Day 1. (Monday) BARCELONA – MADRID

Call on at Barcelona Sants Station and departure by high-speed train to Madrid. Pleasant and short journey with the comfort and speed of this fast train. Arrival in Madrid, capital city of Spain. Transfer on your own to the hotel. Free day at your disposal to discover Madrid, diplomatic capital, economic centre and most populous city in Spain, headquarters of the Spanish government and city where the Spanish monarchy resides. We recommend taking a walk through the courtly Madrid de los Austrias Neighbourhood with its Renaissance and Baroque buildings in Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa, continue to the Royal Palace located in the elegant Plaza de Oriente, get to know the Cibeles Fountain, Fountain of Neptune, Puerta de Alcalá, Gran Via or Paseo de la Castellana. Hotel accommodation.

Day 2. (Tuesday) MADRID – SALAMANCA – PORTO

Departure from Madrid westbound heading to the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. Our first stop will be in Salamanca, the university city par excellence. Free time to explore at your own pace this World Heritage Site of great artistic wealth. A stroll around the pedestrian streets in its historic centre will take you to Plaza Mayor, one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, you may visit Salamanca’s two cathedrals (the old cathedral dating from the 12^th-13^th centuries of Romanesque style, and the new one from the 16^th century), the House of Shells, the Baroque style Clerecia church and the University with its beautiful Plateresque façade. Later we’ll continue to Porto, the capital of Northern Portugal. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.

Day 3. (Wednesday) PORTO

Breakfast at the hotel. We have a whole day to enjoy this authentic city, declared a World Heritage Site. We begin with a panoramic visit of Porto to discover the Cathedral of Sé, the most important religious monument in Porto, a mixture of styles and influences, also the Palacio de la Bolsa, one of the most beautiful buildings in Porto, Santa Clara Church and ending in a local winery where we will taste the world-famous Porto wine. After the visit, we will include a boat trip on the Douro river to enjoy the panoramic views that exist from the boat. Afternoon free at your disposal to continue exploring the corners of Porto, stroll along the Avenida dos Aliados, the Ribeira de Porto on the banks of the Duero and admire the Don Luis I Bridge, the most famous bridge in Porto, climb to the Clérigos Tower, the best viewpoint of Porto, from where you will have panoramic views of the historic city centre. Hotel accommodation.

Day 4. (Thursday) PORTO – COIMBRA – FATIMA

Breakfast at the hotel. We leave Porto heading south to reach Coimbra, a riverfront city rising scenically from the Rio Mondego and the country’s former capital during the Middle Ages. Arrival and free time at your disposal to explore its preserved medieval old town with its dark cobbled lanes, visit Coimbra’s monuments: the monumental 12^th century Romanesque cathedral Sé Velha, the historic University of Coimbra, Portugal’s oldest and most prestigious university, the gothic Igreja de Santa Cruz, Coimbra’s most historically important church or enjoy a relaxed coffee and sweet pastry in the Café Santa Cruz. We continue our route southward to Fatima. We will discover this important sacred centre of the Christian Faith, known worldwide for its sanctuary, a place of Christian pilgrimage since the beginning of the 20^th century. Free time at your disposal to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima consisting of an impressive Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of the Apparitions, heart of the sanctuary and place where according to the Roman Catholic Church, three visionary children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto received several apparitions and heavenly messages by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. You can visit the tombs of the three little shepherds, the precious statue of Our Lady of Fátima, the great oak tree, and also the monument dedicated to the three little shepherds (the seers) of Fátima. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation. At night, you’ll have the possibility of attending the candlelight procession.

Day 5. (Friday) FATIMA – BATALHA – NAZARE – ALCOBAÇA – LISBON

After breakfast, we will depart to the Monastery of Batalha (Monastery of the Battle in English), an artwork of the Gothic and Manueline styles, built in commemoration of the Battle of Aljubarrota, when the Portuguese troupes managed to rule out Castilian ambitions to the Portuguese throne. Our route continues to Nazare, the most picturesque and colourful fishing village in Portugal, located on the Silver Coast (Costa da Prata). If we have enough time, we will drive till O Sitio (the old town) to enjoy a panoramic view of the town and its beaches. We will continue our trip to Alcobaça where we will visit its 12th century Monastery, one of the most magnificent gothic monuments in Portugal with the tombs of the King Peter I of Portugal and his mistress, Ines de Castro. At the end of the day, we will continue to Lisbon, the capital and the largest city in Portugal. Arrival and accommodation in the hotel. In the evening, optionally, you can enjoy a Fado music show (typical Portuguese folklore).

