Madrid, Spain

Arrive in Madrid.

Madrid stands at the very center 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. The power and glory of Madrid is reflected in its parks, plazas, boulevards and in the pride and panache of today’s Madrileños. For all its international veneer, however, the city remains thoroughly Spanish, and old Madrid is designed to a human, rather than a monumental, scale. Accommodation of your choice in Madrid.

Madrid, Spain

Full day enjoying Madrid. See Madrid’s magnificent plazas including the Plaza de Oriente where the Royal Palace is located and the Plaza de Colón, a tribute to Columbus and the discovery of America. Also admire the Cervantes Monument on the Plaza de España and see the Puerta del Sol and Cibeles Fountain. Museums that can be visited include the Prado Museum with one of the world’s greatest galleries featuring important collections by artists such as Velazquez and Goya, whose statues stand outside the museum entrance. The Reina Sofia Art Centre showcasing more than 300 works by artists such as Dali, Picasso and the renowned Basque artist, Eduardo Chillida. Also the Thyssen Bornemiza Museum. Market lover´s will enjoy Madrid´s famous Sunday market – El Rastro. Accommodation of your choice in Madrid.

Caceres, Spain

Head to Caceres via Guadalupe and Trujillo. Surrounded by hills, Guadalupe is a small town with a great deal of religious and historical significance. Visitors from all over the world, including Columbus, have come to visit its monastery and to pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Enjoy a stroll through the streets of the village and visit the monastery, its 14th century church, the "mudejar" cloister and the sacristy with important Zurbarán`s still hanging. Afterwards continue to Trujillo, birthplace of Francisco Pizarro (Peru's founder), Francisco de Orellana (Amazons' founder) and Diego García de Paredes (Venezuela´s founder), and a fundamental stop along the Route of the Conquerors. Visit the main square, the Conqueror’s mansions and palaces, the San Martin Church and the Arab castle on the hill presiding over the city. Accommodation of your choice in Caceres.

Caceres, Spain

Explore Caceres, the first city in Spain to be declared a World Heritage site:in 1949. This Renaissance jewel remains in near perfect condition untouched by wars. Places of interest include the Plaza Mayor; one side of which adjoins the near perfect Roman-Moorish walls surrounding the city, the palace known as the Casa de los Golfines de Abajo, the Plaza de Santa Maria;with a lovely Gothic church, emblazoned houses with the coat of arms of the conquerors and the Caceres Museum located in a palace constructed over an 11th Century Arabic cistern. Accommodation of your choice in Caceres.

Caceres - day trip to Plasencia and Yuste, Spain

Day trip to Plasencia and Yuste. Plasencia situated on the banks of the Jerte River is best known for its two "incomplete" cathedrals, and its Tuesday market.  At one time Plasencia was an important military bastion. Stroll through this fine town and visit the museum which houses a collection of local costumes and crafts, both cathedrals and the many noble homes and palaces. Later drive along the La Vera valley, a very fertile area along the river Tietar, leading to Cuacos. From here enjoy a walk of about 1.3 miles to the Monastery of Yuste where Charles V, former ruler of most of Europe and Latin America, retired and died. From the Monastery enjoy stunning mountain views. In the village of Cuacos many locals hang peppers to dry for making paprika and tobacco for cigarettes. Accommodation of your choice in Caceres.

Merida, Spain

Today travel south along the route of the Conquerors until Medellín, a peaceful whitewashed village and birthplace of the Aztec conqueror Hernán Cortés. Here visit the castle, the remains of an ancient Roman theatre, the churches of San Martín and Santa Maria and the bridge over the Guadiana river. Then continue to Mérida which was at one time the capital of the Roman province Lusitania. Here explore many remains of the Rome of Augusto: the bridge over the Albarrega in the North, the bridge over the Guadiana in the South, the Arch of Trajano, the Temples of Diana and Mars and the Roman theatre which is still in use today. Accommodation of your choice in Merida.

Merida, Spain

Next to Zafra, known as "the Seville of Extremadura". Here you can admire its castle, its two main plazas, the Convent of Santa Clara where you can buy biscuits made by the resident nuns, the church of La Candelaria, the Hospital of Santiago and the Bodega Medina; an interesting wine museum. Afterwards continue to Jerez de los Caballeros, a small picturesque town on the Sierra Morena. Apart from being the birth place of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, founder of the Pacific, this town has many other interesting attractions: the Dolmen of Toriñuelo, the Villa del Pomar mosaics, the Templar castle and three Baroque churches. Accommodation of your choice in Merida.

Madrid - Toledo, Spain

Today onto the city of Toledo, picturesquely situated on a hill and comprising of three important forms of art: visigoth, mudejar and gothic. Not to be missed is the 14th century Cathedral, the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz (Light’s Christ) and Santo Tome Church, house of El Greco’s masterpiece “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz”. Here also are two important sinagogues: Santa Maria La Blanca, the oldest and the largest, dates from the 12th century. And El Transito, which interior has the most elaborate mudejar work in the city. Built in the 14th century adjoining it, is a museum of Sephardi (Spanish / Jewish culture). Accommodation of your choice in Madrid.

Departure,

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