The tour starts from Barcelona - a uniquely beautiful city, full of passion and authentic lifestyle. This trip is perfect for those who want to spend a few days in the heart of Spain - Andalusia and finish their trip in Madrid.
Your first stop is Zaragoza - the capital of Aragon and is located on the river Ebro, approximately half-way between Barcelona and Madrid. Later - overnight stop is the awesome and majestic Madrid - capital of Spain and an eternal rival of sunny, seaside Barcelona.
Later we'll make our way down to the southernmost region of the country. Tapas, flamenco, warm-hearted and passionate people who celebrate colorful fiestas - this is what Andalucia is famous for. You'll visit the golden Andalusian triangle - Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada - places that truly represent the spirit of the Spanish culture. With its curious mishmash of Moorish majesty and Roman relics, rustic charm and indelibly beautiful backcountry, where mountains tower above gushing rivers and canyons carve through the ground, it's hardly surprising that Andalusia remains one of the most visited regions in Spain.
On your last day of the trip, it is time for a visit to another ancient city and the old capital of Spain - Toledo, with its tiny narrow streets, thick walls and stunning views. Later that day you'll be transported back to Madrid, where the tour ends.
If necessary, return to Barcelona can be done with a high-speed train (AVE), so let us know if you need help securing tickets.
Included in tour:
- accommodation in **** hotels
- 4 breakfasts, 1
lunch, 3 dinners
- modern and air-conditioned bus
- multi-lingual
tour escort
- sightseeing tours with local guides in Cordoba, Seville,
Granada and Toledo
- tickets to Mosque in Cordoba
- tickets to
Alhambra in Granada
- tickets to St. Tomé and Sta Maria la Blanca
churches in Toledo
- travel insurance
- free Wi- Fi on board
Price: From €650
ITINERARY
Day 1. Barcelona - Zaragoza - Madrid (635 km ~ 395 miles)
Departure from Barcelona at 8am towards Zaragoza. Spain's fifth largest city, Zaragoza is the capital of the Aragón region. Located south of the Pyrenees, it sits right in the middle between Barcelona and Madrid, and is home to a range of fascinating sights, from Roman ruins to magnificent Islamic architecture and a striking Baroque cathedral. We will stop in the city center so you can have free time to explore the most notorious sights of Zaragoza: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar and Puente de Piedra (the Stone Bridge).
A striking
Baroque Basilica, it is here that many believe that Santiago - one of
Jesus’ disciples and referred to as James in the Bible – saw the Virgin
Mary ascend a marble pillar. A chapel was built around that pillar and
later added to and renovated, until it became the stunning cathedral it is
today. If you want, you can head inside to look around at its magnificent
interior, then take the elevator to the top to enjoy some of the most
spectacular views of the city.
Bridge Puente
de Piedra (the Stone Bridge) is the oldest of all the bridges across the
Ebro River. It was built in 1401 following a Gothic style. Measuring about
225 meters in length, the entire stone structure is held by seven arches,
with cutwaters that help to break the water flow. It is very close to the
Plaza del Pilar, so its silhouette with the Basilica del Pilar in the
background has become one of the iconic images of the city.
After some time in Zaragoza we'll continue to San Sebastian. Arrival in early evening, dinner and accommodation.
Day 2. Madrid - Cordoba - Seville (530 km ~ 329 miles)
Breakfast, then departing towards Cordoba, passing through the region of Castilla La Mancha, known for being the setting of Miguel de Cervantes' 17th century novel Don Quixote de la Mancha – probably, one of the most famous books ever to have come out of Spain.
Arriving to Cordoba - beautiful ancient town in Andalusia as well as one of Spain’s most famous historical monuments. You will take a proper tour through its historic center - a very charming place, with its patios and courtyards, decorated with pots of aromatic jasmine and geraniums and walk narrow, winding streets, lined with what must be some of the prettiest and most colorful houses in southern Spain. And of course you will enter the Mosque-Cathedral - the greatest dual-identity monument in Spain.
Mosque-Cathedral.
