Spectacular Spain
10 Days

Two-night stays in Madrid, Torremolinos, and Seville on this 10-day trip allow time to truly experience Spain. Included sightseeing features important highlights like Madrid’s Prado Museum, Toledo’s Church of Santo Tomé with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings, Granada’s Alhambra and Water Gardens of the Generalife, and Seville’s cathedral with Columbus’ Tomb. The free day in Torremolinos lets you enjoy the beaches or browse through the trendy boutiques. Other highlights are visits to historic Ronda and a sherry bodega in Jerez. On the way back to Madrid, stop in Cordoba to visit the Mosque of the Caliphs, famous for its 850 pillars of porphyry, marble, and jasper.

• MADRID:  Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing; visit the Prado Museum
• TOLEDO:  Guided sightseeing; visit an early synagogue, the Gothic cathedral, Santo Tomé Church with one of El Greco’s masterpieces; a Damascene steel workshop
• GRANADA:  Guided sightseeing; visit the Alhambra and the Water Gardens of the Generalife
• RONDA:  Orientation
• JEREZ: Visit a sherry bodega
• SEVILLE: Guided sightseeing; visit Maria Luisa Park, the cathedral with Columbus’ tomb, and the Santa Cruz quarter
• CORDOBA: Guided sightseeing; visit the Mosque of the Caliphs

INSIDE VISITS:  Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges when applicable

• MADRID - Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit the Prado Museum.
• TOLEDO - Guided sightseeing, visit an early synagogue, the Gothic cathedral, Santo Tomé Church with one of El Greco’s masterpieces; a Damascene steel workshop
• GRANADA - Guided sightseeing, visit the Alhambra and the Water Gardens of the Generalife
• RONDA - Orientation
• JEREZ - Visit a sherry bodega
• SEVILLE - Guided sightseeing, visit Maria Luisa Park, the cathedral with Columbus’ tomb, and the Santa Cruz quarter
• CORDOBA - Guided sightseeing, visit the Mosque of the Caliphs
• INSIDE VISITS - Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

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

Day 2 Arrival in Madrid, Spain
(Sat.) Time to rest or to start exploring the Spanish capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and have a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 3 Madrid
(Sun.) The capital since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Your 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. Afternoon at leisure. An optional excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen can be arranged. (BB)

Day 4 Madrid–Toledo–Granada
(Mon.) This morning focus on splendid 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. 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. Also time to visit a DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOP before arriving in history-steeped Granada. (BB,D)

Day 5 Granada–Torremolinos
(Tue.) See the sights of Granada with a Local Guide and visit its main attraction, the ALHAMBRA. The mighty yet graceful citadel was planned by the 13th-century Moorish ruler Al Ahamar. A fantasy of “lace in stone” surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by Gypsy cave dwellers. Also amble through the magnificent WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE, the royal summer residence. Then turn towards the sea, away from the mountains, to lively Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol. (BB)

Day 6 At Leisure in Torremolinos
(Wed.) A day at leisure at your beachfront hotel. Catch up on your postcards, enjoy the sandy beaches, browse through the trendy boutiques, and sample the many fancy restaurants. You may want to join an optional excursion to the Rock of Gibraltar, in British hands since 1704. (BB)

Day 7 Torremolinos–Ronda–Jerez–Seville
(Thu.) Visit picturesque, historic Ronda, perched on a platform of the Sierra de Ronda and cut in two by a deep ravine, before reaching Jerez, famous for its sherry wines and magnificent horses of mixed Spanish, Arab, and English blood. Highlight today is a visit to a SHERRY BODEGA. Then on to Seville, the vibrant capital of Andalusia. (BB,D)

Day 8 Seville
(Fri.) Listen to your Local Guide’s account of the 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 fine baroque building which is now the university but which used to be the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. Visit the CATHEDRAL with Columbus’ tomb, the world’s largest gothic edifice. Finally, 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 9 Seville–Cordoba–Madrid
(Sat.) Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide in Cordoba. See the Alcazar, the Roman Bridge, and the medieval old Jewish quarter. Tour the magnificent 8th-century MOSQUE OF THE CALIPHS, famous for its 850 pillars of porphyry, marble, and jasper. Motor north from the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir River through the arid landscapes of Don Quixote’s La Mancha back to Madrid. Tonight why not join an optional dinner outing to celebrate the success of this exciting vacation? (BB)

Day 10
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)