Basque Country Ancestral Travel Itinerary

Jul 30, 2025By Maritza Arroyo

MA

Basque Country Travel Itinerary: Holy Week 2022

Genealogy Towns/Cities

Part 1: Provincia Vizcaya: municipalities Artzentales, Sopuerta, and Galdames and Provincia Cantabria: Laiseca and Valle de Villlaverde

Churches

Traslaviña: Parroquia Nuestra Señora

San Miguel Linares: Parroquia San Miguel Arcangel

Sopuerta:   Parroquia Santa Cruz – Barrio Las Barrietas Baja

                   Parroquia San Pedro Apóstol – Barrio La Baluga

                   Parroquia Santa Maria – Barrio Mercadillo (Sokortua)

Galdames: Parroquia San Pedro Apóstol

Part 2: Provincia Vizcaya:munipalities Otxandio, Ubidea, Zeanuri

Churches

Ubidea (Ubide): Parroquia San Juan Bautista

Ochandiano (Otxandio): Parroquia Santa Marina

Ceanuri (Zeanuri): Parroquia Santa Maria or Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion

Holy Week celebrations have taken place in Bilbao since 1554, when it is said that a splinter from Jesus’ cross arrived in the city and the Santa Cruz brotherhood was formed. Innovation and excellence also apply to haute cuisine in the Basque Country, which has the highest per capita concentration of Michelin star restaurants in the world. To be specific, the Basque Country boasts a total of 32 stars from 23 restaurants spread across the territory of Euskadi. Seven of Top 100 Restaurants in the World are Basque (2021)

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FLIGHTS

Thu April 7th                JFK-Madrid-Bilbao

Fri April 8th                  Bus/Train to San Sebastian 1.5 hours

                                      San Sebastian – 3 days

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Day 1: Fri April 8th - San Sebastian

3pm: Check in Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra                     

4:30pm: walk around

·      Paseo de la Concha

·      Monte Urgull, Monte Igueldo

8:00pm: pinxto crawl and jazz

Day 2: Sat April 9th  - San Sebastian   

10am: Mercado Brexta

11am – 3pm: Aquarium, shops, churches, Cider 

4pm: chill in room

6pm: get ready 

8pm: Dinner: Mugaritz #7 Michelin

Mugaritz offers a unique menu which represents the essence of its cuisine and philosophy. Our menu which includes more than 20 proposals, often changes in order to mimic the change of stations and a glimpse of our surroundings. The construction of a menu like ours, requires enormous efforts in the pursue of perfection and singularity, however, the result is a personalized experience which we know, will be unique. In order to design your menu, we will consider all the information you give us (prior to your visit) regarding allergies, dislikes or any food related restriction. Even those ingredients you simply would rather avoid. 

Day 3: Sun April 10th - Getaria              

https://www.euskoguide.com/places-basque-country/spain/getaria-tourism/

10am: Walk through town  (Gothic Church with Black Nazarene)

11am: Balenciaga museum 

1pm Lunch:  Elkano  #30 Michelin

The experience: Let Aitor Arregui take you to the top of the neighbouring mountain, from where you can see the entire landscape surrounding Getaria, to discover the secrets of the Cantabrian fishermen and the culture that give meaning to Elkano. Then, enter the house and enjoy the kokotxas (cod throats) in three textures, red mullet and the best turbot you will ever taste, served with a simple dressing at the table, while Arregui explains to you how to savour each part to obtain the best flavours. 

3pm – 6pm: Vineyards

7pm: chill

8:30pm: get ready

9:30pm: Dinner – local, San Sebastian

Day 4: Mon April 11th  - Bilbao        

12pm: check out

1pm: to Bilbao – bus or train

2:30pm: Check in Basque Boutique Guesthouse  

               http://www.basqueboutique.es/en/home/

6:00pm: Casco Viejo (Old Town)

6:00pm Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

8pm: Indautxu district

9pm Cocktails and Pinxtos

Day 5: Tue April 12th  - Bilbao       

9am: Mercado de la Ribera

10am: Seven Streets

1:30pm Lunch: Guggenheim Nerua #32 Michelin

3pm – 7pm: Guggenheim Museum

8:30pm: Holy Tuesday procession: de la Piedad

9pm: Jardines de Albia, tapas

Day 6: Wed Apr 13th - Day trip to Rioja 

 https://fascinatingspain.com/gastronomy/gastronomic-routes/wine-route-through-rioja-alavesa/

9am: depart

o   Elciego: Bodega Marques de Riscal

o   LaGuardia: Bodega Ysios: https://www.bodegasysios.com/en

o   LaGuardia: Bodega La Fabulista

Day 7: Thu April 14th - Day trip rural country - genealogy  pt 1

Este tramo de 7 kilómetros, entre Traslaviña (Artzentales) y Sopuerta, forma parte de la que constituirá la gran ruta verde de las Encartaciones o Vía Verde Burdinmendi
10am: rent car to Mimetiz, 16 min.

