Itinerary

Day 1:
Thu. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Fri. ARRIVAL IN MADRID, SPAIN. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring lively Madrid. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3:
Sat. MADRID-SALAMANCA-COIMBRA, PORTUGAL. Journey west to fortified Avila, then on to Salamanca, just six miles from the spot where Wellington routed Napoleon’s army in 1812. Make sure you spend some time wandering around Salamanca’s Plaza Mayor, the most beautiful square in Spain. Leave Salamanca and head westwards to the fortress town of Ciudad Rodrigo, perched high above the Rio Agueda. A profusion of woodlands and mountains awaits you as you journey into the valley of the Sierra da Estrela on your way for an overnight in Coimbra. (B,D)

Day 4:
Sun. COIMBRA-FATIMA-LISBON. This morning enjoy an orientation tour of Coimbra, strategically situated on a hill overlooking the Mondego River. Next, Fatima. Stop here to see the sanctuary, made famous by the Virgin’s apparition to three shepherd children, Francisco, Jacinth, and Lucia, on May 13, 1917. A few more miles for a stop in Obidos, a fortified city still flanked by towers and bastions overlooking the countryside dotted with windmills. Overnight in Lisbon. (B)

Day 5:
Mon. LISBON. Henry the Navigator made Lisbon the 15th-century mistress of the seas. You’ll see his monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, the impressive Black Horse Square, and other highlights on the guided sightseeing excursion. Spend the afternoon in the Alfama’s tile-decorated streets, or take an optional excursion along the Estoril Coast to Cascais and Sintra. (B)

Day 6:
Tue. LISBON-SEVILLE, SPAIN. Drive southwest this morning into the Alentejo through the countryside famous for its production of cork. Then on to the border at Vila Verde and cross into Spain for the journey into Andalusia, enjoying quite different scenery as you skirt the Sierra de Aracena before reaching delightful Seville for two overnights. (B,D)

Day 7:
Wed. SEVILLE. One of Spain’s most colorful cities. Perhaps you’d like to spend the morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of this vibrant city. (B,D)

Day 8:
Thu. SEVILLE-CORDOBA-MADRID. Drive north towards Carmona, an Old-World country town dominated by an ancient Alcazar, to Cordoba. This is Spain’s most Moorish city with its great mosque, which is rightly known as one of Islam’s greatest pieces of architecture outside the Arab world and now a Catholic cathedral since 1236. Later, into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castles and windmills. Overnight in Madrid. (B)

Day 9:
Fri. MADRID. Not only is it the capital of Spain, but because it is situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards rightly say Madrid is the nearest thing to heaven. Enjoy the main highlights on the included guided sightseeing excursion. The optional trip to Toledo is rewarding in more ways than one; the splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in El Greco’s painting, and even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. (B)

Day 10:
Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Avila, Salamanca, Coimbra, Fatima, Obidos, Seville
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Mon. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Tue. ARRIVAL IN MADRID, SPAIN. Check into your hotel. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3:
Wed. MADRID-TOLEDO-GRANADA. A short morning drive south to Toledo. Spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River, the ancient Castilian capital attracts more sightseers from all over the world than any other Spanish town. Time to visit the old walled city, which was made famous in El Greco’s paintings. Even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. Cross the Guadalquivir River and head for the olive and orange groves of the rolling Andalusian hills. Overnight in history-steeped Granada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. (B,D)

Day 4:
Thu. GRANADA-COSTA DEL SOL. Take advantage of the included visit with a Local Guide of the Alhambra, a summer complex built by the Moorish kings. You’ll treasure the memory of its architectural beauty, dazzling ceilings, and magnificent gardens. This afternoon enjoy a scenic drive along the Costa del Sol via Malaga to your overnight hotel. (B)

Day 5:
Fri. COSTA DEL SOL. A day at leisure to catch up on your postcards, enjoy the sandy beaches, browse through the trendy boutiques, or sample the many fancy restaurants. Don’t miss out on the optional excursion to Mijas, a typical Andalusian market town with some enchanting views of the coast from its upper terraces. (B,D)

