Madrid - Seville (by High Speed Train),

Upon arrival in Madrid Airport your private driver will be waiting to transfer you and your luggage directly to Madrid Atocha train station.

Travel in comfort by high-speed train direct to Seville in the heart of Andalusia. Upon arrival in Seville, your private driver will be 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 Game of Thrones series has been filmed here and the city is attracting a lot of attention from a new fan base.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to settle in.  Depending when you arrive perhaps have lunch near your hotel where you can sample some of Andalusia’s delicious fish dishes, fresh vegetables and its world-class olive oils. After lunch, allow your nose to guide you – follow the evocative scents and colours. Enjoy the different light and the big skies you can only find in Andalusia.

Activities & Services Included today

• Private transfer from Madrid Airport to Madrid train station
• High speed train from Madrid to Seville - Tourist class
• Private transfer from Seville train station to your Seville hotel
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade options available on request

Seville, Spain

This morning after breakfast meet your  expert local Seville guide at your hotel for a walking tour of Seville’s Barrio Santa Cruz (the old Jewish quarter).

You will 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 experience.  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.

Rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

This evening, you’ll attend a lively flamenco performance.

Activities & Services Included today

• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Seville with expert, English speaking guide
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Alcazar
• Pre-Booked Entrance tickets for the Cathedral
• Pre-Booked evening Flamenco show (1 hour duration)
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room.

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Seville - Merida - Caceres, Spain

After breakfast, check out of your Seville hotel and after you will be transferred to the rental car depot to collect your rental car.  Leaving Seville you drive northwest into the region of Extremadura, land of the Spanish Conquistadors to Caceres. Journey time is about 3 hours.  Centuries ago native sons Pizarro, Cortes, De Soto and Balboa departed this vast, beautiful and little-visited region that borders Portugal, to conquer the New World.   On the way, you may like to stop in Merida, a monumental city with a magnificent roman ruins including a Roman Theatre still in use today. Proceed to Caceres.

Later this afternoon you will be met at your hotel by your expert local Caceres guide for a tour of Caceres.

Caceres, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO and surrounded by Moorish walls, is splendidly preserved. Its handsome ochre-coloured mansions – belonging to the noblemen of the 15th and 16th centuries who fought against the Moors and journeyed to the Americas as conquistadors – line the city streets and small squares. Plaza Santa Ana forms the heart of the old city. Discover the narrow alleys of the old Jewish quarter and see the modest homes of the aljama (the Jewish district in medieval times) and the synagogue, now the Ermita de San Antonio. 

Activities & Services Included today

• 5/6 days car rental. Standard size (Opel insignia or similar) Manual transmission
• Basic CDW/LDW unlimited mileage and theft waiver
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Caceres with expert, English speaking guide
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade available on request

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Caceres - Plasencia - Salamanca, Spain

Today enjoy driving northwards stopping first in Plasencia that contains the largest Cathedral in Extremadura, and still has preserved the ramparts to the aqueduct. From here proceed to Bejar and see the Arab Ramparts and the Roman Milestone.

If you happen to be travelling between the end of March and the April, then you may be lucky to see the flowering of the cherry trees which is a spectacle to behold in the the Valle del Jerte - just north of Plasencia.

Afterwards continue to Salamanca.

Activities & Services Included today

• Car rental as described previously. Basic CDW/LDW unlimited mileage and theft waiver
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade options available on request

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Salamanca - Zamora, Spain

This morning after breakfast meet your  expert local Salamanca guide at your hotel for a walking tour of this splendid university city.

Apart from being Spain's most famous university city Salamanca is also perhaps its finest exponent of Renaissance and Plateresque architecture. It has two Cathedrals in different styles; the new 16th century cathedral which stands right next to the old 12th century Romanesque one. The University, one of Europe’s oldest, features a stunning Plateresque façade. The Main Square, or Plaza Mayor, is without doubt one of finest in Spain. Other sights include the Baroque Town Hall, the 16th century Casa de las Conchas or House of Shells and others too many to mention.

After your Salamanca tour and lunch proceed north to Zamora.  It is less than an hours drive.  This afternoon at your leisure visit the Cathedral and the Castle in Zamora.

Activities & Services Included today

• Car rental as described previously. Basic CDW/LDW unlimited mileage and theft waiver
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Salamanca with expert, English speaking guide
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade options available on request

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Leon, Spain

Today following breakfast continue driving northwards till you reach Astorga, which is about 30 miles west of Leon at a junction where the Roman Silver Route and the Road to Santiago are linked. Astorga has two principal monuments located side by side: the superb 15th century Cathedral (mixing Baroque and Gothic styles), and the Bishop’s Palace by catalan architect Antoni Gaudi - his second work in the province of Leon.

See Astorga then continue to Leon and check-in to your hotel.

This afternoon meet your  expert local Leon guide at your hotel for a walking tour of the city.

Leon, as capital of the kingdom in the Middle Ages, played an important role during the Reconquest of Spain from the Moors. It´s most important building is the Gothic Cathedral with stunning stained glass windows.  San Isidoro Basilica is another important monument containing the Romanesque Royal Pantheon, superbly decorated with 12th century frescoes. Renaissance architecture is finely represented by the Hostal San Marcos, nowadays part of the Parador Hotel chain. Antoni Gaudi also left his mark on the city of Leon when he was commissioned to design the Casa Botines, now the Museo Casa Botines a bank.

This evening enjoy mingling with the locals and dining on free tapas, which Leon is famous for, in the atmospheric  Barrio Humedo.

Activities & Services Included today

• Car rental as described previously. Basic CDW/LDW unlimited mileage and theft waiver
• Private Half-Day Walking tour in Leon with expert, English speaking guide
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade options available on request

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Gijon, Spain

Today set off for the beautiful province of Asturias and the lovely coastal city of Gijon, your final destination on this Roman Silver route.

We suggest stopping in the elegant city of Oviedo, the charming capital of Asturias and a notable University city, on the way.   Just outside of the city are two of the most magnificent Pre-Romanesque churches: Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. Within the city itself be sure to visit the old quarter with its Gothic Cathedral (14th century) and the San Tirso Church.

Proceed to Gijon, last stop on the silver route, and Asturias’ largest city which has several lovely and expansive beaches. One of its most remarkable buildings is the 18th century Palacio de Revillagigedo. Here you also find Roman spas and the Museo de la Gaita (Bagpipe Museum) for the celtic heritage is very much alive in Asturias. Be sure to try some of the local cider which is to Asturians as Guiness is to the Irish and whiskey to the Scots. Be sure to order a bottle as no local would ever order a glass!

Activities & Services Included today

• Car rental as described previously. Basic CDW/LDW unlimited mileage and theft waiver
• 4 star hotel accommodation in a standard room. Upgrade options available on request

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast

Departure,

Following breakfast make your way to Asturias Airport where you return your rental car. Drop off may be arranged at other airports too if required, such as Santander or Bilbao.

Activities & Services Included today

• Car Rental as described previously. Returned today.

Meals Included today

• Full Buffet Breakfast