The Glory of Spain and the Parador
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Tour highlights (Oct 16 - Nov 01)
This tour includes accommodations in Spain's famous Paradores and 4-star hotels. Spain's dynamic city of Barcelona with its Cathedral and Gaudi's whimsical architecture, Madrid's most interesting sights including El Prado and the Royal Palace. The monastery-palace of El Escorial and the Roman city of Segovia. The Andalusian cities of Cordoba and Seville, Granada's famous Alhambra Palace. Visit and wine tasting at one of Jerez's famous sherry making facilities. The beautiful Nerja Caves, Chinchon and Toledo.
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Tour itinerary
Day 1 - Day of departure
Depart for your flight from Toronto or Montreal to Barcelona via a European gateway.
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Day 2 - Barcelona
Upon arrival in Barcelona, you will be met by our ground operator and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest from your long flight. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
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Day 3 - Barcelona
Buffet breakfast at your hotel, followed by a half day guided tour featuring the Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Familia, Mont Juic, and the Cathedral. The afternoon will be at leisure to explore this beautiful city at your own pace. We recommend a stroll in the famous Ramblas, the most famous street in Europe. Dinner this evening is on your own.
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Day 4 - Barcelona
Buffet breakfast at your hotel, followed by a half day visit to the Spanish Village. The village was built for the 1929 exhibition to illustrate regional styles in Spanish architecture. A walk through it will reveal a picturesque variety of local features ranging from a small Castillian square, a street in an Andalucian village, to a Mudejar tower from Aragon. The afternoon is at leisure to explore this dynamic city at your own pace. Dinner this evening will be at the hotel.
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Day 5 - Barcelona / Madrid
Buffet breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Depart for Madrid by air. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel located in a central location in Madrid. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of El Prado Museum, which has one of the greatest collections of Classical paintings in the world. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
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Day 6 - Madrid
Buffet breakfast at your hotel, followed by a half day guided sightseeing tour of Madrid to include the Royal Palace, Plaza de Espana, Puerta del Sol, Cibeles Fountain, Gran Via and the Cervantes Memorial. The afternoon is at leisure to explore this beautiful city at your own pace. Dinner this evening is on your own.
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Day 7 - Madrid / El Escorial / Segovia
After a leisurely buffet breakfast at your hotel, depart on a full day excursion which will take you to El Escorial, the monastery-palace of Philip II, dating back to the 16th century. Coninue to Segovia, an ancient Roman city. Visit the townÕs most important monuments, including the Gothic Cathedral and the Alcazar. Return to your hotel for dinner and the night.
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Day 8 - Madrid / Valle De Los Caidos / Avila
After breakfast, depart for the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen) built between 1940 and 1958 as a monument to the dead of the Civil War (1936-39). It was commissioned by Franco deep in the Guadarrama Mountains. The road leads to the foot of the esplanade in front of the Basilica, which is hollowed out of the rock face and dominated by a monumental cross. Continue to Avila, surrounded by its magnificently preserved 11C walls. It is SpainÕs highest provincial capital at 1,131 m above sea level. There will be a half day guided tour which will include the city walls, the Cathedral and Romanesque churches dating from the 12th century. Return to Madrid for dinner and the night.
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Day 9 - Madrid / Cordoba
This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will check-out from our hotel and depart for Cordoba. On arrival, you will be transferred to your Parador. The rest of the day is at leisure in this historic city. Dinner and overnight will be at your Parador in Cordoba.
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Day 10 - Cordoba / Seville
After a leisurely breakfast, check-out and depart on a half day guided tour of Cordoba to include a visit to the magnificent 8th century Mosque of the Caliphs, the Alcazar and the Jewish Quarter. After the tour, there will be free time to buy lunch at one of the many local restaurants, before departing for Seville, where you will enjoy an afternoon at leisure your hotel. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel in Seville.
