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Northeast Spain
offered by supplier M07510 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 12
day(s)
Group Size: 8
- 16
people
Destination(s):
Spain
Specialty Categories:
Food & Wine
Season: March - October
Airfare Included: Yes
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 5399 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 5399 US Dollar (USD)
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This tour is not scheduled to run in 2008, but can be arranged for custom tours. Contact us for more information.
Tour price includes:
- Roundtrip airfare from Boston or New York (airfare price can be deducted)
- 12 nights in elegant 4 star accomodations of regional character with lovely private baths
- Transportation in comfortable air-conditioned minibus
- 12 breakfasts, 12 gastronomic dinners, 7 lunches
- Catalonian cooking class
- Winery visits and all wine tastings
- Wine regions and towns we visit: Barcelona, Sant Esteve de Sesrovires, Tarragona, Santa Creus, Conca de Barbera, Poblet, Pla de Bages, Montserrat, Montblanc, Zaragoza, La Guardia, La Rioja, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Burgos, Pamplona, Costers del Segre, Penedes, Priorat, Vallfogona del Ruicorb
- Fully escorted
- All tour guides, all museum and entrance fees
- All tips and taxes.
Our tour takes us on a cultural food and wine journey throughout Northeast Spain, covering the regions of Catalonia (Barcelona and Tarragona), Aragon (Zaragoza), the Rioja, Navarra (Pamplona), the Basque Country (Bilbao), and a bit of Old Castile (Burgos). Not only will we taste some fabulous wines and the regional cuisine of many outstanding chefs, but for those of you who want something more out of a vacation than wine and great food, we are going to visit a part of Spain that is steeped in colorful history, natural beauty, and a fascinating diversity of culture.
As Maria Isabel Mijares y Garcia-Pelayo, Secretaire General de l’Union Internationale des Oenologues, says it so well in A Traveller’s Wine Guide to Spain: "This great diversity of wines, coupled with the variety of cuisines that can be found in the different regions, is one of the great attractions for the traveler in Spain. Those who make their journey through the country’s varied regions, discovering the many reminders of its colorful history as well as the modern face of Spain, will find in its wines a living symbol of a unique civilization and culture."
Your Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at the airport and transfer to a lovely hotel in the historic center of Barcelona. Relax at the hotel or explore the local neighborhood. We’ll enjoy a gourmet dinner tonight at a Catalonian restaurant near the hotel.
Day 2
Today we have a guided walking tour of the old town, or Gothic quarter, which contains the famous cathedral, the Royal Palace where Columbus was received by Ferdinand and Isabella after his discovery of the New World, and the district of Ribera – a remarkable concentration of 14th century mansions, some of which house the Picasso museum. After lunch at a special restaurant, we visit the Mercat de la Boquería, a bustling and colorful covered food market, and a specialist wine and spirit shop where you can chat with the friendly and enthusiastic staff about some of the 3,500 bottles that line the shop’s walls. We stop at one of the most aromatic and picturesque shops in Barcelona, bursting with spices, saffron, chocolates and nuts, and at one of our favorite gourmet food shops selling excellent cheeses, hams, pâtés and homemade sobrassadas (pork pâté with paprika). We leave the city to transfer to an elegant hotel in the Penedès wine region between the Mediterranean sea and the mountains of Montserrat. We enjoy a cooking class before a wonderful gourmet dinner.
Day 3
In the morning we visit the Abadal winery. El Bages has been a land of wines since time immemorial. In recognition of a land that was particularly suitable to the cultivation of the vine, early settlers baptized the area El Bages, in homagto Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. The Pla de Bages is still generously populated with vineyards that stretch across a gently undulating, sunlit landscape. The efforts and successes of many generations of vine-growers have finally been acknowledged by the recent conferring of the D.O. - Denominación de Origen Pla de Bages. Lunch is followed by an afternoon visit to the serrated mountain of Montserrat and the monastery. Montserrat is a rich, multi-dimensional site, a veritable phenomenon: a religious center, a repository of important artistic heritage, and a unique natural beauty spot.
