CANTABRIA & BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN

In May, when the Atlantic turns luminous and the mountains breathe fresh green, we invite you to a spring Photo Retreat in Cantabria and the Basque Country, in Northern Spain, where coastline, city, and high peaks compose a vivid, elemental score. From our base in a wonderful “Casa de Indianos”, an old mansion rich with stories of return and fortune, we will explore the quiet geometry of the sea, the sculptural brilliance of Bilbao’s Guggenheim, historical villages like Santillana del Mar and the limestone drama of the Picos de Europa National Park.

Along the coast, we’ll work on headlands and beaches where flysch layers and tidal pools invite long exposures and minimalist studies. In Bilbao, the Guggenheim’s titanium curves become an endless playground of abstraction, with planes, edges, and reflections. Inland, the Picos de Europa open to grand vistas and intimate details: high passes, hidden gorges, waterfalls, and moss-bright forests where spring reveals both scale and quiet.

A traditional “Casa de Indianos” will be our sanctuary and studio, a welcoming home with generous rooms and garden air, where we share nourishing meals, review work, and shape a cohesive series throughout the week. Rafael will mentor each participant daily, from field craft to post-processing and printing, helping you build a curated portfolio that spans seascape, architecture, and mountain landscape. At week’s end, Anca will craft a handmade artist book for every participant, beautifully presenting a selection of your prints, a tangible and intimate record of your time in this wonderful area of Northern Spain.