The December bridge It is a very favorable date to carry out a last getaway before Christmas arrives, either to one of the big european cities like Paris or London or some other part of Spain. In fact, many take advantage of December 6 and 8 to seek some peace before celebrating Christmas Eve, and there are few places more suitable for that than the heart of the Basque Country.
In the autonomous community Not only are there beautiful cities like Bilbao or San Sebastián, but you can also visit incredible towns like Aramaio, a municipality located in the center of the Basque Country and which belongs to the province of Álava, although it is adjacent to both Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya. In addition, it is made up of several population centers, making it perfect for a getaway that combines rural tourism and nature.
Aramaio, a hidden gem in the north of Álava
Located in full Sierra de Arangio, in the Aramaio valley, this municipality is surrounded by a spectacular natural setting how is he Urkiola Natural Park. High mountains full of vegetation surround this town divided into nine churches or villages, being the most notable is that of Ibarra. Together, the municipality has a population of approximately 1,400 inhabitants.
All these churches, such as Ibarra, Arexola-Uribarri or Barajuen-Azkoaga, are characterized by the “Basque-Atlantic domestic rural architecture”, As stated on the tourism portal of the Gorbeialdea gang, region in which Aramaio is located. In every village you will come across hamlets, the great protagonists of the heritage of the environment, and its traditional appearance, combined with the forests that cover the entire environment, create a bucolic image in which it seems that the hustle and bustle of big cities is something from another planet.
Furthermore, spread throughout the valley There are more than 25 hermitages, of which half are still standing. make a route visiting all of them It is one of the best activities you can do in Aramaio, although if you had to highlight any of the sanctuaries, you cannot miss the one of Andra Mari from Ibabe in Ibarra nor that of Marixeka, located just before reaching Alto de Krutzeta.
The impressive nature of Aramaio
On the region’s tourism website it is also stated that the King Alfonso XIII, On a trip he made to the valley to visit a professor, he was so enthralled with the splendor of the surroundings that he compared it with the Alps and defined it as “a little Switzerland.” And this spectacular place stands out for the high mountains that make it up, as well as the rivers that cross the extensive meadows and leafy oak and beech forests.
All this makes the municipality of Aramaio one of the perfect destinations for those who want to spend the December long weekend away from urban crowds. A haven of peace awaits you in the heart of the Basque Country, and therefore, if you are a lover of rural tourism, you cannot miss it.