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Prices from 4983 EUROS PER PERSON
Trip Overview:
Andalusia is the land of olive groves and rolling hills of almond blossom, flamenco dancers and gypsy songs, bullfighting and fiestas. This captivating region offers the traveller an incredible medley of sights, sounds, tastes and scents. The enduring influence of the Islamic culture (which ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula until the 12th century...
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Trip Summary:
This very complete 11 night tour in Spain of Madrid, Andalusia & Barcelona features all of the services you need for a smooth, hassle free, private tour. All essential transport, private guiding, pre-booked entrance tickets, quality accommodation and more are taken care of. All you need to do is just show-up and Totally Spain will l...
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Access:
Daily Departures. This is an independent trip and can be customized to suit your travel dates. Fly into Madrid International Airport. Departure from Barcelona. Totally Spain does not arrange International Flights so you have the flexibility to book the flights you prefer. We can recommend a travel agent with whom you can book your i...
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Madrid, Spain
Arrive in Madrid. You’ll be met at the airport by your private driver who will transfer you directly to your centrally-located Madrid hotel for 3 nights.
Madrid stands at the very centre of Spain –geographically, culturally and politically. This capital not only offers the culture and good times of a sophisticated, modern city but it also retains the charm and elegance of its early years. Among the splendid attractions of Madrid are the Prado Museum; home to masterworks of Goya, Velazquez and El Greco: the 19th century Villahermosa Palace now the Thyssen-Bornemizsa Museum; the Reina Sofia Art Centre showcasing more than 300 modern works by Dali, Miro & Picasso among others; the 18th century Royal Palace on the lovely Plaza de Oriente; the bustling Puerta del Sol with its many shops, restaurants and tapas bars; Rastro Market on Sundays one of the oldest outdoor markets in Europe; and Retiro Park for strolling while admiring local artists and buskers.
Take your time to settle in. Take a stroll in your neighbourhood that is bustling with atmospheric cafes, bars and restaurants.
For Madrid and for all the other places on this tour, we’ll provide you with our Totally Spain City Guides which highlight the best cafes, bars, restaurants along with museums, parks and other cultural spaces you can explore in your free time. Your Totally Spain agent will also make personal recommendations based on your final choice of hotel and the size of your party.
We can also assist with restaurant reservations and booking other attractions to avoid queues.
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Madrid, Spain
After breakfast you’ll be met at your hotel by your expert local Madrid guide who will take you on an private tour of the historic city centre. You’ll enjoy visiting such places as the principal streets and squares including the Plaza del Sol, Plaza Santa, Plaza Mayor as well as the Mercado San Miguel, one of Madrid’s famous food markets.
You will continue with your guide to Plaza de la Villa and the Plaza del Oriente. Visit the Royal Palace that stands on the site of an old alcazar fortress and a former Moorish castle. The current building was completed in 1764. With 3,418 rooms there’s something to represent every style (and every monarch) since its construction.
This afternoon visit the Prado Museum at your leisure as we have included pre-booked tickets for you that avoid lining-up. The museum is a wonderful space dating back to 1785 that now houses art from the 12th to the 19th century including large permanent collections by Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Bosch, Titian, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.
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Daytrip to Toledo, Spain
Today your destination is Toledo. After breakfast, you will take the high speed train to Toledo. Upon arrival you’ll meet our expert local guide who will first take you by taxi to the Cigarrales area for some magnificent panoramic views of Toledo city over the Tagus River.
The city of Toledo is the capital of the province of the same name, and is also the capital of the Autonomous Community called Castilla-La Mancha. The city is located at 529 metres above sea level, in the Castillian meseta (plateau), practically in the centre of the Iberian peninsula. and just 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Madrid. The monumental city centre sits atop a craggy rock, which is almost entirely encircled by the Tagus river. UNESCO declared Toledo a World Heritage city in recognition of its uniqueness and its past as a host to Christian, Islamic and Hebrew culture which the splendid architecture of the city still relects - being almost impossible to walk its streets without stumbling on a Gothic or Mudejar church, an ancient mosque, a Romanesque or Visigothic structure, a former synagogue or a Renaissance palace.
Your guide will lead you on a walking tour exploring the old city while you learn about the three cultures that lived side by side during the Middles Ages and see the most important sights in Toledo including Zocodover Square, Santo Tome Church,Transito Synagogue, Santa Maria La Blanca and cathedral (entrance included).
Free time for lunch and sightseeing at your leisure before returning to Madrid by high speed train.
