Climb the steps to a hermitage on a rock in the sea

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is a small hermitage on top of a rock off the coast of Bizkaia, joined to the shore by a stone bridge. From the bridge, 241 steps climb the rock to the chapel door. It was first written down in 1053, and Francis Drake looted it in 1593.

Getting there is the hard part, and there is no other way across. A steep path drops from the road to the bridge, the steps go up the rock with the sea breaking on both sides, and the whole way has to be climbed again on the return. Bizkaia puts a visit at about two and a half hours. Through the summer, and on busy weekends in spring and autumn, the island asks for a free ticket booked for a set time, and only so many people cross in a day.

At the top there is a bell. The custom is to ring it three times and make a wish, and the wish stays with whoever made it. Then the same steps back down, which look a great deal longer from above.