Day 4
Today we visit Tarragona, first occupied by the Romans, who called it Tarraco, in 218 BC. The city is rich in Roman remains and has a beautiful medieval cathedral. A walking tour of Tarragona includes visits to the cathedral, the History Museum, the Museum Romanitat (includes part of the vaults of the Roman circus, where chariot races were held) and the Amfiteatre. Lunch is followed by a visit to the Monastery of Santa Creus with its famous Gothic cloister. The 12th century church contains the tombs of King Peter the Great and of James II and his wife, Blanca of Anjou, as well as Cistercian and Gothic stained–glass windows and a Baroque altarpiece. Tonight we stay in a lovely hotel in the seaside town of Altafulla on the Costa Dorada (Golden Coast).
Day 5
After breakfast we travel to the Appellation region of Conca de Barberà and visit the medieval town of Montblanc. The ancient walls are astonishingly well preserved. They enclose three quarters of the town and look as though they have come from the film set of El Cid! We have time to discover the medieval squares, churches, museums and palaces. Josep, Julieta and Ricard – three generations of the Foraster family— will later welcome us to their winery. Only 50,000 bottles of wine are produced at Mas Foraster, so expect something very special during the wine tasting. After a barbecue lunch in the winery, it’s a short hop to Poblet and a visit of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet – well known for the burial place of the Catalonian – Aragon Royal Dynasty. We return to Altafulla for dinner.
Day 6
Today we visit Zaragoza, one of the great monumental towns in Spain. Founded some 2000 years ago, Old-Iberians, Romans, Goths and Arabians have all left their heritage. Our walking tour includes visits to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar and the Plaza del Pilar. In the afternoon we drive to the Rioja Alavesa wine producing region. Our hotel for the next four nights is in the charming historic town of Laguardia. From our hotel we can explore medieval Laguardia and take in the panoramic views from this Tuscan-like hilltop village.
Day 7
This morning we walk to a wonderful winery in Laguardia. This winery produces exquisite Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva and Reserva Especial wines using the tempranillo and mazuelo grape varieties. The winery also houses an interesting private collection of Black African Art. In the afternoon we visit the Dinastía Vivanco Wine Museum, a unique collection of ancient serving vessels, wine presses and tools. We return to Laguardia to explore or relax before dinner.
Day 8
Today we enjoy an excursion to the northern coast to visit Frank Gehry's groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, The Guggenheim (Called "El Guggen" by the locals) is an extraordinary combination of interconnecting Titanium waves. Eleven thousand square meters of exhibition space are distributed in 19 galleries. It is a spectacular backdrop against the old town. After visiting the museum we move on to the Guggenheim's voguish restaurant for Creative Basque cuisine. The afternoon is free for shopping and/or sightseeing.
Day 9
Today’s excursion is to the wonderful aristocratic seaside town of San Sebastian, Spain's "Gourmet Mecca". We enjoy a walking tour of the old town and the beaches. Lunch will be a "Tapas Tour", a fantastic way to "taste" San Sebastian. Your guide will weave you in and out of the best tapas bars in the old quarter, sipping wine along the way. We return to Laguardia at the end of the day.
Day 10
This morning we visit Burgos, famous for its great Gothic cathedral. The massive church entirely dominates the elegant old town centre, and houses here are characterised by the glassed-in balconies or gallerias. In the afternoon we drive to Pamplona, capital of Navarra, known for the running of the bulls during its famous July festival. We spend the night in a hotel in the center of town, where we are free to explore the ancient streets and many shops.
Day 11
Southbound we journey to the Catalonian Appellation region of Costers del Segre. Lunch is followed by a leisurely guided tour of historical Verdù, where will learn about the past and present of the ceramic industry. We arrive at our four-star Spa Hotel in time to relax before dinner. A climatised dynamic pool, Jacuzzi, and an outdoor swimming pool
will be at our disposal, as well as mud baths, massages and drainages, beauty treatments and wine baths.
Day 12
One of Spain’s best known wineries, Raimat, owning one third of all grapes and most of the best wine produced in Costers del Segre, is worth a visit, as is the Castell del Remei estate, originally built as a colony for some 50 families back in 1760. Today we also visit the castle, sanctuary, the olive oil mill, the flour mill, the distillery and the winery itself – a beautiful stone walled building. In the afternoon we visit the Monastery of Valbona and then return to our hotel for our farewell dinner.
Day 13
After breakfast we drive to the Barcelona airport for the return flight.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Single supplement TBD.
Also see tour packages in:
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Spain
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