Grupo Viajabien, La Vuelta’s official travel agency, promotes a series of videos revolving around the Spanish Grand Tour’s 2021 edition, which tell the story and show the main tourist attractions of some of the territories visited by “La Vuelta of the Cathedrals”. These videos published every week show the public some of the main curiosities and main cultural assets of five areas included in the La Vuelta 21 route: Burgos, The Ways of El Cid (Soria and Guadalajara), Andalusia (Jaén and Córdoba), Extremadura and Galicia. This journey through Spain, also featuring the collaboration of Škoda, a main sponsor of La Vuelta, allows us to explore these territories with all our senses, including landscapes, traditions and gastronomy.
BURGOS
Burgos is the official start and the nerve centre of La Vuelta 21. Alberto Matabuena, a reporter who also acts as a tour guide, begins his journey in Las Merindades, North of the province, then heads to the capital in a hot-air balloon. In the city of Burgos, the video allows us to enter the cathedral, celebrating its 800thanniversary this year, as well as the Human Evolution Museum, that has close links to the ancient Archaeological Sites of Atapuerca. The journey continues, passing through Sad Hill, cinematographic cemetery of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, before concluding in the province’s South, in Caleruega and Santo Domingo de Silos, departure points for the second and third stages of La Vuelta 21, respectively
THE WAYS OF EL CID: SORIA AND GUADALAJARA
The second journey recommended by the Grupo Viajabien coincides with the 4th stage of La Vuelta 21 that will take place between the provinces of Soria and Guadalajara. This tour also follows a cinematographic theme. The Berlanga de Duero Castleappeared in such famous movies as The Three Musketeers. From there, we head to Ocenilla, where the gastronomy and delicious black truffles are the stars. El Burgo de Osma and its cathedral take the relay, before heading to Medinaceli, on the border with Guadalajara. The Way of El Cid also passes through stunningSigüenza, before heading to the iconic Casa de Piedra in Alcoleadel Pinar. Just like the stage of La Vuelta, the video ends at the finish-line in Molina de Aragón, with one of the iberian peninsula’s best-preserved castles.
JAÉN AND CÓRDOBA, THE ANDALUSIAN CATHEDRALS
Andalusia is also present in these videos, more specifically Jaén and Cordoba, the stars of the 12th stage of La Vuelta. The tour begins among the white houses of Priego de Córdoba, before entering the olive groves of Arjona, in Jaén. In accordance with the tour of the cathedrals, the capital of Jaén showcases its impressive 13th century temple. The journey ends with two World Heritage Sites, that of Medina Azahara and Cordoba, as well as its most renowned monument, the unmistakable Mosque-Cathedral.
EXTREMADURA
The Extremadura Meadow is the protagonist of the fourth video by Grupo Viajabien. First, we discover Mérida’s livestock and bullfighting tradition, then follow the course of the Guadiana River and the route of La Vuelta 21, eventually ending up at Don Benito and Villanueva de la Serena. The Villuercas Geopark, with its incredible geology, gives way to one of Extremadura’s best-kept secrets: the Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe. This beautiful landscape is located next to the Villuercas Peak, a finish-line of La Vuelta and one of the autonomous community’s best viewpoints.
GALICIA
Grupo Viajabien and La Vuelta 21 share the route finale: Galicia. La Vuelta of the Cathedrals features some very special ones, naturally carved, on the famous Playa de las Catedrales (Beach of the Cathedrals). Well-known to the Spanish Tour, the Ribeira Sacra takes the video relay, showcasing its incredible treasures. The Rías Baixas are truly representative of Galician tradition, from their almost wild landscape to their delicious seafood. The shells accompany the pilgrims, like symbols of The Way of St. James - the backbone of Galicia’s history. These videos, just like La Vuelta and The Way of St. James, as well as many other journeys throughout history, come to an end at the Plaza del Obradoiro, in Santiago de Compostela, at the foot of its impressive cathedral.
