Tour Details
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Starts any day. January to December
10 days from $7595.00Arrive Madrid, Spain
Welcome to Spain! You are met on arrival at Madrid airport, and then transferred to your luxury hotel. Your afternoon is at leisure to explore the city on your own or relax from your flight.
Madrid Sightseeing
Madrid is one of the world’s most vibrant and seductive cities. This morning, enjoy a private walking tour of Madrid with your expert local guide. Visit some of the capital’s most impressive sights: the Plaza de Oriente, the historic quarter including the 17th century Plaza Mayor, and a wonderful Baroque square lined with arcades and picturesque cafes. Relish an in-depth tour of the majestic Prado Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of European art. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before this evening’s private tapas tour. (B,D)
Toledo Excursion
Today, your guide drives you to the Imperial City, Toledo - the capital of Visigoth Spain before Madrid even existed. This city, perhaps more than any other, embodies Spain’s past, with its narrow, winding streets and steps, stone houses and churches.
Spend the day exploring Toledo’s splendid medieval heart. Marvel at the soaring gothic cathedral, among the greatest Gothic structures in Europe and home to paintings by El Greco, Van Dyck and Goya. View El Greco’s finest work - the famed Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Wander through the old Jewish quarter, which includes two of the few remaining medieval synagogues in Spain. At the beautifully crafted El Transito, visit the Jewish Museum devoted to the history and legacy of Jewish Spain.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and time to explore Toledo as you wish, before you return to Madrid in the late afternoon. (B)
Madrid to Cordoba & Granada
This morning, travel on the high-speed train to Cordoba.
Upon arrival in Cordoba, you will be met and taken on a half-day sightseeing tour of the city. Until its fall to the conquering Christian armies in 1236, Cordoba was a city of half million people. It had thousands of mosques, massive libraries, palaces and baths; and was renowned for its opulence and luxury goods that were coveted all over Europe. Your tour begins at the Mezquita or Grand Mosque. Dating back to 785, this massive structure contains a Catholic Cathedral that is one of the world’s best-known pieces of religious architecture. A vast forest of hundreds of delicate marble columns and elegant arches, the Mezquita is breathtaking.
This afternoon, drive to Granada and your hotel. (B)
Granada Sightseeing
Granada is unrivaled for its beauty and architectural splendor. The entire city has been declared a national monument. This morning take a tour of the Alhambra, which dominates the city’s skyline and is one of the world’s most stunning monuments. Next, visit the Generalife, the jewel in the crown of the Moorish kingdom of Spain.
Your afternoon is at leisure to relax or further explore this magnificent city. (B)
Granada to Ronda & Seville
Today, begin a drive through the olive tree covered countryside to Ronda, Andalusia’s well-known white village. Ronda stands on a towering plateau, divided in two by a spectacular river gorge known as El Tajo.
Continue your drive to Seville, stopping en route at Zahara de la Sierra, another stunning white village to visit a fascinating olive oil mill.
On arrival in Seville, you are taken directly to your boutique hotel, a beautiful little oasis amidst the narrow and bustling cobbled streets at the heart of historic Seville.
This evening you will make your way to enjoy an authentic flamenco show. With roots from the Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic and Gypsy cultures, flamenco is a combination of intricate guitar playing, powerful singing, ranging from the exuberant to the sorrowful, and passionate yet graceful dancing.
Afterwards, you will make your way back to the hotel for the evening or continuing exploring the nightlife. (B)
Seville Sightseeing
The morning is yours at leisure. Begin your afternoon sightseeing with a walking tour of this captivating capital of Andalusia – a city of flamenco, bulls, Carmen and Don Juan. You will visit the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Alcazar and the Santa Cruz Quarter. Seville’s history and culture give rise to its pride, tradition, passion and joy. Stroll through the enchanting barrio neighborhoods, where the colors of the south reign supreme.
This evening is free for you to enjoy the city. (B)
Seville to Barcelona
This morning, fly to Barcelona, with its lively cosmopolitan streets, spectacular modern structures and an enchanting old quarter.
You are met upon arrival, and this afternoon, enjoy a tour of the city’s historic Gothic Quarter. Resting on the ancient Roman city of Barcino, today this area is full of buildings from the 13th to 15th centuries. The Quarter is noted for its peaceful plazas, medieval Cathedral and the Picasso Museum. Stroll along the narrow streets and winding alleyways.
Next, explore La Boqueria, the colorful central food market, and Barcelona’s avant-guard neighborhoods. Your tour also includes a visit to the unique and magical Cathedral of Sagrada Familia. (B)
Barcelona
The entire day is at leisure to enjoy Barcelona. You can relax, explore the fascinating museums, or perhaps arrange for an optional cooking or art class. (B)
Depart Barcelona
Today is a day of leisure until time for your transfer to the airport for your flight home or onto your next destination. (B)
AC Santo Mauro, Madrid
This hotel is located in the centre of Madrid near the Buen Retiro Park and is a stone's throw from the Paseo Recoletos, the Salamanca neighbourhood, Plaza de Colón, and the Sorolla and Prado museums. This five-star hotel occupies the premises of an elegant late nineteenth-century building, which was once the residence of the Duke de Santo Mauro; a highly influential member of Madrid society in his time. The impressive premises of this urban hotel in Madrid house 51 luxurious rooms, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and all the facilities and luxuries that AC Santo Mauro Hotel is renowned for.
Palacio de Santa Paula, Granada
Located in the old part of Granada and as the result of a careful restoration project, this building, which has been declared an historic and artistic monument, is made up of the Convent of Santa Paula, which dates from the 16th century, and the Casa Morisca dating from the 14th century. A unique establishment in which to enjoy the opportunity to relax in one of the key monuments of the historic centre of the city and the luxury of a great hotel.
Gran Melia Colon, Seville
Design and service in a luxury city hotel in Seville, the Gran Meliá Colón, located in the historical, cultural, commercial and financial heart of the city, offers a striking combination of art, culture and style. Chosen by generations of bullfighters and important personalities from around the globe, Gran Meliá Colón is considered by the locals one of the city's major landmarks.
El Palace Hotel, Barcelona
First opened in 1919, and featuring a neo-classical façade and grand public areas, El Palace Hotel has been Barcelona's most distinguished and iconic luxury hotel for almost 100 years. Set in the heart of the city center, close to Las Ramblas, the hotel is located in the city's most prestigious shopping area. Its Caelis Restaurant, which has been awarded a Michelin Star, offers the very best in cuisine and ambiance, while 19/NINETEEN Restaurant and the emblematic cocktail bar, Rien de Rien, provide guests additional dining options. El Palace Hotel is also home to the award-winning Mayan Luxury Spa, which features a detoxifying Temazcal Sauna—the first and only of its kind in Europe. A 2015 Travel+Leisure World's Best Hotel