All language subtitles for The.World.From.Above.S07E10.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AlfaHD_track3_[eng]

(exciting music)

(uplifting music)

- Our journey begins

in the hidden village of Cudillero,

before tracing the coastline
down to the Beach of Cathedrals

where the Cantabrian
Sea has carved the shore

like a mighty sculptor.

From here, we cross the headlands

at the very tip of the Iberian Peninsula

for some sun and surf,

and then make our way to
the Tower of Hercules,

the oldest lighthouse in the world.

Next we move south to Cape Finisterre,

once believed to be the end of the earth.

Turning inland to the east,
we head to the cathedral

of Santiago de Compostela, a holy site

in the Christian faith,
and the final resting place

of one of Jesus Christ's apostles.

We continue east to Lugo
with its ancient city walls,

head south to a number of
spectacular monasteries,

and conclude our journey
at Monterrei Castle

on the Portuguese border.

On the Asturian Coast,
nestled inside a horseshoe

of steep, rocky cliffs
cascading toward the sea

is the small, picturesque
village of Cudillero.

Not only strikingly beautiful, the huge,

natural surrounding amphitheater makes it

virtually invisible from either side.

Powerful camouflage that
helped protect the tiny town

from Norman pirates who once
patrolled the coast of Spain,

pillaging and burning as they went.

(casual festive music)

Here, bright pastoral homes and shops

all twist their way down the mountains,

leading to the village's most
important feature, its marina.

Cudillero was founded by fishermen,

and it remains a seafaring
community to this day.

Watching the ships return
with their catch each evening

and buying fresh seafood
right off the boats

is the town's favorite activity.

Wild, jagged, and marked
by high, plunging cliffs,

the breathtakingly
beautiful Asturian coast

was Celtic territory before the arrival

of the Roman conquest of
the Iberian Peninsula,

then called Hispania, by
Caesar Augustus in 19 B.C.

The sound of Celtic
bagpipes can still be heard

in this region as a reminder
of this area's past heritage.

This is the only stretch
of the country never to be

conquered by the Islamic conquest
in the early 8th century.

The invaders were fought off this land

by a Visigoth chieftain in
the 722 battle of Covadonga,

the victory that founded
the kingdom of Asturias,

and without which there
may never have been

a reconquest of the Peninsula

and the birth of modern Spain.

Concealed inside the rugged
cliffs is the port town

of Luarca, built around an S-shaped cove

and bisected by a small
river, this was once

an important hub for whaling.

Today, it survives as a modest

but attractive seaside resort.

Not only sharp and rocky,
the coastline also features

more than 200 sandy beaches

that offer stunning
views, excellent surfing,

and for the very confident,
some designated naturist areas.

A little further to the
west, overlooking the ocean

is the town of Tapia de Casariego.

Bathed in sun and sea mist
with year-round swells

fed by an underwater
river, it's a perfect place

to catch a wave, a trout,
or an afternoon nap.

One of the most iconic and beautiful sites

along the Spanish coast is
the Beach of Cathedrals.

A national monument only
visible during low tide,

the cove features an array of
natural architectural marvels

including stone arches, grottoes,

and even secret passageways.

Just up the coast, off the sandy beach

and turquoise waters of the Cantabrian Sea

is the town of Foz.

(gentle guitar music)

Built on the mouth of the river Masma

long before Rome came
to the shores of Spain,

this was for centuries
one of the most important

shipyards in the Spanish northwest.

Today, with its untouched
beauty, Foz has developed

into a popular resort.

Moving north and to the west,
we crossed the headlands

of Spain, at the tip of
the Iberian Peninsula

to arrive at Cedeira.

Cut in half by the river Condominas,

a web of bridges connects
the old world to the new.

Peaceful and serene, both halves are swept

by an expansive beach, and
many of the locals here

still make their living from the sea,

landing striped trout from small ships

or carving the sought-after
delicacy of goose barnacles

from the rocky shores of
the nearby Ortegal Cape.

Moving south along the coast,
we arrive at Valdovino Beach.

In all, the Galicia region of Spain

offers 1200 kilometers of coastline

with some of the best surfing in Europe.

The trick here, it is said, is not finding

a swell large enough to ride,

it's finding one small enough to handle.

But for those looking for
a little less adventure,

there are always shallow,
still lagoons nearby.

Even in summer, sun bathers
and surfers who brave

the rocky terrain to get to these pristine

and golden beaches may
well find they have them

all to themselves.

A little further to the south,

we find the ship building city of Ferrol,

where twin castles guard
the harbor entrance

to the birthplace of the
dictator, Francisco Franco

as well as the socialist
leader, Pablo Iglesias.

Just off the Ferrol coast, we
catch up with an ocean yacht

cruising through the clear blue Atlantic.

With fully 17 estuaries,
known here as rias,

Galicia provides the
second-largest sailing area

in all of Spain.

On a rocky peninsula at the
entrance of La Coruna harbor

stands the mighty Tower of Hercules.

