Sample Tours:: |
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Spain & PortugalSpain and Portugal – in many ways so similar, in other ways entirely different: separate people, independent cultures. This tour includes the wonderful sights and sounds of Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Granada and Seville (plus a special visit to Gibraltar), before taking you across the border to Lisbon, Fatima, and Porto. It is an exceptional opportunity to become a part of two nations which gave rise to the modern countries of South and Central America and to enjoy their magnificent history and customs. DAY 1: TORONTO – MADRIDDepart Toronto on an overnight flight to Madrid, where the sunny world of the Iberian Peninsula awaits you. Meals will be served and headsets will be supplied so that you may enjoy the full-length movie and the many audio channels available. DAY 2: MADRID (D)Upon arrival in Spain’s capital, a sophisticated city of grandeur and magnificent sights, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel. The balance of your day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Madrid. DAY 3: MADRID – TOLEDO – MADRID (B)After breakfast at the hotel, start your day with a sightseeing tour of the most important sights and the bustling street life. Pass gracious parks, stately landmarks and plazas, and visit the enormous Royal Palace. Another special highlight is a visit to the Prado Museum, where you can admire works of Goya, Titian and El Greco before moving next door to see Picasso’s famed painting of Guernica. The glorious afternoon excursion to Toledo makes this fabulous day complete. In one of Spain’s oldest and most spectacularly located towns, visit the treasure-filled Cathedral, El Greco’s House, the history-laden Alcazar and the Church of Santo Tome with El Greco’s painting, the “Burial of Count Orgaz”. Overnight in Madrid. DAY 4: MADRID – LA MANCHA – CORDOBA (B/D)After breakfast, board your coach and make your way to Aranjuez, a former royal summer residence. See it’s marvelous gardens before crossing Don Quixote’s La Mancha. Continue on through Valdepenas to fabled Andalucia and Cordoba. Dinner and overnight in Cordoba. DAY 5: CORDOBA – GRANADA (B/D)This morning you will walk through the old Juderia, the former Jewish Quarter. The enchanting houses with tiled, flower-laden patios, are a camera buff’s delight. Visit the tiny 14th century synagogue. Then, visit the celebrated 1200 year old Moorish “Mezquita” (now a Christian Cathedral), about which is said, “if a traveller to Spain would see nothing else, his trip would have been more than worth it.” Through spacious landscapes full of olive groves and rolling countryside to Granada this afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Granada. DAY 6: GRANADA – COSTA DEL SOL (B/D)This morning drive through the famous old Moorish capital and visit the 700 year old palace of the Alhambra, a Moorish masterpiece which is a marvellous melange of marble courts, Pool of Myrtles, harem quarters, intricately designed domes, gardens and simply spectacular views. You will also visit the lovely gardens of the Generalife Palace. This afternoon, motor through picturesque villages to the Costa Del Sol, one of Europe’s most popular holiday centres. Dinner and overnight in Costa Del Sol. DAY 7: COSTA DEL SOL – GIBRALTAR – SEVILLE (B/D)Marbella and other interesting sea-front towns and villages line the way along the coastal road to Gibraltar. You will enjoy spectacular views of this British rock fortress as you approach the Bay of Algeciras. Sightseeing in Gibraltar is followed by an afternoon journey past Cadiz and Jerez to Seville, extraordinarily beautiful with an atmosphere which exudes visions of Carmen, gypsies and flamenco. DAY 8: SEVILLE (B/D)Morning visit to the colourful, old Santa Cruz quarter. Also see the Moorish Giralda, Bell Tower of the Cathedral, where Columbus is buried. You will visit this magnificent Gothis edifice as well as the Alcazar, the fortress-palace of Moorish and Christian Kings. The Gold Tower on the Guadalquivir River, the house of painter Murillo, City Hall and Maria Louisa Park are other interesting sights admired during city sightseeing. Afternoon is at leisure. Time for splendid shopping for leather, lace and water colours. Dinner and overnight in Seville. DAY 9: SEVILLE – LISBON (B/D)On the way to Badajoz, pass the Roman ruins of Italica, where Emperor Hadrian was born. After crossing the Portuguese border you stop a Elvas, noted for its mighty 17th century fortifications. Then to the capital, Lisbon. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon. DAY 10: LISBON (B/D)Today your sightseeing tour includes visits to the Monastery of San Jeronimos, the Carriage Museum and the Tower of Belem. See Castel Sao Jorge, the busy Bairro Alto, the ancient hilltop Alfama district and more. Your afternoon is at leisure. Dinner is in a rustic local restaurant, where you are entertained by hauting, fado melodies. DAY 11: LISBON – FATIMA – COIMBRA – PORTO (B/D)On your way to Fatima, see scenic rural countryside. You will stop at the colourful little fishing port of Nazare and pass pine forests and quaint villages en route to visit historic Batalha and its celebrated monastery. See the Tombs of Portugal’s Unknown Soldiers. Continue on to Fatima, known throughout the world for its Shrine and pilgrimages. After Fatima, you will visit the completely charming university city of Coimbra on your way to Porto. Dinner and overnight in Porto. DAY 12: PORTO – VIGO – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (B/D)Famous for its wine, Porto’s houses are clustered charmingly close together against steep rock faces. We also see the ornamental bridges spanning the river for excellent views of the town and its brilliantly-hued gardens. Then, follow the spectacular coastal road affording often sweeping panoramic vistas. After re-entering Spain, pass through the port of Vigo en route to Santiago de Compostela, a history-laden place of pilgrimage since the 9th century. Dinner and overnight in Santiago De Compostela. DAY 13: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – SALAMANCA (B/D)After breakfast at the hotel, you will go on a sightseeing tour which concentrates around the Plaza de Espana, surrounded by handsome old buildings as well as the vast, beautiful Cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture dating back to the 11th century. Legend has it that the remains of Apostle St. James (Santiago) were found here. Leaving Santiago, travel part way along “The Way of St. James”, the route followed by the pilgrims. Later, turn south and overnight in the ancient university town of Salamanca. Dinner and overnight in Salamanca. DAY 14: SALAMANCA – MADRID (B/D)Great sights today! You will be charmed by Salamanca’s atmosphere and the wonderful architecture, particularly around the Plaza Mayor, considered to be among the finest squares in Spain. Your next stop is to visit the monumental monastery-palace of Philip II, El Escorial. Thought by many to be the eighth wonder of the world, this amazing structure contains priceless works of art and crypts of Spanish kings. Then another very special visit to the Valley of the Fallen with a massive Basilica hewn into the rock, and magnificently crowned by a huge concrete cross, to commemorate the fallen of both sides during the Spanish Civil War. Upon arrival in Madrid, celebrate the ending of your travels with a farewell dinner. DAY 15: MADRID (B)“Adios” to Spain. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Canada. INCLUSIONS:
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