ICE AGE SPAINExplore the Prehistoric Caves and Medieval Towns of the Basque Country of Northern Spain In northern Spain, there is a place where bison thunder across the walls of subterranean caverns. Paleolithic artists painted these spectacular creatures some 15,000 years ago, when most of Europe was buried under a glacial sheet of ice. Deer, horses, aurochs, mammoths and hunters join the bison in an awe-inspiring underground gallery that has earned the sobriquet "Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art." Here, too, is a land where some of Europe's most captivating towns offer an extraordinary array of artistic and cultural treasures. Its Basque people, rich in folklore and spirit, have retained a separate cultural identity throughout centuries of encroachments by Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Castilians. Next year, travelers will have a chance to explore this fascinating region on a 14-day deluxe tour, "Prehistoric Caves & Medieval Towns of Northern Spain". This program will visit the land where Ice Age artists created masterpieces and where millions of medieval pilgrims once sought redemption by following the sacred "Way of St. James" to Santiago de Compostela. Participants will stay at historic paradores and 5-star hotels. They will have a chance to sample the unique cuisine of the Basque country seafood dishes such as bacalao a la Vizcaina, lobster, huge crabs, clams, and the extraordinary local wines. Study leader for the tour will be Dr. Paul G. Bahn, an expert on prehistoric rock art. His many publications include "Images of the Ice Age", which is generally recognized as the standard introduction to Paleolithic art. The program begins in Biarritz, an international resort that under Napoleon III was a chic playground for royalty and aristocrats. A tour of the French Basque country takes tour members to Bayonne's medieval quarter, with a visit to the thirteenth-century Cath�drale Ste. Marie and several major museums. Then, a train ride along the lush Nive River Valley will visit several typical Basque villages. Coastal roads lead to Bilbao, site of the spectacular Guggenheim Museum. The museum's 19 galleries are built around a soaring, 165-foot central atrium, and focus on twentieth-century American and European art, featuring such artists as Kandinsky, Picasso, Pollock, Lichtenstein, and Mondrian. At nearby Santillana del Mar, one of Europe's most perfectly preserved medieval villages, are the famed Altamira II caves with their vivid depictions of bison and other animals dating back 15,000 years. There will be a visit to the Altamira Museum with its exhibits on Cantabrian prehistory and cave art, and an exploration of the Cueva del Castillo, another Ice Age rock art treasure. At Burgos, an important station on the "Way of St. James" pilgrimage route, the magnificent Cath�drale de Santa Maria is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its flamboyant Gothic exterior shelters rich treasures, including a sixteenth-century chapel. The tour continues to Leon, once the capital of Christian Spain. Leon has a picturesque Old Quarter with a Gothic cathedral with 125 stained-glass windows that soar 110 feet to a vaulted ceiling. Next on the pilgrimage trail is Astorga, home to Gaudi's fanciful neo-Gothic Palacio Episcopal. Now a museum, it features outstanding collections of contemporary Spanish art and folk artifacts. Final stop is Santiago de Compostela, the beautiful "City of Stone" dedicated to St. James, patron saint of Spain. Its cathedral is the crowning architectural achievement of the Spanish Romanesque style. This 14-day tour includes accommodations, all tours and excursions, study leader and bilingual guides, and most meals. It is priced at $5,200 per person (based on double occupancy). Departures in 2001 are April 21, May 19, September 15, and October 6. Airfare is additional. Reservations and additional information is available from Travel Plans International Edited by Kerry Cohen |
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