Spain

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Madrid: Museo del Prado and Puerta del Sol

After settling into your hotel we will take a stroll around Spain’s spectacular capital city Madrid, where you can take in the delights of the Plaza Mayor with its street performers and artisans and ends at the busy Plaza de la Puerto del Sol, “Gateway of the sun”. In the afternoon, a feast for art lovers at the Museo del Prado with masterpieces by El Greco, Goya and Velasquez before an evening meal of tasty tapas.

Madrid: Royal Palace of Madrid and Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

In the morning visit Palacio Real Madrid’s Royal Palace; a stunning maze of imperial charm that boasts more rooms than any other palace in Europe. After a lunch break, we enjoy Centro de Arte Reina Sofia where you will find works by Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Picasso’s larger than life Guernica. Afterwards relax in the Parque del Retiro where you can enjoy a leisurely row or a lakeside ice cream.

Toledo: River Tagus

Spend the morning in the medieval city of Toledo, a labyrinth of narrow streets, synagogues, mosques and cathedrals perched picturesquely on a hill above the river Tagus. Enjoy free time in Madrid before taking a train to Catalunya’s modern metropolis Barcelona!

Barcelona: Old Quarter and Picasso Museum

A guided tour of this seaside city will reveal a rich and vibrant past. We start in the Old Quarter including the magnificent Cathedral, Picasso’s old haunt the Four Cats and Las Ramblas for a lunch break at one of its street cafes. In the afternoon enjoy some free time before a visit to the Picasso Museum.

Barcelona: Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera

A day to celebrate the Barcelona’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, whose modernist buildings gracefully melt into the skyline. We begin with a work in progress, the stunning Sagrada Familia that seems to float in air. Then in the afternoon we visit La Pedrera – Casa Mila an apartment block in the true modernist style with a magnificent roof terrace and the famous Parque Güell where fluid sculptures flow over the landscape. The afternoon offers an opportunity to take a cable car to Montjuic, site of the 1992 Olympics and the Joan Miro Foundation.
Evening option: Enjoy live Flamenco, Barcelona style!

3 DAY ANDALUCIA EXTENSION

SEVILLE: SEVILLE CATHEDRAL AND REAL ALCAZAR

Welcome to Andalucia and Seville where we start our city tour at Europe’s largest Christian Cathedral. Built on the site of a great mosque, this treasure trove of art and architecture is a glittering combination of Moorish past and Christian present. We also have a chance to climb La Giralda, the minaret come tower providing stunning panoramic views of all of Seville. After lunch, be dazzled by the Real Alcazar – a palace within in palace. From here Queen Isabel I dispatched brave navigators to the New World and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V built lavish apartments to enjoy between battles.

CORDOBA: Mezquita

A veritable melting pot, in the 10th century Cordoba was one of the greatest cities of the Western world where Jews, Christians and Muslims thrived. Your guided tour includes the Jewish quarter with its cobbled streets, silversmiths and jewellery workshops as well as the world famous Mezquita, a treasure of trove of art and architecture.

GRANADA: Alcazaba and Casa Real

Granada is the Jewel in the Spanish Crown. Towering above the city is the imposing Alhambra Palace, stronghold of the Moors which has been captivating the city’s inhabitant and visitors for over seven centuries. The fortress (Alcazaba), the Royal Palace (Casa Real) and the palace gardens (Generalife) make this one of the most unforgettable attractions in Spain.

DAY EXTENSIONS

From Barcelona- Figueres and Monteserrat

Figueres – A fascinating Catalan city! Visit the one-of-a-kind theater museum dedicated to the surrealist world of renowned Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. The Museu Dalí is the 2nd most visited museum in Spain. Converted from an old theater in 1974, Dalí created the museum as a repository for some of his most famous works, including Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon and The Girl from Figueras.

Montserrat – Monestir de Montserrat: The Monastery de Monserrat is Catalonia’s holiest place, nestled by the “Serrated Mountain” (mont serrat) Catalonia’s highest peak. Benedictine monks still live here, and each day they sing in the grand basicalla and is surrounded by hermit caves and chapels. This was also a beacon of Catalan culture during the Franco years.

From SEVILLE – Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz

The epicentre of Andalucia’s equestrian culture, this excursion will take you to the Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Ecuestre to see dressage displays and watch the horses train. Then onto Cadiz, which according to legend was founded by Hercules and is Europe’s oldest city. Wander along the waterfront enjoying gardens, open squares and the city’s old town.