Spain in Depth

Welcome to Barcelona, one of the world's most stylish and cosmopolitan cities, on the cutting edge of architecture, food, fashion, style and music. The city features buildings by the genius and eccentric Antoni Gaudí, significant art collections of Picasso and Miro, and the exuberant locals will enchant you. The city's main tree-lined pedestrian mall, Las Ramblas, runs all the way from the quayside through the heart of the city and will lead you to the Gothic Quarter.

We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your hotel by 6.00pm

Meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director this evening for welcome drinks at the hotel.

Begin exploring the sights of Barcelona, seeing the contrast of old and new as we drive through town and visit Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Church). We then drive down to the oldest part of the city and see the Gothic Quarter, former Roman village, and heart of Medieval Barcelona. We also explore the Cathedral Square and lovely narrow streets lined with beautiful handicraft shops, quaint local restaurants, and buildings as old as the 14th century. We then walk to Saint James Square, political heart of the city and end our tour at Catalonia Square.

We see the famous Villa Olimpica neighbourhood and Port Olimpic marina, before continuing to the Montjuic Mountain to take a scenic picture of the city. The afternoon is at leisure before tonight's group welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Art lovers might like to visit the Picasso Museum which exhibits works from his ‘Blue' and ‘Pink' periods. Our Tour Director can help with directions.

Today we will enjoy a morning tour of Barcelona where we'll discover famous architect Antoni Gaudi's renowned buildings Casa Batlló and Casa Milà along Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona's largest avenues. We'll then visit the amazing Park Guell, declared an artistic monument and World Heritage site by UNESCO. We also pass by Barcelona's monumental Bull Ring and the city park La Ciutadella, site of the international expo 1888, featuring the old triumphal arch of Barcelona. The afternoon is at leisure to further explore. Why not take some time to visit the popular Las Ramblas Street with its cafés, restaurants and street artists?

Optional Excursion: Montserrat - Montserrat is a mountain top monastery in Catalonia, Spain. This incredible rocky formation is a sacred place for the Catalan people. Atop the mountain you can enter the church to see the famous St. Moreneta (Black Madonna) and with any luck you can also hear the singing of the boys choir (weekdays around 13.00 and Sundays around 12.00, the boys choir does not sing every day as they frequently travel and perform in other churches). 4hrs – from Euro 69pp (minimum 10 people)

This morning we depart for the coastal town of Valencia, one of the most lively and friendly cities in Spain. The city features numerous gardens and a wealth of inspiring architecture, the epitome of which is the Cathedral, making the city a beautiful living museum. Along the way, we'll stop in the picturesque town of Pensacola. Here, we'll have some time to grab some lunch, wander through the charming cobblestone streets and take a photo of the gorgeous citadel over the sea. We continue to Valencia and enjoy the evening at leisure to explore this vibrant city.

Our sightseeing today will take us to the Cathedral, Puerta del Real, Puerta de la Trinidad and Puerta de Serranos. We also walk through the streets of Barrio del Carmen and see inside the La Lonja de la Seda silk exchange. Built in the 14th century, the La Lonja de la Seda is a late Valencian Gothic-style civil building and was recognised as World Heritage-listed in 1996. The afternoon is for you to explore at your leisure. Valencia is the home of paella, so why not try this traditional Spanish dish while you're here? Traditionally eaten at midday, Paella Valenciana (with chicken/rabbit) or Paella de Marisco (with fish/seafood) are the most popular local variations.

Enjoy picturesque scenery as we make our way to Granada today. Located in the eastern part of the Andalusia region with a spectacular backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Granada has long inspired the spirit of romance among its inhabitants and visitors alike.

With its rich history and Moorish influences, the city boasts some breathtaking landscapes and steep, narrow streets where one could easily loose themselves within the numerous hidden nooks. On our travels, we pass by the famous tourist centre of Alicante and the ancient Moorish city of Murcia. Upon our arrival in Granada our guide will take us on an orientation walk of this beautiful area.

Special Experience: Taste traditional Spanish tapas, enjoying a range of delicious bite-sized savoury dishes, richly seasoned with local spices.

Our sightseeing today includes the famous Alhambra Palace, a Moorish citadel and one of Spain's most famous attractions. Alhambra Palace was so named because of its reddish coloured walls (it translates to Red Castle in Arabic) and is located strategically on top of a hill with views over the whole city. Throughout its long history, the palace has served multiple purposes. It was used as a fortress during the 9th century and then became a Royal residence during the 13th century.