Day 6. (Saturday) LISBON

Breakfast at the hotel. We’ll have a full day to explore each corner of Lisbon. We’ll start the day with an in-depth sightseeing tour of Lisbon. We’ll visit Lisbon’s traditional neighbourhoods, which take us into the Belem district, on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary, the birthplace of many great Portuguese navigators who sailed the oceans in the Fifteenth Century to explore and trade with India and the Orient. We will walk around the Monument of the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos), a monument that celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery, we’ll see the Belem Tower, a medieval defensive fortification and a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style. We will finally see the beautiful gothic style Jeronimos Monastery, Vasco da Gama’s resting place, classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the nearby Tower of Belen. Enjoy some free time at leisure to explore Lisbon at your own pace, to discover the nostalgic corners of the Barrio de Alfama, the old city grouped next to its Castle with its old buildings in narrow and twisted ruas full of colour and housing the genuine taverns where Fado music sounds like a lost past. Optionally you can do a beautiful coach trip to visit Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Cabo da Roca and admire Cascais and Estoril. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 7. (Sunday) LISBON – MERIDA – CORDOBA

Our last breakfast in Portugal. Departure towards Spain travelling along beautiful green plains that extend as far as the eye can see dotted with cork oaks and olive trees that withstand time. Back in Spain, we enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Region of Extremadura, the typical wooded pasture known as the dehesa where the iberian pigs forage freely for acorns. Arrive in ancient Roman Augusta Emerita, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free time to visit at your leisure the imposing Roman Theatre of Mérida, the city’s most emblematic monument, with its impressive seating and stage with monumental columns, or the Roman Amphitheatre, where gladiatorial combats and other spectacles were held, the Temple of Diana, or the National Museum of Roman Art, which houses an impressive collection of art and artifacts from the Roman era, including mosaics, sculptures, and everyday objects. You can also stroll across the Roman Bridge over the Guadiana River, the longest Roman bridge in the world still standing. In the afternoon, we depart for Córdoba, the former capital of the Muslim Caliphate of Al-Andalus, with its impressive cultural and monumental heritage. Check in to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 8. (Monday) CÓRDOBA – SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. Accompanied by an expert local guide, we will visit the highlights of Córdoba: the narrow, winding streets of the Jewish Quarter, the synagogue, and the magnificent Great Mosque of Córdoba, one of the largest examples of Islamic architecture in the world, still preserved from the time when Muslims ruled Al-Andalus, which will soothe your mind and spirit. Free time at your leisure to stroll through the historic centre of Córdoba, with its medieval streets, or visit the Royal Palace – Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and its beautiful gardens. In the afternoon, after a short drive, arrival in Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9. (Tuesday) SEVILLE

After breakfast, we’ll take a scenic tour of Seville. You’ll visit Seville Cathedral, the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peter’s in Rome, and its famous Giralda, the former minaret of the Moorish mosque. Then, you’ll stroll through the popular Santa Cruz neighbourhood, the natural setting for Carmen and the birthplace of the myth of Don Juan. After the tour, you’ll have free time to discover different perspectives and unique flavours of this vibrant, sun-drenched city. How about a boat trip on the Guadalquivir River to enjoy the panoramic views? Afterward, you can walk along the banks of the Guadalquivir, the great king of Andalusia, as the poet Luis de Góngora y Argote called it. Overnight stay. In the evening, you can optionally enjoy a flamenco show.

Day 10. (Wednesday) SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL

After breakfast, we travel along the White Villages Route to Ronda, one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia. Enjoy free time in the historic centre, where you’ll have the opportunity to see the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) and the Alameda de San Carlos, which offers magnificent panoramic views of the Ronda Mountains, as well as the Casa de San Juan Bosco (House of Saint John Bosco). Departure for the Costa del Sol. Arrival at the hotel and free afternoon. Overnight stay.

Day 11. (Thursday) COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA

Breakfast. Departure for Granada and its incredible and breathtaking monumental surroundings, the last stronghold of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada until 1492. Visit the world-famous Alhambra complex with its beautiful palaces, fountains, gardens, and courtyards, whose sights and sounds inspired authors like Washington Irving in his Tales of the Alhambra. The rest of the afternoon is free, during which we recommend a stroll through Granada’s historic centre, exploring the origins of this city that still retains all the magic of its Moorish past. Some must-see sites include the Royal Chapel of Granada, the place chosen by the Catholic Monarchs for their final resting place; visit the Cathedral of Granada, with its impressive Spanish Baroque façade; and the Alcaicería, the old silk market during the Nasrid era, a network of narrow streets filled with shops selling handicrafts. Overnight at the hotel. In the evening, you can optionally enjoy a Zambra Gitana flamenco show in the Sacromonte neighbourhood.

Day 12. (Friday) GRANADA – MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel. We depart for the heart of Spain. Leaving behind the Granada plains, we enter the province of Jaén, which offers spectacular views of an immense sea of ​​olive groves carpeting the hills as far as the eye can see. The transition from Andalusia to Castilla-La Mancha is dramatically marked as we cross the Despeñaperros Natural Park, an impressive gorge and natural border that breaks through the Sierra Morena mountain range with its steep cliffs and Mediterranean vegetation. Once on the Central Plateau, we will enjoy the vast, golden plains of La Mancha, a land of vineyards, cereal crops, and expansive skies, dotted with picturesque villages and the silhouettes of windmills reminiscent of Don Quixote. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Madrid, marking the end of the trip.