SPAIN & portugal: Madrid, portugal & andalucia 16 days
Madrid - salamanca - porto - coimbra - fatima - batalha - nazare - alcobaca - lisbon caceres - cordoba - seville - granada - valencia - barcelona - zaragoza - 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 Cordoba, 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 – GRANADA
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. Meliá Granada or similar.

Day 12 (Thu.) GRANADA – VALENCIA
After breakfast at the hotel start driving looking for the Mediterranean coast. Via Murcia, capital of the fertile garden of the Segura river, continue north via Alicante, the second largest city within the region of Valencia. Reach Valencia one of the main capitals of the Mediterranean coast with its modern Arts and Sciences Architectural Complex integrated by six elements: Hemispheric, Umbracle, Science Museum, Oceanographic, Palau de les Arts and Ágora. Valencia is also the home of the internationally well renowned and delicious “Paella”, Accommodation at the hotel. NH Las Artes or similar.

Day 13 (Fri.) VALENCIA – BARCELONA
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning city tour of this bright city including a drive through the old city showing the most prominent buildings, we will then be driven past the old riverbed of the Turia to the most avant-garde complex “Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias” to watch the emblematic exteriors of the six buildings. Early afternoon departure northward all along the Mediterranean coast to Catalunya, via Tarragona, the Roman Tarraco. Reach Barcelona principal Mediterranean city homeland of the famous architect Gaudí symbol of the Catalonian modernism. Accommodation at the hotel. Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel or Evenia Riosselló or similar.

Day 14 (Sat.) BARCELONA                                       
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning city tour of Barcelona well known worldwide for the Olympic Games during 1992, drive along the main avenues with impressive modernist buildings by Gaudí such as La Pedrera, Casa Milá, etc. – declared World Heritage buildings. – The Montjuïc Park with spectacular views of the city, Olympic Ring, monument to Columbus and the Olympic Port. Afternoon is for you to keep on discovering this city full attractive offers as well as exquisite and varied gastronomy. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 15 (Sun.) BARCELONA – ZARAGOZA – MADRID
After breakfast at the hotel departure southwest along an industrial and agricultural area with certain relevance within Europe. Arrive to Zaragoza, capital city of Aragón, within the banks of Ebro River the most copious within the Iberian Peninsula. Zaragoza, known as Cesar Augusta during the Roman period had an important role in Spanish history. Some free time to see the impressive Baroque architecture of the Basilic-Temple of Our Lady Pilar. Continue to Madrid. Accommodation at the hotel. Aloft Hotel or NH Manzanares or similar.

Day 16 (Mon) MADRID
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport.

 Note:
- This tour might be a combination of different programs. If applies there might be a change in the tour escort and passengers between the programs
- 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), 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