South of Spain – 8 Days

You’ll depart on your flight.

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

Your bus will pick you up and you’ll enjoy a guided panoramic sightseeing tour of Madrid. You’ll see the most important sites and plazas in Madrid including the Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Sol, Paseo de Prado, the Royal Theater, San Miguel Market and Santa Cruz. You’ll have time to get off of the coach and take pictures.

Your bus will pick you up and you’ll enjoy a guided panoramic sightseeing tour of Madrid. You’ll see the most important sites and plazas in Madrid including the Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Sol, Paseo de Prado, the Royal Theater, the San Miguel Market, and Santa Cruz. You’ll have time to exit the coach bus and take pictures.

You’ll visit the vibrant sensory experience that is Madrid’s central market. You’ll have a chance to explore and taste authentic Spanish products and pick up an inexpensive lunch or snack at one of the many stalls.

You’ll explore the immense collection of artifacts of the Spanish royal family in the official home of the royals. The Royal Palace is built on the foundations of a 16th century castle and includes intricate baroque decorations, art, and sculptures as well as a vast garden.

You’ll visit the Madrid Cathedral de la Almudena which started construction in 1879 but was not completed until 1993. The church combines different architectural styles with a neoclassical exterior, neo-gothic interior and neo-roman crypt.

You’ll visit the Prado Museum and see the most important collection of Spanish art in the world with works by Velazquez and De Goya as well as important masterpieces by the European greats like Titian and El Greco.

You’ll visit the Reina Sofia and see one of the most compelling works of modern art, Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, and many other masterpieces by artists including Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, and Georges Braque.

You’ll take the train to Toledo and spend the day wandering the historic streets of the UNESCO World Heritage site. You will see the intersection of the three traditional religions in the city through the architecture of the Toledo Cathedral, the Synagogue de El Transito, and the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz.

You’ll visit Santa Maria de La Blanca Sinagoga, one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. The Mujedar building was constructed by the Moors for use by the Jewish population and 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, which has undergone many transformations from its foundation as a visigoth church to the city’s mosque, include a baroque high altar illuminated by skylights and several paintings by El Greco. You will have an admission ticket to visit the Primate Temple, Chapter House, Treasury and Sacristy, Royal and St. Bias Chapel, Cloister, and the Bayeu paintings.

You’ll visit the Sinagoga del Transito and see an example of a mix of cultures and examples of Spanish-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 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, named in Arabic after 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 and you will stand in the same place where major historical events took place. You will see the interesting features contained in the vast gardens and palatial structures like a star shaped dome, decadent grand rooms, courtyards with fountains and intricate arabesque carvings through the rooms.

You’ll take the train from Granada to Seville

You’ll visit Real Alcazar of Seville, a fortified palace dating back to the 10th century. The mix of architectural and artistic styles from Moorish to neoclassical within the palace make it one of the most interesting and beautiful palaces in Spain. Real Alcazar was home to many rulers, both foreign and domestic, and is still the residence of His Royal Majesty Juan Carlos when he visits Seville.

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.

You’ll visit the Real Maestranza BullFight Museum and learn about the cultural phenomenon of bullfighting in Spain. The art collection includes historical paintings and sketches of the sport and famous torero (bullfighters). You’ll also see the vast bullfighting ring, built in the 18th century that hosts the largest bullfighting festival in the world.

You’ll take the train from Seville to Madrid.

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.