During its time as a Royal residence, many buildings were added to the complex such as a Mosque (later the site was turned into the current Church of St Mary), public baths and patios. When the Catholic Monarch Charles V took over, he ordered the demolition of part of the complex to rebuild the palace with an Emperor's chamber, and a Queen's dressing room added.

The palace was abandoned during the 18th century and sadly part of the fortress was destroyed. Restoration of the palace began in the 19th century and is still maintained today. A short stroll away from the main Alhambra buildings are the Generalife Gardens, the tranquil 14th century summer gardens of the Kings of Granada - a place where they could escape the official affairs of the palace. We'll also walk through the old part of the city and see the outside of the Royal Chapel, where King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth are buried.

Today we will make our way to the small village of Ronda. Perched above the Tajo del Ronda, a deep, narrow gorge that plunges 150-metres into the valley, the town's location is truly spectacular. Its old town has been declared a Property of Cultural Interest: Celts, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all inhabited these lands, which were reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs.

We'll enjoy an orientation tour with our Tour Director, seeing the bullring and gorge, as well as the old town full of shopping and restaurants. We then continue to Carmona, an elegant town, full of artistic heritage. At various times occupied by the Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs, each has left a deep impression, making this a fascinating place to explore. Enjoy the evening at leisure.

We enjoy a day trip to vibrant Seville today, the birthplace of tapas, capital of Andalusia and Spain's fourth-largest city. Once called ‘Hispalis' by the Romans and ‘Ishbiliya' by the Muslims, Seville's Roman and Muslim past is still evident today. Nowadays Seville is very much a modern city, yet it has retained the strong influence of its past. This is most prominent in the old town where you feel as though you have stepped back in time to an old Spanish village.

Our city highlights tour begins at the impressive Plaza España, characterised by its iconic semi-circular lake, twin towers and benches depicting the 48 provinces of Spain in ceramic tiles. We'll visit the Royal Alcázar, a string of royal palaces built by the Catholic Kings during the 14th century which, today, is home to the Spanish Royal Family. Our next stop is the Cathedral of Santa Maria - the biggest in Spain and the site where Christopher Columbus is buried. We end our tour with a walk through the historical Jewish section of Santa Cruz. This afternoon is at leisure for you to discover the delights of this beautiful city before we make our back to Carmona.

Today we will travel the ‘Route of the white villages'. Our first stop will be Arcos de la Frontera. Villages in this mountainous area were part of the war-like border between the Christian and Muslim kingdoms for more than three centuries and are filled with brilliant white houses with narrow streets and small squares.

Special Experience: Sherry is the most famous Spanish wine in the world and we'll stop for a tasting at a cellar in the village of Jerez de la Frontera. Apart from its Sherry, Jerez as it is also known, is famous for flamenco music and the 11th century Moorish fortress of Alcázar de Jerez. We enjoy a tour of this stunning, historic city before making our way back to Carmona.

We make tracks for Madrid today, the capital of the Spanish Empire and once the richest and most powerful city on Earth. Today, its palaces, museums and concerts are up there with the best in the world. Before arriving in Madrid, we first make our way to the city of Córdoba. On a guided city tour we'll visit the incredible Mezquita Mosque, otherwise known as the Cathedral of Córdoba.

As one of the most important monuments in the Western Islamic world, it evokes the ‘Omeya' style, as well as elements of gothic, renaissance and baroque architecture. We also walk the streets of Barrio de la Juderia, which is known for its interesting interior patios and magnificent churches. Enjoy free time to explore for lunch before transferring to the train station and taking the AVE high-speed train to the grand city of Madrid.

It's time to explore Madrid today with a guided city tour. Our tour includes driving past the well-known avenues of Gran Via and Castellana and famous squares such as Plaza de España, Atocha, Neptuno, Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, Colon and walking through Oriente, Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Today we'll also see Oeste and Retiro Parks, Madrid's bullring and the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium.

The afternoon is free to enjoy at leisure. You may wish to sit back and relax at a café and be entranced by Madrid's energy as you people-watch, view eclectic architecture along the Gran Via and savour Spanish fare in Puerta Del Sol. If you enjoy art, take some time to visit the Reina Sofia Art Museum, famous for housing Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica', or the Museo del Prado, known for having one of the finest art collections in the world.

