Join Mary Kisler in Spain in May 2013 as
she discovers the history, culture, food and of course art of
Madrid, Burgos, San Sebastian, Bilbao and Barcelona.
Our tour comprises:
- 5 Nights in Madrid
- 2 Nights Burgos
- 4 Nights San Sebastian
- 5 Nights Barcelona
- Visits to Toledo, Segovia, Bilbao's Guggenheim, Figueres (Dali's
Theatre) and Zaragoza
- All transfers and meals where indicated
- All museum entries
- Accommodation in 4 star hotels
- Services of a Tour Manager and Tour Guide
* Airfares from New Zealand to Europe are additional
This tour will be escorted from New Zealand but own arrangements
are possible on enquiry
A Brief suggested itinerary is below
: Depart Auckland 8 May on Singapore Airlines with one night in
Singapore included
DAY 01 MADRID 10 May
Arrival in Madrid at the airport where you are met and transferred
to your hotel for check-in. Settle in and relax. A short walk
to the lovely Casa Lucio restaurant, where you enjoy a welcome
dinner. Back to the hotel for overnight. D
DAY 02 MADRID 11 May
A relaxed start today with breakfast at the hotel before you are
met by your local guide for a tour of the city. You will walk
through the majestic streets of the capital and enter the Golden
Triangle museum quarter for a guided tour through the Prado art
galleries. With almost 9000 exhibits in its permanent collection,
the museum houses the world's greatest assembly of Spanish painting
- especially works by Velazquez and Goya - ranging from the 12th
to the 19th century. It also houses important foreign collections
particularly Italian and Flemish works. Free afternoon. You may
like to head out and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Retiro
Park - Europe's largest inner city park. Overnight. B
DAY 03 MADRID – TOLEDO – MADRID 12 May
A memorable excursion today to the walled city of Toledo. On your
tour you will visit the magnificent Cathedral, the Church of Santo
Tome and the Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue, followed by a visit
to the house-museum of artist, El Greco. Optional: tapas ‘degustation
menu’ at la Abadia restaurant. Some time to wander the tiny streets
of the old quarter after your tour. Overnight. B
DAY 04 MADRID 13 May
Today we will visit the spectacular Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina
Sofia museums. Overnight. B
DAY 05 MADRID 14 May
Stretching from the Medieval Plaza de la Villa to the busy Puerta
del Sol, the compact heart of Old Madrid is rich in history and
full of interesting sights. You may like to visit the Monasterio
de las Descalzas Reales, Madrid's most notable religious building
and is one of the rare surviving examples of sixteenth century
architecture. Overnight. B
DAY 06 MADRID – SEGOVIA – LERMA – BURGOS 15 May
Depart early from the capital today as you journey north. Your
first stop is beautiful Segovia, where you will have a tour of
the city, including the Alcazar, which appears like a fairy-tale
castle. The 1st C Roman aqueduct cuts through the middle of the
city and is remarkably preserved. Back on the road as you head
north to Burgos, stopping for a local lunch on the way at the
Parador in the charming town of Lerma. Arrival in Burgos and check-in.
Free time. Overnight. B, L
DAY 07 BURGOS 16 May
A half day tour of the city today, visiting the Casa del Cordón,
where the Catholic Monarchs received Christopher Columbus after
he returned from his second trip to the New World. You will then
continue on to visit the Royal Monastery of Huelgas Reales, with
an impressive Gothic cloister and the famous Chapel of Saint James
the Apostle.
Overnight. B
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DAY 08 BURGOS – LA RIOJA – SAN SEBASTIAN 17 May
Your journey to the coast today takes you through La Rioja, Spain’s
most famous wine producing region. You will stop for a visit of
the spectacular Bodegas Ysios. The architect Santiago Calatrava
designed it from the sublimation of the outline of a row of barrels.
Inside, too, you will find the same ultra-modern style and your
visit will include a guided tour and tasting. Back to the coach
and on to San Sebastian where you will arrive in time for check-in
and a late lunch at leisure. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon stroll
along the beautiful La Concha promenade or simply relax in one
of the many cafes of the old quarter. Overnight. B
DAY 09 SAN SEBASTIAN 18 May
A very special day today as you may like to enjoy private cooking
class at a Sociedad Gastronómica (Gastronomic Society), located
in the old center of this elegant city. (Optional) You will learn
the trade from a professional chef and enjoy the fruits of your
labour as you enjoy lunch. After lunch, return to the hotel for
a siesta or just some free time to relax at your leisure. Overnight.
B
DAY 10 SAN SEBASTIAN – BILBAO – SAN SEBASTIAN 19 May
A short drive today to the industrial city of Bilbao. You will
enjoy a tour of the great Guggenheim Museum. This spectacular
building (Frank O. Gehry, 1997) is covered in titanium panels
and has its own important collection, as well as sharing the largest
private modern and contemporary art collection in the world with
New York and Venice. Some free time after the tour to explore
at leisure and perhaps enjoy a light lunch before returning to
San Sebastian. Overnight. B
DAY 11 SAN SEBASTIAN 20 May
Tonight, enjoy a guided tapas evening with a gourmet guide, walking
distance from the hotel. You will settle in for the evening and
enjoy a sample of local favourites. The city is the gastronomic
capital of Spain and tonight will not disappoint! Overnight. B,
D
DAY 12 SAN SEBASTIAN – ZARAGOZA – BARCELONA 21 May
A longish day of travel today to reach Barcelona. En route, you
will stop in historic Zaragoza, to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue on to Barcelona and to your hotel. Free time at leisure.
Overnight. B, L
DAY 13 BARCELONA 22 May
This morning you will have a guided tour of ‘Modernist and Artistic
Barcelona’. You will travel along the Passeig de Gracia, with
its wonderful architecture. Your tour will include a visit to
the incredible Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece, as
well as his Casa Mila, also known as ‘La Pedrera’. You will then
be taken down towards the marina where you will have a guided
tour of the Picasso museum. Your tour will end here, so you can
head out and stroll the alleyways of the Gothic quarter or perhaps
head down to enjoy an afternoon by the water. Overnight. B
DAY 14 BARCELONA 23 May
A free day at leisure. Perhaps head up to Montjuic for views across
the city or further explore the Gothic quarter, visiting the Palau
de la Musica and the Cathedral. Overnight. B
DAY 15 BARCELONA – FIGUERES – CADAQUES – BARCELONA 24 May
Head north towards Girona today and further on to Figueres, where
you will have a guided tour of the remarkable Museo Casa Dalí.
The Dalí Theatre-Museum, the largest surrealistic object in the
world, occupies the building of the former Municipal Theatre,
a 19th century construction which was destroyed at the end of
the Spanish Civil War. On its ruins, Dalí decided to create his
museum. After the tour, you will head to Cadaques, to visit the
Portlligat House-museum which was Salvador Dalí’s only fixed abode
from 1930, the place in which he normally lived and worked up
till 1982 when, upon Gala’s death, he took up residence at Púbol
Castle. Lunch in a local restaurant before you return to Barcelona
after a full day. Overnight. B, L
DAY 16 BARCELONA 25 May
A free day at leisure. Tonight, join together for a special farewell
dinner at Casa Calvet, housed inside a building designed by the
city’s most famous son, Antoni Gaudi. You will walk to/from the
restaurant, right in the heart of the city centre. Overnight.
B, D
DAY 17 DEPART BARCELONA 26 May
Farewell the city today as you are transferred to the airport
for your flight to your next destination.
Budget approx. $9799 per person twin share - $1400 Single Supplement
Airfares are additional
Enquire |
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