Day 1 - Madrid Arrive in Madrid and check in at your boutique hotel in the heart of old Madrid. Partake in a private cooking class. Meet the Spanish chef, a member of the Royal Academy of Gastronomy and a knowledgeable and delightful companion. Accompany her to a nearby market to shop for the cooking class, then prepare and cook a full meal in the private cooking studio near Madrid’s Royal Palace, and enjoy a meal with wine afterwards. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure. Day 2 - Madrid Join a private guide for a walking tour of historic Madrid, through the 17th-century Habsburg district, passing by the Royal Palace along the way. Aftward, enjoy a savory tapas tour; Madrid has an excellent selection of tapas bars specialized in traditional or contemporary cuisine, many with a regional focus. A delightful food and wine professional guide leads you through the streets of viejo Madrid, stopping at tapas bars each exhibiting their own specialties, ranging from traditional patatas bravas, jamón ibérico or pescadito frito to cutting-edge minimalist tapas in sleek design bars with fashionable clients. Sample tapas and wine or beer at each one, gathering inside information on Spanish cuisine, ingredients and the latest in the Spanish culinary world. Chat with some of the chefs along the way, perhaps including Paco Roncero, the prize-winning chef at Estado Puro tapas restaurant. Dinner reservations at a leading Michelin-starred restaurant (cost not included). Day 3 - Aranjuez Visit the nearby city of Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to one of the Spanish crown’s summer residences, consisting of a magnificent royal palace with classical gardens. Aranjuez was converted into a royal site by Ferdinand and Isabella in the fifteenth century and construction on the palace began in the late sixteenth century. Enjoy a privately guided tour of the impressive palace and its many gardens, and perhaps also visit the Royal Chapel, Saint Pascual’s Royal Convent, or the Pleasure Craft Museum. After your tour, savor a special lunch in a well-known restaurant frequented by renowned Madrid chefs. Enjoy the tasting menu, perfectly paired with well-selected wines. Return to Madrid mid-afternoon, and consider attending a flamenco performance before dinner. Day 4 - Madrid Today, join a private guide on a tour of both the Prado and the Reina Sofia Museums. The guide is a trained art history specialist and has years of knowledge and insight to share as she escorts you through the fantastic galleries in these institutions and highlights particularly notable treasures. Visit any remaining neighborhoods or historic sites of interest, and to check off any restaurants you have not yet enjoyed. Enjoy dinner at a venerable Madrid institution near the Plaza Mayor. Day 5(a) - Departure If you are on a tight schedule and only have a few days to spend in central Spain, your tour can end after your experiences in and around Madrid. If you have a few more days to spend, visit the historic cities of Toledo and Segovia. Day 5(b) - Toledo Discover historic Toledo today, where an exclusive experience has been specially arranged in this nearby city. First, stop outside the city to visit a local winery, where the winemaker will join the tour and share his expertise and wine-making philosophies while visitors enjoy private tastings. Afterward, continue to Toledo to explore its extensive cultural and monumental heritage sites, all of which are standing testaments to the historic coexistence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. Join your guide for a private walking tour of this beautiful city; appreciate the historic cobblestone streets of the Jewish quarter and the old city gates, multiple El Greco masterpieces, a private marzipan tasting, and visit the gothic Cathedral and the oldest still-standing European synagogue. Return to Madrid and consider dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant this evening. Day 6 - Segovia Today, visit magnificent Segovia, Spain’s “City of Victory”, whose old town and Roman aqueduct have been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO. Enjoy a walking tour of the old town, including the aqueduct, the Alcazar, and the Cathedral – the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. After a leisurely lunch in a traditional restaurant, enjoy some time on your own in this marvelous city, or perhaps visit a local curly-haired-pig farm to learn about the sequence and intricacies of ham production, and to taste some of their delectably fine products. Day 7 - Departure Prepare for your return journey home. Notes: The trip price is based on the included services and the number of people traveling. Trips start from $400 per person per day. This trip is available year round and is fully customizable, whether your ideal trip would last three days or three weeks. Please contact Epicurean Ways for detailed information and suggestions. Let us help you complete your Spanish experience. 
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