Scheduled Departure dates:
* 17 may - 24 may 2009
* 06 sep - 13 sep 2009.
The Tour commences in Barcelona, the Monday after your arrival (May 18 and September 7) and ends in the Seville airport on Sunday (May, 24 and September 13th). In the Barcelona city you will enjoy a special private wine tasting of the high-end wines of Priorat, and private guided art tours in Barcelona´s best contemporary art museums such as the Picasso museum and Gaudi´s heritage.
A quick travel with high speed train between Barcelona and Madrid (02.40 hrs) will accommodate you in a chic boutique hotel located in the art triangle (Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia museums) facing the lovely Retiro Park and Gardens. You´ll explore Madrid with your own private art guide who will show you around the Picasso and Salvador Dali collections of the Reina Sofia, and the Velazquez and El Greco galleries of the Prado. Ribera and Rioja tastings in Madrid prestigious: Marqués de la Concordia Wine Club.
You will discover the best of Andalusia: Seville, Cordoba and jerez de la frontera, tasting sherry wines and enjoying Spanish tapas while visiting the most interesting spots as The Mezquita, the biggest mosque in Spain, still in use, in Corboda or the monumental Seville including visit to The "Reales Alcazares", a Moorish palace with exceptional tile work, patios and gardens.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Barcelona. Collection at Barcelona airport according to your flight schedule. Discover the bustling and glamorous streets of Barcelona´s Eixample quarter tonight. Your luxurious hotel right on the elegant Passeig de Gracia. Today is yours to relax and enjoy on your own in Barcelona. Catalonia is on a par with Basque Country regarding high-end and exciting cuisine and you have an array of wonderful Michelin starred eateries, as well as enchanting local seafood restaurants. With our suggestion enjoy a wonderful dinner either in the harbor or in the trendy city center.
Day 2: Barcelona. Breakfast at your Luxury Hotel. An art tour of Barcelona is planned for today. With your own private driver and separate art guide you will discover the highlights of Barcelona including the Picasso Museum, the Miró Museum, and Gaudi´s Parc Guell home of works of Picasso, Joan Miró and Gaudi Before returning to your hotel, your driver and guide will take you to the whimsical Parc Guell, a park landscaped by Modernista master Antoni Gaudi from the year 1900-1914. The park is enormous and offers various treats such as views over Barcelona, as well as some beau mosaics. In the late afternoon, you will be dropped back at your hotel - Free lunch.
This evening you will a matching tapas dinner menu with highly recognized Priorat wines in fancy wine shop in Barcelona City center.
Day 3: Barcelona-Madrid. Travel from Barcelona to Madrid by hight speed train ( 0240 min) Collection at Madrid station and check into your fashionable hotel located just steps from Madrid´s major art museums and beautiful Retiro Park. In the afternoon, your own private guide will take you on an art tour of Madrid. You´ll visit the Prado Museum, Spain´s most famous museum, and take in various galleries focusing on the Spanish masters like El Greco, Goya, Zurbarán and Velazquez. Carry on to the Reina Sofia to see a collection of modern Spanish masters like Picasso (including Guernica), Salvador Dali, Antoni Tàpies, Juan Gris, Eduardo Chillida, and avant-garde sculptor Pablo Gargallo. Free Lunch. After your art tour, enjoy the evening on your own in Madrid with our suggestions.
Day 4: Madrid. Late breakfast at your luxurious hotel. The day is yours to explore Madrid on your own. There are a variety of wonderful museums to visit such as the Impressionist Sorolla museum (one of Madrid´s best kept secrets), the pretty Decorative Arts museum (with furniture, crystal and tapestries dating back to the 15th century) and of course the Thyssen Museum (private art collection spanning everything from 11th century Italian painting all the way to Pop Art). Madrid is also home to some excellent contemporary galleries such as the new Caixa Forum. This evening, we have some fabulous food and wine in store for you. You will enjoy a private Spanish wine masterclass with your own sommelier. You´ll start with an aperitif of cava before taking your wine flight of Spain´s wine regions such as Toro, Bierzo, Rias Baixas and the Penedès. After your tasting, a selection of tantalizing Basque Pintxos will be served.
Day 5: Madrid-Córboba-Seville. Travel from Madrid to Cordoba by high speed train (0140 min) Visit Of Cordoba including the most interesting spots as The Mezquita, the biggest mosque in Spain, still in use, The orange grove behind the Mezquita, and the jewish quarter narrow white-washed streets, especially beautiful during the patio season (May). After lunch, pamper yourself in an Arabic bath. Very relaxed journey with speed train to Seville ( 40 min). Free dinner with our suggestions and accommodation in your Hotel.
Day 6: Seville. Breakfast at your fancy Hotel. Excursion to monumental Seville including visit to The "Reales Alcazares", a Moorish palace with exceptional tile work, patios and gardens. We will enjoy a Tapas style lunch with wines/beers at the Oldest bar in Seville. Rest of afternoon and evening free in Seville.
Day 7: Seville - Jerez de la frontera – Seville. Jerez is famous throughout the world for its dessert wines named after the town, which 17th century British wine importers mistakenly pronounced "sherry". It is called "de la Frontera" because it once stood on the "wild west" frontier between the Moorish and the Christian kingdoms. Jerez is also famous, for its equestrian tradition and for its famed Flamenco singers and dancers. On this wine tour, we will visit historic wineries in the famed towns of "The Sherry Triangle"; we'll see the "Dancing Horses" at The Royal Equestrian Riding School. Lunch included. Return to Seville and free dinner.
Day 8: Seville – City of origin. At your preferred time today, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for your outbound flight. This concludes an extraordinary art, wine and design tour of Spain!
Cancellation Policy:
* Cancellations within 30 days to 15 days before departure will have a penalty of 50% of the total amount
* No refunds for cancellations within 15 days of departure date
* Note: The company reserves the right to cancel the tour 30 days before departure if there is not the minimum number of people required within 30 days.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Luxury transportation when required, all transfers from airports to hotel and from train station to Hotel
- Four star luxury Accomodation in the best locations in the city center in a bed and breakfast basis. Walking distance to main attractions of the city
- All meals with wine as specified in the itinerary
- Wineries visits described including guided tour
- Local expert guide from The Wine Colours for specified visits
- High speed train tickets Barcelona – Madrid- Cordoba –Seville in tourist class.
- Entrance fees to Prado and Reina Sofia in Madrid.
- Entrance fees to Museo Picasso and Joan Miro Foundation in Barcelona
- Taxes
- Travel Insurance.
Price Excludes:
- Any flight
- Tips, personal expenses such as minibar or telephone
- Any service, meal or drink not specified in the itinerary
- Cancellation insurance.
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