Day 1. (Monday) MADRID – CORDOBA – SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. We’ll drive southward along Castilla Province, the land of Don Quixote, “The Man from La Mancha”, along the way observing vast vineyards. We’ll cross the natural border of “Despeñaperros” and get into Andalusia, a region with a huge heritage from a splendorous past. Our first destination is Cordoba, former capital of the Caliphate. Lead by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide we will visit the highlights of Cordoba: the narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter, the Synagogue and the fantastic Great Mosque of Cordoba, one of the world’s greatest works of Islamic architecture, still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus, that will ease our mind and spirit. In the afternoon, after a short ride, we’ll arrive to Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 2. (Tuesday) SEVILLE

After breakfast, we’ll do a monumental and panoramic visit of Seville. You will visit from outside the Cathedral of Seville, the second largest in the Catholic world after San Pedro in Rome and its famous Giralda, the old minaret of the Arab mosque, then stroll through the popular neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz, natural scenery of “Carmen” as well as where it developed the myth of “Don Juan” and also Triana, with a deep popular flavour and cradle of bullfighters and artists. After the visit, you’ll enjoy some free to discover different perspectives and specific flavours of this active city full of light. May we recommend you an optional boat trip on the Guadalquivir River to enjoy the panoramic views that exist from the boat? Then you can walk along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the “great king of Andalusia” as the local poet Luis de Góngora y Argote called it. At night, optionally, you can enjoy a flamenco show.

Day 3. (Wednesday) SEVILLE – GRANADA

After breakfast, we’ll head east following the Caliphate Road to reach the heart of Andalusia observing an endless number of olive trees on our way to Granada, an incredible and amazing monumental environment, the last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdom up to 1492. We’ll visit the world-famous Alhambra complex with its imposing Alcazaba fortress, the Palace of Charles V, and the Generalife Gardens, fountains, gardens, and courtyards that with their sights and sounds have inspired authors such as Washington Irving in his “Tales of the Alhambra“. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optionally, you can see a Gipsy Flamenco Show held in a cave-house at Sacromonte Quarter.

Day 4. (Thursday) GRANADA – VALENCIA

After our breakfast at the hotel, we drive eastwards, heading to the Mediterranean Coast. We’ll pass Murcia, capital of the fertile garden of the Segura River, and continue north via Alicante, the second-largest city within the autonomous Region of Valencia. Arrive to Valencia, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean coast, that harmoniously combine the remnants of its farthest past, with the most innovative and avant-garde buildings from the new millennium. Valencia’s landmark is the modern Arts and Sciences Architectural Complex integrated by six elements: Hemispheric, Umbracle, Science Museum, Oceanographic, Palau de les Arts and Agora. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation. We recommend you to take a night walk to enjoy the breathtaking avant-garde architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences under the nocturnal ornamental lighting, then continue to the old town and admire its highlights: Valencia’s Gothic Cathedral and the famous Micalet Bell Tower, Virgin Mary Square, Valencia Townhall and Post Office – 2 impressive buildings, the World Heritage Silk Exchange Building, its beautiful Central Market, Serranos and Quart Towers… And of course, you must taste the paella, this colourful mixture of saffron-flavoured rice and various meats, Valencia’s most well-known dish world-wide in one of the local restaurants.

Day 5. (Friday) VALENCIA – BARCELONA

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in the morning to discover on your own pace this fascinating Mediterranean city. You can visit the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe, a true homage to our planet’s seas and oceans. Is made up of different buildings, housing examples of the most important ecosystems from each of the planet’s seas and oceans and also a Dolphinarium, the largest in Europe. You may also enjoy a nice walk through the Turia Gardens, former riverbed of the Turia River along palm trees and orange trees, fountains and pine woods, aromatic plants and ponds, sports facilities and rose beds. We’ll depart northward along the Mediterranean Coast to Catalonia, passing through Tarragona, the ancient Roman city of Tarraco. Arrival to Barcelona, main city of the Spanish Mediterranean Coast, homeland of the famous architect Gaudí, symbol of the Catalonian modernism. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 6. (Saturday) BARCELONA