Day 6:
Sat. COSTA DEL SOL-SEVILLE. First today a visit to the strategic rock fortress of Gibraltar, in British hands since 1704. Then on through the sunny sherry wine region on the Costa de la Luz to vibrant, festive Seville. (B,D)

Day 7:
Sun. SEVILLE. One of Spain’s most colorful cities. Perhaps you’d like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of the vibrant city. (B,D)

Day 8:
Mon. SEVILLE-EVORA, PORTUGAL-LISBON. This morning enjoy the scenery of the Sierra de Aracena before crossing into Portugal and the fertile plains of the Alentejo. Admire the forest of cork trees and make a stop in Evora, a delightfully attractive Moorish city with arches, alleys, flower-decked balconies, and brilliant white houses. Take the motorway for the drive into Lisbon for two overnights. (B)

Day 9:
Tue. LISBON. Henry the Navigator made Lisbon the 15th-century mistress of the seas. You’ll see his monument, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, the impressive Black Horse Square, and other highlights on the guided sightseeing excursion. Spend the afternoon in the Alfama’s tile-decorated streets, or take an optional excursion along the Estoril Coast to Cascais and Sintra. (B)

Day 10:
Wed. LISBON-OPORTO. North this morning by way of Santarém, using the motorway to reach Fatima for a visit of its worldfamous sanctuary. Later, Oporto on the northern bank of the River Douro. Optional sightseeing with a Local Guide takes in many of the city’s highlights. (B)

Day 11:
Thu. OPORTO-SALAMANCA, SPAIN. A profusion of woodlands and mountains on your way to Spain by way of Fuentes de Onoro and Ciudad Rodrigo, located high above the Rio Agueda. Reach the ancient and beautiful university town of Salamanca in the early evening. (B,D)

Day 12:
Fri. SALAMANCA-MADRID. Leave Salamanca this morning, still visualizing its charming Plaza Mayor. Journey to fortified Avila with its many towers for an orientation tour. Visit St. Theresa’s convent before continuing to Segovia for another visit of this medieval town picturesquely set on a rocky hill. Cross the boundary between new and old Castile to arrive in Madrid. (B)

Day 13:
Sat. MADRID. Not only is it the capital of Spain, but because it is situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards rightly say Madrid is the nearest thing to heaven. Enjoy the main highlights on the included guided sightseeing excursion. (B)

Day 14:
Sun. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Malaga, Gibraltar, Seville, Evora, Fatima, Oporto, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
Fri. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

Day 2:
Sat. ARRIVAL IN MADRID, SPAIN. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start exploring lively Madrid. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3:
Sun. MADRID-ARANJUEZ-CUENCA-VALENCIA. Start the day by driving to nearby Aranjuez in the Castilian Plain, where you stop to visit the Royal Palace, originally built in the 14th century. Although burned down both in 1727 and 1728, it was splendidly rebuilt and became a favorite residence of Spanish royalty. Continue traveling southeast to the magnificently located old town of Cuenca, which stands high above the precipices of the Rivers Jucar and Huecar. It is famous for its “hanging houses” that are suspended over the Huecar ravine. Journey on to Valencia for two overnights. (B,D)

Day 4:
Mon. VALENCIA. Valencia is known mainly for its wonderful climate and the quality of its light. Enjoy a drive along wide avenues lined with fig and palm trees and along the old quarter’s narrow streets with its fine gothic houses and typical patios. Time to do some shopping or more personal sightseeing and, of course, the option of joining an excursion. (B)

Day 5:
Tue. VALENCIA-PENISCOLA-BARCELONA. An interesting day starts with a drive north to the nearby Castellon for a visit of its Peniscola Castle, built by the Knights Templar in the 14th century. The promontory on which the castle and town are located is a fine reminder of medieval times. Continue your journey through orange groves and seaside resorts past Tarragona to Catalonia’s lively and beautiful capital, Barcelona. (B)

