Spain offers an intriguing blend of cultures and traditions dating back centuries. Our one-week Spain vacation reveals the strong impact of the Moors as well as Jewish and Christian influences on the history of Spain up to today. Experience the contrasts between Spain's regions and cities, as well as her scenic diversity. Discover the country's rich cultural heritage in Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Seville and Andalucía, Córdoba, and Madrid. Enjoy a private flamenco performance, a horse-drawn carriage ride in Seville, and a guided tour of Madrid’s Museo del Prado. If you have just one week for a Spain vacation, this should be it!
Day 1 – Welcome to a dream Spain vacation
Your Spain vacation begins: 6:00 pm at Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain. A transfer from Barcelona Airport is included to your hotel, Le Méridien Barcelona; it is conveniently located in the heart of this exciting city. Meet the traveling companions who will experience your one-week Spain vacation with you at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Beguiling Barcelona
Barcelona is an exceptional city overflowing with history, art and culture. Walk along famous Las Ramblas to the Boqueria and Plaça del Pi; explore the Gothic Quarter to get a good look at the 13th to 15th century architecture; see Plaça Nova, where Barcelona was born, and the city's spectacular cathedral. Drive to seaside Montjuic, site of the 1992 Olympics, and visit the fanciful, unfinished cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí I Cornet. Explore the city on your own for the remainder of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 – Moorish wonders in Granada
From Barcelona, our Spain vacation continues with a morning flight to Granada, in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. In Granada, visit the famous Alhambra – a splendid example of the Moorish influence that has shaped so much of Spain. The Royal Palace and the Generalife, the former summer palace of sultans, provides fascinating exploration. Overnight at the Hotel Alhambra Palace, just steps from the world-renowned site.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 – The sunny south of Spain – Ronda and Andalucía
Travel the scenic Yellow Roads to cliff-top Ronda. One of the last Moorish cities to fall to the Crusaders, Ronda provides further insights into Spain’s Moorish past as you explore the city with a local guide; see the historic bullring and spectacular Tajo Gorge. After lunch it's on to Andalucía, a melting pot of different cultures sometimes referred to as the bridge between two continents. Journey into Andalucía’s lovely hills and view charming villages with whitewashed houses clinging to the hillsides. Continue on to romantic Seville, where your Spain vacation continues this evening with a private performance of flamenco dancing and dinner. Spend the next two nights at the Hotel Alfonso XIII in the heart of Seville, which enjoys a reputation as one of the world's finest hotels.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 – Unforgettable sights of Seville
No Spain vacation would be complete without a visit to charming Seville. A guided sightseeing tour includes Parque de Maria Luísa, the splendid Palacio de San Telmo, Murillo Gardens, and the former Royal Tobacco Factory where the fictional Carmen labored. A horse and carriage ride transports you to Seville Cathedral, the third largest Roman Catholic church in the world; tour the Cathedral, which is the final resting-place of Christopher Columbus. Explore the maze of old streets in the former Jewish Quarter; the remainder of the day is free for you to pursue what interests you most in Seville.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 –The cultures of Córdoba and on to Madrid
A walking tour of this charming Moorish-influenced city takes you through the historic Jewish Quarter and visits the ornate 8th-century La Mezquita, the world's third-largest mosque. Board the high-speed AVE train and travel in style to Madrid, where your Spain vacation continues for the next two nights in the country's marvelous capital city.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 7 – Olé Magnificent Madrid
Your day in magnificent Madrid kicks off with a guided tour of the famous Museo del Prado, one of the finest art museums in the world. Later, view sites such as Palacio de Oriente, the ornate Royal Palace built in the 18th-century; grand avenues such as Gran Via and Castellana; El Parque del Buen Retiro; the bullring; and the Neptuno and Cibeles fountains. Enjoy typical Castilian entertainment at our farewell cocktail reception and dinner this evening, a fitting finale to your one-week Spain vacation.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 – Journey Home
We wish you a safe and pleasant journey homeward as you bid adios to Spain. Your Spain vacation ends in Madrid, Spain. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Madrid's Barajas Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
*****All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
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