MADRID, PORTUGAL AND ANDALUSIA (ENGLISH ONLY – SMALL GROUP) 14 DAYS
14 Days: Madrid, Avila, Salamanca, Porto, Coimbra, Fatima, Batalha, Nazare, Alcobaca, Lisbon, Caceres, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Costa Del Sol, Granada, Toledo, Madrid
Tour overview:
Your amazing 14-day trip begins in Madrid to see the medieval origins of the city and the many historical buildings. You will drive to Avila, a city still preserved with its medieval walls. Next you will head over to see amazing views of Porto and end the day in a wine cellar for a wine tasting. Visit Fatima, the center of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary. In Lisbon, drive through its main squares and avenues. Explore Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate with its impressive Mosque and Jewish Quarter. You will find yourself in Seville for you to discover wonderful views and flavors of this light city. As the tour ends, you will find yourself on an excursion to Toledo, one of the oldest towns in Europe, for a day full of Spanish art and history.
Day 1 - Sun – Madrid
Meet and assistance at the airport, transfer to the hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Accommodation at the hotel
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. (B)
Day 3 - Tue – Madrid – Salamanca – Porto
Breakfast at the hotel. Bound for Portugal, we will drive towards Salamanca. Enjoy some free time in this University City and World Heritage Site of great architectural and artistic wealth. Continue to the Portuguese border to reach Porto. Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European towns, and proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)
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 BlueBoats Cruise and discover the historic heritage visiting one wellknown Port Wine Cellars with a wine tasting included. Rest of day at leisure. Accommodation. (B)
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. (B)
Day 6 - Fri – Fatima – Batalha – Nazare – Alcobaca – 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. (B)
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. (B)
Day 8 - Sun – Lisbon – Caceres – Cordoba
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure at 07:30 hrs. to Caceres considered as World Heritage place 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. (B, D)
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. (B, D)
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. (B, D)
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. (B, D)
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. (B, D)
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. (B)
Day 14 - Sat – Madrid
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport. END OF OUR SERVICE. (B)