Day 1 :
Departure from your airport
Day 2 :
Arrive in Madrid - Segovia - Salamanca
- Segovia:
We will board a private coach for our transfer from the airport to Salamanca. En route, we will stop in Segovia. Segovia is a beautiful and romantic city that has inspired the work of artists and architects over the centuries. Roman, medieval, and Renaissance influences can be seen throughout the city, and its relaxed way of life makes it difficult to leave.
- Roman Aqueduct:
Enjoy a Walking Tour through Segovia’s beautiful city center. The highlight of our walk is the impressive Roman Aqueduct, an architectural marvel built by the Romans nearly 2,000 years
ago.
- Segovia Cathedral:
See the last Gothic church built in Spain. It stands on the Plaza Mayor at the spot where Isabella I was proclaimed queen of Castile, and is often referred to as la dama de las catedrales.
- Alcázar de Segovia:
Discover the fairy tale castle dating from the 12th century. Royal romance is associated with the Alcázar; it was here that Isabella first met Ferdinand, and Philip II married his fourth wife, Anne of Austria. Our visit is highlighted by the replicas of Isabella’s and Ferdinand’s thrones, the battlements of the once-impregnable castle, and the tower, originally built by Isabella's father as a prison. Those who choose may ascend the tower for breathtaking views over the city and surrounding countryside.
- Homestay:
Our home for the next four evenings will be with homestay families in Salamanca, where three meals will be provided daily
Day 3 :
Language Classes & Walking Tour
- Language Classes:
Today we will have the opportunity to participate in classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.
- Walking Tour of Salamanca:
Stroll through the city center, beginning at the Convento de Santa Ursula. Our walk will take us past the Monument to Unamuno and the Casa de las Conchas, before continuing into the Plaza Mayor, one of Spain’s largest and grandest squares.
- Salamanca University:
Visit the school founded in 1218 by Alfonso IX. We will enter the Patio de las Escuelas Menores to admire the Plateresque architectural style of the buildings, before continuing to the Escuelas Menores Building to view the huge zodiac fresco, The Salamanca
Sky. Our tour will also include the Library, the Old Library, and the old University Hospital.
- Introduction to Spanish Cooking:
Enjoy a hands-on experience as we prepare a traditional paella with direction from local chefs. After all the preparation, the food is taken to a private dining room where we will taste each other's creations.
Day 4 :
Language Classes & Avila
- Language Classes:
We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.
- Avila:
Visit the Basilica de San Vicente. Building of the basilica began in the 11th century in the popular Romanesque style, but it was finished in Gothic architecture. It houses the tomb of St. Vincent, and the medieval carvings on the tomb, which depict his torture and subsequent
martyrdom, are fascinating.
- LEAP Spirit of Spain:
Immerse yourself in the art that defines the passion of historic Spain. Explore the meaning and compare the techniques of artists like Joan Miro, Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso.
Enrich your knowledge of art history as you debate how these and other artists defined cultural divisions through Spanish history.
Day 5 :
Language Classes & Salamanca
- Language Classes:
We will have the opportunity to participate in Language Classes that will enhance our cultural understanding and linguistic skills.
- Catedral Vieja and the Catedral Nueva:
Explore these two cathedrals that were built side-by-side and offer a contrast in styles, ranging from Baroque to Romanesque to Renaissance.
- Dance Lesson:
Learn how to dance Flamenco from local dancers in a lesson this afternoon.
Day 6 :
Salamanca - El Escorial - Madrid
- Travel to Madrid:
Today we will travel from Salamanca to Madrid. En route, we will stop at El Escorial.
- El Escorial:
Journey to this massive monastery-palace commissioned by Philip II. During our visit, we will explore the Royal Apartments, many decorated with fine tapestries; the Pantheon of the Kings, which contains the mortal remains of all the Spanish monarchs from
the time of Emperor Charles V; the Art Gallery, featuring works by Bosch, Titian, and El Greco; the Basilica; and the spectacular Library, with over 40,000 original books from the time of Philip II and a ceiling by Tibaldi.
- Gran Via:
Stroll down Madrid’s lively signature boulevard featuring magnificent shopping and cafés.
- Dinner in local restaurant:
Enjoy an evening meal with your group.
- Plaza Mayor:
Spend time in Madrid's most famous square. Throughout its long history the square has hosted markets, bullfights, soccer games, public executions, and the Spanish Inquisition. It is now ringed by shops and cafés and is often filled with artists and musicians.
Day 7 :
Madrid (Treasures of the Bourbon Monarchs)
- Plaza de España:
Walk through the Plaza de España. In the center of the square we will see the monument to Cervantes, which depicts characters from his most famous work, Don Quixote. We will also
see a monument to Columbus.
- Palacio Real:
Visit the huge palace that began in 1738 on the site of the Madrid Alcázar, which burned to the ground in 1734. Our tour will take us through some of the palace’s 2,000 rooms that the “enlightened despot” Charles III called home. Although the palace is no longer home
to the royal family, it is still full of art treasures and antiques, including Tiepolo ceilings and paintings by Goya. Highlights of our visit include the Reception Room and State Apartments; the Throne Room; the Banquet Room, where receptions for heads of state are still held; and the Royal Chapel.
- Puerta de Alcalá:
Walk by the ceremonial gateway to Madrid commissioned by Carlos III. The Neo-classical structure is located in the Plaza de Independencia and is named for the old path leading from Madrid to nearby Alcalá de Henares.
- Prado Museum:
Explore one of the world’s finest art museums. Inside is a collection of European art from the 12th to 19th centuries based on the Spanish Royal Collection. Our specialist guided
tour will focus on the Spanish masters, such as Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco; and we will also see works by Raphael, van der Weyden, Bosch, Rubens, Titian, and Caravaggio.
- Parque del Retiro:
Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in the Parque del Retiro, once the grounds of Felipe IV’s royal palace complex. Our visit gives us the opportunity to interact with the locals, and perhaps visit
the vendors or listen to the musicians that always seem to be present. Hire Row Boats, if we choose, and paddle around the park’s shallow lake.
- Dinner at a local restaurant:
This evening we will enjoy Spain’s national dish during our Paella Meal at a local restaurant.
Day 8 :
Departure from Madrid
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