Itinerary 3 - Southern Spain

You will be met at the Barcelona airport by your driver/guide and transferred to the Hotel Arts Barcelona. 3 nights accommodation at the Hotel Arts.

Today, you’ll take a guided tour of Barcelona, both on foot and by car. This tour is a great introduction to the city’s history and art. You’ll enjoy the beautiful views of the city from Montjuic, and take a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, where you’ll will visit the Cathedral and its cloister and see the outside of the old medieval Synagogue at the Call (Jewish quarter). You will see the famous “La Pedrera” building by Antoni Gaudí on your way to the Sagrada Familia church, considered by many to be Gaudí’s masterpiece.

In the evening, enjoy dinner and a flamenco show at El Cordobés. Founded in 1970, the Tablao Cordobés is considered one of the most important in Spain, with an international prestige. Here, you’ll find great Flamenco dance and a typical Spanish and Mediterranean kitchen.

Today, you’ll visit L’Aquàrium de Barcelona. Featuring 35 tanks, an 80-yard underwater tunnel, and Europe’s only Oceanarium, this aquarium is the most important marine leisure and education center in the world focused on the Mediterranean.

Next, you’ll visit to the Barcelona Soccer Club Stadium, a.k.a. Nou Camp. It is the largest football stadium in Europe, home of Barcelona Football Club (“Barça,” as it is known locally). The tour of the stadium takes about 1 hr and includes the changing rooms, the tunnel and its chapel, the manager’s dug-outs and the trophy room.

This morning after checkout, you will be transferred to the Barcelona airport for your flight to Malaga. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Marbella Club Hotel (35-45 mins).

Tucked between the mountains and the sea, Marbella is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Costa del Sol, with great beaches and dozens of excellent golf courses. The historic part of town shelters lovely areas of typically Andalusian flavor, with whitewashed houses and orange trees adorning the streets and squares.

7 nights accommodation at the Marbella Club Hotel.

This morning you will be picked up by your driver for a 1.75 hr drive to Jerez de la Frontera. This city, well known for its sherry wine, its horses and its flamenco, preserves a historic center that has been declared a historic artistic site. You will enjoy the "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" Show at the Royal School of Equestrian Art. The show is an equestrian ballet accompanied by Spanish music and 18th century-style costumes.

After the show, enjoy learning the process of creating and aging sherry wine while visiting the González Byass – Tío Pepe Winery. At the end of the visit you will taste some Spanish tapas, including Spanish omelette and ham, accompanied by some of the wines produced at the winery.

In the evening, return to Marbella.

This morning you will be picked up by your driver for a 1.75 hr drive to Granada. Here, you will be taken for a guided tour of the Alhambra, the most important example of Muslim civil architecture in Moorish Spain. All the refinement, wealth and delicacy of Islamic art are evident in this unique building, which is a fortress, residence and royal city all in one, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the late afternoon, return to Marbella.

This morning, enjoy a falconry class at the resort.

Afternoon at leisure.

Day at leisure to enjoy the beach and the resort facilities.

This morning, you’ll be picked up and driven 1hr to Ronda, perhaps the most inviting of the region’s famous pueblos blancos. Spectacularly located on a 600-foot-high rocky bluff, this town was one of the last strongholds of Moorish occupation. Ronda is divided in two by a deep ravine – on the south side is a classic Moorish old town of cobblestone alleys, tiled courtyards and whitewashed walls. The north (newer) side is home to Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest bullrings in Spain.

During your tour, you’ll visit the Church of Santa Maria as well as the bullring. In the afternoon, return to Marbella.

Day at leisure.

Today after checkout, you’ll be driven 2.75 hrs to Sevilla.

Sevilla is a beautiful city rich in history and monuments. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of the old quarter of Sevilla, where you’ll visit the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Real Alcazar (Royal Fortresses). This complex was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is the city's emblem.

In the evening, enjoy Sevilla’s famed nightlife. Some of the liveliest bars, restaurants and clubs are located on Calle Betsis (on the Triana side of the river), and on the Alameda de Hércules (in the La Macarena neighborhood).

1 overnight at Hotel Alfonso XIII.

In the morning, you’ll board the AVE High Speed Train to Madrid. The trip is 2.5 hrs. Your English-speaking driver will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel.

This afternoon, see Madrid in a different way on a wonderful excursion by bike. Accompanied by your local expert guide, knowledgeable in art and history, you’ll ride to the city’s most interesting places, monuments and parks, experiencing the life of Madrid and learning along the way. (Although the biking takes place mostly on paths with little traffic, cyclists should have some experience in a busy city environment.)

3 overnights at Hotel Villa Magna.

Today, you’ll enjoy a panoramic guided tour of Madrid, learning about its history, art, architecture, culture and traditions. This tour includes a visit to the Prado Museum with an expert local guide/art historian. The Prado houses one of the world’s most important collections of 16th and 17th century paintings, with works by artists such as Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez, and Goya.

This morning you’ll be picked up at your hotel and driven to Toledo, one of the most unique and delightful cities in Spain. Toledo is known as the “city of the three cultures” because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived here together for centuries. This legacy is housed behind its walls in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques, and synagogues. The great diversity of artistic styles makes the old quarter a museum, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On your guided tour, you’ll visit the Cathedral, old Jewish Quarter, Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue and Santo Tome Church.

In the evening, return to Madrid.

At the designated time, your driver will take you to the airport for your international flight back home.