Basque Country: Northern Spain’s Art, Culture & Landscapes from Bilbao to La Rioja

April 10 – 19, 2026

Starting from

Savor the charm of Basque Country with an art-filled journey through Cantabria and La Rioja.

Take a journey into the history, art, and gastronomy of the Basque Country through Cantabria and La Rioja. Explore Bilbao’s vibrant spirit, Gaudí’s whimsical El Capricho, and the medieval beauty of Santillana del Mar. Enjoy a special visit to Chillida Leku, an open-air museum with a vast collection of sculptures. Learn about fashion heritage with a curator-led experience at the Balenciaga Museum, and gain special access to the Peace Museum in Gernika and the Museum of Fine Arts in Vitoria. Savor the charm of the French Basque coast in Biarritz and the charming fishing village of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and stroll the storied streets of Hondarribia.

Highlights

Lecturer

Madeline Diaz

Lecturer

Madeline Diaz is an artist, art historian, and educator working across France, Spain, and the United States. With more than two decades of experience, she has designed innovative educational programs for major museums and cultural institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters, The Frick Collection, the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. In France, she has developed signature educational programs for renowned institutions such as the Grand Palais, Musée d’Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. As a practicing artist, her work has recently been exhibited in galleries and public spaces in Spain and Oman, including at the National Museum of Oman. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MA from Columbia University.

Favorite Destinations: Mexico, Italy, Spain, Greece

Accommodations

Hotel The Artist Bilbao

Hotel Maria Cristina

Áurea Palacio de Correos

Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid

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