Classics of Spain Escorted Vacation

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (Your arrival transfer is included only if you arrive on the actual day the tour commences. For customers arriving earlier an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost. Night supplements will be charged for early morning/late evening transfers.)

In the morning, join your city tour. Find Madrid's medieval origins such as the Arabic Fortress at the Barrio de la Moreria. Drive through the courtesan district of the Hapsburgs characterized by Philip II and its Renaissance and Baroque style buildings. See Puerto del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and Plaza de la Villa. Continue to visit the Madrid of the Bourbons and learn about the complex town planning schemes of Charles III. See the Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains, Puerta de Alcala, and the interior of the Royal Palace. Finish your tour by visiting contemporary Madrid and see the Gran Via, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla, the Las Ventas Bullring, and the Santiago Bernabeu Football Stadium. The remainder of the day is at leisure to continue exploring the wonders Madrid has to offer. (B)

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to join your tour departing for Seville. Drive through the La Mancha region, home of Don Quixote, to Cordoba in Andalusia. Explore Cordoba’s architectural wonders during a guided tour of the city. Visit its beautiful mosque and walk around the Jewish Quarter with its narrow streets and Andalusian patios. In the afternoon, continue to Seville. (B,D)

After breakfast, join your guided tour of Seville. Start with a visit of the exterior of the Gothic Cathedral. Next, see the Santa Cruz Quarter, a maze of small alleys and squares, Maria Luisa Park, and Plaza Espana. The afternoon is at leisure. In the evening, consider seeing an optional Flamenco show. (B,D)

After breakfast, depart Seville and drive through the heart of Andalusia through an endless number of olive trees until you reach Granada, the last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Enjoy a city tour and visit the world famous Alhambra with its numerous halls and patios. Continue to the beautiful Generalife Gardens. After dinner, we recommend an optional Gipsy flamenco show in the Sacromonte quarter. (B,D)

This morning, depart for the Mediterranean Coast and the city of Valencia, home of the renowned and delicious Paella. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this wonderful city. (B)

This morning, enjoy a drive through the old city of Valencia. Continue past the old riverbed of the Turia to the most avantgarde part of the city to marvel at the arts and sciences complex known as Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias. In the early afternoon, travel north along the Mediterranean Coast to Barcelona, home of the famous architect Gaudi. (B)

In the morning, join a city tour of Barcelona. Drive along the main avenues with impressive buildings by Gaudi, such as La Pedrera, Casa Mila, etc. Visit the Park of Montjuic offering spectacular views of the city and the harbor, the Olympic Ring, the monument to Columbus, and the Olympic port. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

After breakfast, depart for Madrid. Arrive in Zaragoza on the banks of the Ebro River. You will have some time at leisure to see the impressive Baroque architecture of the Basilica Temple of Our Lady Pilar. Continue to Madrid. (B)

You will be transferred to the Madrid airport for your return flight home. (Your departure transfer is included only if you depart on the actual day the tour concludes. For customers departing later an individual transfer can be organized at an additional cost. Night supplements will be charged for early morning/late evening transfers.) (B)