26 April 2017 marks 80 years since the Luftwaffe bombed the Basque town of Gernika on a busy market day, an attack that was immortalised in the eponymous mural by Pablo Picasso. Join Pura Aventura on a market visit today, as part of their new tour to the region, and it is hard to believe it was once the scene of such devastation: locals flock from across the region to buy and sell produce, to eat at the town's renowned restaurants or, perhaps, watch of game of pelota.

A trip to Gernika's Monday market, privately guided by an historian, is just one of the highlights guests will experience on the Basque Cultural Explorer, a self-drive trip that lets visitors explore the history, and the gastronomy, of this region at their own pace. The Basque Country is famed for having one of Europe's oldest cultures, where locals speak a language that is quite distinct from both French and Spanish, and on this 10-night trip guests will learn first-hand what makes this region so special.

Pura Aventura also offers an optional add-on: a detour to Madrid's Reina Sofia museum where an exhibition is being staged to mark the Gernika anniversary, shedding new light on this great anti-war mural, now an international image of peace, and exploring the painting's role in Spain's post-war reconstruction.

Of the many highlights on the Basque Cultural Explorer itinerary, guests might wish to:

• Visit Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece itself a work of art;
• Meet the harvesters of Spain's finest salt at millennia-old saltpans, a regeneration project that brings employment to the village (Michelin-starred chefs are big advocates of the salt);
• Explore the restoration works of the medieval cathedral in the Basque capital Vitoria, the inspiration for Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth novel;
• Visit a family-run vineyard to learn about the winemaking process, from vine to bottle, and help out with whatever tasks the season demands. This might be anything from pruning vines to harvesting grapes – it's also possible for guests to bottle up their own memento of the day;
• Step into the revered world of a Gastronomic Society, the hallowed dining clubs of San Sebastian. The diner becomes the chef in an urban kitchen, as they learn some of the secrets of Basque cooking from a top chef, and then tuck into the fruits of their labour.

The trip includes very comfortable characterful hotels, ranging from a striking modern hotel that is modelled on ship containers in a traditional Spanish village to a beautifully restored 17th century palace in a peaceful valley. Being a partially guided trip, Pura Aventura's local guides and historians and artisan food producers are on hand along the way.

Price: Pura Aventura (pura-aventura.com, 01273 676712) offers the Basque Cultural Explorer from £2,060pp based on 2 sharing, including 10 nights' accommodation, 9 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 3 lunches, car hire, guided activities and excursions, and detailed notes and maps. Flights are extra.

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