Monumental Cities of Spain
Monumental Cities of Spain
- 16 days - 15 nights
Departure : Barcelona, Spain
Places : Barcelona, Valencia, Cuenca, Toledo, Córdoba, Granada, Seville, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, León, Burgos, Segovia, Madrid
Arrival : Madrid, Airport
- Iberian Highlights
In this itineraries we show you some of the proposals we have to know the most relevant cultural monuments of Spain and Portugal.
If you feel a discoverer we shall design tours to the hidden areas as well as villages and towns of those countries
Itinerary
Day 1 – ARRIVAL IN BARCELONA
Upon arrival at the airport you will be welcome by the Gamma Tours guide; transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 2 – BARCELONA – City tour
Barcelona is the most dynamic and commercial cities in Spain and one of most visited European cities. We’ll see the Romans Walls and Middle Ages monuments strolling in the Old Quarter; the Modernist style buildings, some of them designated World Heritage Places; some time can be devoted to visit important museums such as Picasso or Miro. Overnight.
Day 3 – BARCELONA – VALENCIA – CUENCA – 600 Km
Driving by the motorway along the Mediterranean Sea you arrive in Valencia. Few cities are, like Valencia, able to combine so harmoniously remains from remote periods with the most modern, avant-garde buildings. In the Old Quarter, you can admire the Cathedral with its bell tower, the Palace of the Autonomous Government, several churches and the Old Silk Exchange designated a World Heritage Site
One of the most symbolic buildings is the City of the Arts and Sciences, a futuristic complex housing the L’Hemisferic, the Palace of the Arts, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum; and the Universal Oceanographic Park. These modern buildings unveil the future of Valencia for the 21C.
Continue to Cuenca. Overnight.
Day 4 – CUENCA – TOLEDO – 200 Km
The historical fortified town has been awarded the World Heritage designation by the UNESCO. The “upper city” – the medieval streets that give the city its character with the Cathedral, the wooden balconies of the Hanging Houses and cobbled streets charm the most hardened traveller. Free time.
Depart to Toledo. Overnight.
Day 5 – TOLEDO – City tour
Going along the ring road the magnificent location of this city can be appreciated, full of history where several cultures converged. The way that Christians, Arabs and Jewish lived side by side for centuries, has been reflected in the form of a great artistic and cultural legacy.
Some of the most outstanding buildings in the city are the Cathedral, the church of Santo Tome, famous for housing El Greco’s relevant picture entitled The burial of Count Orgaz. Remains of the Jewish community are still preserved in the city in the synagogues of Santa Maria la Blanca and El Transito since medieval times. Some monuments were designated World Heritage Sites.
The stay in Toledo is not completed without a visit to the craft shops of the Toledo Gold, a unique way of engraving gold in other metals. Overnight.
Day 6 – TOLEDO – CORDOBA – 400 Km
You head to Cordoba. This city highlight is the Mosque – Cathedral, monument designated a World Heritage Site; besides we must to remark the Old Jewish Quarter with its Synagogue built during the medieval times. It is worthy to visit the Palacio de Viana with its patios and gardens as well as some other places such as Corredera Square and Potro Square. Overnight.
Day 7 – CORDOBA – GRANADA – 200 Km
You leave to Granada. The Palace of the Alhambra and the Gardens of the Generalife are the highlights of Granada that were designated World Heritage Sites.
Free time to stroll on your own the Old Quarter; it is like going back to medieval times, having the chance to admire the Cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the Carthusian Monastery and some other monuments.
We suggest to attend to a Flamenco show in an old gipsy cave at Quarter of Sacromonte. Overnight.
Day 8 – GRANADA – SEVILLE – 300 Km
On the way to Seville, stop in the town of Antequera which has some relevant monuments. The megalithic dolmen burial tombs of Menga, Viera and El Romeral, are some of Europe’s largest ones and dated from 2500 to 1800 B.C.
The Romans named is Antikaria, and from their period we have important remains inside the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria. The monumental heritage of Antequera increased with the construction of churches, like those of Juan Bautista, San Sebastian, San Pedro and Santa Maria de la Esperanza. Civil buildings were also constructed, like the Municipal Building, the pavilion in Papabellotas Castle, from whose towers some amazing views can be seen, and the City Hall. Buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries are marked by the Mannerist and Baroque styles. The nobility commissioned palaces, like the palace of the Marques of Villadarias, the palace of the Count of Colchado, and so on.
