Culture & Cuisine: From Porto to Basque Country
Trace the Atlantic Coast of three countries on a voyage celebrating the diverse cultures of Iberia and Basque country. Visit the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, visit a Galician fishing village, and meander through Porto and San Sebastián. Get a taste for local culinary specialties and thrill to the melodies of the gaitas and trikitixas. You'll also encounter the UNESCO World Heritage treasures of medieval Porto, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, and the Tower of Hercules, the only working Roman lighthouse in the world.
Highlights
Sample fine port wines where they were born, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Porto
Spend a day discovering Galicia, collecting mussels with local fishermen, listening to traditional music, and visiting a Galician estate
Join a pilgrimage to the medieval cathedral at Santiago de Compostela and enjoy local music
Discover an array of iconic architectural masterpieces — from the Roman Tower of Hercules in A Coruña to the Guggenheim Museum, with its iconic billowing metal sheets designed by Frank Gehry
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The capital of Portugal, Lisbon maintains a reputation as one of Europe’s most vibrant and charismatic cities. Captivating history, art, culture, and delectable cuisine make it a city worth discovering. Join us on a city tour and for lunch before embarking National Geographic Resolution in the late afternoon. Settle into life on board as we set sail for Porto.
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Arrive in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Porto in the early morning. The birthplace of port wine, Porto straddles a gorge on the Douro River, linked by numerous bridges and filled with medieval architecture. See the famous azulejo tiles of the region and take in the views from the Dom Luís I Bridge, an iron masterpiece. Learn the secrets of making port wine during a tasting at a riverside port house.
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From Vilagarcía de Arousa, a day trip to the Galician countryside offers the chance to visit a winery, watch fishermen as they collect mussels, and enjoy the verdant Galician landscapes from the river. Alternatively, travel to Santiago de Compostela—a stop on the Camino de Santiago—and visit the cathedral that has welcomed millions of pilgrims over the centuries. Enjoy a typical Galician musical performance and a lunch of pintxos (Basque tapas) at the adjacent Hostal dos Reis Católicos. This evening, embark the ship in A Coruña before sailing to Bilbao.
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This afternoon we arrive in Bilbao, one of the great cities within Basque country. Surrounded by rolling hills, Bilbao excels not only in its architectural masterpieces, but in its superb Basque cuisine. Explore the titanium curves of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum and learn how it has transformed the city. Wander through Bilbao's cobblestoned old quarter or venture into the surrounding Basque hills to visit its hill towns and sample local wines.
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Explore Spain’s Basque capital of San Sebastián today. Discover the connection to the Celts and hear the bouncing rhythms of a trikitixa, a traditional accordion. Explore the Euskal Herria, or Basque country foothills, while learning some of the regional language that pre-dates Romance languages.
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Today we arrive in this picturesque riverside city and have breakfast on board before disembarking and departing for the airport for flights home. Or choose to explore Bordeaux and its surrounding wine country on a post-voyage extension
