DAY 1 – DEPART USA
Overnight flight to Madrid.
DAY 2 – ARRIVE MADRID
Welcome to
Madrid! Complimentary transfers
depart Madrid Airport to the tour hotel
at 09.00, 11.00, 13.00 & 15.00
hours. The rest of the day is at
leisure. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome
Drink with
our Tour Director.
Hotel: NH Alcala.
DAY 3 – MADRID – GRANADA
This
morning we set off southwards
to the city of Toledo, situated high
above the River Tagus. We walk through the
cobbled streets to the Gothic Cathedral
and visit the Church of Santa Tomé,
where we see El Greco’s famous
painting, ‘The Burial of the Count
of Orgaz’.
Continuing on through the dry plains of
Don Quixote's La Mancha, we cross the
Sierra
Nevada to Granada, capital of the
Moorish Kingdom of Spain till the Moors'
defeat
in 1492.
Hotel: Saray/Alhamar. (BB,D)
DAY 4 – GRANADA
– SEVILLE
‘There is no pain
in life so cruel
as to be blind in Granada', cries the
inscription on the walls of the Alhambra.
Bathed in morning light, the Alhambra
Palace awaits us: a fantasy of stone cut
lace,
arabesque gardens and fountains, built
as a citadel by the Moors in the 13th
century.
We also visit the exotic water gardens
of the Generalife, the royal summer
residence.
Relax here in the sunshine, and enjoy
the fine views over the town and its three
verdant hills before our scenic drive
brings us to Seville.
Hotel: Melia Lebreros.
(BB)
DAY 5 – SEVILLE SIGHTSEEING
Our guided sightseeing tour of Seville reveals the city in all its glory! We see the immense 15C cathedral, burial place of Christopher Columbus, fabulous Alcazar and the slender Giralda Tower. We also tour the fashionable Santa Cruz Quarter with its flower decked wrought iron balconies. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight, why not enjoy dinner and flamenco show? (BB)
DAY 6 – SEVILLE – LISBON
We say ‘adiós’ to Seville
and head for the green slopes of the
Sierra Morena. We cross the Portuguese
border
and continue through the infinite
horizons of the Alentejo Plateau. Once
over the
amazing Tagus Bridge, we arrive in
Lisbon, historic capital of Portugal -
called
by the poet Camoes, "the princess of the
world...before whom even the ocean
bows"!
Hotel: Marriott. (BB)
DAY 7 – LISBON SIGHTSEEING
A panoramic guided tour takes us along the spacious avenues of the Lower Town and beneath the hilltop Bairro Alto to the Terreiro do Paco, finest square in the city. Now our tour continues into the Belem Quarter to visit Jeronimo’s Monastery with its fabulous double tiered cloisters. We also see the modern Monument to the Discoveries and ancient Belem Tower. This afternoon we are at leisure - perhaps join a tour to exotic Sintra and its royal summer residence? (BB)
DAY 8 – LISBON – SALAMANCA
This
morning we head north to visit
the Basilica at Fatima, the most
celebrated place of pilgrimage in
Portugal, commemorating
the appearance of the Virgin Mary to
three children in 1917. We then cross
the border
back into Spain and continue to the
‘Golden City’ of Salamanca
where we
see the Plaza Mayor and Puente Romano
bridge.
Hotel: Alameda Palace. (BB,D)
DAY 9 – SALAMANCA – MADRID
We journey
to St Theresa’s city
of Avila this morning, still entirely
enclosed within its city walls. Later, we
return to Madrid for our guided
sightseeing tour. We see the Royal
Palace, Cervantes
Statue, Cibeles Fountain and Parliament.
This evening, we bid farewell to our new
found friends with a Highlight Dinner at
a local restaurant.
Hotel: NH Alcala.
(BB,HD)
DAY 10 – RETURN TO USA
Our tour ends with transfers from the tour hotel, arriving Madrid Airport at 07.00, 09.00 & 11.00 hours. (BB)
Tour Pace
A well paced tour with two night stays in Seville and Lisbon, allowing plenty of time for in-depth sightseeing. Other driving days are comfortable, interspersed with sightseeing en route.
Hotels
All the hotels on this tour are modern and comfortable with first class facilities. They are centrally located, close to amenities and shops, except for the scenically located Lisbon Marriott, which has splendid views.
Fellow Passengers
This popular tour attracts those who wish to take advantage of the milder climate of Spain and Portugal. Passengers are also interested in the Moorish heritage and architecture of Spain.
Highlights
Highlights range from the cobbled medieval streets of Toledo to the arabesque design of the Alhambra. Add to this list; the massive Seville Cathedral, Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon and the walled town of Avila.
Enjoy our Premium Highlights Plus These Extra Tour Features
Excursions & Sights
- Walk through the maze of narrow winding lanes to Toledo’s 13C Cathedral
- Visit the Church of Santa Tome in Toledo to see El Greco’s masterpiece
- Visit the Cathedral in Seville and see the Alcazar, Giralda Tower & Santa Cruz Quarter
- Visit the Monument to the Discoveries & Belem Tower in Lisbon
- Visit the great Basilica in Fatima
- See the Plaza Mayor and Puente Romano bridge in Salamanca
- Visit the walled town of Avila
- See the Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, Royal Palace and Cibeles Fountain in Madrid
Guided City Tours
- In depth sightseeing tour in Toledo, Granada, Seville, Lisbon & Madrid
- Orientation tour of Fatima, Salamanca & Avila
Insight's First Class Services
- Professional Tour Director to escort you
- Luxury touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
- First Class hotels with service charges, taxes & porterage
- Complimentary arrival transferSee day-by-day itinerary for exact details
Quality Dining
- Highlight Dinner in Madrid at a local restaurant (HD)
- See day-by-day itinerary for exact details
