Two-night stays in Madrid, Costa del Sol, and Seville allow time to truly experience Spain. Included sightseeing features important highlights, like Madrid’s Prado Museum and Toledo’s Church of Santo Tomé with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings. Taste the local marzipan, for which the city is famous. Other highlights are Granada’s Alhambra complex and Water Gardens of the Generalife, and Seville’s Alcazar. In Seville, an exclusive visit to the impressive Archive des Indias has been included as well. A free day at the Costa del Sol lets you enjoy the beaches or time to browse the trendy boutiques. Other highlights are visits to historic Ronda and to a sherry bodega in Jerez to taste the sherry wine. On the way back to Madrid, stop in Cordoba to visit the Mosque of the Caliphs, famous for its 850 pillars of porphyry, marble, and jasper. Welcome and farewell dinners are included. Finally, hop aboard the high-speed AVE train, which will whisk you east to fabulous Barcelona. Spend three overnights and enjoy guided sightseeing of the major highlights and plenty of leisure time to make your own discoveries!Included are your transfer by high-speed AVE train and morning guided sightseeing with a visit to Park Güell and Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Basilica.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Madrid, Spain. Welcome to Madrid! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day #2 Madrid. The capital since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Your Local Guide takes you to the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then, the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM with its priceless art treasures. In the afternoon, an optional excursion to El Escorial is available. (B)
Day #3 Madrid–Toledo–Granada. Spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River, the ancient Castilian capital of Toledo attracts more sightseers from all over the world than any other Spanish town. A Local Guide takes you to the Moorish bridge, an early SYNAGOGUE, the 13th-century gothic CATHEDRAL, and the CHURCH OF SANTO TOMÉ with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings. Also visit a DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOP and [LF] taste the local marzipan, for which the city is famous, before arriving in history-steeped Granada. This evening, a special dinner with wine has been prepared for you at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day #4 Granada–Costa del Sol. See the sights of Granada with a Local Guide and visit its main attraction, the ALHAMBRA COMPLEX. The mighty yet graceful citadel was planned by 13th-century Moorish ruler Al Ahamar. A fantasy of “lace in stone” surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by Gypsy cave dwellers. Also amble through the magnificent WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE, the royal summer residence. Then, turn towards the sea, away from the mountains, to lively Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol. (B)
Day #5 At Leisure on the Costa del Sol. Today is your chance to join an optional excursion to the Rock of Gibraltar, in British hands since 1704. Later, enjoy the sandy beaches, browse through the trendy boutiques, and sample the many fancy restaurants. (B)
Day #6 Costa del Sol–Ronda–Jerez–Seville. Visit picturesque, historic Ronda, perched on a platform of the Sierra de Ronda and cut in two by a deep ravine, before reaching Jerez, famous for its sherry wines and magnificent horses of mixed Spanish, Arab, and English blood. Visit a [LF] SHERRY BODEGA and taste the sherry wine, accompanied by local tapas. Then, on to Seville, the vibrant capital of Andalusia. (B,D)
Day #7 Seville. Hear about the city’s role in Roman times, its conquest by the Moors in 712 AD, and its contribution to the discovery of the New World during your guided sightseeing tour. Admire Maria Luisa Park, the Golden Tower on the Guadalquivir River, and the university that used to be the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. Then, stroll through the narrow lanes of the charming SANTA CRUZ QUARTER. Of course, you will visit the ALCAZAR, founded in the 11th century as a Moorish fortress, with its Palacio de Don Pedro. On top of that, a [LF] visit has been arranged to the impressive ARCHIVE DES INDIAS, that houses the documents, illustrating the history of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Philippines. For those interested, an optional extended guided visit to the cathedral is available. Tonight, for a truly Andalusian night out, reserve a seat at our optional Flamenco show. (B)
Day #8 Seville–Cordoba–Madrid. During your guided walking tour of Cordoba see the Alcazar, the Roman Bridge, and the medieval Jewish quarter. Tour the magnificent 8th-century MOSQUE OF THE CALIPHS, famous for its 850 pillars of porphyry, marble, and jasper. Next, drive north from the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir River through the arid landscapes of Don Quixote’s La Mancha back to Madrid. A farewell dinner has been prepared at your hotel to celebrate the success of your Spanish vacation. (B,D)
Day #9 Madrid–Barcelona. You will be transferred by high-speed AVE TRAIN to Barcelona, arriving in the late afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day #10 Barcelona. Morning guided sightseeing includes visits to PARK GÜELL and the SAGRADA FAMILIA BASILICA. (B)
Day #11 At Leisure in Barcelona. Full day at leisure. Ask your local host for suggestions. (B)
Day #12 Barcelona. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
MADRID NH Principe de Vergara (F)
GRANADA Saray (SF)
COSTA DEL SOL Melia Costa del Sol (SF) at Torremolinos
SEVILLE Sevilla Center (SF)
MADRID NH Principe de Vergara (F)
BARCELONA Catalonia Ramblas (SF)