SPAIN TOUR
An Upscale Escorted Group Tour for Women
Women’s Tour to Spain In A Small Group Setting to Explore Madrid, Salamanca, Segovia, Barcelona, Girona, Sitges and more.
GROUP SIZE – 8 TO 12 PEOPLE
SPAIN TOUR
Escorted Women’s Tour – Spain Small Group Tour
Destinations: Madrid, Salamanca, Segovia, Barcelona, Girona, Penedes, Sitges
This women’s tour to Spain is an upscale, fully escorted small group tour for 8 to 12 people.
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Highlights:
Pre-tour and post-tour accommodations are available. Arrive early or depart later. We’ll make all the arrangements for you. |
Spain Tour Inclusions:
Not Included:
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Arrival Airport: Madrid
Departure Airport: Barcelona
2019 Spain Tour – Women’s Tour
ITINERARY
NOTE: Extend this Spain Tour for women. Inquire. We reserve the right to re-organize the order of presentation of sites covered.
Day 1: May 27 – Arrive in Madrid, Royal Palace, Tapas Tour, Overnight in Madrid
The first destination of our Spain tour is Madrid, the largest city in Spain and its capital since the mid-16th century. Madrid came to rise under the Arab occupation of the Iberian Peninsula and passed from Muslim to Christian hands several times in its history, paving the way for the mixture of cultures and architecture that still characterizes the city today.
Upon your arrival in Madrid, we will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Take some time to check in and get settled. In the afternoon, for those of you who are ready and up for it, we visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. With 3,418 rooms, the Palace is the largest in Europe. Our guide will take us on a tour of the Palace’s highlights, including the Throne Hall featuring velvet walls and an elaborate ceiling fresco painted by Tiepolo; the Baroque-style Gasparini Room, whose walls are covered in silk with gold and silver embroidery; and the Royal Chapel, which houses a collection of string instruments made by the legendary Antonio Stradivari. The Palace also includes masterpieces by such notable Spanish artists as Velázquez and Goya, in addition to rare collections of porcelain, watches, furniture, and silver from various periods.
Spain Tour – Tapas
Next, we will embark on a culinary expedition sampling Madrid’s famous tapas. We’ll start at the Mercado de San Miguel, a beautiful Beaux-Arts, iron and glass building with dozens of vendors offering high quality food. You will have a chance to sample traditional small plates like tortilla (omelet), chorizo, paella, salted cod, seafood salad and more. This is a great introduction to the local cuisine and the first of many adventures in Spanish food and wine we will enjoy together. (Dinner Included)
Day 2: May 28 – Morning Walking Tour of Madrid, Afternoon Guided Tour of Prado Museum, Overnight in Madrid
The second day of this Spain tour takes us to the Plaza Mayor, a huge square in the center of Madrid and a popular meeting point for local Madrileños. Other sites we will visit include Puerta del Sol, a 15th century gate that formed part of the original walled city. The square is home to the city’s famous new year’s celebration, whose famous clock tower rings in the new year and marks the tradition of eating twelve grapes at the bell’s strike of midnight.
We will continue our guided tour at the Museo del Prado. The Prado is the crown jewel of Madrid’s Art Walk, a triangle of galleries west of the historic Parque Del Buen Retiro. The museum houses one of the greatest collections of Spanish paintings from the 12th to 19th centuries, most notably the works of Goya, Velazquez and El Greco. Our guide will provide a unique tour of the Prado, focusing on selected works from Spain’s key artists. (Breakfast Included)
Day 3: May 29 – Day Trip to Segovia, Tour of the Castle & Roman Aqueduct, Overnight in Madrid
Today our Spain tour takes us to Segovia. We will travel to Segovia, one of Spain’s most historic cities. Segovia’s many well-preserved sites stand testament to its many eras and civilizations, from ancient Romans to the Moors, Christians and Jews who lived together peacefully in the Middle Ages.
We will enjoy a guided tour of the city’s highlights, including the Roman Aqueduct, an incredible feat of early civil engineering built around 1st Century AD to supply water to a hilltop military fort. Its 221 colossal piers represent one of the greatest aqueducts in Spain, and is one of the few to have survived. We will visit Azoguejo Square, where the aqueduct reaches its highest point of nearly 100 feet.