Originally there was a Roman temple on this site, but it was replaced by a
Christian church during the Visigoth era. After the Moors captured Córdoba
in 711, the church was split in two and used by both Christians and
Muslims as a place of worship. But the reign of religious pluralism in
Córdoba didn’t last long: in 784, on the orders of the Emir Abd al-Rahman,
the church was destroyed and work on a great mosque began. Construction
lasted for over two centuries and, when the building was completed in 987,
Córdoba’s mosque was the largest in the Islamic kingdom, save only for
that of Kaaba in Arabia. When the city was reclaimed by Christians in
1236, the mosque was converted into a church and in the 16th century
Charles V added a great Renaissance nave right on top of the original
Moorish structure. The mosque’s most-photographed aspect is its vast main
hall, which is supported by over 850 double-arched columns. Sunlight and
shadows create unusual effects as you wander among them, contemplating the
multifaceted history of this great building.
Extending in a tangle of cobbled streets and squares to the north of the Mosque-Cathedral is Juderia - the city's former Jewish quarter. This is a great area to stop for lunch, packed as it is with smart restaurants as well as superb no-frills tapas bars. Free time to have lunch and buy some souvenirs.
Later the bus departures to Seville. Two-hour drive, arrival, dinner and accommodation.
Day 3. Seville
Breakfast in the hotel, followed by a proper city tour throughout Seville with a local guide, to admire this beautiful and also the largest city of Southern Spain. With numerous sights and attractions, this city will never leave visitors stuck for choice. Main highlights of the tour:
Plaza de España was
built as a centerpiece for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. Described
as one of Seville’s most impressive sights, this plaza (square) measures
at 50,000 sq. meters. Only a twenty-minute walk from Seville Cathedral,
this is one of Seville’s more popular locations and with a canal measuring
500 meters, the plaza is known as ''the Venice of Seville’’. It is a
magnificent sight and a must see, with its colored ceramics and 48 tiled
alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain. This place is
not only popular with tourists and visitors as it has been used for the
location of a number of films including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.
Maria Luisa Park acted
as the site of the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929. Filled with orange
trees, palm trees and flower beds, it is the perfect place to unwind. With
a number of colorfully tiled benches and fountains erected in a Moorish
style, this park brings a touch of the exotic to the city. It is
surrounded by a number of historic sites and wonderful architectural
buildings which allows visitors to indirectly appreciate the beauty of
Seville.
Seville’s Cathedral is
one of the largest in the world. It stands at an enormous 126 meters long
and 83 meters wide with a ceiling height of 37 meters. The classical
exterior draws visitors into an equally impressive interior. For example,
the main altarpiece, consists of 36 gilded panels, gently glimmering
through the space. Globe-trotters can also pay their own homage to one of
the world’s greatest travelers - this monumental building holds the
sarcophagus of Christopher Columbus. During the tour we will see the
Cathedral from outside.
Barrio Santa Cruz -
Seville’s most famous area and a former Jewish Quarter. Its unfeasibly
narrow streets, white houses, secret squares and small churches creates an
unforgettable atmosphere, just enjoy it.
After the city tour you will have the afternoon off to rest or explore more on your own.
You can check out the
inside of the Cathedral, or visit the famous Giralda Bell Tower , attached
to it. This is most iconic representation of the Islam and Christian
traditions that define Seville’s history. You can walk to the very top,
and, except for the final section, which features stairs, the route almost
all the way up (for stunning views!) is via ramps.
Go to Metropol Parasol
, also known as the ''Mushrooms of the Incarnation'', built just a few
years ago - and now is one of Seville’s newest architectural ventures. It
is the largest wooden structure in the world, and from the top of it you
can have a truly spectacular view. The structure also hosts a museum,
which houses Roman remains found during the beginning of construction.
Another suggestion for
your free time - to explore district of Triana - Seville’s former Gypsy
quarter and one of the city’s most distinctive attractions. Its colourful,
quaint streets are lined with old-style tapas bars, the walls of which are
often plastered with faded bullfighting posters, photos of flamenco
artists and weeping Virgin Marys. It is also known for its locally made
ceramics, which adorn the walls of its old, whitewashed houses, and one of
Seville’s best and most lively markets - the Mercado de Triana.
Dinner and a night in Seville.
Day 4. Seville - Granada (250 km ~ 155 miles)
Breakfast, then transfer to Granada - a beautiful city right at the foot of the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains. The popular favorite of the region of Andalusia, Granada has a rich history, fantastic range of sites to see, and a bustling nightlife. With Arab influences and Spanish charm, there is plenty of culture and history to explore here. Upon arrival you’ll have a guided tour to see the famous complex of La Alhambra, its Arabian palaces Nazaries, and its green and picturesque Generalife Gardens.
