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  • THE REAL THING is an agency dedicated to the organization of tailor-made trips and cultural experiencies in Spain, designed to meet the needs of both individuals and corporate clients.
  • Rías Baixas: Shellfishing, vineyards and camellias

    Rías Baixas: Shellfishing, vineyards and camellias

    Combarro19. Juantiagues. BY CC 2.0
    An unforgettable plan to see all of the beauty of the Rías Baixas in the best way possible. A morning journey along the Ría de Arousa, the longest and most stunning Galician estuary given its rich landscape and biological diversity, that time of day when shellfishing is at its peak. Then, following a mid-morning snack of local foods at a restaurant in the port, we’ll visit a unique paso, a true standout not only for its wines, but also for its spectacular gardens filled with camellias. The day draws to a close with a relaxed, private tasting, providing you with an up-close look at the world of Albariño wine.
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  • Santiago Cathedral: Cathedral of Cathedrals

    Santiago Cathedral: Cathedral of Cathedrals

    Pórtico de la Gloria. Contando Estrellas. BY CC 2.0
    There are some places in the world where one is mysteriously magnified on arrival or departure by the emotions of all those who have arrived and departed before, said Cees Nooteboom on the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in his book Roads to Santiago. It is undoubtedly the most outstanding example of Romanesque architecture, marking the end of the journey which, for centuries, has led people on the most famous pilgrimage in all of Christianity.
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  • Captain Nemo’s
    treasure

    Captain Nemo’s
    treasure

    Jules Verne, Algerie
    Well, Professor Aronnax, we’re actually in that Bay of Vigo, and all that’s left is for you to probe the mysteries of the place.
    Jules Verne. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

    Many sea expeditions have tried to find the treasure from the Battle of Rande, but only one was successful: that of Captain Nemo and, just as he showed Arronax, THE REAL THING wants to share with you the secrets that Verne discovered in the Bay of Vigo and nearby areas. A trip filled with science, fiction and amazing nature which culminates in a culinary journey fit for the high-end gastronomic tastes of the French novelist.

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  • Camino de Santiago

    Camino de Santiago

    Turismo de Santiago de Compostela
    As medieval legend has it, the remains of the apostle Santiago El Mayor were discovered in Galicia at the beginning of the 9th century. The city of Santiago de Compostela and one of the most exquisite Romanesque churches in the West were built in his honor. Ever since, pilgrims have come from the world over to travel the routes that lead to St. James’ relics.
    An inner pilgrimage. A unique experience
    The Camino de Santiago is a route for pilgrims. But despite its religious origins, its intrigue goes far beyond the holy experience. Walking for several days on the Camino del Sol (from east to west), mixing with strangers along the same route, spending the night in places where you wouldn’t have stopped under normal circumstances, and following the same path that pilgrims have traveled for centuries, all make St. James Way a spiritual experience.

    The landscape on this “internal journey” also changes along the way: Santiago can only be reached by crossing the forests of Navarra, the rivers of Rioja, the barren plains of Castile-Leon and, finally, the mountains of Leon and Galicia.

    St. James Way is a truly unique experience for everyone who dares to lace up their boots and start walking.

    Burgos

    From East to West
    Many roads lead to Santiago, the most popular of which is the Camino francés, the French Way, which crosses the Pyrenees Mountains at two different places: Roncesvalles (Navarra) and Somport (Huesca).

    These two routes come together in Puente la Reina (Navarra) to become a single “Way” that traverses northern Spain from east to west. Centuries of continuous travel by pilgrims have made this camino one of Western Christianity’s primary economic and cultural routes.

    Over time, cities were built, trade developed and, in particular, an incredibly intense cultural and artistic exchange extended among pilgrims, who brought skills and news from very different places and backgrounds. In view of this, the Route of Santiago de Compostela was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

    Christian Art
    Following identification of the apostle’s relics, Charlemagne and the Christian kingdom of northern Spain supported the development of the Camino. This led to the extraordinarily rapid development of cities and villages along the way. The Camino also offers an overview of medieval Christian art, as some of the most fascinating creations from that period can be found along the routes.

