SPAIN & portugal: Madrid, portugal & andalucia 14 days
Madrid - salamanca - porto - coimbra - fatima - batalha - nazare - alcobaca - lisbon caceres - cordoba - seville - ronda - costa del sol - granada - toledo - madrid

itinerary, prices & Inclusions

Day 1 (Sun.) 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 NH Manzanares or similar.

Day 2 (Mon.) 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 (Tue.) MADRID – SALAMANCA - PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from our established hotels in Madrid. Please refer to your documentation for detailed departure information. Drive to Salamanca. Free time in this University City World Heritage of great architectural and artistic wealth. Departure to the Portuguese border until you reach Porto. Accommodation. HF Ipanema Porto Hotel or BessaHotel Boavista Hotel or Vila Galé Porto or similar.

Day 4 (Wed.) PORTO
Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic sightseeing tour of Porto, considered World Heritage city. We admire the Cathedral, Stock Exchange building and Santa Clara church. Afterwards, enjoy a different perspective of the city along the river Douro aboard the Blue Boats Cruise and discover the historic heritage visiting one well known Port Wine Cellars with a wine tasting included. Rest of day at leisure. Accommodation.

Day 5 (Thu.) PORTO – COIMBRA – FATIMA
Breakfast. Departure to Coimbra. City seat of one of the oldest universities in Europe and the birthplace of Fado. Free time. Then to Fatima. Center of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary with its impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria place where the Virgin Mary appeared. The Chapel of the Apparitions, heart of the sanctuary, with the tombs of the three shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. At night possibility to attend the procession of the candles. Accommodation. Santa María Hotel or Aurea Hotel or Estrela Hotel or Regina or similar.

Day 6 (Fri.) FATIMA – BATALHA - NAZARE – ALCOBAÇA - LISBON
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Batalha Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline style considered a World Heritage place by UNESCO. Continue to the picturesque fishing town of Nazaré. Free time and continue to Alcobaça (World Heritage) with its Gothic church and Cistercian monastery, whose origins date back to the XII C. Then to Lisbon. Accommodation. Optional traditional and typical dinner including a show of Fado, typical Portuguese song and music. Lutécia Hotel or VIP Art’s Hotel or VIP Entrecampos or similar.

Day 7 (Sat.) LISBON
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning sightseeing tour of the ancient Olissipo, drive through its main squares and avenues, Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Coach Museum (entrance included), Monument to the Discoverers, Marquis of Pombal Square, Liberty Avenue. Afternoon at leisure for you to catch the nostalgic corners of Alfama Quarter, the old city gathered next to its Castle, with old buildings nested in narrow twisting “Ruas” full of color housing the genuine “tabernas” where Fado sounds as a missing past. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 8 (Sun.) LISBON – MERIDA – CORDOBA
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Merida, the capital of Extremadura. Declared a World Heritage Site, Merida is renowned for its rich historical heritage, including its well-preserved Roman ruins: the theater, the amphitheater, the Roman bridge, and more. Free time and then continue to Córdoba, once the capital of the Caliphate. Accommodation at the hotel. (B) Eurostars Hotel or NH Califa or similar.

Day 9 (Mon.) CORDOBA – SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. Impressive tour of its Mosque (entrance included) 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. Meliá Lebreros Hotel or Meliá Sevilla or similar.

Day 10 (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 11 (Wed.) SEVILLE – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
After breakfast at the hotel drive south passing typical villages. Reach Ronda; free time to admire this town of Celtic origin and the marvelous view 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. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Sol Torremolilnos Hotel or Sol Príncipe or similar.

Day 12 (Thu.) COSTA DEL SOL – GRANADA
Breakfast. Departure towards the city of Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Visit the world famous Alhambra complex (entrance included) 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. Meliá Granada Hotel or Catalonia Granada or similar.

Day 13 (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 NH Manzanares or similar.

Day 14 (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 stay in Madrid tour escort service is not available.

Highlights

• The Alfama district, located at the foot of the Castle of São Jorge, shows the nature of the old fishermen’s neighborhood. Its picturesque tiny streets are wonderful to get lost in and to discover the charm of the city.

• The Sanctuary of Fatima, built in the 20th century after the apparitions of the Virgin, is the destination of an inner journey of Christian faith. It is one of the main Marian shrines of the world.

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

INCLUSIONS

• Guided visits in Porto, Lisbon, Cordoba, Seville, Granada (Alhambra and Generalife Gardens), Toledo and panoramic sightseeing tours as per the itinerary.

• Tour Escort during the tour.

• Air conditioned deluxe motor-coach.

• Accommodation at selected class.

• Daily Breakfast and 5 dinners.

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