Then crossing the Andalusian plains, you pass by Osuna arriving later Seville. Overnight.
Day 9 – SEVILLE – City tour – 20 Km
Seville is the most emblematic city of Andalusia. You will visit the Park of Maria Luisa and its Spain Square, then leave to the old district of the city and stroll through the Santa Cruz Quarter; The Cathedral and the Alcazar or Fortress were designated World Heritage Sites; walk up to the Guadalquivir River to see the Golden Tower and the Maestranza, which probably is the most renamed bullring in Spain.
Your free time can be devoted to visit some museums, palaces and private mansions that allow the access to the public. Overnight.
Day 10 – SEVILLE – MERIDA – CACERES – 275 Km
Depart along the Silver Road you arrive in Merida, town founded by the Romans on 25 B.C. Thus, the Roman legacy is still present in the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre, both monuments were designated World Heritage Sites, being the most emblematic constructions. Erected in the first century B.C., the Theatre can seat 6,000 people. Next to it, the Amphitheatre is located. Besides you can see the Temple of Diana and the Arch of Trajan – one of old the gates to the city, rising to a height of 15 metres – are now located in the city centre. We have also to mention the National Museum of Roman Art.
Continue to Caceres. Overnight
Day 11 – CACERES – SALAMANCA – 225 Km
Caceres was founded by the Romans in 34 B.C. However, it was not until the arrival of the Moors (12th century) that enjoyed its era of greatest splendour. The walled part of the city, most which is Almohad, still preserves nowadays its medieval defensive towers, all 12th century constructions.
You stroll inside the Medieval Quarter seeing the Santa Maria Square, a couple of relevant Palaces, although we must to remark Golfines de Abajo Palace with its magnificent façade, Ovando House and House of the Veletas, the Main Square and the Godoy Palace. Some of these monuments were designated World Heritage Sites.
Depart to Salamanca. Overnight.
Day 12 – SALAMANCA – LEON – 275 Km
The Old Part of the city whose centre is the Main Square, probably one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, and from that point you start the walking tour, to admire from outside several of its monuments such as the House of Shells, Schools’ Square, with its marvellous façade of the Old University, then you see the Old Cathedral and the New Cathedral.
You will leave Salamanca heading north by the motorway till arrive in Leon. Overnight.
Day 13 – LEON – BURGOS – 200 Km
The Main Square is the city centre where the City Hall stands up. One of the jewels is the Cathedral and the other one is the Basilica de San Isidoro, which houses the Royal Pantheon. Leon is also linked to the Pilgrim’s Route to Santiago de Compostela in the Hostal de San Marcos.
Leaving through the plains of Castile, you will follow a part of the Way of Saint James passing by some medieval towns and villages you arrive in Burgos.
In this city, you stroll on the Old Quarter seeing the Cathedral, the Arch of Sainte Mary, the Main Square and the Casa del Cordon. It always is a pleasure to walk by the Espolon Promenade where you see the statue of Cid Campeador and Saint Pauls’ Bridge. Overnight.
Day 14 – BURGOS – SEGOVIA – MADRID – 340 Km
You go through the plains of Castile, using by medieval towns and villages you arrive in Segovia.
This city has some monuments designated World Heritage Sites such as the Roman Aqueduct built in the first century AD is an engineering gem. Besides you can admire the Main Square, the Cathedral, some small very beautiful churches and at one end of this walled enclosure you can see the outline of the Alcazar Fortress, built on the 13th century, which exterior makes quite an impact on the visitor given its 80-m high tower. Continue to Madrid. Overnight.
Day 15 – MADRID – City tour
Madrid is the capital of Spain and the political and financial centre.
Drive through the streets, squares and most important avenues, seeing at the same time from the outside different monuments such as the Recoletos Promenade, Plaza Colon, the Cibeles Square, the Cortes or Parliament, the Paseo del Prado, the Gran Via, the Plaza de España and the Plaza de Oriente where the Royal Palace and its gardens are located. Then you stroll through the “Old Madrid”, the Habsburg Quarter, walking along the Main Street and seeing the City Hall Square, the Main Square and some old back streets.
Please don’t forget to visit some of the important museums of the city like the Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza and the National Centre of Art Queen Sofia, and some of the other places or monuments in Madrid. Overnight.
Day 16 – MADRID DEPARTURE
Free time till the transfer to the airport where you make ask the formalities for boarding to your next destination.
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