A Stunning Sanctuary with Fran
The sanctuary of Saint Michael of Aralar is one of the most important places for Catholic veneration in the Basque Country. The legend says that it was here where Saint Michael defeated the devil who had transformed himself into a dragon. This sanctuary hosts one of the most impressive Romanesque altarpieces dating back to the 12th century. It represents the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus, protected by the twelve Apostles. The altarpiece also shows the Archangel Gabriel’s Annunciation to the holy couple and the Epiphany, or the visit of the three Wise Men to the newborn. It is an incredible representation of the Nativity.
Fran Glaria was born and raised in Pamplona, part of the Basque country in northern Spain. His passions for history, art and food, led him to tour guiding. Over 20 years ago, he started a small local guiding company in his hometown. This company evolved into designing tours in the Basque region, and also into organizing tours for the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona. In 2012 Fran joined the Rick Steves’ Europe team and discovered a great way of teaching about his culture. You can follow Fran and Traveling Steps on Facebook and Instagram.