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Day 11 - Seville
Buffet breakfast at your hotel, followed by a half day guided sightseeing tour of Seville, which was deeply influenced by the Moors who dwelt in this area for 700 years. Hence the distinctive Moorish architecture of Giralda Tower and the Cathedral, included on the morning sightseeing, along with the Alcazar, Plaza de Espana and Maria Luisa park. The afternoon is at leisure in Seville, to explore this beautiful Andalucian city at your own pace. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 12 - Seville / Jerez
After breakfast, depart for Jerez de la Frontera, which produces Spain's sherries and brandies. The town's proximity to the sea was one of the factors which brought about its rapid development in the 18C when English shippers were searching for an alternative to French wines. The name sherry, from the former English spelling of the town's Xeres, was first used in England in 1608. There will be a stop at one of the area's sherry-making facilities for a tasting of their excellent product. You will also have some free time to buy lunch and explore this historic city at your own pace. Interesting sights include the Cathedral and Alcazar. Return to Seville for an afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Seville.
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Day 13 - Seville / Nerja / Granada
Buffet breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Depart for Nerja, one of the main resorts along the coast to the east of Malaga, overlooking the Mediterranean from the top of a promontory. Enjoy a visit to the enormous Nerja Cave, carved out of the marble landscape of the Sierra de Almijara. Paintings, weapons, jewels and bones discovered here indicate that the cave was inhabited in the Paleolithic era. In the afternoon, continue to Granada for dinner and the night.
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Day 14 - Granada
Buffet breakfast, followed by a half day guided tour of the Alhambra Palace and the Gardens of El Generalife. The afternoon is at leisure in Granada to explore this beautiful city at your own pace. We recommend a stroll in the pedestrian quarter around the cathedral set between the city's two main squares: Gran Via de Colon and Calle De Los Reyes Catolicos. There are also many restaurants offering local delicacies. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
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Day 15 - Granada / Chinchon
After a leisurely breakfast, check-out and depart for Chinchon. There will be a stop for lunch en route. On arrival, you will be transferred to your Parador for an afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight will be at the Parador of Chinchon.
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Day 16 - Chinchon / Toledo
Leisurely buffet breakfast, followed by a half day guided tour to Toledo, the capital of Castile. The tour will include the Gothic Cathedral, Iglesia de Santo Tome, the house El Greco House and Museum, and the Synagogue. There will be time for independent lunch and to do your last-minute shopping. Toledo is renowned for its Damascene ware (black steel inlaid with gold, silver and copper thread) as well as its culinary specialties. Return to Chinchon for an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner at the Parador.
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Day 17 - Day of Return
Transfer to the airport in order to take your flight to Toronto or Montreal via a European gateway.
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Contact Touringhouse
Our Tour Escorts are personable and knowledgeable. Contact us for more information on any of the travel experiences we offer.
Tour costs include:
Airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Barcelona and back from Madrid
Airfare fremo Madrid to Barcelona with a domestic airline
Transfers between airports and hotels in Barcelona and Madrid
15-nights in Paradors and 4-star hotels (centrally located hotels will be used in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville for convenience) based on double occupancy as follows:
- 3 nights in Barcelona (in a 4-star hotel)
- 4 nights in Madrid(in a 4-star hotel)
- 1 night in Cordoba(Parador)
- 3 nights in Seville (in a 4-star hotel)
- 2 nights in Granada (Parador)
- 2 nights in Chinchon(Parador)
Buffet breakfast every morning and 11 dinners
Deluxe chartered coach transportation throughout the tour
Guided sightseeing tours and excursions as follows:
- Half day Barcelona (with a guide)
- Half day Spanish village (with a guide)
- Half day Prado Museum (with a guide)
- Half day Madrid (with a guide)
- Full day El Escorial and Segovia (with a guide)
- Full day Valley of the Fallen and Avila (with a guide)
- Half day Cordoba (with a guide)
- Half day Seville (with a guide)
- Excursion to Jerez with sherry tasting (no guide)
- Half day Nerja Cave (with a guide)
- Half day Alhambra Palace (with a guide)
- Half day Toledo (with a guide)
Entrance fees to the following places:
- Sagrada Familia, Spanish Village (Barcelona)
- Royal Palace, Prado (Madrid)
- El Escorial
- Cathedral, Alcazar (Segovia)
- Alcazar, Mosque (Cordoba)
- Cathedral, Alcazar (Seville)
- Nerja Cave (Nerja)
- Alhambra Palace (Granada)
- Cathedral, Synagogue, El Greco Museum (Toledo)
All service charges and taxes
Touringhouse Certifications
ACTA certified
Tico certified
TIDS certified
OBR certified
GST number
Offered by Touringhouse
$5,000,000.00
liability insurance