SPAIN
Madrid, Merida, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Costa del Sol9 DAYS – 7 NIGHTS
ESCORTED TOURS
ITINERARY
Day 1, Saturday: En route
Depart your home city on an overnight trans-Atlantic flight.
Day 2, Sunday: MADRID
Arrival at Madrid airport. After clearing simple immigration and customs formalities, you will be transferred to your hotel. We suggest you take advantage of the free time to get to know one of Europe’s most dynamic capital cities. In the early evening, enjoy an “Illuminated Madrid” drive through the bustling streets of the old city, ending at the historical and impressive Plaza Mayor. This area is home to some of the most typical restaurants and taverns, which serve the delicious “tapas”. VALUE PACKAGE includes a Tapas Dinner tonight. Return to your hotel at your own convenience. Accommodations.
Day 3, Monday: MADRID
Buffet breakfast. This morning’s escorted sightseeing tour will allow you to get a glimpse of some of Madrid’s most outstanding attractions, like the Puerta del Sol, the magnificent fountains of Neptune and Cibeles, the stately Alcala Gate, the busy Gran Via, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Oriente. Time for lunch on your own. VALUE PACKAGE includes Lunch today. Highly recommended this afternoon, is an optional tour to the Imperial former capital city of Toledo, where you will be escorted through its narrow cobblestone streets, soaking up the medieval atmosphere. Touring will include the interior of the magnificent Gothic cathedral and a visit to St. Tome Church, where El Greco’s masterpiece painting is displayed. There will also be some time for shopping for the unique typical local artisanry. VALUE PACKAGE includes the Tour to Toledo. Return to Madrid for accommodations.
Day 4, Tuesday: MADRID-MERIDA-SEVILLE
Buffet breakfast. Departure through the once-remote region of Extremadura, home to many of the “Conquistadores”. Arrival in ancient Merida. Free time for lunch. Lunch included in VALUE PACKAGE. In the afternoon, visit the impressive Roman amphitheatre archeological site before continuing to Seville. Accommodations.
Day 5, Wednesday: SEVILLE
Buffet breakfast. This morning’s tour of the “Pearl of Andalucia” will explore this gracious city, Spain’s third largest. See the Tower of Gold, the tranquil and extensive Maria Luisa Park, the quaint Santa Cruz Quarter, and finally the huge cathedral (one of the worlds largest) with its Giralda Tower (a former minaret). Time for lunch on your own. Lunch Included in VALUE PACKAGE. We suggest an optional boat trip on the Guadalquivir River Boat tour included in VALUE PACKAGE. The afternoon is free to continue to explore or shop. This evening an optional Flamenco Show is suggested, with the enjoyment of local wine. VALUE PACKAGE includes Flamenco Show. Accommodations.
Day 6, Thursday: SEVILLE-CORDOBA-GRANADA
Buffet breakfast. Depart to Cordoba. Visit one of the world’s marvels, the former Great Mosque (now a cathedral). Time for lunch on your own. Continue to Granada, passing thousands of acres of olive groves. VALUE PACKAGE includes dinner tonight. Accommodations.
Day 7, Friday: GRANADA-COSTA DEL SOL
Buffet breakfast. This morning, enjoy an escorted tour of the amazing Moorish palace and fortress complex of the Alhambra and the verdant Gardens of the Generalife. Departure to the world-famous resort area of the Costa del Sol. Accommodations.
Day 8, Saturday: COSTA DEL SOL – RONDA – COSTA DEL SOL
Buffet breakfast. This morning we’ll enjoy a brief visit of the city before departing to the picturesque city of Ronda perched on the mountains and an enclave full of charm and history. Upon arrival we will visit to the city of Ronda. Free time for lunch on your own (Lunch included in VALUE PACKAGE). In the afternoon we will return to Malaga (Costa del Sol). Accommodations.
Day 9, Sunday: En route
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to Malaga Airport at the proper time to check-in for your return flight.
HOTEL
ACCOMMODATIONS
Romance~Beauty~History
RIVER QUADALQUIVIR
A city of history, that’s for sure. Walk along the banks of the River Quadalquivir, on the waters of which Columbus set sail on many of his voyages of Discovery. Or visit Columbus’ Tomb in the historical ancient Cathedral of Seville, and imagine the activity of Holy Week. With the floats, and processions. Or visit a sword factory, from which a similar place the conquistadors were outfitted. Visit a mantilla factory, from a similar one generations of Senoritas had purchased their finest for a stroll through the park conjuring up visions of Carmen by Bizet. Stop into a local bar for a fino sherry, crafted by local winemakers and aged for years before being offered as accompaniment to a tasty seafood tapa from the river or the nearby Atlantic. Visit magnificent museums, some in churches, displaying works by masters like Murillo and Zurburan. Or perhaps linger for a more serious wine tasting. Stop into a local taverna, to watch a well-trained couple dance a years-old Flamenco routine accompanied by exotic music. Wander through endless shops of ceramic souvenirs, castanets, guitars and tambourines, unforgettable clothing, perfumes and wines. Stroll along shaded pathways, admiring ancient buildings surrounded by tropical plants. Choose between charming smaller hotels or amazing historical luxury palaces for accommodations before choosing between fascinating tapas bars and top notch gourmet restaurants. Seville is history, and you will be able to live it there!
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TOUR FEATURES
- Transfers airport-hotel-airport
- Accommodations in your choice of hotels
- Buffet breakfast daily
- Deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation
- Professional multilingual tour escort throughout
- Escorted sightseeing tours with multilingual guide in Madrid, Granada, and Seville
- Evening Illuminations tour of Madrid
- Protection and assistance insurance while on tour
- Travel bag
VALUE PKG $300 pp
- “Tapas” dinner in Madrid
- Lunch in Madrid or Toledo
- Lunch in Merida
- Lunch in Seville
- Dinner in Granada
- Tour of Toledo
- Lunch in Ronda
- Flamenco Show in Seville
- Guadalquivir river cruise
MADRID
The capital of Spain is made up of people from all over Spain and open to new social trends. The Madrid of the Austrias, the Bourbons, the romantic, the popular, the sophisticated and the modern are some of the faces that the city will show us during our visit. Characterized by its lively nightlife, Madrid is not lacking in distractions after a day of walks and discoveries. This city has a lot to offer and not only for its important art galleries like the Prado Museum or the Reina Sofía but also for its churches, convents, alleys, squares, gardens, and skyscrapers. A wide range in which to choose what we like most. Madrid enjoys around 2,800 hours of light a year and an average temperature of 17 degrees Celsius.