One of Spain’s most important archaeological sites, the Santimamiñe Cave (Cueva de Santimamiñe) is renowned for its dozens of ancient cave paintings. Representing some 14,000 years of human history, the landmark was discovered by two young children in 1916, and underwent excavations from 1918 until 1962. Today, it is closed to visitors.
Behind an understated Renaissance facade and triumphal arch entrance, Bilbao’s 16th-century San Vicente Mártir de Abando Church (Parroquia de San Vicente Mártir de Abando) hides a surprisingly ornate baroque altar. Other highlights of this Basque Gothic building include the whitewashed vaulted ceilings, gilded detailing, and carved statue of the crucifixion.
A small gem of a museum in Bilbao’s Old Town, the Bizkaia Museum of Archaeology chronicles the region’s past, from murky prehistory to the modern day. Housed in a former train station, the museum’s collection consists of thousands of ancient artifacts, ranging from household items to the 15th-century Urbieta wreck.
Holding court atop Hondarribia’s highest point, the Castle of Charles V has watched over the colorful Basque fishing town since the 10th century, when it was constructed for King Sancho Abarca. Updated with Renaissance flourishes for King Charles V in the 16th century, the castle fortress is now a parador, which is a government-run hotel.
Located in Busturia, the Ekoetxea Urdaibai Biodiversity Centre celebrates and educates visitors about the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve: a tract of land that has been protected by UNESCO since 1984. Comprised of sand dunes and marshes, floodplains and forests, this scenic estuary region is among the most biodiverse in the Basque Country.
Attracting both car enthusiasts and history buffs, the medieval Loizaga Tower not only delivers fantastic Basque Country scenery, but is home to a car museum showcasing a remarkable Rolls-Royce collection. Admire rare and iconic vehicles from all over the world, including up to 45 different models from the 1900s.
Formed from the estuary at the mouth of the Basque Country's Oka River, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (Urdaibai Reserva de la Biosfera) is an important habitat for migratory and resident birds. Urdaibai also boasts some of the most popular beaches in the region, and several archeological sites—such as Cave Santimamiñe, with its ancient paintings—that are worth visiting.