10:30am: Zalla, 5 min. 

o   Bodegas Virgen De Lorea

https://www.bodegasvirgendelorea.com/historia

11:30am: Traslaviña, 10 min.

o   Iglesia Nuestra Señora (genealogy)

12:30pm: Valle de Villaverde, Cantabria (genealogy), 10 min.

o   Iglesia Santa Maria

o   Casona Micaela winery  

http://www.casonamicaela.com/

1:30pm: Laiseca, Cantabria (genealogy), 1 min

o   Lunch: Restaurante Calera

      http://www.posadacalera.es/el_restaurante.html

2:45pm: San Miguel Linares 

o   San Miguel Square

o   San Miguel Arcangel church (genealogy)

o   Conjunto de san Antolín

o   Casa de Cultura de San Miguel de Artzentales     

3:30pm: Mercadillo

o   Parroquia Santa Maria (genealogy)

5:00pm: Sopuerta 

o   Parroquia Santa Cruz – Barrio Las Barrietas Baja (genealogy)

o   Parroquia San Pedro Apóstol – Barrio La Baluga (genealogy)

6:00pm: Galdames

o   Bodegas de Galdames

https://bizkaikotxakolina.eus/en/wineries/galdames-winery/

7:30pm Portulagete

 9:00pm: Getxo - Dinner

11pm: Bilbao (12 midnight: The Procession of Health)

Day 8: Fri Apr 15th - Good Friday - Bilbao

daytime: Catedral de Santiago (gateway of the Angel), Museum of Passages for Holy Week, Basilica Begoña

8:30pm: The Procession of the Virgin of Sorrows – Bilbao center

Day 9: Sat Apr 16th   - Day trip - genealogy part 2   (Larrabetzu, Olaeta, Otxandio, Álava)    12pm: Check out

1pm lunch: Azurmendi, Larrabetzu #14  

3:00pm: Olaeta, 45 min drive

o   Queseria Atxeta Gazta (Famous Cheese: Denominación de Origen Idiazabal) https://www.atxetagazta.com/

4:00 pm: to Otxandio, 5 min drive

(genealogy – 1200 population founded 13th century – Medieval town) 

o   Plaza Nagusia 

o   Iglesia de Santa Marina

o   Fuente de Vulcano

5pm: Provincia Álava, Municipio Arrazua-Ubarrundia

to Luco, 24 min drive (64 population)

Check-in Palacio de Luko   

https://www.palaciodeluko.com/

o   Puente Romano de cinco arcos (1514)

o   Iglesia San Martin de Tours

Day 10: Sun Apr 17th:   Easter - day trip Vitoria-Gasteiz, Ubide, Otzarreta Forest, Zeanuri

8am: Easter Mass Vitoria-Gasteiz

o   Catedral Santa María (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

o   Catedral María Sagrada

o   Old Town/Plaza de la Virgen Blanca

1pm: Ubide (genealogy – population 167)

o   Chalet Arechaga

o   Queseria Pagobieta

o   Cazalda Real

2pm: Otzarreta Forest

4pm: Zeanuri (genealogy-1300 population)

o   Iglesia Santiago Apostol 

o   Torre Akauri

o   Palacio Axpe

Day 11: Mon Apr 18th: Flight back

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Genealogy Tracker

1. Great Grandparents

1.     Great Grandparent: Renovales y Llaguno (Traslaviña)

2.     2nd Great Grandparents: Renovales y Via (Sopuerta) Llaguno y Renovales (San Miguel Linares)

3.     3rd GG: Renobales y del Cerro, Via y Martin de la Yseca (Traslaviña)

             Llaguno y Llano (San Miguel Linares) Renobales y Goicolea (Traslaviña)

4.     4th GG: Renobales y Goicolea (Traslaviña), Del Cerro Castaños (Mercadillo)

             Via y Ynigo de Santivanes, Martin de la Yseca y Cubillo (Traslaviña)

             Llaguno y Castillo (San Miguel Linares), Llano y Umáran (Sopuerta)

