Holy Jubilee Year 2017 – Saint Toribio, Liebana (Cantabria)

The “Lignun Crucis”, the largest known piece of the cross on which Christ died, is kept and guarded in the Monastery of Saint Toribio in Liebana. For this reason in the year 1512, pope Julius II granted St. Toribio by a papal bull the privilege to celebrate Holy Jubilee Year whenever April 16th, feast day of Saint Toribio, falls on a Sunday. This happens every five, six or eleven years (the last was in 2006 and the next will be in 2023).

This means that during 2017 it will be possible to gain plenary indulgence while visiting the Monastery of Saint Toribio in Liebana, Cantabria.

We will tell you all about the history of the Monastery, about the Saint Beatus of Liebana, who lived here in the 1st century, and why the “Lignun Crucis” is kept here. If you wish, we will show you the traditional Way to arrive at the Monastery and enter it through the Holy Door of Indulgence.

Gastronomy and Wine

Catch and cook your own tuna fish; learn how to prepare the best anchovies; milk a goat and follow the whole process of cheese-making.

Visit the best wineries and cellars in Galicia, Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Catalonia; learn about the different types of grapes and the whole process of wine making.

Savour fresh local produce, enjoy the flavours and scents of the region´s products.

Whether you want to actually make it yourself, or just taste the flavours of the area, we will show you how to cook the best local recipies or take you to the nicest places, from a tapas tour to renowned and award-winning restaurants. You can choose your favourite!

Team building

We organise fun collaborative activities that will foster comradeship, motivation and team spirit among all the members of your party. Whether for a small group of five or a major event for hundreds of delegates, we design indoor games or outdoor sport activities to match both, serious business executives and the more adventurous staff.

We offer you a wide choice of outdoor events ranging from sea or land based treasure hunts and gymkhanas to caving, rafting, or kart racing. We have different options depending on the degree of physical difficulty you may demand.

Our indoor activities include cooking sessions and dance competitions and we can design specific games to match your chosen theme with a mix of mentally and physically demanding team tasks.

Themed Parties

Give your parties a different feel; dine with the Great Gatsby, hobnob with Marie-Antoinette, be captivated by a futuristic atmosphere. We will take care of every detail to create your ideal celebration and make it a success.

If you like suspense, our murder mystery events are your choice. We set up a thrilling plot for your guests, where appearances should not be trusted, nothing is as it seems… be prepared for unexpected twists and surprises.

Nature and Sport

The north of Spain is rich in Protected Natural Areas and Biosphere Reserves. We are sorrounded by high mountains, calm lakes, wild rivers, colourful forests, secluded bays and a twisting coast. We will be happy to show you the best locations to enjoy your prefered sport.

You may wish to sail down the coast or just surf the waves, go rafting down a river or kayaking on a lake. Climb a via ferrata, go trekking through high mountains or zip-lining as part of a high trees experience. Go cycling along beautiful bike trails, horse riding on the beach or just enjoy a walk through the woods listening to the bellowing of deer in the forest. Choose your favourite!

Cultural

Alternative Ways places special emphasis on activities that have a high cultural content, combining history, theatre, music, dance, art and architecture.

We have a thousand and one stories to tell you: how prehistoric tribes lived in and decorated the many caves scattered along the north of Spain, some of them dating back more than twenty thousand years, and declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The hidden meaning in the chapitels of Romanesque churches. The titanic fight against the Roman Empire in the times of the Emperor Augustus. Or the mythical battle of Covadonga where D. Pelayo counted on divine help to start the Spanish reconquest.

We also set up, produce and coordinate cultural activities such as international conferences and work-shops on specific topics, forums, art and literature residency programs, either in collaboration with other organisations or as in-house productions.