PRICE: from €1,975 PP
WHEN: April to October
DURATION: 7 Days
NEAREST AIRPORT: Madrid & Barcelona
Tour Summary
Like most of the world's great capitals, modern MADRID has a cosmopolitan population but ere are important differences: it's centuries old palaces, squares and works of art have largely the scaped the ravages of war; it also mirrors of the passionate identities of the 13 provinces that stretch from the mountains of the north to the deserts of the south.
BARCELONA was a busy port in Roman times and it still is. It is actually three cities: Montjuic (where the 1992 Olympic games were held), Eixample (a celebration of Gaudi and the Modernistes) and Old Town (eclectic, monumental, bourgeois and entertaining). It has a singular heritage of imagination art and architecture few can deny. The tour ends with visits to some wineries in the Penedes at the foot of the rugged Montserrat Mountains and quick visit to elegant Sitges on the Costa Daurada for lunch.
The first four days are spent discovering MADRID both the old Madrid, Los Austrias, and the newer Bourbon city, founded in the 18th century following the War of Spanish Succession in the area known as the Prado (meadow). In the old city, you will see the lavish Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor, the scene of the inquisition, a massive square decorated by small bars and restaurants around its perimeter.
The Bourbon city tour starts with a visit to one of Europeans most beautiful statues, the Goddess Cybele in her chariot. She stands imperially at the head of the tree lined Paseo Del Prado. From there, you can saunter to any of the great art museums - the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Reina Sofia and others.
The third day takes you to the Roman city of Toledo. A melting pot of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures, the city is concentrated around serpentine streets rich in history, art and architecture.
No visit to Madrid would be complete without a visit to the world's largest building, El Escorial, built in 1563. A fabulous treat - literally! It is at once a royal palace, a museum, monastery, art gallery and mausoleum of the kings of Spain.
Then, BARCELONA, you will spend your fourth day visiting the principal sites of interest: four of Gaudi's masterpieces: La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, now a museum, Casa Batllo and Parc Guell, created a World Heritage site. You will be guided through the gothic quarter and visit the Picasso Museum then across to the green hills of Montjuic and the Olympic area.
The next day will take you to the Montserrat Mountains and up a funicular railway to the Catalan's holiest place, extraordinary monastery built into vertiginous rock faces and dedicated to the Virgin Mary whose effigy was found in a cave in the 9th century. There are paintings by El Greco and Picasso to be seen. Returning to Barcelona, you will taste wine at an idyllic 16th century estate and once returned, you will have dinner and a flamenco floor show somewhere along Las Ramblas.
A private excursion to Codorniu is a special privilege. The winery is unique in so many ways: architecture by the moderniste Josep Maria Puig now a declared national monument, a history dating back to the 16th century and birthplace of Cava, Spain's very own sparkling wine. Next is a wine-tasting nearby in a privately owned "finca" or vineyard. Its story is of the remarkable renaissance of an ancient estate that ran wild for 20 years and rescued in 2000 to produce a treasury of estate-bottled wine. For lunch you will be driven to Sitges on the coast and dine on seafood and rice specialties overlooking the dazzling Mediterranean.
DINING
In Madrid, the choice of cuisine is as international as you can get but there are all the regions of Spain represented too. You can dine in luxury or eat on the hoof at any of the tapas bars. There are large and small restaurants and just as cosmopolitan as in any capital city of the world. We will take you to some special places we know but you will also have the opportunity to find your own favourite place to eat. In Barcelona, the focus is on the specialties of Catalonia - and all the more exciting for that! - but you will also find dishes from Aragon and Valencia creeping onto the menu. In the Penedes region you can expect very local dishes served with wonderful fresh vegetables and luscious wines to compliment them.
Day One - Madrid
Arrival in Madrid Airport. You are welcomed and escorted by our Representative to our carefully selected hotel in our vehicle. Evening at your leisure.
Day Two - Madrid
Private guided tour of Madrid main attractions including the Retiro Park, Moncloa, Plaza Mayor, Puerta de Alcala, Palacio de la Zarzuela, Austrian district and Cibeles.
Private guided visit of the magnificent Royal Palace, former residence of several Spanish Kings. Nowadays it is only used for state ceremonies. Lunch around the Plaza Mayor, full of little bars and restaurants.
Private guided visit of some of the most International museums in Madrid: Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Reina Sofia Museum. Our guide will advise about which museum to see subject to your clients preferences.
