Tour departs from Madrid
Day 1
MADRID
Arrival to Madrid.
ARTISTIC MADRID. HALF DAY CITY TOUR WITH THE ROYAL PALACE AND THE PRADO MUSEUM
This visit is to the two most famous structures of the city: the Royal Palace, the home of Spanish Royalty from the 18th century until the time of exile of king Alfonso XIII. Today it is used as the setting for official receptions by the present King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. The Prado Museum is one of the world’s great art galleries. It displays paintings from the 12th to the 18th century. The most famous exhibits are those of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco.
Day 2
MADRID
CULTURAL MADRID. HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Visit the museum Centro de Arte Reina Sofia of Modern Art (closed on Tuesday) inagurated by the Spanish Kings Juan Carlos I and Sofia the 10th September 1992. Permanent collections of the most important spanish artists: Picasso, Miró, Dalí, Gargallo, Gutiérrez Solana, Tápies, Chillida and Julio González. The Retiro Park, Plaza de la Independencia and Plaza Carlos V.
FLAMENCO SHOW EVENING
(dinner & show or show & drink)
Driving through the streets of Madrid by night, you may admire the illuminated fountains, monuments and plazas. A dinner will be enjoyed at a Tablao Flamenco including wines and coffee. Afterwards watch a typical Flamenco Show where a performance of flamenco folklore will thrill you. Or just to watch the Show with one drink included.
Day 3
Lerma, Burgos
LERMA. WALKING TOUR
On top of a hill that dominates the Arlanza river valley, we find Lerma. Dating back to pre-Roman times, the village reached its maximum splendour under the rule of the Duke of Lerma, favourite of Phillip III between 1598 and 1618. The stately appearance of the historic quarter can be seen, for example, in the majestic Ducal Palace, which at present houses the Parador de Turismo. It was erected between 1601 and 1617 by Francisco de Mora, on top of the ruins of an ancient castle. The most remarkable building there is the collegiate church of San Pedro.
Day 4
Lerma
BURGOS. CITY TOUR
The city, was the capital of the unified kingdom of Castilla-Leon for five centuries. The architectural masterpiece of Burgos is the cathedral, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Erected on top a Romanesque temple, the cathedral was built following a Norman French Gothic model. The Royal Monastery of Huelgas Reales, with an impressive Gothic cloister and the famous Chapel of Saint James the Apostle.
Day 5
Carrion de los Condes, Leon
CARRIÓN DE LOS CONDES. WALKING TOUR
The most characteristic building of Carrión de los Condes is the church of Santiago, famous for its splendid Panthocrator. Also significant are the frieze in the church of Santa María del Camino, embellished by an Adoración de los Magos; and the convent of Santa Clara, founded in the 13th century, with an adjoining church and museum which displays sculpture and ornaments, as well as a Piedad by Gregorio Fernández.
Day 6
Leon, Palencia
LEÓN. CITY TOUR
The Casa de las Carnicerías and the Palace of Count Luna with a 14th-century Gothic façade with Arab influences and a large dressed tower. Also worth a visit is the church of San Salvador de Palat del Rey, dating from the 10th century and the oldest in the city. The Cathedral, the “Pulcra Leonina”, one of the most striking Gothic temples in Spain, stands on the site of an old Roman baths and a Romanesque church.
Day 7
Palencia, Valladolid
PALENCIA. WALKING TOUR
Calle Mayor, Palencia's main thoroughfare, the City Hall, from the 19th century, and the church of San Francisco, a Franciscan building from the 13th century. The surrounding streets lead towards the unknown beauty, which is how Palencia's Cathedral (14th century) is known. Next to the Cathedral is the Episcopal Palace, site of the Diocesan Museum.
Day 8
Valladolid
RIBERA DEL DUERO WINE AREA AND PEÑAFIEL. FULL DAY EXCURSION
Ribera Del Duero is one of five wine producing regions located within the area of Castile and Leon, on Spain's northern plateau and can be found running alongside the Duero River. Visit a wine cellar to taste the Ribera del Duero wines and the town of Peñafiel with the wine museum, the castle and the church of San Pablo with Gothic-Mudejar architecture.
