Escorted Tours 2022

24 K130 Elegance, Culture and Reconquista in Spain 13 days fromMadrid to Santiago de Compostela, Oviedo, Bilbao, Pamplona and Barcelona Day 1, Arrive in Madrid, Saturday You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The day is at leisure to begin exploring. Later, join your fellow travelers and your tour director for a welcome reception. (WR) Day 2, in Madrid, Sunday We begin with a guided half-day city tour of Madrid. Our drive takes us through the Gran Vía and the Passeo de Castellana, past the Plaza de España, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Atocha Station, the fountain of Neptune, Cibeles fountain, the Bullring, the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium, and many more. The afternoon is at leisure or join and optional tour Prado Museum . (B) Day 3, in Madrid: Excursion to Toledo, Monday We visit Toledo, a city with a wealth of monuments. It is known as the “city of the three cultures” because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived there together for centuries. During our guided tour we visit the Santo Tome Church and the Synagogue of Santa María . From Toledo, we return to Madrid where the afternoon is at leisure or join an optional tour Flamenco show with dinner. (B) Day 4, to Santiago de Compostela, Tuesday We Depart for Santiago de Compostela. On the way, we stop in Salamanca, an ancient city famous for its university founded by Alfonso IX in the early 1200’s. There is time for lunch on your own and thereafter, we continue to Santiago de Compostela along the Camino. Many pilgrims follow this ancient route also known as the Way of St. James. In Santiago de Compostela, the evening is at leisure. (B) Day 5, in Santiago de Compostela, Wednesday Santiago de Compostela’s center is called “Casco Histórico” (old town), an area once surrounded by walls in the 11th-century. We visit the Cathedral and the Cathedral museum and view the tomb of St James the Great. In the afternoon we visit Cap Finisterre where pilgrims ceremoniously burn their boots. The day finishes with an early seafood dinner accompanied by Albariño wine. (B, D) barcelona santiago de compostela madrid