SPAIN: madrid, andalucia & toledo 9 days
Madrid - cordoba - SEVILLE - granada - TOLEDO - madrid - barcelona

itinerary, prices & Inclusions

Day 1 (Sat.) MADRID
Meet and greet at the airport. Take a transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure Accommodation at the hotel. Courtyard Marriott Madrid Princesa / Riu Plaza España Hotel.

Day 2 (Sun.) MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Madrid panoramic city tour; find the medieval origins of the city, like the Arabic fortress, at the Barrio de la Morería, famous for its historical buildings. Drive through the courtesan district of the Hapsburgs characterized  by Phillip II and its Renaissance and Baroque style buildings, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa; the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. Admire the XIX C. works such as Prado Museum. The contemporary Madrid with areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste, as well as commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, the emblematic Las Ventas Bullring and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium. Afternoon free to continue exploring the wonders that the city has to offer. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 2 (Mon.) MADRID – CORDOBA – SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from our established hotels in Madrid. Please refer to your documentation for detailed departure information. Drive along La Mancha, Don Quixote’s land. Brief stop at typical site in Puerto Lapice. Cross through the natural border of “Despeñaperros” and get into Andalusia, a region for itself that shows an enormous heritage from a splendorous past. Reach Cordoba. Impressive tour of its   Mosque and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, after a short two hours ride reach Seville. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Los Angeles Hotel.

Day 4 (Tue.) SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning panoramic city tour visiting: the exterior of the Cathedral (the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peters in Rome), Santa Cruz quarter (a natural scenario of “Carmen” as well as a precisely where the myth of “Don Juan” developed), Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Afternoon at leisure for you to discover exclusive views, specific flavors of this active full of light city. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optional Flamenco tour.

Day 5 (Wed.) SEVILLE – GRANADA
After breakfast at the hotel drive east through the Caliphate road to the heart of ANDALUSIA observing an endless number of olive trees on the way to Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Visit the world famous Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens that have inspired several authors with its sound and sights, such as the “Tales of the Alhambra” by W. Irving. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optional Gipsy Flamenco show at Sacromonte quarter. Melia Granada Hotel.

Day 6 (Thu.) GRANADA – TOLEDO – MADRID
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive northward where it emerges, toward the sky of Castilla and surrounded by the Tagus River, the impressive Imperial city of Toledo –World Heritage City- where the three cultures Christians, Moorish and Jewish, have lived together. Resume of the Spanish art, history and spirituality the whole town is a National Monument. Short guided tour of this historical old town through its narrow streets. Then proceed with a visit to a famous “Damasquinado” (gold and silver inlaying in iron) factory. Continue to Madrid. Accommodation at the hotel. Courtyard Marriott Madrid Princesa / Riu Plaza España Hotel.

Day 7 (Fri.) MADRID – BARCELONA
After breakfast at the hotel. Depart from our established hotels in Madrid. Please refer to your documentation for detailed departure information. Accommodation. Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel.

Day 8 (Sat.) BARCELONA
Breakfast at the hotel. Highlights city tour of Barcelona. Half-day sightseeing tour around Barcelona that will allow you to discover the history of the city while visiting some of the most important places in a comfortable and easy way. The first part of the visit consists in a guided walking tour through the small and narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of the city. During this early visit we will see Las Ramblas, de Cathedral Square, The Cathedral (free time to visit the Cathedral by yourself), the Old Jewish Quarter, among other interesting places. Later we will take our bus to start with a panoramic tour around the rest of the city. We will pass through the elegant Passeig de Gràcia Street, where there are located two of the most important Gaudi’s buildings (Casa Batlló and Casa Milà “la Pedrera”), the Triumph Arc, the Olympic Village and the Olympic Port. For the next part of the visit we will access to the Montjuic Mountain. This is an important place because was the main scenery of the Olympic Games in the 1992. We will see the Olympic stadium from the bus and later we will have the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the city riding the aerial tramway (subject to the weather conditions). For the next part we will go to the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) that consist in a synthesis of all the cultural variety in Spain. During the visit you will be given some free time to enjoy the different areas inspired in different Spanish regions, where you will find craft shops restaurants and bars. At the end, back to the bus, we will leave Montjuic and come back to the city center passing through España square, the twin Venetian towers, the MNAC and the Shopping center Las Arenas, build in an old bullring. We will arrive to Catalunya square, and we will end up the tour.

Note: January to March (dates to be confirmed) the cable car doesn’t work due to revision tasks, this service will be replaced by a tapas tasting in Spanish Village.

Afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this wonderful city and surroundings. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 9 (Sun.) BARCELONA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Barcelona’s airport.

Note: - In the event that the panoramic tour of Madrid is not operated for technical reasons will be replaced by the Madrid Hop-on Hop-off Bus 1 day instead. During your stay in Madrid, Barcelona and on the train journey to Barcelona tour escort service is not available.

Single room supplement is extra. Please contact us for Single travel alone and Single room supplement.

Highlights

• The Mosque of Cordoba was built during the Muslim empire and was reconverted into a Catholic cathedral. It is the third biggest mosque in the world and stands out for its hundreds of decorated arches and columns that hold its roof.

• The Cathedral of Seville is the biggest Gothic cathedral in the world. Is a sign of its wide cultural and artistic past.

• La Alhambra is contemporary history of Granada’s Arab past. Its buildings, towers, palaces, patios and gardens make La Alhambra one of the most visited monuments in Spain.

INCLUSIONS

• Transportation on an air conditioned coach.

• Local official guide.

• One hour guided walking tour.

• Tour operated in both Spanish and English.

Please Note;

• This tour includes walking tours.

• Wheelchair accessible (only folding chairs). You must be accompanied by someone who can assist you thoroughly.

• The itinerary is subject to change due to the events to be celebrated in the City (demonstrations, sport events, cultural events, official acts and public works).

• We will make convenient stops to rest and take pictures at Plaza Mayor, Debod’s Temple and Las Ventas Bullring, if the weather permits and always accompanied by our guide.

EXCLUSIONS
• Personal expenses, International airfare, Visa fees
• Customary gratitude to your guide and driver