Castles in Spain

Day 1 – Madrid

¡Bienvenidos a España! Your guide awaits to escort you on a Madrid City Tour. See the Plaza de España, the statue of Cervantes, the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor and other highlights. Later enjoy a guided tour of the Prado Museum. While at the Prado, don’t miss Goya’s Majas, Rubens’ The Three Graces, and Spain’s favorite painting, Las Meninas by Velázquez.

Day 2 – Madrid

Journey into the ancient walled city of Ávila, city of stones, city of saints. The 12th century walls are amazingly well preserved; for the best view try Quatro Postes, or Four Posts, on the Salamanca road. Next see El Escorial, site of the beautiful Monastery of San Lorenzo el Real, and visit the Valley of the Fallen, a monument built to honor those slain in the Spanish Civil War. Then continue on to the historic city of Segovia to see its magnificent Roman aqueduct. Built during the reign of Trajan in the first century, it is almost 2,000 years old and is still in operation! Also visit the imposing Alcázar of Segovia, standing on a steep-sided crag between two valleys.

Day 3 – Madrid

Travel to historical Toledo, where the influences of Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures can be seen in the architecture and the art of the city. On a guided tour of this golden city perched above the Tagus, see the masterpieces by El Greco in the Cathedral, the Church of Santo Tomé, the Old Synagogue, the Royal Palace, and visit a sword workshop to see how the famous Toledo blades are made. Option: After a full day of sightseeing, relax and enjoy an authentic Tapas dinner.

Day 4 – Seville

On your way to Seville, see the windmills of Don Quixote’s La Mancha area. Stop for a tour of Córdoba on the banks of the river Guadalquivir, where you’ll see the two famous gates of La Calahorra and Puerta del Puente. Continue to the Alcázar of Catholic Kings and the Old Mosque. Arrive in the flower-filled city of Seville, the capital of Andalusia.

Day 5 – Granada

A guided Seville City Tour takes you through the city and its parks, including the Parque Maria Luisa. See the Torre del Oro, the Santa Cruz Quarter, the Alcázar, and Casa de Pilatus (Pilate’s House), a palace that is mixture of Mudejar, Renaissance and Gothic styles. Also visit Seville’s famous Giralda, a belltower that was once a minaret, and its 15th century cathedral, the third largest in Europe, formerly a mosque. The cathedral is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Then travel through the olive groves of Andalusia to the beautiful Moorish city of Granada.

Day 6 – Costa del Sol

On your guided Granada City Tour, visit the Royal Chapel, the Alhambra and the Alcaiceria. The Alhambra is a fantasy of “lace in stone,” surrounded by arabesque fountains and gardens. See the gardens of the 14th century Generalife, the summer palace of the Kings of Granada, and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. Spend the night in the lively, cosmopolitan Costa del Sol resort area. This beautiful coast is punctuated along its entire length by the ruins of Moorish towers—defenses built in the days when the Barbary pirates would attack.

Day 7 – Costa del Sol

Called the “Sunshine Coast,” this Mediterranean region is a popular vacation spot for tourists and Spaniards alike. Today is free for you to enjoy the sun, sand and surf of the Costa del Sol’s world-famous beaches.