14D13N Treasures Of Spain And Portugal

Kick-start your epic encounter with Spain and Portugal in Europe’s highest capital city, Madrid. Spend your day rambling along tree-lined boulevards and people-watching in the city’s lively squares before joining your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a dinner and orientation drive past some of Madrid’s most iconic sites.

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We journey south for an excursion to the hilltop city of Toledo, where we’ll join our Local Specialist for a walking tour. Visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco’s most famous painting, ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’, and visit the former synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca. This afternoon, join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the Spanish capital, which includes views of the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Spanish royal family and the Cibeles Fountain.

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Venture to Segovia and see the Roman Aqueduct, by far the most impressive Roman structure in Spain – delivering drinking water across its impressive 160 arches to the people of Segovia in ancient times, view the Alcázar of Segovia. Travel to the city of Zamora in the Castile and Leon region. Your orientation walking tour includes views of the Plaza Mayor and the Church of Mary Magdalene. Later this evening, why not follow your nose to a cosy local spot and relax with some refreshingly fruity sangria to toast the day.

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Travel to Santiago de Compostela, where you’ll join a Local Specialist, who will share insights into the ‘Way of Saint James’ and explain why thousands of people attempt the life-changing pilgrimage annually. Visit the vast Cathedral, reputed to be the final resting place of Saint James the Great, and the Praza do Obradoiro, a square dominated by four architectural styles.

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Today we Dive into Culture and the centuries-old tradition of local Port production at a tasting in a Port cellar. Afterwards, embark on a sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist in Porto. Wander past Baroque churches and along the winding lanes that tumble down towards the Douro. See the remarkable bridges that span the river, the medieval Ribeira Quarter and its old quay/dock, before visiting the Stock Exchange Palace with its splendid Arabian Hall inspired by Granada’s Alhambra. Spend the rest of the afternoon strolling through the historic centre of Porto – just steps away from our riverside hotel.

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Follow the road taken by pilgrims over the last 100 years to the Shrine at Fátima, site of a celebrated religious miracle. Arrive in colourful Lisbon later – our home for the next two nights. This evening perhaps enjoy a traditional Portuguese dinner amidst the melancholic sounds of the fado.

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Delve into Lisbon’s centuries-old seafaring heritage today, paying tribute to the brave men who set off from these shores to discover a new world. You’ll see the shimmering white Monument to the Discoveries, the iconic suspension bridge spanning the River Tagus, and Belém Tower when you join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing tour of Lisbon. Dive into Culture visiting the Belém Quarter. Enjoy a taste of Pastéis de Belém. Join an Optional Experience to the historic towns of Cascais and Sintra.

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We travel east through Portugal’s picturesque rural landscapes of the Alentejo famous for the country’s cork and cross into Spain, journeying through the province of Huelva, renowned for its Jabugo ham, before arriving in Seville. This evening, explore the fine art of olive oil production at a Be My Guest experience and Connect With Locals over a memorable dinner at an olive oil farm.

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The charisma of Seville is unmistakable. Join a Local Specialist for a walking tour through the city. View the symbolic Giralda Bell Tower, see the tiled fountains, pavilions and lush palms in the María Luisa Park and explore the architectural gems of Seville’s 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Later, stroll through the historic Jewish Quarter before visiting the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.

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Multicultural Granada takes centre stage today as you visit the magnificent Alhambra in the company of a Local Specialist. A fine example of Moorish architecture, the Alhambra complex was built during the 14th century towards the end of Islamic rule in Spain. Wander through the exotic water gardens of the Generalife, the royal Summer Palace, once linked to the other palaces by a covered walkway across the ravine, and admire the intricate design and detail around every turn.

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This morning, we travel to Guadix in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains where you will see the whitewashed troglodyte dwellings lodged in the ochre-coloured cliffs of the surrounding area. We travel to Valencia, where we’ll stay overnight to view the Bullring and admire the beautiful facade of the Modernist Estacion del Norte Train Station and the Serrano Tower. Embrace the city’s spirit of innovation and stop to view the City of Arts and Sciences, a large-scale urban recreation centre for culture and science, designed by Santiago Calatrava. Here we enjoy horchata, the celebrated drink of Valencia, during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.

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Head north along the coast through the Levant region and stop at Peñíscola, the ‘City in the Sea’, to view the ancient castle of the ‘Spanish Pope’, built by the Knights Templar and used in the film, ‘El Cid’. We continue along the Costa Dorada to Barcelona with its whimsical Gaudí architecture. Join a Local Specialist and see the exterior of the unfinished La Sagrada Família before paying tribute to Christopher Columbus at the monument that bears his name.

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Today, you’ll soak up the charm of Barcelona. You could join a morning Optional Experience to Montserrat, where you’ll visit the mountaintop monastery and the shrine of the Black Madonna. Take the afternoon to stroll through the vibrant streets of El Born at your own pace and treat yourself to some delicious tapas. This evening, you’ll gather with your fellow travellers and Travel Director to enjoy a delightful dinner together.

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It’s time to bid adios to Spain and Portugal as your unforgettable holiday comes to an end.

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