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Day 1: Barcelona
Morning arrival Barcelona. Meet your local guide in the Arrivals Hall and transfer to the hotel for check in. Balance of the
day at leisure to explore the city. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant "El Pintor".
Day 2: Barcelona
Today’s activities are undertaken by foot, so please dress appropriately. We spend the morning in the Gothic Quarter
including Tapineria Street and Ramon Berenguer Square with some of the most impressive architecture in Old Barcelona. We spend
time inside the magnificent 13th century cathedral, noted for its fine Gothic chapels, medieval choir stalls and shady cloisters.
We also visit the City History Museum.
This afternoon we make a brief visit to the Picasso Museum where you can view
a handsome collection of the artist’s early works and the influence of the city upon his work. Our final visit this
afternoon is to the Contemporary Art Museum - MACBA - with its substantial collection of Catalonian, Spanish and international
works. Dinner on own.
Day 3: Barcelona
Departure to Montjuic Hill (The Hill of the Jews) wherre we spend the morning at the National Museum of Art of Catalunya which
traces the general history of all Catalan art from the Romanesque period through to the mid 20th century. Our final visit
of the morning is to the Joan Miro Foundation, which celebrates his collection of tapestries and sculptures. Afternoon at
leisure. Dinner on own.
Day 4: Barcelona of Gaudi
Antonio Gaudi was one of the world’s most important modernist architects, and much of his work can be found in Barcelona.
Our motorcoach tour will highlight some of them; Bellesguard, Colegio Teresiano, Casa Mila, Casa Calvet and his most ambitious
yet unfinished work at Sagrada Familia Church with space for 5 organs and choirs of 1500. The balance of the day is at leisure
to explore the city - perhaps stroll down the Ramblas or take a harbor cruise. Dinner at the restaurant "La Barceloneta"
 Day 5: Barcelona - Madrid
Morning flight from Barcelona to Madrid (flight cost not included). Transfer and check in at the Madrid hotel. Welcome to
Madrid with a 2 hour orientation tour of the city including the major land marks and squares. Dinner on own.
Day 6: Madrid
Today we visit the Royal Palace & Bourbon Area: Plaza de Oriente. After lunch we will have a Flamenco Dance lesson at
the "Corral de la Moreria". We will be seeing a Flamenco show on Day 8. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner on own.
Day 7: Segovia
We leave Madrid behind for a full day excursion north to Segovia. The town lies on the slope of the Guadarrama Mountains.
This ancient city stands in the center of the most castle-rich part of Castilla. Wherever you look, you’ll see reminders of
a golden era - whether it’s the most spectacular Alcazar on the Iberian Peninsula or the well-preserved, still-functioning
Roman aqueduct. Our visits today include the Gothic Cathedral, Vera Cruz Templar Church and Casa de los Picos. Our final visit
is the Roman Aqueduct. The Romans built this architectural marvel nearly 2,000 years ago. Constructed of mortarless granite,
it consists of 118 arches, and in one two-tiered section it soars 95 feet to its highest point. Late afternoon return to Madrid.
Day 8: Madrid
Morning visit to the Prado Museum - this iconic museum needs no
introduction, sufficient to say that with over 7,000 works it is one of
the world’s most important repositories of art. It contains an unrivaled collection of Spanish works, but also an excellent
Italian
section as well as Flemish works of Rubens and Bosch. Afternoon at
leisure. This evening attend a Flamenco Show. Dinner on own.
Day 9: Toledo
A morning excursion south of Madrid to Toledo. Surrounded on three
sides by a bend in the Tagus River, Toledo stands atop a hill
overlooking the arid plains of New Castile a natural fortress in the
center of the Iberian Peninsula. It was a logical choice for the
capital of Spain, though it lost its political status to Madrid in the
1500s. Toledo has remained the country’s religious center, and has
retained most of its medieval charm. We begin our tour at the Gothic
Cathedral, ranked among the greatest of all Gothic structures. It
contains art treasures, such as the transparente, a wall of marble and
florid baroque alabaster sculpture overlooked for years because the
cathedral was too poorly lit. Sculptor Narcisco Tome cut a hole in the
ceiling, much to the consternation of Toledans, and now light touches
the high-rising angels, a Last Supper in alabaster, and a Virgin in
ascension. We stop into the 14th central chapel of Ste Tome to view El
Greco’s Burial of the Count or Orgaz before proceeding to the Transito
Synagogue, a once important point of worship for Toledo’s large Jewish
population. There will be time to explore Toledo on our own before
returning to Madrid.
Late afternoon return to Madrid. Farewell dinner at "Casa Botin" restaurant in Madrid.
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