Iberian Discovery from Madrid - First Class Hotels

Depart from the established hotels in Madrid. Travel toward Zaragoza and enjoy free time to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and to wander through the charming old streets of the city. Continue the journey to San Sebastián. Overnight at Palacio de Aiete hotel or similar. (B)

Enjoy a tour of this elegant and sophisticated city, whose landscape is defined by its beautiful bay and La Concha Beach. Ascend Mount Igueldo to enjoy a magnificent view of the city. Remainder of day at leisure. Accommodation at Palacio de Aiete hotel or similar. (B)

Depart for Bilbao and enjoy some free time on the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum. Continue to Castro Urdiales, a picturesque fishing village with free time to explore. Travel to Santander, a port city set between the sea and the mountains, known for its many beaches. Free time to stroll through this elegant city. Enjoy an overnight stay at Santemar hotel or similar. (B)

Travel to Santillana del Mar, a town with great historical and artistic heritage and home to architectural treasures such as the Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana. Continue to Covadonga and have free time to visit the Sanctuary and the grotto that houses the image of the Virgin. Then depart for Oviedo, set on a series of hills at the foot of Mount Naranco. Its monuments are World Heritage Sites, with the Cathedral standing out as one of the most significant examples of Asturian Gothic. Stay for the night at Sercotel Ciudad de Oviedo or similar. (B)

Enroute to Lugo, stop in Mondoñedo, with free time to visit its impressive 12thcentury cathedral and taste the delicious local “Mondoñedo cake.” Continue to Lugo and enjoy free time to admire the Roman remains that still stand today, including its ancient walls. Proceed to Santiago de Compostela, whose old town is a World Heritage Site and one of Spain’s most important monumental centers. Overnight at Santiago Plaza hotel affiliated by Meliá or similar. (B)

City tour of Santiago, including a visit to the Plaza del Obradoiro and its magnificent Cathedral (entrance included), dedicated to the Apostle Saint James the Greater. Remainder of day at leisure. Overnight accommodation at Santiago Plaza hotel affiliated by Meliá or similar. (B)

Depart for Salamanca and enjoy free time in this historic university city, renowned for itsexceptional architectural and artistic heritage. Enjoy your night’s accommodation at Catalonia Plaza Mayor hotel or similar. (B)

Free time in the morning then depart toward the Portuguese border for Porto. Accommodation at Yotel Porto / BessaHotel Boavista / Cristal Porto hotel or similar. (B)

Sightseeing tour of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Highlights include the Cathedral, the Stock Exchange building, and Santa Clara Church. Enjoy a scenic view of the city from the Douro River and explore its historic heritage with a visit to the famous Port Wine Cellars, includes wine tasting. Remainder of day at leisure. Overnight stay at Yotel Porto / BessaHotel Boavista / Cristal Porto hotel or similar. (B)

Departure to Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities and known as the cradle of Fado. Free time to explore. Continue to Fatima, a major center of Christian faith and world-renowned pilgrimage site, featuring its impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria, where the Virgin Mary appeared. Visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, the heart of the sanctuary, and see the tombs of the three little shepherds, Lucía, Francisco, and Jacinta. Overnight at Santa María / Aurea / Estrela / Regina hotel or similar. (B)

Depart for Batalha Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline architecture. Continue to the picturesque fishing village of Nazaré for some free time. Travel to Alcobaça to admire its Gothic church and 12th-century Cistercian monastery, before continuing to Lisbon. Spend the night at Lutécia / VIP Art’s / VIP Entrecampos hotel or similar. (B)

Morning a city tour of Lisbon, formerly known as Olissipo, visiting its main squares, the Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery (exterior), and the Monument to the Discoveries. The afternoon is free to explore the city’s charming neighbourhoods. Overnight stay at Lutécia / VIP Art’s / VIP Entrecampos hotel or similar. (B)

Depart for Merida, the capital of Extremadura and famed for its remarkable historical legacy, featuring well-preserved Roman monuments such as the theater, amphitheater and Roman bridge. Enjoy free time before continuing to Córdoba. Relax and enjoy your night at NH Califa hotel or similar. (B)

Visit to its Mosque (entrance included) and other landmarks while wandering through the narrow, winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. After a two-hour drive, arrive in Seville. Overnight at Meliá Lebreros hotel or similar. (B)

Morning city tour including a visit to the Cathedral - the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peter’s in Rome, the charming Santa Cruz Quarter, known as the setting for Carmen and the birthplace of the Don Juan legend, as well as María Luisa Park and the stunning Plaza de España. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodation at Meliá Lebreros hotel or similar. (B)

Travel along the Caliphate Route into the heart of Andalusia, passing countless olive groves on the way to Granada - a city of stunning monuments and the last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms. Visit the renowned Alhambra complex and the beautiful Generalife Gardens, whose sights and sounds have inspired many writers, including Washington Irving in his Tales of the Alhambra. Overnight accommodation at Meliá Granada hotel or similar. (B)

Depart for Valencia, one of the major cities on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Discover its striking City of Arts and Sciences complex, comprising six remarkable structures. Spend the night at NH Las Artes hotel or similar. (B)

Morning city tour of this vibrant city, including a drive through the historic center to view its most notable landmarks. In the early afternoon, depart north along the Mediterranean coast toward Catalonia, passing through Tarragona, the ancient Roman Tarraco. Arrive in Barcelona, the leading Mediterranean metropolis and home of the renowned architect Gaudí. Stay for the night at Catalonia Barcelona Plaza / Evenia Rosselló hotel or similar. (B)

Morning city tour of Barcelona, internationally recognised for hosting the 1992 Olympic Games. Drive along the city’s main avenues to admire Gaudí’s remarkable modernist masterpieces, including La Pedrera (Casa Milà) and Casa Batlló. Visit Montjuïc Park, offering stunning views of the city, the Olympic Ring, and the monument to Columbus. Afternoon at leisure. Check-in at the hotel and overnight at Catalonia Barcelona Plaza / Evenia Rosselló hotel or similar. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. End of the services. (B)