Madrid, Seville & Lisbon: Iberian Delights

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Amazing Experience

Overview

  • Begin in Madrid with a panoramic city tour and a lively welcome tapas dinner.
  • Explore Toledo’s blend of Arab, Jewish, and Christian heritage, including El Greco’s famed masterpiece.
  • Discover Segovia’s aqueduct and Alcázar before strolling Salamanca’s golden-hued historic quarter.
  • Cross into Portugal to visit Batalha Monastery, Obidos’ medieval streets, and vibrant Lisbon.
  • Journey through Seville, Córdoba, and Valencia to Barcelona, where tapas, paella, and Gaudí await.

 

Trip Includes

  • Meet & assist upon arrival & departure at Airports
  • Transportation in a private, air-conditioned coach with driver
  • Sightseeing and admissions as per the itinerary
  • 11 nights accommodation in First-Class hotels
  • Meals as indicated on itinerary (B-full breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
     

Trip Excludes

  • All airfares, departure taxes & fuel surcharges, seat selection
  • Personal items
  • Hotel Porterage
  • Optional Tours
  • Meals unless listed in itinerary
  • Tips & Gratuities
  • Increase in local tax rates
  • Early check-in & late check out of rooms (standard check-in time is 2pm and check out 10am)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa & passport handling fees

 

Summary

Terms and Conditions

Prices are from per person based on twin/double share accommodation, subject to availability and current exchange rates, based on a minimum of 25 passengers. Seasonal surcharges and black-out dates may apply.  Please enquire about airfare, single supplements, and extensions/changes to itinerary or upgrades.   

 

 

Welcome to Madrid! On our way to the hotel, we will begin a panoramic tour of the city where we will visit one of the most important streets in Madrid: Las Ventas Bullring, pass by Las Castellana, Bernabéu Stadium, the Cibeles Fountain, the Puerta de Alcalá, the most famous of the old five doors that gave access to Madrid, Paseo del Arte as well as the most cosmopolitan areas of Madrid. Later this evening we gather together for our first taste of Iberia with a Welcome Tapas Dinner. Accommodation: Exe Moncloa or similar

Meal

Dinner

 

This morning a local guide takes you on a walking tour Historic City of Toledo, World Heritage City since 1986. Once Spain’s capital, it is a perfect mix of Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures. Learn about its fantastic heritage and see how the coexistence of cultures through the centuries influenced its current architectural style. The walking tour will continue until we reach the Cathedral, considered of the most important Gothic Cathedrals in Spain. You will see it from the outside. Then, visit Santo Tomé Church where we will admire "The Burial of Lord of Orgaz" painting by El Greco, and Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue. This evening you’ll have the chance to admire the elegance of Madrid’s new city, with its wide, tree-lined avenues and decorative fountains, before you join the locals in a chat, and people-watch as you sip an aperitif during your free time before enjoying a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

Meal

Breakfast, Dinner

 

We head out of the big city and head to Segovia as our first stop with a short walking tour. See the most important roman civil construction in the Peninsula, the Aqueduct of Segovia. Walk through the old Jewish quarter of the city following your guide towards the Alcazar of Segovia. Enjoy a guided visit and marvel at this spectacular fortification. Did you know its architecture served as inspiration in some Walt Disney films? Your journey continues through the Sierra de Guadarrama Mountains to Salamanca. As the first Spanish city to found a University, Salamanca is filled with students especially in the historic district. You'll love strolling around the cobbled streets of the historic quarter and visiting the university and the city's two cathedrals with their characteristic golden stone. The past is visible in the Old Cathedral, the huge Plaza Mayor, House of Shells or the Monterrey Palace, all splendid buildings that rightfully earned the city a place on the Unesco World Heritage Site list in 1988. Accommodation: Corona Sol or similar

Meal

Breakfast

We cross over into Portugal this morning for a visit to the monastery at Batalha – a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the best example of late Gothic architecture in Portugal. Stop with a visit to the medieval city of Obidos perhaps stop in a local shop to try the regional cherry liqueur, Ginja. Continue the journey to Lisbon where you will dine together at a local restaurant and taste some of local flavours. Accommodation: Hotel Sana Malhoa or similar

Meal

Breakfast, Dinner

 

See Lisbon’s landmarks including the Monument to the Discoveries, the suspension bridge spanning the River Tagus, the Belém Tower and taste some delicious Nata tarts made with a recipe that is almost 200 years old and one of the oldest bakeries in Lisbon. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Hieronymite Monastery during your sightseeing tour with a local guide. In the afternoon we tour Restauradores Square, where an obelisk commemorates the independence of Portugal from Spain in 1640. From here you can admire the Avenida Liberdade, the Eden Theater (one of the best examples of Portuguese Art Deco) and the Foz Palace 18th century. Marvel at the intricate "neomanueline" architecture of Rossio Central Station, which is considered one of the most important works of engineering in Portugal since the 19th century. You will learn more about the Carnation Revolution when you visit the beautiful Plaza del Comercio, the point where the old Portuguese dictatorial regime fell in 1974, after 48 years of dictatorship, and where the Carmelite convent is located. Then, stroll through the elegant Chiado neighborhood, full of old cafes, boutiques, theaters, and bookstores. In the evening, private transfer to Bairro Alto quarter, one of the oldest areas in the city, where you will have the dinner in a traditional Portuguese restaurant, with typical food and traditional fado music show. Soak up the warm atmosphere and listen to the soft melodies of the Portuguese guitar as you experience the authentic Portuguese gastronomy.