Day 6:
Wed. BARCELONA. This morning’s sightseeing with a Local Guide will include a drive around Montjuich to see the Olympic Stadium and a great panoramic view of the port and city. The drive continues to the city center to Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia to admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces in the Houses Battlo and Mila and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fees not included). (B,D)

Day 7:
Thu. BARCELONA-SARAGOSSA-PAMPLONA. See more of Catalonia as you drive northwest to Saragossa on the banks of the River Ebro. During your stop you’ll have time to see the Sanctuary of our Lady of the Pillar. Continue north through fertile valleys and the Rioja wine growing country to Pamplona, made famous by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises and Fiesta, where he described the annual running of the bulls that takes place from July 6-14. (B)

Day 8:
Fri. PAMPLONA-BILBAO-BURGOS. Start the morning by driving further into Basque Country for a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Journey northwest to the port town of Bilbao. Time for an optional visit to the spectacular Guggenheim Museum. Apart from its amazing collection of modern paintings, the building itself, by Frank Gehry, is considered one of the 20th century’s great architectural masterpieces. In the afternoon travel south to Burgos. (B,D)

Day 9:
Sat. BURGOS-SEGOVIA-AVILA-SALAMANCA. Today head southeast into Castile. Enjoy some grand scenery as you travel to the edge of the Sierra de Guadarrama, a green oasis in the Castilian desert. Stop in Segovia, magnificently perched on a rock formation at an altitude of 3,280 feet. The cathedral, the alcazar, and the Roman aqueduct are some of its more famous sights. Next, drive west to Avila for a short visit before continuing to Salamanca in time to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of its Plaza Mayor. (B,D)

Day 10:
Sun. SALAMANCA-SEVILLE. Leave early this morning and cross the mighty Tagus River and the Guadarrama, enjoying more Spanish landscapes before reaching Seville, one of Spain’s most colorful cities. (B,D)

Day 11:
Mon. SEVILLE. A full day at leisure. Perhaps you’d like to spend this morning enjoying an optional sightseeing tour including the main highlights of the vibrant city. (B)

Day 12:
Tue. SEVILLE-JEREZ-RONDA-GRANADA. A day to see the best of Andalusia. Head first into the Jerez region for a sherry-tasting stop. Next, journey by way of the typically white painted villages to the town of Ronda, famous for the ravine which literally cuts it in two and, of course, its bullfighting connections. Overnight in Granada in the shadow of the mighty Sierra Nevada. (B,D)

Day 13:
Wed. GRANADA-CORDOBA. Granada was the Arabs’ most treasured city; they still mourn its loss in their prayers. The glorious Alhambra is an Arabian Nights fantasy of mosaics, brilliant tiles, dazzling fountains, and tracery walls set in the cool perfumed Generalife Gardens. Learn more about it on the included visit with a Local Guide. More grand scenery this afternoon as you travel to Cordoba on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. (B,D)

Day 14:
Thu. CORDOBA-MADRID. This is perhaps Spain’s most Moorish city with its great mosque, the Mezquita, one of Islam’s most important pieces of architecture outside the Arab world. You’ll enjoy the small, whitewashed houses, the winding streets, and the colorful squares. Later, journey into the very heart of La Mancha, famed for its castles and windmills. Reach Madrid in time to enjoy a relaxed evening. (B)

Day 15:
Fri. MADRID. This morning the optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding. The splendid setting of this old walled city above the Tagus was made famous in El Greco’s painting, and even now it’s like a great open-air museum of Spanish history and art. Later, join the included Madrid city sightseeing. Not only because it’s the capital of Spain, but also because it is situated 2,180 feet above sea level, the Spaniards say it''s the nearest thing to heaven. (B)

Day 16:
Sat. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY. (B)

Dates & Prices

Visits to Royal Palace* in Aranjuez. Cuenca, Valencia, Pamplona, Bilbao, Loyola Sanctuary, Peniscola Castle*, Saragossa, Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, Seville, Jerez wine tasting, Ronda, Cordoba

*entrance fees included