             Renobales y Rebollar (San Miguel Linares), Goicolea y Ayuso (Ubide)

5.     5th GG: Renobales y Rebollar (Traslaviña), Goicolea y Ajuria (Ubide)

             Del Cerro y Palacio (Mercadillo), Castaños y Urrutia (Galdames)

             Viya y Viya, Ynigo de Santivanes y Cubillo (Traslaviña)

             Martin de la Yseca, Cubillo (Traslaviña)

             Llaguno y Lopez, Castillo y Canilla

             Llano y Castaño, Umáran Bueno de las Herrarias (Sopuerta)

             Renovales y Santelice, Rebollar y Mollinedo (Traslaviña)

             Goicolea y Elguea, Ajuria y Langara (Ubide)

6.     6th GG: Cantabria – Yñigo de Santibanez y Arco, Cuvillo y Zornosa

7.     7th GG: Basque. Otxandio: Goicolea y Urrexola

              Basque: Zeanuri: Elguea y Barguchia

Towns/Cities and Surnames          

Traslaviña, San Miguel Linares, Sopuerta, Mercadillo, Galdames, Ubide

Traslaviña: Renovales, Llaguno, Goicolea, Rebollar, Santelices, Viya, Mollinedo, Gomez, Martin de la Yseca, Ynigo de Santivanes, Villanueba, Alisedo

San Miguel Linares: Renobales, de la Garma, Santa Cruz y Toba, Santelices, Ruiz del Arco, Viya,  Sel, Quintana, San Juan, Calera, Rebollar, Horcasitas, Mollinedo, LaRauri, Allende, Castillo, Collado, Sota, Quintana, Sanz, Gordon, Talledo, Maruri, Garay, Sobrado

Santelices: Renobales, Arco

Sopuerta: Renovales, Via, Llano, Umáran, Zerro, Palazio, Toba, Ochoa, Viya, 

Mercadillo: Del Cerro, Castaños, Palazio

Galdames: Castaños, Urrutia, Torre, Campo, Soverron, Santibanes, Villa, Cortes, San Gines, Llano, Ugalde, Montellano, Cassas, Llave, San Juan de Santa Cruz, Capetillo, Loizaga, 

Ubidea: Goicolea, Ajuria, Ayuso, Elguea, Langara, Barguchia, Gordobil, Aguirre, Zubiaur, Ytorrondo, Yurrebasso, Vengourria, Barrenchea, Mendivil, Bengoria, Ellauri, Ruiz de Astobieta, Zubiaury, Aldayeran, Elorragia

Ochandiano (Otxandio) 7thGG+: Goicolea, Urrexola, Cortadar, Gordobil, Yndusi, Apoyta, Lacha, Bengoa, Arraga, Zumarraga, Ozerin, Betolaza, Gastelu, Antepara, Gorostiza, 

Ceanuri (Zeanuri) 7thGG+: Elguea, Barguchia, Martinez de Zarra, Gordobil

LINKS

https://euskalkazeta.com/seven-of-2018-top-100-restaurants-in-the-world-are-basque/

https://inbetweenpictures.com/blog/2-day-itinerary-in-san-sebastian-foodies-guide-included

https://wearetravelgirls.com/san-sebastian/

https://the-luxury-collection.marriott.com/stories/articles/1-city-3-ways-san-sebastian-spain/

https://www.savoredjourneys.com/best-pintxos-in-san-sebastian/

https://kitchen-at-camont.com/basquelandia

https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/spending-two-perfect-days-in-san-sebastian

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/travel/things-to-do-in-36-hours-in-bilbao-spain.html?.?mc=aud_dev&ad-keywords=auddevgate&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2ITa2bTr8gIVmrjICh2OHQ3pEAAYASAAEgL0CfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Bilbao Processions: https://issuu.com/turismobilbao/docs/bilbao_pocket_n17_mar-abr_2019_es-e/40

Artzentales: https://www.visitenkarterri.com/en/enkarterri/our-villages/artzentales.html

Oxtandio: https://sitioshistoricos.com/que-ver-en-otxandio-territorio-del-dios-vulcano/

Zeanuri: https://www.clubrural.com/que-ver/vizcaya/zeanuri

Ubide: https://www.minube.com/que_ver/espana/vizcaya/ubide

Luko: http://arabakoerromanikoa.blogspot.com/2018/11/luko-restaurando-llegamos-al.html

           https://www.eitb.tv/es/video/historias-a-bocados-4-temporada/7172/183620/luko-arrazua-ubarrundia/