Day 1. (Monday) BARCELONA – MADRID (by train)

Call at Barcelona “Sants” train station, and departure by high-speed train to Madrid. Enjoy a pleasant and short journey with the comfort and speed of the AVE train. Arrival in Madrid. Transfer to the hotel on your own. Free time at your disposal to discover Madrid, the diplomatic capital, the economic centre, and the most populous city in Spain, where the government is located and the Spanish monarchy resides. We recommend taking a walk through the courtly Madrid of the Austrias with its Renaissance and Baroque buildings at Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and Plaza de la Villa. Continue to the Royal Palace located in the elegant Plaza de Oriente, visit the Fountain of Cibeles, Fountain of Neptune, Puerta de Alcalá, Gran Vía, or Paseo de la Castellana. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 2. (Tuesday) MADRID – AVILA – SALAMANCA – PORTO

Departure from Madrid westbound heading to the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. Our first stop will be in Ávila, sheltered by the Sierra de Gredos Mountains, an impressive medieval city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Free time to explore the historic centre of Ávila, one of the best preserved medieval walled towns in Europe, which also hides a valuable set of Renaissance churches and palaces. We continue 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. 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 colorful 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 Belém 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 Belém 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 Belém. 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 – CACERES – 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. Arrival in Caceres, a magical medieval city, capital of the Extremadura region in western Spain. Free time to stroll through the old town with its city walls and watchtowers and its well-known medieval neighbourhood, considered a World Heritage Site. We recommend you to follow the narrow walkways that will transport you to another century and engage you in its old charm. You’ll discover the main square of Cáceres – the Plaza Mayor and the Bujaco Tower locally known as the Clock Tower, the Arch of the Star, which is one of the five access gates of Cáceres, the beautiful Palace of the Golfines… Later departure by the Autovía de la Plata towards Andalusia, a region with a great heritage of a splendid past, to reach Córdoba, former capital of the Muslim Caliphate of Córdoba, with its impressive cultural and monumental heritage. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 8. (Monday) CORDOBA – SEVILLE

Accompanied by an expert local guide, we will visit the most outstanding places of Córdoba: the narrow and winding streets of the Jewish Quarter, the Synagogue and the fantastic Great Mosque of Córdoba, one of the largest works of Islamic architecture in the world, which is still preserved from the time when the Muslims ruled Al-Andalus, which will relax our mind and spirit. Free time at your disposal to walk through the historic center of Córdoba, with its medieval streets, or visit the Royal Palace “Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos” and its beautiful gardens. In the afternoon, after a short journey, arrival at Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Day 9. (Tuesday) SEVILLE

After breakfast, we will make a monumental and panoramic visit of Seville. We will start with a guided tour of the Cathedral of Seville, the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peter’s in Rome and its famous Giralda, the old minaret of the Arab mosque, then you will walk through the popular neighbourhood of Santa Cruz, the natural setting of “Carmen” as well as where he developed the myth of “Don Juan” and also Triana neighbourhood, with a deep popular flavour and cradle of bullfighters and artists. After the visit, you will enjoy some free time to discover different perspectives and specific flavours of this active city full of light. How about a boat trip on the Guadalquivir River to enjoy the panoramic views that exist from the boat? Next, you will be able to walk along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the “great king of Andalusia” as the poet Luis de Góngora y Argote called it. Dinner and accommodation. At night, you can optionally enjoy a flamenco show. Note: Both the flamenco show and the boat trip are not included in the tour. You may book them directly with your guide.

Day 10. (Wednesday) SEVILLE – GRANADA

Breakfast at the hotel and departure east along the Old Caliphate Route towards the heart of Andalusia, observing an endless number of olive trees. Arrival in Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, the last stronghold of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada until 1492. Upon arrival we’ll visit the world-famous Alhambra Complex with its beautiful Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife Gardens, that with their views and sounds have inspired authors such as Washington Irving in his “Tales of the Alhambra”. Rest of the afternoon free in which we recommend taking a walk through the monumental area of Granada, strolling through the origins of this city that still retains all the magic of its Arab past. There are some must-see places: the Royal Chapel of Granada, the place chosen by the Catholic Monarchs for their last rest, the Cathedral, with its impressive Spanish Baroque façade and also the Alcaiceria, the old silk market in the Nasrid era, a network of narrow streets full of craft shops. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. At night, optionally, you can enjoy a Gipsy Flamenco Show in the Sacromonte neighbourhood.

Day 11. (Thursday) GRANADA – VALENCIA

After breakfast at the hotel, departure to the Mediterranean Coast. Via Murcia, capital of the fertile garden of the Segura River, we continue north via Alicante, the second largest city in the Valencia Region. Arrival in Valencia, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, one of the jewels of the Mediterranean Coast, which harmoniously combines the remains of its most distant past, with the most innovative and avant-garde buildings of the new millennium. The symbol of Valencia is the modern Architectural Complex of the City of Arts and Sciences made up of six elements: Hemispheric, Umbracle, Science Museum, Oceanographic, Palau de les Arts and Ágora. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation. We recommend taking a night walk to enjoy the impressive avant-garde architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences under the ornamental night lighting. And, of course, you should try the Valencian paella, a world reference in Spanish gastronomy in one of the local restaurants.

Day 12. (Friday) VALENCIA – BARCELONA

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, accompanied by an expert local guide, we go on a complete guided tour of Valencia to discover the beautiful old town of Valencia and its most outstanding buildings: the Gothic Cathedral and the famous Micalet bell tower, the Virgin Mary Square, the town hall and the post office of Valencia: 2 impressive buildings, the building of La Lonja de Seda (Silk Exchange Building) declared World Heritage Site, the Central Market of Valencia or the Serranos and Quart Towers… We will head north along the Mediterranean coast to Catalonia, passing through Tarragona, the ancient Roman city of Tarraco. Arrival in Barcelona, the main city on the Spanish Mediterranean Coast, birthplace of the famous architect Gaudí, symbol of Catalan modernism. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 13. (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 by Antoni Gaudí. We will make a brief stop to see Gaudí’s impotent Great Basilica of the Sagrada Familia from the 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 Olympic Games that took place in Barcelona. The Barcelona city tour ends with a walk through the historic city center to visit the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona that dates back to the Middle Ages. From this moment they have free time to fully explore what they could not see before. We recommend you book your tickets in advance to see the Sagrada Familia inside if it is of your interest, or if instead you prefer to see other parts of the Gothic Quarter, there are many options: visit the Cathedral of Barcelona, Plaça del Pi (Pine Square), the Plaza Real (Royal Square) or stroll along the famous Rambla de los Capuchinos, an emblematic street and a must for any tourist in Barcelona. Accommodation in Barcelona.

Day 14. (Sunday) BARCELONA

Breakfast at the hotel and end of services. You can extend your stay in Spain or participate in a coach holiday to Morocco or a tour package through Europe.