Legend says that after slaying
Medusa's grandson, Geyron,

the mythical Greek hero buried
the giant's severed head

where he stood, and then
built the lighthouse

to remember his victory.

In reality, this incredible
beacon was erected

by the Romans in the first century A.D.

At 59 meters tall, it is the
second-highest lighthouse

in Spain, and it is the
oldest Roman lighthouse

still in use anywhere in the world today.

Though the outer walls were
added much later, in 1788,

most of the interior is
the original craftsmanship

of Roman masons.

This site was chosen
because it was, at the time,

the very edge of the civilized world.

Nearly 2000 years later,
visitors can still climb

the 234 steps to the top,
and gaze down at the stunning

Spanish coast and the
surrounding city of A Coruna.

This busy port, oddly
contorted along the peninsula,

has been occupied since
prehistory, and only started

to boom after being visited
by Julius Caesar in 62 B.C.

A Coruna is perhaps most famous, though,

for a battle in 1589, when
a woman named Maria Pita

repelled the English armada.

She took up her dead husband's spear,

killed the British flag-bearer,

and then, shouting from
atop the city wall,

rallied her people to
defeat the English forces

led by the privateer, Sir Francis Drake.

Seven kilometers away, servicing
the historic metropolis

as it has done for
decades, is Coruna Airport.

(dreamy atmospheric music)

More than 800,000 passengers

pass through these gates each year.

A sharp turn to the west finds us again

tracing the coastline as we make our way

towards Cape Finisterre.

(gentle guitar music)

Jutting 600 meters into the sea

and rising 241 meters above the water

is Monte Facho.

And standing on top is
Cape Finisterre Lighthouse,

known to many as the lighthouse
at the end of the world.

Built in 1853, its beacon can be seen

for up to 65 kilometers at sea,

warning ships of the jagged
shore that has claimed

enough vessels, and enough
lives, to earn the macabre

nickname, Costa da Morte,
or the Coast of Death.

The town that stands in the
shadow of the lighthouse

is Cape Finisterre, which
translates to Land's End.

Once believed to be the
westernmost point in Spain,

this was thought to be the
very edge of the earth.

It's also the final stop
for a great many pilgrims

traveling the way of St. James.

After visiting the shrine of the apostle

in Santiago de Compostela,
they continue here

where, as a matter of tradition,
they burn their clothes

at the lighthouse as part of a ritual,

signifying the end of one life,

and the beginning of another.

Turning back east, we discover
sitting on a serene inlet,

the charming fishing village of Cee.

Only about an hour's
drive from Coruna Airport,

its ancient harbor is protected
by a pair of fortresses,

once used to defend the bay

against marauding pirates and privateers.

Today, though, the only
invaders are the tourists

who come to visit this
beautiful part of Spain.

Providing much of the power to the region

is the Santa Ucier Dam.

Spanning the River Celias,
it was built in 1988

under the direction of Juan Benet Goitia

who was not only a civil engineer,

but one of the great
writers of the 20th century.

From water power to wind power,
Spain is one of the largest

producers in the world, and Galicia alone

features more than 100 wind
farms, which are currently

powering 1.5 million homes.

This is the Cathedral of
Santiago de Compostela,

one of the most holy places
in the Christian faith,

and believed to be the final resting place

of St. James the Great,
one of the 12 apostles

of Jesus Christ.

(holy choral music)

Since the Middle Ages,
pilgrims have walked the way

of St. James from across Western Europe

to end here, beneath
the spires and statues

of this great cathedral.

This is the fourth church to stand here,

and was built gradually, piece by piece,

beginning in 1075.

It was finally consecrated in 1211,

more than 130 years later.

Construction would continue for centuries.

The result is a soaring
mix of its original

Romanesque architecture,

with Gothic and Baroque
embellishments added,

as the earlier parts of the structure

were damaged and repaired.

The Cathedral is the heart
of Santiago de Compostela,

the capital city of Galicia

Legend says the hermit
Pelagius was led to the tomb

of St. James by a star in the sky,

thus Compostela was given its name

which means Field of the Star.

The oval-shaped section of the city,

bounded by the high Medieval wall,

is known as Old Town.

It was largely destroyed by Muslim forces

in 997 A.D., but completely rebuilt

and further fortified over
the century that followed.

Santiago de Compostela
has been a pilgrimage site

for over 1000 years without interruption,

and today it is a more
popular destination than ever.

Nearly a quarter of a
million people each year

still spend several grueling
weeks walking hundreds

of kilometers to find the city,

and perhaps, in turn,
meaning to their faith.

Just south of the city, we find cyclists

powering towards glory in the annual race

known as Vuelta a Espana,

or the Tour of Spain.

It was first held in 1935,
and was only interrupted

a few times by the likes
of the Spanish Civil War

and World War II.

Since then, it has been run each year

since 1955 without interruption.