We wake up in Barcelona. After breakfast, we get on the bus to visit Barcelona with a local guide, discovering its main avenues decorated with impressive modernist buildings of Antoni Gaudí. We’ll make a short stop to see the impotent Gaudí’s Great Basilica of Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) from outside, a unique creation that has become Barcelona’s most universal symbol. Our next destination is Montjuic and the Olympic Ring, a legacy of the 1992 Olympics Games that took place in Barcelona. The city tour of Barcelona ends with a walk into the city’s historic central area, with its Gothic neighbourhood dating back to the Middle Ages. From this moment, you’ll have free time to explore in depth what you couldn’t see before. We recommend you to book in advance your tickets to see the Sagrada Familia from inside if it is of your interest, or if you prefer, you may explore other parts of the Gothic Quarter… there are many options: visit the Cathedral of Barcelona, Plaça del Pi, the Plaza Real or take a walk on the famous Rambla de los Capuchinos, an emblematic street and a must-see for any visitor to Barcelona. Accommodation in Barcelona.

Day 7. (Sunday) BARCELONA – ZARAGOZA – SAN SAN SEBASTIAN

After breakfast, departure from Barcelona towards Zaragoza, located on the banks of the Ebro River, one of Spain’s major cities and capital of the Region of Aragon. Free time to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, Patroness of Hispanity and stroll through the old streets of Zaragoza to discover its impressive monumental legacy as Romans, Muslims, Jews and Christians left their mark on this place. Taste the typical dishes of the region and, of course, take part in one of the great traditions of the city, “going for tapas”: small gastronomic creations that delight anyone who tries them. In the afternoon we continue our trip to the Basque Country, a green paradise, land of great contrasts, to reach San Sebastian, one of the most attractive tourist destinations on the Cantabrian coast and known worldwide for its International Film Festival. Free time at your disposal to walk around this city of French and gentrified style whose landscape is dominated by the Bay of San Sebastian and La Concha Beach, framed by Mount Igueldo and the island of Santa Clara. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 8. (Monday) SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO – SANTANDER

After breakfast, we recommend you to climb to Igueldo Mountain, an unbeatable watchtower from where you can contemplate a magnificent view of San Sebastian. At mid-morning, departure to Bilbao, capital of the province of Vizcaya. Arrival and brief stop to admire the avant-garde building of the Guggenheim Museum. Design and architecture permeate this entire city. Later on we’ll continue to Santander, the capital of Cantabria, one of the most elegant and beautiful cities on the North Coast of Spain, which stretches along a wide bay overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. Arrival and free time to visit Santander’s old town, which includes a set of noble buildings, the Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in the capital and which houses the tomb of Marcelino Menendez Pelayo, the Porticada Square or stroll through the famous El Sardinero beach, one of the most beautiful promenades in Spain, with sumptuous buildings, such as the Gran Casino, which evokes the architecture of the Belle Époque. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 9. (Tuesday) SANTANDER – SANTILLANA – COVADONGA – OVIEDO

Breakfast at hotel. Departure to Santillana del Mar, one of the most important historical artistic towns in Spain. It contains architectural treasures such as the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, a Jewel of the Romanesque Architecture in Cantabria. Later on, driving a twisty road that will slowly reveal a beautiful countryside made up of calm waters, unimaginable green carpets and mountain peaks which all seem to be almost within reach, we will arrive to Covadonga, where you will have free time to visit the Shrine, a place of worship and pilgrimage for the people of Asturias, where you will see the Patroness of Asturias our Lady of Covadonga. In the afternoon, departure to Oviedo, a city of an unquestionable medieval flavour. Free time to explore Oviedo, most of its streets are pedestrian, where you will be able to see World Heritage Sites like the Cathedral of Oviedo, a splendid example of gothic asturian architecture or the beautiful church of Santa Maria de Naranco, a jewel of the pre-romanic asturian architecture. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 10. (Wednesday) OVIEDO – SALAMANCA – MADRID

Breakfast at the hotel. We leave behind us the Green Coast of Northern Spain and drive inland to 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. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Madrid. Arrival and end of services.