SPAIN: madrid, andalucia with Cordoba, costa del SOL & TOLEDO 9 days
Madrid - cordoba - SEVILLE - ronda - costa del sol - granada - TOLEDO - madrid

itinerary, prices & Inclusions

Day 1 (Fri.) MADRID
Meet and greet at the airport. Take a transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure Accommodation at the hotel. Aloft Hotel or Hotel Princesa Plaza or similar.

Day 2 (Sat.) 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 3 (Sun.) MADRID – MERIDA – CORDOBA
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure heading west via the highway towards Extremadura, the birthplace of several explorers of the New World. Arrival in Merida, the capital of Extremadura. Declared a World Heritage Site, Merida is known for its rich historical heritage, including its well-preserved Roman ruins: the theater, the amphitheater, the Roman bridge, and more. Free time and then continuation to Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate. Accommodation at the hotel. (B) Hotel Eurostars or Hotel NH Califa or similar.

Day 4 (Mon.) CORDOBA – SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. City tour including its impressive “Mosque”, today a Cathedral, and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. Continue on towards Seville. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Melia Lebreros Hotel or Melia Sevilla Hotel.

Day 5 (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, Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Optional Flamenco Tour.

Day 6 (Wed.) SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
After breakfast at the hotel drive south passing typical villages. Reach Ronda; time at leisure to admire this town of Celtic origin and the marvelous view of the valley and mountain range. Continue on to the Costa del Sol, one of the most modern and important international tourist areas. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Sol Torremolinos Hotel or Sol Principe Hotel.

Day 7 (Thu.) COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Breakfast. Departure towards the city of Granada, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Visit the world famous Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens that have inspired several authors, 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 or Catalonia Granada Hotel or similar.

Day 8 (Fri.) 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. Aloft Hotel or Hotel Princesa Plaza or similar.

Day 9 (Sat.) MADRID
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the 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, tour escort service is not available.

Highlights

• Cordoba's Synagogue is located in the Jewish Quarter. Accessed from the street there is the courtyard that takes to the prayer’s rooms.

• The reflection of sun in the Torre del Oro makes this monument to look golden, as its name itself.

• The Generalife complex was built following the Nasrid Arabic style and consists of buildings, patios and gardens. Calmness, beauty and serenity is breathe during a walk through the Generalife.

• The Church of Santo Tomé holds El Greco masterpiece painting ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’, set over this genius painter tomb.

INCLUSIONS

• Guided visits in Cordoba, Seville, Granada (Alhambra & Generalife Gardens) & Toledo

• Tour Escort during the route.

• Air conditioned deluxe motor-coach.

• Five nights accommodation at selected class.

• Daily breakfast and five dinners.

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