It is one of cycling's
most prestigious events,

and one of only three grand tours,

along with Giro d'Italia
and the Tour de France.

(crowds cheering)

The first Vuelta a Espana
was contested by 50 riders,

crossing a 14 stage journey
spanning 3411 kilometers

of mountains and valleys.

Modern tours see more than 200 men

peddling their way
across a slightly shorter

but still brutal 3181.5
kilometers over Spanish roads.

(upbeat guitar music)

Though riders come from
all across the globe

to battle the punishing landscape

as a matter of national
pride, Spaniards have

historically, dominated the Vuelta,

winning 30 of the 69 tours to date.

Continuing east, we arrive at Lugo,

the only city in the world
still completely encircled

by Roman walls.

They were built in the third century,

rise as high as 15 meters,
and are studied with 71 towers

and 10 gates.

The walls are constructed of stone shells

on the internal and external facings,

and the core is filled
with earth and rock.

They are protected as
a World Heritage Site

and listed as being the
finest surviving example

of later Roman military
fortifications on Earth.

Despite the size and strength
of the massive city walls,

Lugo has been sacked a number of times.

The Suevi, the Visigoths, the Moors,

and the Normans have all, at one point,

destroyed and occupied the town.

Inside the walls of Lugo
is St. Mary's Cathedral.

Just like Santiago de Compostela,

it was built, bit by bit,
over several centuries

beginning in 1129.

The result is a beautiful
and unique potpourri

of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque,
and Neoclassical elements.

(dreamy choral music)

Moving south through green fields

in the Adontero valley of Galicia,

we find the isolated and majestic

Trappist Monastery of Santa
Maria La Real of Oseira.

Considered by many to be a high watermark

of Romanesque architecture
on the Iberian Peninsula,

it was originally founded
by French monks in 1137,

though added to over the centuries.

The monastery was destroyed
in 1552 by a terrible fire,

but the restoration got quickly underway

the following year.

Much later, in 1835, the
monks were all expelled

from the land as a result of a law

which privatized monastic
properties in Spain.

This place remained abandoned
for nearly 100 years

until French and Spanish Cistercian monks

returned in 1929 and rebuilt
the badly dilapidated church.

The 14 monks who currently
inhabit the monastery

walk in the footsteps of their forebearers

and continue the tradition
of distilling a fine liqueur

made from three distinct
varieties of eucalyptus leaves

grown right here on these lands.

Not far away is the River Minho

bending its way through
the Spanish countryside.

The longest in Galicia, the Minho

runs for 340 kilometers,
watering vineyards and farmlands,

and providing hydroelectric energy

at its three reservoirs.

Only a few kilometers away, though,

is a much greater source of power.

Only completed in 2013, Santo Estavo Dam

is Galicia's largest hydroelectric plant,

generating energy for some 285,000 homes.

Following the river Sil west from the dam,

and deeper into the Ribeira Sacra region,

we find, hidden behind
a curtain of forest,

the very remote Santo Estevo Monastery.

(holy choral music)

Believed to have been
founded between the sixth

and seventh centuries,
the monastery features

three distinct cloisters
in three diverse styles,

one Romanesque, one Gothic,
and one Renaissance.

Declared a monument of
historical and artistic

significance in 1923, the
monastery has now been converted

into what's called a parador,
a type of luxury hotel

located in grand historic buildings.

Today, travelers can live a
decidedly more lavish lifestyle

here than those the monks once knew.

One can lounge in one
of the 77 guest rooms,

take a spa day, or dine
on fish freshly caught

from the river at the terrace restaurant

overlooking the chestnut forest.

For a truly ancient and
opulent religious experience,

though, we head towards
the border with Portugal

to find the Benedictine monastery

of San Salvador de Celanova.

Founded by St. Rudesind in 936 A.D.,

the abbey features as
its most prized treasure,

the chapel of San Miguel,

which dates back to
942, making it not only

one of the oldest in the country,

but the only Medieval Spanish monument

to remain intact and without restoration

since the 10th century.

Much of the monastery was rebuilt

in the 16th and 17th centuries,
including the abbot's facade

which makes up one entire side
of Celanova's town square.

(inspiring choral music)

Taken as a whole, the
monastery complex is, for many,

the single best example
of baroque architecture

in this part of northern Spain.

(rousing music)

Our final stop on this journey

brings us to the gates
of Monterrei Castle,

only 10 minutes from the
border with Portugal.

Built in the 12th century,
and completely surrounded

by not one, but three castle walls,

this fortress was specifically built

for its strategic location

during the Portuguese Spanish wars.

More than just a military fortification,

the castle also contained a monastery

as well as a hospital.

Declared a national monument in 931,

Monterrei also holds a place
of great literary significance

as the home of the first
printing press in Galicia.

For its ancient stone beauty,
its cultural heritage,

and its brute strength, Monterrei Castle

is a magnificent site,

and it's a perfect place
to end this journey.

(exciting music)