Day Three - Madrid-Toledo-Madrid
Private full day guided excursion to Toledo, declared World Heritage in 1986. It is one of the Spanish cities with the greatest wealth of monuments. Known as the city of the three cultures, because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together there for centuries. Behind its walls, Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues.
Back to Madrid, our guide will inform and advise of any Performances (Musicals, Zarzuela or Opera) held at the famous Teatro Real (not included in price).
Day Four - Madrid-El Escorial-Barcelona
Visit to one of the biggest buildings in the world and declared by Unesco world heritage: The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Built by Juan de Herrera and ordered by the Spanish Monarch, Felipe II .
You can find great manuscripts in Arab, Greek and Latin, and the invaluable colletion of paintings: El Greco, Ribera, Tiziano, Velazquez , Bosch, Tiziano, Veron's, Zurbaran and Tintoretto.
Transfer to Barcelona. Evening at your own leisure. Restaurants recommended.
Day Five - Barcelona
Barcelona has become one of the most popular cities in Europe and is the most cosmopolitan city in Spain.
Private guided tour of the main attractions of Barcelona. You will admire the architecture of Gaudi, including: La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila (declared artistic monument and World Heritage by UNESCO), and Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia, the brilant architect's unfinished masterpiece.
Visit the Gothic quarter viewing the Cathedral and its cloister, the Old Town, Picasso Museum, Montjuic, the Olympic Villa and Port. Finally you will visit Parc Guell another gem of Gaudi and time permitting Picasso Museum with paintings of the worldwide famous painter from his blue and pink period.
Day Six - Barcelona-Montserrat-Barcelona
A unique ecological unit in the world, Montserrat is a dream converted into a Mountain, which was declared a Nature Reserve in 1987 so that it might continue to be so.
Lunch in the Montserrat restaurant with breathtaking views. On the way back to Barcelona we'll stop for a private guided visit of a winery and a luxury wine resort located in Masquefa. This part of the country enjoys a mild, Mediterranean climate typical of the Penedes region.
Wine tasting and return to Barcelona.
(Optional) - You can stay in this fantastic luxury winery resort for the night. On request.
Flamenco show with dinner included, considered one of the leading flamenco clubs in Spain.
Day Seven - Barcelona-Penedes-Sitges-Barcelona
Private guided excursion to the biggest wine cellars in the world, covering 30 km, solely involved in the production of sparkling wines, cavas.
Private visit to the underground cellars and the museum including cava tasting. Private guided visit to an amazing privately/owned Finca / vineyard. It is a vineyard of the XIV century and is a place where the vineyard, the olives, the carob tree and the flock of sheep have always lived together. Wine tasting.
Gourmet lunch in one of the leading seafood restaurants in Sitges situated right on the Sitges promenade, overlooking the sea, It is the ideal place to savour its exquisite seafood, fish and rice specialties. Lunch commented by our gastronomy Expert local guide.
Day Eight - Barcelona, end of the tour.
Private transfer to Barcelona Airport, subject to flight timetable.
Tour Prices
Price Per Person: 1.975 EUROS
Duration - 7 days / 6 nights
(*) SPECIAL PRICES for groups.
Hotel Supplements or Reductions
Upgrade of Accommodation on request.
Check for single supplement.
Departures
From April to October - Every Week.
From November to March - On request.
We can also organize a similar tour subject to your requirements of number of people and days, budget etc,
please e-mail us on [email protected].
BOOK NOW e-mail us at [email protected] with the departure date and number of people.
Price Includes
Private return transfer from Madrid and Barcelona Airport by our executive vehicle
Transport included either public in the cities or private car in the day excursions.
Personalized English/Spanish speaking guide throughout the itinerary.
Seven nights accommodation based on double occupancy with private bath. Price based on Villa Real in Madrid and Condes de Barcelona and Petit Palace Museum in Barcelona.
Seven full buffet breakfast.
Private guided full day tour in Madrid visiting the Royal Palace and two museums.
Private guided full day tour to Toledo included entrances.
Private guided half day tour to El Escorial.
Private guided full day tour in Barcelona including Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera (Casa Milla), Parc Güell and Picasso Museum.
Private guided full day to Montserrat and a Luxury wine resort including entrances and lunch with guide.
Private guided full day to Penedes wine region including the visits and walking tour in Sitges. Gourmet lunch included with guide.
Flamenco show including dinner in Barcelona.
All surcharges and taxes.
