Day 1. (Tuesday) BARCELONA – MADRID (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. (Wednesday) MADRID – TRUJILLO – LISBON

Departure westbound to the Region of Extremadura in western Spain. Arrival in Trujillo, cradle of illustrious characters linked to the discovery of America (Francisco de Pizarro, discoverer of Peru, and Francisco de Orellana). You’ll enjoy some free time to get to know its monumental Plaza Mayor Square, centre of social and commercial life of the city. Around the square you’ll find religious buildings (San Francisco, Santa Clara or San Martin Churches), Renaissance mansions (Palace of the Marquis of Piedras Albas, Palace of the Dukes of San Carlos or the Palace of the Marquises of the Conquista) and also the bronze-cast statue of Pizarro on horseback. We recommend you to try the local gastronomy derived from Iberian pig, as well as recipes of pastoral origin or traditional cold soups such as gazpacho and ajoblanco. Continue our route now on Portuguese soil traveling among beautiful landscapes of Alentejo Region. Crossing the Tagus River estuary on the impressive 25 de Abril Bridge we will arrive to Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal. Arrival at the hotel and accommodation. In the evening, optionally you can enjoy a Fado music show (typical Portuguese folklore).

Day 3. (Thursday) 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 color 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 4. (Friday) LISBON – FATIMA – LISBON

After our breakfast at the hotel, we head north towards Fatima (Cova do Iria). Full day excursion to discover this important sacred center 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. At the end of the day we will return to Lisbon through the colorful agricultural region. Arrival and lodging in the hotel.

Day 5. (Saturday) LISBON – CACERES – SEVILLE

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 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 neighborhood, 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… In the afternoon, we’ll travel along the Silver Highway towards Andalusia, a region with a huge heritage from a splendorous past, to arrive at Seville, Andalusia’s capital. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. (Sunday) 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 throuhg the popular neighborhoods 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 flavor and cradle of bullfighters and artists. After the visit you’ll enjoy some free to discover different perspectives and specific flavors 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 night, optionally you can enjoy a flamenco show.

Day 7. (Monday) SEVILLE – CORDOBA

Breakfast at the hotel. We’ll drive to 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, free time at your disposal to stroll through the historic center of Cordoba, with its medieval streets or visit the Royal Palace “Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos” and its beautiful gardens. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8. (Tuesday) CORDOBA – 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 deep 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 in Marbella.

Day 9. (Wednesday) 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 neighborhood 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 10. (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 breath-taking 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 colorful mixture of saffron-flavored rice and various meats, Valencia’s most well-known dish world-wide in one of the local restaurants.

Day 11. (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 Spanisn Mediterranean Coast, homeland of the famous architect Gaudí, symbol of the Catalonian modernism. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 12. (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 13. (Sunday) BARCELONA

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