Spanish Serenade

Day 1 – USA-Madrid

Board your flight, bound for Spain.

Day 2 – Madrid

¡Bienvenido! Your private bus and guide will escort you from the airport. Start your adventure with a guided Madrid City Tour. See the Plaza de España, the statue of Cervantes, the Royal Palace, and other highlights. Later enjoy a tour of the world-renowned Prado Museum to view the art treasures of Spain. This evening, take a Walking Tour with your guide to the lively Plaza Major in Old Town Madrid.

Day 3 – Madrid

Explore the ancient walled city of Ávila on a City Tour. Visit the massive Cathedral of San Salvador, begun in 1091 but not completed until the 13th century. Then on to Segovia, site of well preserved Roman ruins, including an aqueduct built in the first century. Tour the Alcázar, a magnificent example of Old Castilian architecture, built in the 12th century but later enlarged and embellished. The interior is very interesting with a series of fine rooms containing old furniture, tapestries, weapons and armor. Savor a tapas dinner, delectable dishes of many varieties, from salads to meatballs.

Day 4 – Madrid

Venture to historical Toledo, where the influences of Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures can still is seen in the architecture and the art of the city. See the masterpieces by El Greco in the Cathedral. Also see the Old Synagogue, the Church of Santo Tomé, the Royal Palace, and visit a sword workshop.

Day 5 – Valencia

Travel east through Cuenca, a town that stands in a spectacular setting between the Levant Plains and the Castilian Meseta. Fantastic rock formations make this most picturesque of medieval towns famous for its Casas Colgadas or “hanging houses.” Arrive in Valencia, a Mediterranean town notable for its pleasant, mild climate and quality of light. It is here that the famous oranges are grown. An ancient saying describes Valencia as “a piece of heaven fallen to earth.”

Day 6 – Valencia

This morning’s guided Valencia City Tour takes you through the Old Town, to the Plaza del Caudillo with its musical fountain, and into the imposing Cathedral, built between 1262 and 1482 on the site of a mosque. The afternoon is free for discovery with your group.

Day 7 – Barcelona

Travel through the historic city of Tarragona for beautiful views of the Mediterranean and a look at the seaport’s Roman amphitheatre. Arrive in Barcelona, capital of Catalonia. This evening you will enjoy a guided walking tour of Las Ramblas, the vibrant avenues of flower vendors, bird sellers, musicians and more.

Day 8 – Barcelona

Explore Barcelona on a guided City Tour that starts on Montjuïc Hill with a panoramic view. You will see the Parque de la Ciudadela, Barceloneta and its beaches, the Barrio Gotico (medieval quarter), Plaza de España, Palacio Nacional, then visit the Gaudí’s spike-towered and surreal Church of the Sagrada Familia. The afternoon is free for discovery. Option: Visit nearby Figueras, birthplace of Salvador Dalí, the famous Surrealist artist. Tour the Dalí Theatre-Museum, an eccentric building topped with statues and egg sculptures. This was the biggest work of the artist’s life, and he’s buried in an unmarked crypt at the center of the main exhibition hall.

Day 9 – Depart

Board your flight home with the sweet sounds of the last week’s Spanish Serenade playing through your memories.