    The Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, in Jaca, is a modest example, but it is the first major construction on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees and foreshadows the magnitude of the buildings that appear later along the route. Churches such as Santo Sepulcro in Torres del Río, San Martín de Tours in Frómista, and the San Nicolás in Portomarin; monasteries including Santa María la Real in Nájera, San Juan de Ortega in Burgos, and San Julián de Samos in Galicia; and cathedrals, like those in Burgos, Leon and Astorga, all reflect the artistic splendor that is a hallmark of the Camino which leads to the Cathedral of Santiago, indubitably one of the most magnificent buildings in the history of European architecture.

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  • Porto, the decadent patina of Portugal

    Porto, the decadent patina of Portugal

    Ribeirinha. José Moutinho. BY CC 2.0
    This city in northern Portugal has plenty to be proud of, with notable history in every tile and a cutting-edge scene along the Douro River. Porto is a city between seasons, to be visited during its colorful spring and to enjoy the contrasts of fall, always with pleasant weather. Porto is essence, it is loyalty to tradition, but with a brave willingness to open up to well-guided purposes, without breaking with its original roots, which are visible everywhere you look. Its historic quarter was named a World Heritage Site in 1996, and it’s definitely deserving of a visit, if only for a day!
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  • The Cíes islands, from the sea

    The Cíes islands, from the sea

    Playa de Rodas. Ignorant Walking. BY CC 2.0
    The Cíes Islands, Spain’s first National Marine Park, were known by the Romans as the islands of the gods.

    Monte Agudo, Faro and San Martiño comprise the archipelago, an unparalleled Eden with idyllic stretches of sand. Rodas beach, which connects the first two islands, was named the best beach in the world by The Guardian, with its crystalline waters and singular flora and fauna observatory.

    Visiting this enclave on our own sailboat allows us not only to go where most boats never go, but also to learn about fishing for spider crabs, collecting mussels, and repairing fishing nets on the high seas.

    A two-hour journey on our sailboat, navigating around the unique, wonderful paradise that is the Cíes Islands.

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  • Galician handiworks: Tradition and renovation

    Galician handiworks: Tradition and renovation

    Ceramica Antigua. @ondasderuido. BY CC 2.0
    The unique features of Galicia’s identity have been maintained over time through its traditions, and one of its highest exponents is its diverse variety of handicrafts. Galicians continue to produce goods as they learned from their ancestors—honey, cheese, wine, liqueur, canned products, clogs, baskets and pottery. But perhaps their best-known creations are the porcelain kaolin and its longstanding pottery tradition, which has skillfully remained current.

    A journey through time with an expert in handicrafts, from the most well-established traditions to a future of modernity, getting a first-hand look at the production of artisan goods sustained over time so as to understand the essence of the most authentic Galicia.

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  • Lighthouses at the end
    of the world

    Lighthouses at the end
    of the world

    Faro de Punta Cabalo. Amaianos. BY CC 2.0
    Galicians are a sailors by nature; theirs is a rough and savage sea but with an exceptional beauty that can be seen by traveling along its coast. The coast, marked by lighthouses, warns sailors of dangers, but also highlights the abrupt and savage beauty of its untamable nature. Its beaches, dunes, rivers, cliffs, forests and estuaries, its seas of granite, forts, dolmens and fishing villages, all of which look towards this sea, which they both fear and love, offer a journey of unique sensations which can only be experienced along the impressive Coast of Death (Costa da Morte).
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  • Private gardens:
    camellia paradise

    Private gardens:
    camellia paradise

    Camelias en Fonseca147a. Juantiagues. BY CC 2.0
    Camellias were first grown in Galicia at the end of the 18TH century, brought over all the way from China and Japan to decorate the pazos and stately homes of Galician nobility, who were very enthusiastic about small botanical gardens.

    A planned route through the most beautiful gardens in traditional pazos in the region of Pontevedra will highlight the natural elements brought from far-away worlds, a testament to Galician people’s emigrant spirit and their comings and goings. The visit combines the delicacy of cultivated nature and the soundness of stone in such noble architecture, and we’ll finish with a private dinner at one of the pazos, served by a Michelin-star restaurant.

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