, built in an art deco style. Winemaker José Hidalgo produces a silky Albariño with notes of citrus and floral aromas here. Reservations are required.

The barons who ruled over Galicia's peasants and the rest of its feudal society lived in pazos like this one, 27 km (17 miles) southeast of Santiago de Compostela. Here you can stroll the gardens to the lily pond and lake, where a stone boat stays miraculously afloat.

The jewel of this property is the camellia garden, one of the largest and most impressive collections of flowers in the world. The camellias bloom November–May and peak February–April. The 15th-century manor house is decadently furnished and also worth a visit, as are the attached bodega and chapel. Group activities like cooking demonstrations, live bagpipe concerts, and extended tastings can be organized and booked in advance. There are also guided tours, which last about two hours and include the gardens, winery, pazo, chapel, and a tasting.

Step into this rich 12th-century building to view an unusual example of Romanesque civic architecture, with a cool, clean, vaulted dining hall. The little figures carved on the corbels in this graceful, 100-foot-long space are drinking, eating, and listening to music with great medieval gusto. Each is different, so stroll around for a tableau of mealtime merriment. The palace is attached to the cathedral. However, the entrance varies---it's best to ask at the cathedral museum where to enter the Pazo de Xelmírez.

To help plan your rambles, consult the scale model of the park outside the visitor center; staff inside can advise you on suitable routes. Maps and guidebooks are available in English.

One km (½ mile) east of Llanes is the pristine and secluded Playa Ballota, with private coves and one of the few stretches of nudist sand in Asturias. Amenities: food and drink (seasonal). Best for: nudists; swimming; walking.

Tucked into the city's harbor, this horseshoe-shape curve of fine artificial sand and calm waters is wonderful for an evening stroll. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

Gijón's other popular beach, beyond the headland from Playa de Poniente, has golden sand backed by a promenade that extends from one end of town to the other. Across the narrow peninsula and the Plaza Mayor is the harbor, where the fishing fleet comes in with the day's catch. As long as the tide is out, you can sunbathe. The waves are generally moderate, but weather and currents can be unpredictable. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

To the west of the Río Sella estuary, which divides the town, this gentle curve of golden sand is one of the prettiest beaches in Asturias. It's tucked beneath the town's seafront promenade, lined with 20th-century mansions. Moderate waves provide safe swimming conditions, although, as with all of Spain's Atlantic-facing beaches, currents and weather can be unpredictable. In high season (particularly in August) the beach can get very busy. This part of the coast is not called the "dinosaur coast" for nothing; over by the Punta'l Pozu Viewpoint, you can see footprints embedded in the rocks and cliff faces where they left their mark millions of years ago. Amenities listed are available only June–September. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming.

Farther west of Llanes is the partially nudist Playa de Torimbia, a wild, virgin beach as yet untouched by development. It is reached only via a footpath—roughly a 15-minute walk. This secluded crescent of fine white sand and crystal-clear waters is backed by Asturias's green hills, making it one of the region's most picturesque beaches. Winds can be strong, and there is no real infrastructure. Amenities: food and drink (seasonal). Best for: nudists; solitude; swimming; walking.

On the eastern edge of town is Playa de Toró, where fine white sands are peppered with unique rock formations. This pristine beach is ideal for sunbathing and families. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming.