Field Trips for San Sebastián, Spain
We highly recommend students participate in the following organized field trips, which are included in your program fees. Some trips may be mandatory for specific classes and will be led by the Resident Director, instructors, or International Office staff.
Please note that destinations may only be available during certain terms and are subject to change at the discretion of the Resident Director or on-site staff.
The following are possible field trip destinations, with further details provided upon arrival.
Burgos
We will visit the historic city of Burgos and its magnificent cathedral. We'll explore Atapuerca, one of the most important anthropological sites in Europe. We will learn about and hike part of the Camino de Santiago and have the chance to see a Dolmen of Aitzkomendi, a burial site from the Neolithic period.
French Basque Country
A local guide will show us around Bayonne and tell us about the most interesting years of its history, including the era when the city was one of the most important chocolate producers of Europe. We will go from there to Biarritz, another intriguing French Basque city and an exquisite summer resort.
Province of Biscay
We begin our excursion visiting Guernica, a town made famous by the Spanish Civil War and by the artistic masterpiece of Picasso. We continue to Bilbao and visit the stunning capital city of Bizkaia, home of the world famous Guggenheim museum—an amazing structure representing the architecture of the millennium.
Province of Guipuzcoa
On this excursion we will visit a 16th century Basque farmhouse built around a cider press and learn what life was like for the Basques hundreds of years ago. We continue to a sanctuary high in the local peaks and enjoy some magnificent views. We end the day back at sea-level hiking with a geologist who will describe the spectacular rock formations along the coastline.
The Pyrenees Mountains
Learn about the Spanish Inquisition, ancient Basque beliefs, and the 17th century European witch-hunt that made its mark on the tiny mountain village of Zugarramurdi. We will spend time hiking in the Pyrenees, exploring the "witch" caves, and visiting the local museum.
Santander and Santillana del Mar
Feel as if you went back to the Middle Ages exploring "the most beautiful town in Spain", Santillana del Mar. On this overnight field trip, we will visit an exact replica of Paleolithic cave paintings in Altamira (called the Sistine Chapel of the stone age) and tour the delightful northern coastal city of Santander.