South of Spain – 8 Days

You’ll depart on your flight.

Your bus will pick you up and you’ll begin your trip.

You’ll enjoy a guided panoramic sightseeing tour of Madrid. You’ll be introduced to the important sites and plazas in the city, including the Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Sol, Paseo de Prado, the Royal Theater, San Miguel Market and Santa Cruz. Feel free to get off of the coach and take pictures!

Next you’ll visit the vibrant sensory experience that is Madrid’s central market. You’ll have a chance to wander the stalls and taste authentic Spanish products, and be able to pick up an inexpensive lunch or snack.

Explore the immense collection of artifacts of the Spanish royal family in their official home: The Royal Palace! Built on the foundations of a 16th century castle, the Royal Palace includes intricate baroque decorations, art, sculpture, and a vast garden.

Then you’ll visit the Madrid Cathedral de la Almudena. Construction started in 1879 but wasn’t completed until 1993! The church combines different architectural styles with a neoclassical exterior, neo-gothic interior and neo-roman crypt.

Today you’ll visit the Prado Museum. The most important collection of Spanish art in the world, the Prado Museum collection features works by Velazquez and De Goya as well as important masterpieces by the European greats like Titian and El Greco.

You’ll also visit Spain’s national museum of 20th-century artwork, the Museo Reina Sofia. There you’ll see one of the most compelling works of modern art: Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. Many additional masterpieces are on display by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, and Georges Braque.

After breakfast this morning you’ll board the train to Toledo and spend the day wandering the historic streets of the city, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. See the famed intersection of three traditional religions through the architecture of the Toledo Cathedral (Christianity), the Synagogue de El Transito (Judaism), and the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz (Islam).

You’ll visit Santa Maria de La Blanca Sinagoga, one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. The spectacular interior has grand arches and intricately decorated white pillars which stand in contrast to the wooden ceiling and dark tiled floors.

You’ll visit the 13th century cathedral of Santa Maria de Toledo, considered to be one of the foremost examples of Gothic architecture in Spain. The building highlights include a baroque altar illuminated by skylights and several paintings by El Greco. Your visit will include admission to the Primate Temple, Chapter House, Treasury and Sacristy, Royal and St. Bias Chapel, Cloister, and the Bayeu paintings.

Your last stop will be the Sinagoga del Transito, a beautiful example of the blending of Spanish and Jewish art. The synagogue, built in the 14th century, is decorated with Mudéjar elements of geometric and floral motifs and inscriptions in Arabic and Hebrew.

You will take the train from Madrid to Granada.

You’ll visit the Alcaicería Grand Bazaar, a market with roots dating back to Moorish Spain. The market is home to stalls selling a variety of Arabic crafts like fajalauza- traditional ceramics, taracea-wooden inlay crafts, granadino farolas-stained-glass lamps and more. You’ll explore the stalls bursting with charm and culture and the smells and sounds of the mixture of cultures prevalent in Andalusia.

You’ll visit Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex named in Arabic for its red hue. The palace is an architectural and artistic wonder and UNESCO world heritage site. Your guided tour will take you through the centuries long history of the palace, where you’ll see many unique features like a star shaped dome, decadent grand rooms, courtyards with fountains and intricate arabesque carvings.

You’ll take the train from Granada to Seville

Your first stop in Seville will be the Real Alcazar of Seville, a fortified palace dating back to the 10th century. The mix of architectural and artistic styles within the palace make it one of the most interesting and beautiful palaces in Spain. Real Alcazar has been home to many foreign and domestic rulers and is still the residence of His Royal Majesty Juan Carlos when he visits Seville.

Next you’ll visit the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic building in the world. Vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and an intricate altar characterize the basilica which also houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

You’ll end the night with a pre-dinner beverage, dinner, and a flamenco show.

On your final day of exploration in Spain, you’ll visit the Real Maestranza Bullfighting Museum to learn about the cultural phenomenon of bullfighting. You’ll see historical paintings and sketches of the sport and its famous torero (bullfighters), and the enormous bullfighting ring that was built in the 18th century and currently hosts the largest bullfighting festival in the world.

You’ll take the train from Seville to Madrid.

Before departing from Spain, you’ll make a stop for a Madrid dessert tradition, chocolate and churros followed by dinner.

Your bus will pick you up and take you to the airport for your return trip home.