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Madrid - Seville (by High Speed Train),
This morning you leave Madrid, travelling by high-speed train direct to Seville. You and your luggage will be transferred privately from your Madrid hotel to Madrid Atocha train station. Then upon arrival in Seville, your private driver willbe waiting to take you to your centrally-located 4-star hotel.
Seville, where the sound of flamenco floats in the air, is the capital of Andalusia and one of Europe’s sunniest cities – hence the orange trees that grow there abundantly. The combination of Moorish, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque architecture through the city centre’s compact maze of narrow streets really is a sensory overload by day or by night. The entire city comes to a standstill for the Feria in April and Easter week when its love of tradition and sense of community is celebrated. For the rest of the year, it’s a perfect place to unwind, explore and of course, eat! You’ll find the same influences you see in the architecture has also trickled through to the food. Don’t be surprised to see film crews around. The Games of Thrones series has been filmed here and the city is attracting a lot of attention from a new fan base.
Enjoy lunch near your hotel where you can sample some of Andalusia’s delicious fish dishes, fresh vegetables and its world-class olive oils.
This evening, you’ll attend a live flamenco performance which influences are many including Jewish, gypsy and moorish along with European and African.
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Seville, Spain
This morning, your expert local guide will meet you at your hotel for a walking tour of Seville’s Barrio Santa Cruz (the old Jewish quarter). Visit the cathedral from 1506 that houses the remains of Christopher Columbus. Standing on the site of a great mosque, the structure features mudejar, gothic, renaissance, baroque and neo-classical styles, as well as the old minaret of the Arab mosque. It’s a wonderful space to visit. Enjoy the sublime Patio de Los Naranjos (Courtyard of the Orange Trees) beside the cathedral. Also tour the Alcazar, site of the marriage between Carlos V and Isabel of Portugal in 1526. Its two beautiful outdoor courtyards are spectacular and indoors the tapestries and furniture are superb.
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Seville - Cordoba - Seville (Daytrip by High Speed Train), Spain
Today following breakfast you'll take the high-speed train to Cordoba famous for its well-preserved Jewish quarter and the mighty Mezquita (mosque-cathedral).
You'll meet your private expert local Cordoba guide and spend the afternoon exploring the city that was the great Moorish capital of Al Andalus. A walk around the old Jewish quarter gives the sensation that little has changed since the 10th century. Visit the Mosque-Cathedral or Mezquita which is without doubt one of the most famous constructions in all of Andalusia and is one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world. The original Mosque was built between 786 and 788 by Abd ar-Rahman, but over the centuries, many additions and extensions have been made. Following the Christian conquest it was consecrated as a Cathedral in 1236.
Visit the Synagogue built in 1314, a beautiful Mudejar building nearly perfectly preserved and the only synagogue in Spain from that time not to have been turned into a Christian building. See Almodovar gate or ‘Gate of the Jews’ as it is known locally and the monument to the great Jewish doctor and philosopher, Maimonides.
After your private Cordoba tour enjoy time at leisure for lunch and to explore independently. We recommend a walk to the Roman bridge across the Guadalquivir river. You may wish to visit the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (Fortress of the Christian Monarchs) a Mudejar palace from 14th century with a beautiful Moorish garden complex, which served as the seat of the Inquisition´s Tribunal in the 15th century. Try to see a number of the beautiful courtyard patios too which are throughout the Old Quarter. After, you'll take the speed train back to Seville.
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Seville - Granada (High Speed Train), Spain
Today, following breakfast, you'll be transferred from your hotel to Seville train station for your high-speed train to Granada, a city known for its rich history and stunning architecture. Upon arrival, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel.
After lunch, meet your expert private guide at your hotel for a private tour of the Old Quarter of Granada. You’ll explore the Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter that has remained largely unchanged since the 15th century, characterized by its narrow, winding streets, whitewashed Moorish-style houses, and vibrant gypsy culture. From Plaza San Nicolás, enjoy one of the most iconic views of the Alhambra Palace complex, perched on a hill in the distance. Continue to the Sacromonte area, famous for its unique cave houses and rich flamenco tradition.
The Dobla de Oro Pass in Granada gives you access to key monuments, including the Alhambra (Nasrid Palaces, Generalife Gardens, and Alcazaba) at your scheduled time, as well as other iconic sites such as the Royal Chapel of Granada, Palacio de los Olvidados, Monastery of San Jerónimo, and Palacio de Dar al-Horra.
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Granada, Spain
Today, following breakfast, you will meet your expert private guide again for a private guided visit of the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens.
