SPAIN & portugal: portugal andalucia & MEDITERRANEAN CAPITALS from madrid 13 days
Madrid - salamanca - porto - coimbra - fatima - batalha - nazare - alcobaca - lisbon caceres - cordoba - granada - VAlencia - barcelona - madrid

itinerary, prices & Inclusions

Day 1 (Tue.) MADRID – SALAMANCA – PORTO
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 Heritage of Humanity of great architectural and artistic wealth. Departure to the Portuguese border until you reach Porto. Accommodation. Bessahotel Boavista Hotel or Vila Gale Porto Hotel

Day 2 (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 3 (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. Aurea Fatima / Estrela de Fatima / Regina Hotel or Santa Maria Hotel.

Day 4 (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. Lutecia Hotel or Vila Gale Opera Hotel.

Day 5 (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, 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 6 (Sun.) LISBON – CACERES – CORDOBA
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure at 07:30 hrs. to  Caceres declared UNESCO World Heritage sitre because of the city’s blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. Walk through its Plaza Mayor and the Old Town with its famous Medieval Quarter. Afterwards, continue on towards Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Hesperia Córdoba Hotel.

Day 7 (Mon.) CORDOBA – SEVILLE
Breakfast at the hotel. 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. Hesperia Sevilla Hotel or Melia Lebreros Hotel.

Day 8 (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 9 (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. Melia Granada Hotel or Catalonia Santa Justa Hotel.

Day 10 (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 Valencia Las Artes Hotel.

Day 11 (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 / Melia Barcelona Sarria Hotel.

Day 12 (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 13 (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.  

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.

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

Highlights

• The Alfama district, located at the foot of the Castle of São Jorge, shows the nature of the old fishermen’s neighbourhood. 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 narrow and labyrinthine streets of Barrio Gótico are the cultural heritage of the Roman and Medieval history of Barcelona.

INCLUSIONS

• Guided visits in Porto, Lisbon, Cordoba, Seville, Granada (Alhambra & Generalife Gardens), Valencia, Barcelona 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 4 dinners.

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