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 Vía or Paseo de la Castellana. You can also, optionally, visit the nearby imperial city of Toledo, declared a World Heritage Site. Hotel accommodation.
Day 2. (Tuesday) MADRID – CÓRDOBA – 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 3. (Wednesday) 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. 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. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. At night, optionally, you can enjoy a flamenco show.
Day 4. (Thursday) SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll drive south along the Route of the White Washed Villages, listening to stories of bandits while arriving at Ronda, one of the most beautiful towns in Andalusia, situated on the gorge of the Guadalevin River (locally known as Tajo de Ronda) that cuts the city in half. You’ll enjoy some free time to admire this town of Celtic origin and the marvellous views of the valley and mountain range. In the afternoon, continue on to the Costa del Sol, one of the most modern and important international tourist areas of Spain. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5. (Friday) COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Granada, with its 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. Free time in the afternoon. We recommend you to visit the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel that houses the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, or stroll through the Albaicín neighbourhood and enjoy the beautiful views of the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optionally, you can see a Gipsy Flamenco Show held in a cave-house at Sacromonte Quarter.
Day 6. (Saturday) GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure north to Toledo, where, under the Castilian sky and surrounded by the Tagus River, rises the impressive Imperial City of Toledo – a World Heritage Site and cradle of civilizations – where three cultures coexisted: Christian, Muslim, and Jewish. Upon arrival, we’ll take a panoramic bus tour to enjoy the magnificent view of the city from the other side of the Tagus River, a must-see for Toledo’s most iconic photo. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy an included lunch, and then, accompanied by an expert local guide, we’ll take a walk through Toledo’s historic centre to familiarize ourselves with this imposing medieval city. We’ll visit Zocodover Square, Toledo’s most emblematic square, surrounded by buildings of different architectural styles, from Renaissance to Baroque. Next, we’ll pass by the Alcázar of Toledo, an imposing fortress that now houses the Army Museum. Wandering through the streets of Toledo, we’ll arrive at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (City Hall Square), where we’ll admire the façade of Toledo Cathedral, officially known as the Primate Cathedral of Spain. This imposing building blends Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles and was built on the foundations of a former mosque. We’ll also learn about the damascening technique (inlaying precious metals into steel) at a local artisan workshop. In the afternoon, we’ll continue our journey to Madrid. Arrival and end of services.