Alhambra is definitely
number one on the list of unmissable things to see in Granada, and the
most visited sight in the whole Spain. The world-renowned Alhambra gets
its name from the Arabic for ‘Red Castle’, and has been poetically
described as the place where the air is clear and the fresh water from the
mountains reaches. Partly a palace, partly fort, the Alhambra is now a
dedicated UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts spectacular medieval
architecture which captivates its thousands of visitors. It tends to get
quite crowded, given its magical nature, with around 6,000 visitors a day,
but its beauty can be appreciated even in the busiest of moments.
The tour to Alhambra is already quite extensive and includes a good part of walking, so it's your choice the rest of the day - to relax in the hotel or continue to explore the city of Granada on your own. Suggested places to visit on the second half of the day.
Alcaicería - best
known as ''mini Morocco'', the Alcaicería is the home of the Great Bazaar
of Granada. Consisting of a series of streets that are very much
reminiscent of a Moroccan souk, this is not only another example of the
rich Arab history of the city, but also very similar to Morocco itself.
Selling everything from spices to henna, there are many little treasures
to be found in these streets. Look out for traditional Arabic handicrafts
such as fajalauza – traditional, beautifully painted ceramics – or the
gorgeous granadino farolas – rounded lamps made from intricate stained
glass.
Albaicín - another
UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of the city of Granada, Albaicín
is a district of the city boasting narrow winding streets that have stood
here since its medieval Moorish era. Often described as a different world
inside Granada, the strong Muslim influence makes Albaicín somewhat of an
open-air museum. After touring the narrow and characterful streets to
experience the charm of the past, you can relax in one of its many bars
and terraces and enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Alhambra.
Granada’s Cathedral ,
located near the Plaza Nueva, was built on the site of a former mosque by
Queen Isabella as a symbol of the Christian victory over the Moors. With
parts of it decorated with beautiful intricate sculptures, there is much
beauty and architecture to be admired. Complete with numerous chapels,
each with their own character and artistic style, this iconic and
historical building is definitely worth a visit.
Try free tapas
''culture''. Tapas (an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine) is certainly
one of the first things that comes to mind whenever Spain is mentioned,
and Granada is probably the city most renowned for its popular tradition
of free tapas. With the fantastic ''buy a drink, get free tapas''
phenomenon, this timely Spanish tradition is even more popular here. With
countless numbers of bars and tapas restaurants, you’ll certainly be left
with plenty of choice of where to get these tempting little snacks.
Offering everything from gourmet and international tapas like sushi and
caviar, to traditional Spanish jamón (dry-cured ham), you can’t leave
Granada without experiencing this culinary delight.
Dinner and night in Granada.
Day 5. Granada - Toledo - Madrid (446km ~ 277 miles)
Breakfast, then transfer to Toledo - an ancient city and former capital of Spain. Toledo is an incredibly cultural-diversified city; it has seen numerous different cultures and dynasties pass through its walls, as well as many wars, royalty, and artists. The legacy that it guards is an essential part of Spanish culture, so visiting Toledo is bound to be an extremely unique experience. Some of the highlights we’ll see during the tour:
Cathedral. Toledo’s
Cathedral is one of the most important places to visit when in this
stunning city. It is a grand monument built in Gothic style with an
obvious French influence, and there are people who say that it is the best
and most impressive building in that style in the entire country. It was
finished towards the end of the 15th century, over 200 years after
construction began.
The Juderia (''the
city of the Jews'') district is what once used to be the city’s Jewish
quarter, and nowadays it is one of the most beautiful parts of the city,
with some excellently preserved buildings. A tour through this part will
enable you to learn what life was like under Muslim and Christian
domination for Jews, as well as to explore their culture and architecture.
You will see and enter
the important buildings of synagogues of Santa María la Blanca (12th
century) and also the church of Santo Tomé. The last one has a fine tower
and a chapel containing the painting Burial of the Conde de Orgaz by El
Greco.
Lunch during the tour. Later, we'll transfer to the craftsman's workshop to see the ancestral techniques and the phases of the true Toledano sword-making elaboration process.
Towards the evening transfer to Madrid, where our tour ends.