This complex of palaces built around courtyards of flowering trees, pools and fountains is often hailed as the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. It’s beauty shows the brilliance and spirit of the Moorish culture in Andalusia at a time when the rest of Europe was only just beginning to emerge from the Dark Ages. You will also tour the Generalife - the Summer palace and gardens of the Sultans. It is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens. Prepare to be wowed by the water features and courtyards.
This complex of palaces built around courtyards of flowering trees, pools and fountains is often hailed as the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. It’s beauty shows the brilliance and spirit of the Moorish culture in Andalusia at a time when the rest of Europe was only just beginning to emerge from the Dark Ages. You will also tour the Generalife - the Summer palace and gardens of the Sultans. It is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens. Prepare to be wowed by the water features and courtyards.
The hill of La Sabika, overlooking the Darro valley, was the site chosen for the construction of this colossal palatial city used by Nasrid Sultans as their residence. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the monumental complex, enclosed by solid walls, is an expression of the artistic styles which flourished in the late Muslim period in Spain. The Alhambra complex includes four different parts: the Arab Palaces, such as that of Comares, which contains Los Arrayanes courtyard and the Hall of Ambassadors; Los Leones, which includes the famous courtyard of the same name and halls such as Las Dos Hermanas and Los Reyes, beautifully decorated with intricate plasterwork and mocarabes (geometrical patterns which the Arabs decorated domes and ceilings); the military zoe or Alcazaba; the city or Medina; and the Generalife Gardens. Loyal to their traditions with the use of water, the Muslims provided the Alhambra with paradise-like gardens in which fountains and water are the central feature. In addition, remains of the Arab Baths still survive. The Alhambra captivated Christian Emperor Carlos V, who ordered the construction of his renaissance palace inside the complex. The palace today houses the Alhambra and Fine Arts Museums. For its extraordinary artistic and historic importance, both the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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Barcelona, Spain
Today, after breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Granada airport for your flight to Barcelona. PLEASE NOTE: This flight is not included in the trip price and should be booked by you in conjunction with your international airfare.
Arrive in Barcelona and meet your private driver who will transfer you to your centrally located 4-star hotel.
Barcelona is without doubt one of Europes most exciting cities. It is a place of extraordinary architectural dazzle, achieved by what has been called both Catalán Art Nouveau and Modernisme, by architects Gaudi, Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. Monumental sculptures by local masters like Joan Miró adorn public spaces, and museums house extraordinary treasures ranging from works of the ancient Romans to those of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. The city is further enhanced by brightly colored outdoor markets, a magnificent Mediterranean port and a plentiful array of stylish restaurants. Needless to say, the nightlife is splendid.
This evening you’ll take part in a guided small group tapas tour with all food & drinks included. It’s a great way to experience Barcelona's most interesting and authentic bars and restaurants without the research or guesswork. Your guide will recommend the wines and other drinks to try and order the speciality tapas at each bar or tavern. Your guide will talk about the history of tapas, the types of tapas served in Catalonia and elsewhere in Spain and will also give you a history of the neighbourhood you are visiting as well.
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Barcelona, Spain
Enjoy a hearthy breakfast before meeting your expert private guide and driver. Today you’ll see why Barcelona is the heart of architectural modernism and experience the work of Antoni Gaudi, the maximum exponent of this spectacular artistic movement.
You’ll visit the remarkable Sagrada Familia - one of the most famous and spectacular of Gaudi’s works. It’s a Christian temple where Gaudi worked on fulltime from 1915 until his death in 1926 – even living on-site in the year leading up to his death. His remains are buried in the crypt. Work continues to this day on the building!
Today afternoon, you’ll see the private residences Gaudi worked on in downtown Barcelona including Casa Mila- La Pedrera on the Passeig de Gracia. This last building you will visit the interior on your own.
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Barcelona - Daytrip to Montserrat & Winery, Spain
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Departure,
Following breakfast you will be met by your private driver and transferred to Barcelona International Airport for your departure.
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ORIGINAL AND RELATED POSTS FROM TOTALLY SPAIN'S BLOG
What to do in Madrid. 10 Things we love in Spain's Capital City
Guide to Gaudi's Barcelona
Must-Sees in Andalucia
Day Trips from Madrid
Best Cities in Spain
High-Speed Train in Spain
Best Monuments & Museums in Spain
Best Plazas in Spain
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NOT INCLUDED
Flights, Personal Travel Insurance, Porterage (not commonly available in Spain), Tips, Meals, drinks or hotel extras other than those described above. Anything else not specified above.
Please note that in Catalonia/ Barcelona they charge visitors a tourist tax per night which is not included. It must be paid locally at your hotel. See here link for more details but note that this is for informational purposes only and may be subject to change without notice.
Prices from
4983 EUROS PER PERSON
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