Spanish Fiesta
15 Days

This 15-day vacation is perfect for those who wish to experience all the excitement and energy of Spain. Start in Madrid, where guided sightseeing includes the famous Prado Museum; then travel north into beautiful Castile via Segovia and Burgos to overnight in Vitoria. In Bilbao, the Basque country, a visit is included to the famous Guggenheim Museum. Next via San Sebastian to Pamplona, at the foot of the Pyranees, where a Local Guide shows you the “City of Bulls”. Stop on Plaza del Pilar, one of Spain’s grandest squares in Saragossa. Also enjoy guided sightseeing in Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Gibraltar, Seville, and Toledo, and an entire day at leisure in Torremolinos at the Costa del Sol.

• MADRID - Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit the Prado Museum
• SEGOVIA - Picture stops of the Alcazar and the Roman aqueduct
• BURGOS - Orientation
• BILBAO - Guided visit of the Guggenheim Museum
• SAN SEBASTIAN - Afternoon stop
• SARAGOSSA - Visit Plaza del Pilar
• BARCELONA - Guided sightseeing, Columbus monument; visit the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia
• VALENCIA - Guided sightseeing, visit La Seo Cathedral
• GRANADA - Guided sightseeing, visit the Alhambra and the Water Gardens of the Generalife
• ROCK OF GIBRALTAR - Guided sightseeing, visit St. Michael’s Caves
• SEVILLE - Guided sightseeing, visit Maria Luisa Park, the cathedral, and the Santa Cruz Quarter
• TOLEDO - Guided sightseeing, visit an early synagogue, the gothic cathedral, Santo Tomé Church with one of El Greco’s masterpieces; a Damascene steel workshop
• INSIDE VISITS - Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

• MEALS - 13 buffet breakfasts (BB); 7 threecourse dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Madrid
• SUPERIOR HOTELS
  MADRID Agumar (F), VITORIA Barcelo Gasteiz (SF), PAMPLONA NH Iruna Park (F), BARCELONA Rivoli Ramblas (F), VALENCIA Astoria Palace (SF), GRANADA Carmen (F), TORREMOLINOS Melia Costa del Sol (SF), SEVILLE Occidental Sevilla (SF)
• AIRPORT TRANSFERS - Airport transfers may be included when you make your flight arrangements. Click Here for more information.

Day 1 Arrival in Madrid, Spain
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in Madrid, Spain
Time to rest or to join the locals in El Retiro Park. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and have a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 3 Madrid
The capital since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide takes you to the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM with its priceless art treasures. The afternoon is at leisure. An optional excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen can be arranged. (BB)

Day 4 Madrid–Segovia–Burgos–Vitoria
Head into beautiful Castile, “the province of the castles.” Cross the rugged Sierra de Guadarrama on the way to Segovia, famous for its Alcazar and the 2,000-year old Roman aqueduct. In Burgos, see the magnificent limestone Cathedral of Santa Maria where the legendary El Cid is buried. Afternoon arrival in Vitoria with time for a stroll through this ancient Basque city’s delightful historic center. (BB,D)

Day 5 Vitoria–Bilbao–San Sebastian–Pamplona
This morning travel to Bilbao, the great port city of the Basque region for a guided visit to the GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, an amazing feat of construction created by the North American architect Frank O. Gehry. Stop in lovely San Sebastian, the “Pearl of the Cantabrian Coast,” before arriving in Pamplona at the foot of the Pyrenees. (BB,D)

Day 6 Pamplona–Saragossa–Barcelona
Enjoy vistas of Rioja wine country on the way to Saragossa. Stop on PLAZA DEL PILAR, one of Spain’s grandest squares. Free time to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar where, according to legends, the Virgin appeared to St. James. Then to Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city and the host of the Olympic Games in 1992. (BB,D)

Day 7 Barcelona
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the COLUMBUS MONUMENT, elegant tree-lined Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluna, Paseo de Gracia, the Church of the Holy Family, a panoramic view of the city and harbor from Montjuïc Hill, and a visit to the Cathedral of SANTA EULALIA. Afternoon at leisure. An optional excursion to Montserrat can be arranged. Why not join an optional dinner at a typical Catalonian restaurant? (BB)

Day 8 Barcelona–Valencia
Along the coast to Valencia, once a royal capital. Valencia’s Roman, Moorish, and Spanish history comes alive when your Local Guide takes you on a tour including the Town Hall, La Lonja, the bull ring, the massive gateway towers of Serranos and Quart, and the new Arts and Science Complex designed by the famous Valencian architect Calatrava. Next, visit awesome LA SEO CATHEDRAL (closed on Sundays for group visits). (BB,D)

Day 9 Valencia–Granada
Further along the coastline to Alicante, then inland towards the mountains. Pass troglodyte cave dwellings hollowed out of the soft tufa stone near Guadix and Purullena, and cross Mora Pass on your way to the splendors of Granada. (BB,D)

Day 10 Granada–Torremolinos
Sightseeing with a Local Guide features Granada’s main attraction, the ALHAMBRA, a fantasy of “lace in stone” surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains. Also amble through the exotic WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE. Then a short drive down to your hotel at the Costa del Sol. Tonight why not sample the seafood restaurants for which this resort is famous? (BB)

Day 11 At Leisure in Torremolinos
A whole day at leisure at your beachfront hotel. In the late afternoon why not join an optional excursion for a pleasant drive and meal at a charming Pueblo Blanco overlooking the Mediterranean coast? (BB)

Day 12 Torremolinos–Gibraltar–Seville
Drive to the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR, in British hands since 1704. Hear about its turbulent history from your Local Guide, see the Moorish Castle, and visit ST. MICHAEL’S CAVES and the colony of Barbary apes. Then on through the sunny sherry wine region on the Costa de la Luz to vibrant, festive Seville. (BB,D)

Day 13 Seville
Listen to your Local Guide’s account of the Andalusian city’s role in Roman times, its conquest by the Moors in 712 A.D., and its contribution to the discovery of the New World. Admire MARIA LUISA PARK. Drive to the Plaza de España, the Gold Tower on the Guadalquivir River, and the university that used to be the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. Visit the CATHEDRAL with Columbus’ tomb and stroll through the narrow lanes of the charming SANTA CRUZ QUARTER. The rest of the day is at leisure. For a truly Andalusian night out reserve a seat at our optional flamenco show. (BB)

Day 14 Seville–Toledo–Madrid
Through the arid landscapes of Don Quixote’s La Mancha to Toledo, spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River. A Local Guide takes you to the Moorish bridge, an early SYNAGOGUE, the 13th-century GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, and the Church of SANTO TOMÉ with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings. Time to visit a DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOP. Tonight, why not join an optional dinner outing to celebrate the success of your Spanish vacation? (BB)

Day 15
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)