SPAIN: madrid, andalucia & mediterranean coAst with barcelona 9 days english language
Madrid - cordoba - SEVILLE - granada - valencia - 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 3 (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 and 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-hour ride reach Seville. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Melia Lebreros 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
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 (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. Melia Granada Hotel or Sabica Hotel.

Day 6 (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 7 (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 8 (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 and harbor, Olympic Ring, monument to Columbus and the Olympic Port. Afternoon is for you to keep on discovering this city.

Day 9 (Sun.) BARCELONA
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.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:
SEVILLE - Boat Trip on the Guadalquivir: $34.00 per person
We propose a one-hour boat ride on the Guadalquivir, mythical and legendary river, the only navigable in Spain. From the boat we can contemplate the classic Seville, with its elegant bridges such as San Telmo or Triana, the Giralda, the Bullring, the popular neighborhood of Triana or the towers of the Plaza de España, as well as the Seville more avant-garde, reflected in the constructions made on the occasion of Expo 92, such as the modern bridges of the Cartuja and the Alamillo, the most emblematic pavilions of the Island of the Cartuja or the Theater of the Maestranza.

GRANADA - Tour of the Albaicín – an experience through Arabian Granada: $63.00 per person
A journey from Islam to Christianity in which we show the exciting transformation of such a mythical city. Walking through the Albaicín, recognized as a World Heritage Site, is to explore the history of Granada, from Islam to Christianity, without forgetting the mark left by the Jewish people. We will contemplate the city from its imposing viewpoints, we will see old mosques converted into churches, old palaces, artisan workshops, we will visit one of the old Moorish houses and we will have the opportunity to try the celebrated Arab pastry having tea and a sweet in a typical Granada teashop. We will finish our tour of contrasts in the Royal Chapel, a jewel of the late Gothic, built by the Catholic Monarchs, as the final point and apogee of the Arab legacy of Granada.

VALENCIA - Modernist Valencia & Dinner with Paella: $121.00 per person
We propose a tour of the most unknown Valencia, the Modernist Valencia. At the end of the 19th century the city of Valencia experienced an important political and social development, which was reflected in the architecture of the city. We will discover the Paseo de la Alameda, the Ensanche, with significant buildings such as the Casa Chapa or the Ortega house, to continue to the neighborhood of Colón, from which we will start a walking tour that will reveal an eclectic and original city: the Casa de los Dragones, and its commercial area, the Plaza del Patriarca and the Palace of the Marquis de dos Aguas, the street of La Paz, the most modernist city and entry point of medieval Valencia,.... Our tour will end at a local restaurant where we will enjoy the original and authentic Valencian paella. The menu consists of starters, Valencian paella, dessert, coffee and a drink.

• Promotional departure dates for limited time only.
  Single room supplement is extra. Please contact us for Single travel alone and Single room supplement.

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.

• 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.

• The City of the Arts and Sciences is an architectural and cultural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava. It stands out for the modern architecture of the Hemisfèric which resembles a giant eye.

INCLUSIONS

• Guided visits in Cordoba, Seville, Granada (Alhambra & Generalife Gardens), Valencia and Barcelona.

• Tour Escort during the tour.

• Air conditioned deluxe motor-coach.

• Accommodation at selected class.

• Daily breakfast and 3 dinners.

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