We will also tour Alcázar, an 11th century castle atop a rocky crag overlooking the city. The Alcázar’s interior is decorated in a mash-up of styles, including Romansque, Gothic, Renaissance and Mudejar. The current facade was built by Phillip II, who wed his fourth wife, Anne of Austria, here.
Other sites we will visit include Casa de los Picos (The House of the Points), a Renaissance-era house decorated with pyramid-shaped points, and Segovia’s beautiful Gothic cathedral.
We will return late afternoon or evening. (Breakfast Included )
DAY 4: May 30 – Day Trip to Salamanca, Overnight in Madrid
Today, we leave early in the morning for our day trip to the stunning and magical Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Castilla’s liveliest city. Rich in history, Salamanca was first conquered by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century B.C., was a Roman settlement before being ruled by the Moors in the 11th century. It has incredible mix of architecture, Moorish, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque. It also has an ancient university dating back to the 12th century. A local expert guide will lead us to discover this fantastic city.
Group lunch and free time to explore on our own are planned. Leisure time back in Madrid late afternoon and evening. (Breakfast & Lunch Included)
DAY 5: May 31 – Train Travel to Barcelona, Panoramic Driving Tour of Barcelona, Overnight in Barcelona
Our Spain tour takes us to Barcelona next. Though Barcelona is Spain’s most cosmopolitan city, it still retains its character as an important Roman town.
The old center has one of the greatest concentrations of Gothic architecture in Europe. Our guide will take us on a panoramic driving tour of Barcelona to see it’s important sites: boulevard, squares and various neighborhoods (Barceloneta and Eixample) and architectural gems including a few of Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, the breathtaking Sagrada Familia church and Parc Guell. Explore with your tour manager for the balance of day. Group lunch is planned. (Breakfast & Lunch Included)
Day 6: June 1 – Morning Walking Tour of Barcelona, Leisure Afternoon, Overnight in Barcelona
We’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Barri Gotic (Gothis Quarter) in Ciutat Vella (Old Town) where we will wander the streets and with incredible architecture, boutiques, tapas bars and restaurants. You will see the Medieval Placa del Rei (Royal Palace), Temple d’Augustus and the Palatine chapel of Santa Agata.
We also visit Las Ramblas, a long promenade to the port bustling with performance artists, and Portal del Angel, a well-heeled shopping strip. Other interesting sights here include the nearly 200-year-old Mercat de Sant Josep (la Boqueria) produce market.
For your leisure afternoon we recommend to explore Barcelona’s lively neighborhood, El Born in La Ribera, where there is an abundance of bars and restaurants. It is also home to the Picasso museum. Another area to explore is l’Eixample, which is full of architectural gems with a mix of upscale residential buildings, high-end shops, bars and cafes.
You may also visit the Joan Miró museum, dedicated to the works of this Surrealist painter, sculptor, and ceramicist. Fondació Joan Miró is located on a hill called Montjuic. (Breakfast & Dinner Included)
Day 7: June 2 – Girona, Overnight in Barcelona
Today we take a day trip to one of the most interesting city in Catalonia, Girona. Founded by the Romans in 1st century B.C., Girona is city full of important sites and monuments like 12th century Arab baths, its 14th century wall for us to climb and walk on, the Jewish quarter, food markets and more.
We return to Barcelona late afternoon. The rest of the day is on your own or with the guide. (Breakfast Included)
Day 8: June 3 – Day Trip to Sitges & Penedes: Winery Visit & Wine Tasting, Farewell Dinner, Overnight in Barcelona
One of the last destinations of our Spain tour is Sitges, a charming artistic coastal town in Catalunia with an interesting historical center with cobbled streets, cafes and boutiques. We will also visit one of the most important and most respected producer of cava (sparkling wine) in the Penedes region. We’ll return to Barcelona mid-afternoon.
Farewell group dinner is planned. (Breakfast & Dinner Included)
Day 9: June 4 – Departure Day
Our women’s Spain tour has ended. Prepare for your flight home or to your next destination. (Breakfast Included)