Meal

Breakfast, Dinner

We will depart to Jabugo (Huelva) through Sierra Morena, birthplace of the Iberian pig. Here, we can find great gastronomic traditions with exceptional ham. You will visit a private ranch to see the pigs in their environment, enjoying a Ham & Wine tasting of the Iberio Ham known around the world. Next stop is Aracena. We will cross its beautiful streets until we arrive on foot at the entrance of the Grotto of Wonders, natural caves that will not leave you indifferent. These impressive monuments offer geological formations such as stalactites and stalagmites. All of this is hidden behind Aracena and nearby peaks. Later arrive in beautiful and friendly Seville for our two-night stay. Accommodation: Exe Macarena or similar

Meal

Breakfast

 

We will discover the most important monuments like the University (Old Factory of Tobacco), the Palacio de San Telmo, the Torre del Oro, Maestranza or Puente de Isabel II. Photostop in the famous Plaza de España. We will follow with a beautiful sightseeing tour of the famous Santa Cruz´s Quarter. Enter the whitewashed walls of the Santa Cruz´s quarter which brings you indescribable emotions and when you turn any corner you can feel the presence of important personages like Bécquer or D. Juan Tenorio. Then, it is the turn of the two most precious monuments of the city: the Real Alcazar and the Cathedral of Seville. The Cathedral of Seville is the largest Christian Gothic cathedral in the world. UNESCO declared it in 1987 a World Heritage Site and, on July 25, 2010, a Site of Outstanding Universal Value. From the old Aljama Mosque in Seville, the minaret (the Giralda) and the Patio de los Naranjos are preserved like the original. The temple keeps the mortal remains of Christopher Columbus. The Real Alcazar of Seville is a group of palaces surrounded by a wall, different styles have been used (Islamic-Mudejar and Gothic). In successive reforms, Renaissance and Baroque elements have been added. This place is usually used as accommodation place for the Royal Spanish House, being the oldest royal palace in Europe, as avowed by UNESCO and used as a filiming location including Game of Thrones.

Meal

Breakfast

 

One of Andalucía’s most fascinating cities, Córdoba stands out thanks to its interesting mix of Roman, Moorish, and Spanish cultures. One of the world's greatest works of Islamic architecture, the Mezquita of Córdoba tells the long history of Andalucía. We will continue visiting the majestic Alcázar, ancient fortress and palace. We will explore inside the Alcázar and take a relaxing walk through its beautiful gardens. We won´t miss the marvellous Jewish Quarter with its narrow streets full of life. We will walk along the lovely “Calle de las Flores” (The Flowers Street) one of the most traditional places of Córdoba and visit the only Synagogue in Andalusia. Leaving Cordoba, driving through Jaén, you will encounter a rich variety of. Among these wonders, Úbeda stands out as a jewel of the Andalusian Renaissance, and is an must visit for any itinerary in the region. Enjoy a unique walking tour in Úbeda, which is classified as a World Heritage site by Unesco. You will contemplate buildings of great depth, fruit of the genius architect of the Renaissance Jienense, Andrés de Vandelvira, such as the Palace Vázquez de Molina, the Palace of Deán Fernando Ortega or The Sacred Chapel of El Salvador. You will continue discovering the Mancera Palace, the House of the Bishop and the Old Pósito or Minor Basilica of Santa María de los Reales Alcázares. Then you will visit the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Vela or the Market Square where you will see the Old Town Hall and the Church of San Pablo. The remainder of the day is all yours to explore and taste what the city has to offer. Accommodation: Yit Postigo or similar

Meal

Breakfast

 

Discover the vibrant history, and architectural splendour of Valencia's Old Town and historical centre with a guided walking tour. You'll learn about more than 2,000 years of Valencia's history, starting with the Roman ruins and old Muslim city. Among the sights you'll visit are the Lonja (the Silk Exchange) -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- the Basilica, Valencia’s famous Cathedral, and other buildings of historic importance, such as the Bullring and the Central Market. At the end of the tour, we will stop for a traditional Horchata and fartons tasting. In the evening, we will enjoy some tapas with drinks while our chef explains step by step the preparation of the paella in the birthplace of the dish. Afterwards, we dine on the delicious Paella along with local wines and good times at dinner. Accommodation: Silken Puerta Valencia or similar

Meal

Breakfast, Dinner

 

Today head north along the coast through the Levant region and stop at Peñiscola. Discover gates, bastions, and the most emblematic buildings of the town. Stroll the beautiful streets of Peñíscola and marvel at local landscapes and architecture. Learn about the traces of each of the town’s historical settlers, from Phoenicians to Muslims. Admire the view of Peñíscola Castle, built by the Knights Templar and enjoy the thrill of discovering Game of Thrones filming locations around the town. Continue along the Costa Dorada to Barcelona where you will have the remainder of the day at leisure. Accommodation: Catalonia Atenas or similar

Meal

Breakfast

 

You will learn about locally grown products and participate in the selection of ingredients that will be used later in the cooking class. We will prepare a variety of tapas guided by a professional chef. The classes provide a fun, social, hands-on experience, where you will be participating in the preparation of the various dishes under the thoughtful guidance of our instructors followed by a tapas lunch. In the afternoon, we will travel to the city's most famous landmark: the incredible Sagrada Familia, a temple under construction for over 100 years that is sure to leave you speechless (outside). The tour continues through Plaza Cataluña, Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló or Casa Milà “La Pedrera”. The remainder of the day is at your leisure, do some last minute shopping to visit the sights you still have to check off. Enjoy the last taste of Iberia while you can.

Meal

Breakfast, Lunch

Say ‘adios’ to Iberia, your fellow travellers at the end of a memorable and tasty holiday.

Meal

Breakfast

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