Today we take a day trip to the historic town of Toledo. Surrounded almost entirely by the river El Tajo, it became capital for the Visigoth Kingdom during the 6th century. There were three different cultures living together: Christians, Moorish and Jewish. During the 16th century King Charles I made Toledo the capital of the Spanish Empire. El Greco, a master painter from the 17th century, also lived in Toledo and his work can be seen within churches and monasteries here. During our excursion we'll see the Cathedral and go inside the beautiful Santo Tome Church, to see one of El Greco's famous paintings. We'll also have some free time to further explore the city before returning to Madrid.

Special Experience: Participate in a cooking class, learning traditional methods and discovering the delights of typical Spanish cuisine. We’ll leave with a new repertoire of delicious recipes to take home.

This morning we make the trip to Bilbao, the Basque country's largest city and a delightful mix of tradition and modernity. On our way, we will make a stop in the town of Burgos for an orientation tour. One of the highlights of the town is the spectacular, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cathedral of Santa Maria. Prominently situated on a terrace at the foot of the castle hill, it is one of the most impressive gothic cathedrals and we will have time to stop and take in its stunning exterior. We then continue our journey to Bilbao and check into our hotel.

We start today's sightseeing from the top of Mt Artxanda with spectacular views over the city. On the way down, we cross the ‘Ensanche' of the city and head towards the old quarter, a pedestrian area with more than 700 years of history, where one can visit Santiago's Cathedral or the ‘Plaza Nueva'. We'll also get the opportunity to browse the buzzing local market square, Mercado de la Ribera. After some free time for lunch, we will explore Frank Gehry's world-famous Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece.

The building's incredible exterior isn't the only thing to see; the museum is also home to one of the world's largest art collections. The Guggenheim Foundation was founded in 1937 by Solomon R Guggenheim and is dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and understanding of art and architecture, primarily of the modern and contemporary periods. We will have free time to wander the museum at leisure and marvel at the pieces on display. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.

After breakfast, we make our way to San Sebastian for a full day excursion. We will visit Igueldo Mountain, where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views over Santa Clara Island, Mount Ulia and ‘La Concha' Bay. We then cross La Concha and Ondarreta beaches, where we can see the ‘Comb of the Wind' by the Basque artist Eduardo Chillida, and continue to the heart of the city, where we see the Old Quarter, the river Urumea and Mount Urgull. We also see San Vicente's church, Museum of San Telmo, the old Dominic convent and the Basilica of Santa Maria of the choir.

Special Experience: Taste txakoli, the region's famous dry white wine which pairs perfectly with a side of pintxos.

Our journey takes us to La Rioja today, a beautiful wine region in Northern Spain characterised by its scenic patchwork of vineyard-covered hills, medieval villages and famous wineries. Our first stop along the way is in Guernica. Just outside Bilbao, this town is known for the aerial bombings committed by Nazis during the Spanish Civil War.

These actions inspired Pablo Picasso to create his famous painting ‘Guernica', displayed at Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid. We will also visit the Peace Museum, with an exhibit showing how Guernica has represented democracy, freedom, human rights and peace. We'll also stop in Vitoria and enjoy an orientation walk with our Tour Director. Here, we'll have free time for lunch before we continue to Logroño in La Rioja.

Spend the day exploring some of the 500 wineries that make up the unique La Rioja wine region, characterised by its ochre earth and abundance of sunshine. We'll visit Haro, a city filled with a vibrant culture that's renowned internationally for producing excellent wines.

The end of the 19th century was a great time of growth for the city – during this period the French purchased an abundance of Rioja's wine and a new train station was opened that connected Haro to Bilbao port. In 1852, Bordeaux vineyards were attacked by mildew, consequently causing a decade of scarce vintages. French wine Maisons sent their buyers to several other regions in Spain to make up the lost supply.

We also have a special opportunity to visit a local family winery where we'll enjoy a wine tasting and delicious lunch.

Leaving our hotel after an early breakfast, we make our way to Zaragoza. We take an orientation tour where we will see one of the most spectacular cathedrals of Europe, the cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar), which during the Spanish civil war was protected by the Black Pilarica (the saint of Zaragoza) from a falling bomb which did not explode. Enjoy some free time to explore and have lunch before transferring to Zaragoza's train station to take the AVE high-speed train back to Barcelona. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to vibrant Spain. We hope you leave with the memories of a lifetime.