Itinerary

Day 1

(Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2Arrival in Madrid

The Plaza de Toros in Madrid

, Spain

(Mon.) Time to rest or to start exploring the Spanish capital. At 6 p.m. meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and have a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 3Madrid

(Tue.) The capital since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely projected towards the future. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide takes you to Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain

View the stunning Cibeles Fountain in Madrid

, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM

The Prado Museum features renowned collections of European art dating from the Romanesque through the Impressionistic era

with its priceless art treasures. The afternoon is at leisure. An optional excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen can be arranged. (BB)

Day 4Madrid–Segovia–Salamanca

(Wed.) Cross the rugged Sierra de Guadarrama on the way to Segovia, famous for its Alcazar and the 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct. Stop for pictures of walled Avila, where St. Theresa founded the Order of Carmelites. Overnight in Salamanca, whose baroque Plaza Mayor is one of the country’s grandest squares. (BB,D)

Day 5Salamanca–Fatima

Story aboutFatima "Twice a year this small Portuguese town is overrun by pilgrims to celebrate reported sightings of the Virgin Mary in the early 20th century. They crowd a tiny shed like structure known as the Chapel of the Apparitions, where it is said Mary appeared to three devout children above a diminutive holm oak. Today, a small white column marks the spot where the tree once grew, but the passion exhibited by the pilgrims who approach the site walking on their knees in penance is quite remarkable. The apparitions were said to have predicted WWI and Russia’s separation from the church. To this day, Fatima is one of only a handful of Vatican-approved apparitions in the world."

, Portugal–Lisbon

(Thu.) Enjoy the majestic scenery of the Serra da Estrela mountain range during your morning drive into Portugal. In Fatima, visit the SANCTUARY of OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, before continuing to Lisbon. (BB)

Day 6Lisbon

(Fri.) Portugal’s imperial ambitions date back to Prince Henry the Navigator’s 15th-century discoveries in West Africa and did not subside until the 1970s. Guided sightseeing includes two Manueline jewels: Belem Tower, guarding the estuary of the Tagus River, and JERONIMOS MONASTERY

Jeronimos Monastery

with the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Drive past the Bull Ring to Pombal Statue and along the grand Avenida da Liberdade. Enjoy a walk through the cobbled alleys of ALFAMA, the quarter of the seamen. This evening why not sign up for an optional dinner with Fado-style entertainment? (BB)

Day 7Lisbon–Seville, Spain

The Tower of Gold alongside the Guadalquivir River in Seville

(Sat.) Enjoy a scenic drive through the Algarve

Algarve, the southernmost region of mainland Portugal

and reach the vibrant capital of Andalusia. During your guided afternoon sightseeing hear about the city’s role in Roman times, its conquest by the Moors in 712, and its contribution to the discovery of the New World. Admire MARIA LUISA PARK. Drive to the Plaza de España and the fine baroque building, which is now the university but used to be the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. Visit the CATHEDRAL with Columbus' tomb, the world's largest Gothic edifice. Then stroll through the charming SANTA CRUZ QUARTER . (BB,D)

Day 8At Leisure in Seville

Explore the beautiful city of Seville, the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of Southern Spain

(Sun.) All day at leisure with lots of things to do. Your Tour Director will have suggestions how to spend your time. For a truly Andalusian night out reserve a seat at our optional flamenco show. (BB)

Day 9Seville–Tangier, Morocco

(Mon.) Through the sherry wine region of Jerez to Algeciras. Board your FERRY and sail across the Straits of Gibraltar to Africa. In Tangier, jumping off point for the Moorish conquest of Spain and home town of the legendary medieval traveler Ibn Batuta, sightseeing with a Local Guide features a picture stop at the Sultan’s palace and a panoramic drive to CAP SPARTEL, where you will quench your thirst Bedouin-style with a glass of hot mint tea. Time to explore this fascinating city on your own. (BB,D)

Day 10Tangier–Torremolinos, Spain

(Tue.) Visit Tangier’s colorful GRAND SOCCO market and explore the narrow streets of the Casbah. Then return by FERRY across the Straits to the Bay of Algeciras. The vistas of the Rock of Gibraltar

Rock of Gibraltar

are spectacular! Then drive to your hotel in Torremolinos along the elegant Costa del Sol. (BB)

Day 11At Leisure in Torremolinos

(Wed.) A day at leisure to browse through the trendy boutiques. You may want to join an optional excursion to the rock fortress of Gibraltar, in British hands since 1704. (BB)

Day 12Torremolinos–Granada

(Thu.) Into the mountains to history-steeped Granada. Visit its main attraction, the ALHAMBRA

The Alhambra features Islamic architecture and beautifully detailed gardens

, with a Local Guide. A fantasy of “lace in stone” surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by gypsy cave dwellers. Amble through the magnificent WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE, the royal summer residence. Afternoon at leisure. (BB,D)

Day 13Granada–Toledo–Madrid

(Fri.) Drive through the olive and orange groves of the rolling Andalusian hills and later the more barren landscapes of Don Quixote’s La Mancha to Toledo, spectacularly situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River. A Local Guide takes you to the Moorish bridge, an early SYNAGOGUE, the 13th-century GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, and the church of SANTO TOMÉ with one of El Greco’s most famous paintings. Also time to visit a DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOP before returning to Madrid. Tonight why not join an optional farewell dinner outing? (BB)

Day 14

(Sat.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (BB)