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Leave your car at Misericordia and Travel by bus (at an additional cost) to your overnight flight to Valencia, Spain from Newark, NJ.
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Midday arrival to Valencia, orientation tour Valencia’s most decorated highlights such as its main Cathedral, the Church of Saint Nicholas, iconic square la Reina.
We will then check into our hotel (1ON) and later meet for our welcome dinner.
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Today we will take the high-speed train to Madrid where joined by our local guide we explore the capital’s most historic district.
Following some free time for lunch, we will check into our hotel (3ON Madrid).
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Day4
Avila – Segovia – El Escorial
We will begin the day with visit of one Spain’s most historic sites known as The Valley of The Fallen, marked by a towering cross atop, this monumental basilica & memorial to those killed in the Spanish Civil War. A short distance away we visit some of the Vast 1500s complex of royal buildings housing old masters, lavish apartments & a vaulted library of El Escorial.
Later on, in Avila, we have some free time to explore its intact medieval city walls, with 80-plus crenelated, semicircular towers and 9 gates, including the arched El Alcázar, and meet its most famous resident, St Teresa of Avila! We end the day in historic Segovia famed for its iconic ancient Roman aqueduct which has more than 160 arches, most in the original mortarless granite, and stands above Plaza Azoguejo in the heart of the city.
Enjoy time at own leisure before returning to Madrid.
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Enjoy a day investigating the capital’s most important sites to include the Royal Palace regarded as best testimony of the city’s unique architectural history in its transition from Moorish into Habsburg and later the Bourbon dynasty may be even visit the Prado.
In the afternoon you may wish to join us on an optional excursion to Toledo , a UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval marvel and a testimony of dedication to beauty and quality of life depicted by landmarks like the Church of St Tomé and the sacred Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes nestled in and around the serpentine charm of the Jewish Quarter and the old Palace of Justice.
Dinner on your own, and perhaps with a Flamengo show? ON Madrid.
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We will travel by train to Cordoba where we will meet our guide. Cordoba was once the premier city of the Western World, the greatest metropolis west of Constantinople. He or she will take us through the Mezquita-Catedral de Cordoba, which is an architectural wonder; and a site you will never forget. Within its walls is also a Catholic Cathedral. There will also be time to explore the Jewish Quarter and have lunch.
Afterwards, we will visit the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Fortress of the Christian Monarchs. It is the place from which Ferdinand and Isabella governed Castile and planned the capture of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold.
Group Dinner. (3 ON Cordoba).
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Today we have a full day excursion by roundtrip high speed train to Seville, Spain, where a local guide will introduce us to the capital of the Andalusia region and the cultural center of southern Spain revealing the beautiful landmarks like the Santa Cruz quarter, the Alcazar, Maria Luisa Park, the Avenue of the Palm Trees and more.
We will also visit the Cathedral of St Mary, the 3rd largest cathedral in the world and where Christopher Columbus is buried, and we will see The Giralda Tower.
Finally, we will visit The Real Maestranza Bullring and museum which is one of the most emblematic buildings in the city.
Dinner Seville.
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A roundtrip by high-speed train (~1.5 hr. ride) to Granada where we will visit the mighty Alhambra Palace featuring a maze of magnificent halls and intimate courtyards decorated by rows of elegant arches, bubbling fountains and splendidly carved decorations.
Following we visit the exemplary Spanish Renaissance Charles V Palace and the Alcazaba Fortress, and the Generalife gardens. Finally, you will also see the historical city center of Granada with its enormous Moorish, Christian and Jewish cultural heritage.
Visit the cathedral and crypt of Ferdinand and Isabella before returning to Cordoba and be given time to enjoy dinner in the city on your own.
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Day9
Merida - Evora – Lisbon
Today we will travel north to Merida, once the largest Roman town in Iberia.
Today we will travel north to Merida, once the largest Roman town in Iberia. We will take a 3 hour guided tour through Merida, aka "Spanish Rome" where we will explore with a guide a 1st century Roman house, a temple to Diana, gladiatorial games and a magnificent theatre, with many fun imperial and mythological bits.
Our onward journey to Lisbon takes to walled UNESCO-listed town of Évora the home of the Chapel of Bones and St Francis Church, as well as the well-preserved Diana Roman Temple, where we will stop for pictures.
(3ON Lisbon).
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A morning guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon with its prominent landmarks is our first order of business, with picture stops at Cristo Rei, The Monument to the Discoveries and the Belem Tower, and a visit to the Jeronimos Monastery.
Enjoy the afternoon exploring the Capital on your own or else join us on an optional excursion ($50) to fabled Sintra which is nestled in its mystical hills dotted with fairytale palaces and extravagant villas which inspired Lord Byron to call it a "glorious Eden" in his epic poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
Here, you will visit Palacio da Pena, which was built like Ludwig’s Bavarian Palace in Neuswanstein.
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Enjoy a day at own leisure in Lisbon or else join us on a full-day excursion to southern beautiful coast of Lagos in Portugal's Algarve region.
We will go to Camilo to capture the best views of Ponta da Piedade and Faro the region’s capital and historical Tavira where we have some free time to explore and an opportunity for dinner.
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This morning, we travel north to Porto. Enroute, we will visit Obidos, a charming and timeless "open air museum" of white houses surrounded by a medieval castle. But there is life beyond archaeology in this place.
Go for a walk in the great lagoon's dunes, taste one of the finest Portuguese liqueurs and be swept away by the magic of Óbidos' ancient walls.
Upon onward travel to Porto, we will check into the hotel for the next (2 overnights) We then explore Porto’s main sights and have some time to explore and have together in the hotel.
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Day13
Santiago - Rías Baixas
Today we will travel northwest to the city of Santiago de Compostela’ which is dedicated to the Apostle, St James. Most people arrive here on foot after traveling days upon days in pilgrimage. We are electing the short version! Marvel at the stone choir the wonderful Renaissance cloister, and the Portico of Glory.
There will be free time afterwards for lunch and exploration, to discover charming narrow streets and plazas plus commanding views near the Mercado de Abastos. When heading back to Porto we will take a scenic route through the Galician region and even stop for wine tasting one of the most famous wines in Spain, the Albariño wine.
We will return to Porto in time for our farewell dinner.
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Transfer to airport and homeward flight.
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