Note: If any of the published accommodation, range of wineries or restaurants in the tour becomes unavailable,
others of similar category will be allocated.
Note: Upgrade of wineries and/or restaurants will have a supplement. Please request.
What is not Included
Travel insurance.
Flights (Malaga or Granada airports).
Tips.
Meals not specified.
Personal expenses.
Optional visits.
The flight or speed-train fare from Madrid to Barcelona will be quoted at the time of booking.
By booking your trip with The Unique Traveller you agree to our Terms and Conditions
EXAMPLE OF ACCOMMODATION USED IN MADRID AND BARCELONA (*)
Hotel Villa Real (Madrid)
Small luxury hotel of the world, 5 star hotel
(3 nights)
Location
A traditional and at the same time, contemporary hotel, for those who enjoy elegance, good taste and exquisite service. The hotel is set in the cultural heart of Madrid at a walking distance to the most important museums such as the Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Plaza del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park are also nearby.
General Facilities
The best service, the most distinguished cuisine and its Roman mosaics, make the Villa Real a magnificent hotel. Facilities include a business centre, limousine service, car park, 24-hour room service , late breakfast up to 1 p.m., complimentary national and international press, laundry and pressing service. Access to the Hotel Urban swimming pool (50 metres away).
Would you like to eat with Andy Warhol? At the Hotel Restaurant, “East 47†you can. The most delicious cuisine and the most delightful tapas.
Mosaics, original sculptures from Ancient Rome and a collection of Greek ampullas belonging to one of the most important private collections in Spain, make the Villa Real a distinguished hotel. All these works of art decorate the noble areas of the hotel, together with contemporary art by Guinovart, Warhol and TÃ pies, which illuminate the remaining areas.
The Rooms
115 bedrooms including suites and duplex suites, enabling you to separate leisure and business. Magnificent views of the city, the most distinguished service, pure luxury.
All parquet flooring bedrooms are totally soundproof and have direct telephone line, mini-bar , music centre, TV with Canal Plus and satellite channels, Safe box . There is also wireless internet access in each room and you will find a hair dryer in the bathroom as well as a welcome gift.
Petite Palace Museum (Barcelona)
4 Star Deluxe
Location
This design hotel is centrally located next to Paseo de Grácia which is both one of the major avenues in Barcelona and also one of its most important shopping and business areas, containing several of the city's most celebrated pieces of architecture such as La Pedrera and Casa Batllo.
General Facilities
The hotel occupies a remarkable art nouveau style building, built in 1904 and renovated in 2007. It comprises a total of 62 rooms spread over 4 floors. The hotel is ideal for those travelling for pleasure or business: excellent location near 3 metro station. Facilities include a restaurant and a snack bar/cafe Laptops, complimentary high-speed WLAN/Internet access throughout the hotel, as well as a business centre in the lobby are all available.
The Rooms
All rooms are equipped with the latest technologies such as flat screen TVs and hydro-massage showers and include a direct dial telephone. Rooms come with either twin, queen-size or king-size beds. It is possible to book non-smoking rooms and rooms for guests with disabilities. Also available there are rooms for families up to 4 members.
OR
Condes de Barcelona (Barcelona)
4 Star Superior
Location
This attractive hotel is situated in the tourist heart of Barcelona, in Paseo de Grácia, the most elegant avenue of the whole city, right in front of Gaudis masterpiece La Pedrera and within walking distance to all of Barcelona's major attractions. It is located in a typical Barcelonan modernist building, declared monument of interest by the city's town hall. A wide range of restaurants, bars, clubs and the best boutiques are located in the immediate vicinity.
General Facilities
The large reception is manned 24 hours a day and the hotel also has a safe, a currency exchange and lift access. Further facilities include a piano bar and an à la carte restaurant. Business guests may take advantage of the conference facilities with Internet access, WLAN access points, communication possibilities and secretary and hostess services. Guests can additionally make use of the room and laundry services, as well as a garage and an open car park.
The Rooms
All the pleasantly furnished rooms comprise of a private bathroom, hairdryer, direct dial telephone, satellite/cable TV, Internet access, a minibar, a double or twin beds and a safe. The heating can be individually adjusted and the air conditioning is centrally regulated. There are two kind of rooms in terms of decoration: classic and contemporary, but both are equipped equally.
(*)Accommodation will be in these hotels or in others of similar category. Will be confirmed when making the booking of the tour. Upgrade available on request.