Spain: Madrid & Andalusia
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The magnificence of Spain, the unique, intriguing mix of cultures, elegant art and architecture, and fascinating history are at the heart of this 10 day tour. We meet in Madrid, then travel south, to cities rich in charm and beauty, with grand pasts and great achievements: Cordoba, Seville, and Granada. Each place has breathtaking treasures of immense significance, and we will be caught up every day in the pleasures of learning, viewing, and experiencing great art and cultures across a wide swath of time. We'll stay at the heart of each city, in clean, comfortable hotels, and enjoy the best of local cuisine and wines. We end in Madrid for the return home.

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Cordoba
In the 10th c. this was the largest city in the world, a showplace of cultural and intellectual achievement. An important capital of Islamic rule (in place from the 8th c.) it was home to a vibrant society of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Cordoba's stunning Great Mosque, center of Islamic worship for centuries, remains nearly intact today, with a spectacular Renaissance/Baroque Cathedral at the heart of it, carved out when Muslim dominance gave way to Christian. The city is an astonishing place of grandeur, but with twisting streets and small corners, a rare testament to a history that began well before the Romans arrived in 200 BC.

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Seville
With a well-preserved historic center that testifies to its long fascinating history, Seville, the capitol of Andalusia, is at once cosmopolitan and old-world gracious. Picturesque orange trees, one of many inspired legacies of Muslim agricultural and cultural innovation, line the streets and fill Seville's lovely Maria Luisa Park. At the core of the city are Seville's great monuments, its spectacular Cathedral with Giralda Tower (minaret of the former mosque on the site) and the imposing Alcazar Real, a stern-looking fortress with exquisite interior decorations and graceful gardens.

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Madrid
Madrid is the beginning and end of our tour. The lively capital of Spain, Madrid is rich in great museums and fabulous art, including the incomparable Prado with Velasquez, Goya and Bosch, and the Reina Sofia with Picasso's iconic Guernica.

Madrid: Reina Sofia

Toledo - day trip option
A short train ride south of Madrid is Toledo, ancient Visigoth capital, famed for its rich mosaic of history embracing Roman, Judaic, Islamic and Christian traditions and monuments.

Toledo

Report, comments & photos Spain 2017

Spain in April 2017 was an absolute dream; those of us who were part of the adventure have memories to last a lifetime. We saw amazing sites and sights, on our own and with knowledgeable and companionable guides, we ate and drank well and heartily of the best Spain has to offer, we stayed in charming historic hotels that welcomed us like old friends, we traveled in style on sleek Spanish trains and, once, in our own private bus with a guide who seemed to know everything we could ever want to know, we met with warm, hospitable people everywhere we went - and our group was a fabulous 'family' of  good spirits and great company. 

Thank you for organizing such a fabulous trip to Spain! We loved it and appreciate all you did to make the trip exceptional!
I enjoy your passion for travel and people, and I think that you are the reason your tours are so successful.
I particularly liked staying in the smaller hotels/inns in the "old city" section of a town because the interactions with staff seem more personal there.

Granada
Granada's exalted position in the Sierra Nevada mountains makes a dramatic setting for one of Spain's most spectacular sites. The grand Alhambra, a sprawling ensemble of fortress, palaces, courtyards and gardens, is the final monument to Islamic dominion in Spain. In 1492, Columbus met here with the new rulers, Ferdinand and Isabella, and was granted funds for his epic quest. The enchanting beauty of the Alhambra lies in its romantic history as well as in its maze of sublime courtyards and chambers, its lush gardens and its hilltop views. On the opposite hill the ancient Albaicin neighborhood, a World Heritage site, intrigues the visitor with narrow walkways, small cafes and shops, and spectacular views.

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Day 1 Madrid: Tour starts
Day 2 Train to Cordoba
Day 3 Cordoba - Mosque/Cathedral
Day 4 Train to Seville
Day 5 Seville - Cathedral, Alcazar
Day 6 Travel to Granada
Day 7 Granada - Alhambra
Day 8 Granada to Madrid
Day 9 Madrid/Toledo (optional)
Day 10 Madrid: Tour ends

Costs and details
The tour is limited to 10 people. The cost for the 10 day tour will be approximately $3400, payable as a $500 deposit and 2 installments (because it is still more than a year away I will give a firm number closer to the departure date. The cost is more likely to go down somewhat rather than up.) Couples or partners sharing a room receive a discount of $300 ($150 each.) Travel to and from Madrid is not included - the tour begins and ends at the hotel in Madrid. What is included: Hotels, breakfasts, transportation to sites in Spain (trains and/or buses), entry fees and guides. Most meals, snacks, and drinks are not included in order to give participants as much choice as possible.
What to expect
I do my best to make all my tours welcoming and deeply enjoyable for each and every participant. In my experience small groups quickly form a kind of shared 'family' dynamic, where everyone looks out for each other and where the fun is multiplied by the company of the group. I'm very pleased to be told - repeatedly - that my tours are the 'group tours for people who don't love group tours.' This, like all my tours, is one of comfort and enjoyment rather than grand luxury. Accommodations will be in hotels of charm, cleanliness, convenience and good location - I'll post updates as I have them. A special note for this tour: walking will be important and will involve uneven, historic, pavements and cobblestones, and in some cases uphills and downhills. The cities we visit all have taxis and local buses but they will not always be immediately convenient.