A One-Week Spanish Rail Pass

In June 2017, my husband Jon and I purchased a one-week Spanish Rail Pass and traveled around the country to visit places we had not been to on prior vacations. One of the highlights of this trip was the city of Santiago de Compostela, the Capital of Galicia, and located in the province of A Coruña.  

We have an old friend from the United States who now lives in this region. He was there when we arrived, and we had the opportunity to experience the city through a local. He drove us all over the area and showed us the many sites of interest. There is a lot of history in this city, and it is one of Spain’s top cultural destinations. It is famous for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, which ends here. The pilgrimage has routes from all over Europe and the British Isles. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the city’s most famous building and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the burial place of St. James the Apostle, and pilgrims who have completed the pilgrimage typically end their journey at the Cathedral.

The city is wonderful for walking, and the streets are very narrow. The Old Town is a maze of streets and historic landmarks. There are many cafes, restaurants, unique shops, and a lively nightlife.

On our second day, our friend drove us to the coast of Galicia, in Northwestern Spain, where we visited a beach named Porto del Son. The weather that day was not beach weather, but the scenery was spectacular. Afterwards, he took us to a restaurant in a small fishing village for lunch, where we experienced the native Galician-style octopus. Santiago de Compostela is famous for its seafood.

Jon and I stayed at the Hotel Palacio Del Carmen, a five-star Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriott Bonvoy. We paid 118 euros per night, a bargain at the time.

Another wonderful city that we visited was Seville. We stayed at the famous Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel by Marriott Bonvoy. It is located in the city center and remains a cultural landmark. Its central location is perfect for exploring the city’s main attractions.

Seville is the Capital and largest city of the community of Andalusia. It is situated on the lower part of the River Guadalquivir in southwestern Spain.

Since we had only two days in this city, we focused on the major attractions. We went to the Alcázar Real de Sevilla, the Royal Palace of the city. The palace is still in use today by the Spanish king. We saw the palace from the outside, because it is necessary to make prior reservations for a tour of the inside. 

Another key site is the Cathedral of Seville, which features the famous Giralda bell tower. From the top, it offers an excellent view of the city center; both of these attractions are located in the Barrio Santa Cruz, the former Jewish quarter of Seville.

Historically, Seville had the largest Jewish community in Spain. In this district, they could live with relative freedom. During the 14th century, the Jewish people were driven out or even killed if they did not convert to Christianity. Santa Cruz has many narrow streets, historic squares, and quaint restaurants.

Taking a one-hour river cruise on the Guadalquivir River was special. We passed under beautiful bridges, one of which, Puente de Tirana, was built in 1852. There are several historic buildings to see, including the Torre del Oro. Also, we passed the Seville Expo ‘92, which has unique architecture.

There is so much to see in Seville, and walking is a great way to take it all in. Calle Siepes is the most popular pedestrian shopping street. It consists of fashion boutiques, local stores, and Spanish and International brands.

Spain has many wonderful cities we have still not visited, but on this vacation, we picked Granada for one day. Granada is in southern Spain in Andalusia and is on the outskirts of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Granada was considered the first city to be called a “melting pot” of different cultural heritages; in this case, Jewish, Muslims (Moors), and Christians lived side by side peacefully.

Granada is famous for its Grand Mosque, named Alhambra, and the city is centered around this fortress. Albaicín is a very worthwhile, very walkable city. It is known as the Jewish quarter and is one of the most beautiful places in Granada to lose yourself in. There are many steps, but as you walk up and down, you enjoy great views of the Alhambra. We stayed at the Hotel Palacio De Santa Paula, an Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriott Bonvoy.