Day 9
Valladolid, Tordesillas, Toro, Zamora
VALLADOLID. CITY TOUR
The today´s capital of Castella-León preserves an important heritage of monuments in its old quarter, such as the Cathedral. The architect Juan de Herrera was commissioned by King Felipe II to design the original scheme in the 16th century. Other interesting churches are the Gothic church of Santiago, and the church of Santa María la Antigua, with its unusual pyramid-shaped Romanesque tower. The 16th-century Plaza Mayor, The Palace of Los Pimentel, today the seat of the Provincial Council, is one of the most important, as King Philip II was born in it on 21 May 1527.
TORDESILLAS. WALKING TOUR
The Royal Monastery of Santa Clara, a palace built by King Alfonso XI in 1350 and converted into a convent by his son, Pedro I the Cruel. Declared to be a site of Cultural Interest. Outstanding among the ecclesiastical buildings are the church-museum of San Antolín, declared to be a site of Cultural Interest in 1998 and the Casas del Tratado (houses of the treaty), also declared to be a site of Cultural Interest, which are two adjoining palaces that received this name because it was here the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in 1494, by which Spain and Portugal established the division of the territories which were being colonized in the New World.
TORO. WALKING TOUR
A town declared to be a Historic-Artistic Site. The collegiate church of Santa María la Mayor, from the 12th century. Next to it is the Espolón viewing point, which offers views of a fertile plain known as the Oasis of Castile. The City Hall, and the Palaces of the Counts of Requena, the Marquis of Alcañices or the Marquis of Castrillo.
Day 10
Zamora, Salamanca
ZAMORA. WALKING TOUR
Dominating the whole layout are the Castle and the Cathedral, a Romanesque Jewel surrounded by the Castle Park, the Plaza Mayor, and Romanesque churches, like those of San Ildefonso, La Magdalena or San Cipriano. The Hospital de la Encarnación, seat of the Provincial Council; the Old City Hall, the Palace of the Counts of Alba de Aliste (15th C.), nowadays a Parador de Turismo.
Day 11
Salamanca
SALAMANCA. WALKING TOUR
Calle Zamora leads from St Mark's to the Plaza Mayor, one of Salamanca's jewels and one of the of the most important main squares in Spain, arcaded in the Churrigueresque Baroque style. The so-called Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), the Renaissance façade of which is adorned with more than 300 pilgrim shells (the symbol of the order that protected the pilgims' road to Santiago de Compostela. The palaces of Salina, Orellana and Anaya and the University of Salamanca, the New Cathedral and the Old Cathedral.
Day 12
Salamanca, Arevalo, Segovia
ARÉVALO. WALKING TOUR
It is also an important example of Mudejar architecture, and was declared a Historic-Artistic Site. The squares of La Villa and Arrabal, the church of Santa María la Mayor and the church of San Martín, with two slender towers. Also remarkable is the imposing castle, remodelled in brick, and with an exceptional circular keep.
Day 12
Segovia, Avila
SEGOVIA. WALKING TOUR
Segovia, universally famous for the Aqueduct, an imposing engineering marvel dating from Roman times. Here there is also a visit to the Alcazar, an enchanting fairytale fortress castle, the arcaded Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and the Jewish quarter with the Convent of Corpus Christi built over a former synagogue.
Day 13
Avila, Toledo
AVILA WALKING TOUR
Avila, a fortified city situated on an hilltop in the heart of Castile, is best known as the birthplace of Santa Teresa and for the impressive medieval walls, the oldest and best preserved in Spain. A visit will be made to the Convent of Santa Teresa, built on the site where the Saint was born, the old jewish quarter, the Royal Monastery of Santo Tomas, founded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel and the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral.
Day 14
Toledo, Madrid
TOLEDO CITY TOUR
One of the oldest and most interesting historical cities of Europe, reflects the many cultures that have formed it, and perhaps better than any other city reflects the many moods of Spain’s art and history. Visits are made to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, the ancient Jewish Synagogue and the Jewish quarter. The Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and the Church of San Tomé with the painting of El Greco.
Day 15
Madrid
Departure.
