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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.