FLY-RAIL-DRIVE
A GRAND TOUR OF SPAIN
14 nights / 15 days From £ 2,820 per person
San Sebastian
SEVILLE • GRENADA • CORDOBA • MADRID • BARCELONA • SAN SEBASTIAN • LERMA • SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Spend two weeks discovering the highlights of Spain by air, rail and hire-car with this grand tour which takes in nine great Spanish cities and much of the diverse countryside and scenery of this country of contrasts.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAY ONE Arrive in Seville Begin your touring holiday by flying into Seville, where you will spend two nights.
DAY TWO In Seville Art and architecture are of the utmost importance here. La Giralda resembles the minarets of Marrakech, while the main building is punctuated more obviously by traditional rounded archways and vast stone domes. The market stalls around the Plaza del Salvador offer a wide selection of colourful local produce, from the vibrant palate of fruit and vegetables, to the brilliant examples of local art, including the azujelos – locally-made glazed ceramic tiles.
DAY THREE Seville to Granada by car Collect your hire-car and drive approximately two and a half hours eastwards to Granada. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring the Alhambra Palace and gardens. Officially dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, this collection of buildings was the jewel in the crown of the Emirate of Granada, and now it stands as a testament to the beauty of Arabic art.
DAY FOUR Granada to Cordoba by car Just two hours’ drive northwest of Granada is the city of Córdoba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drop off your hire car on arrival and navigate the city by taxi or on foot. At the city’ s heart is the astounding Mezquita de Córdoba, a mediaeval mosque turned Catholic cathedral, characterised particularly by the rows of red and white striped stone pillars that fill its central hall. Other highlights in Córdoba include the fascinating Jewish quarter and the abundance of Roman ruins.
DAY FIVE Cordoba to Madrid by rail Catch a late morning train to Madrid, arriving around two hours later. Stay at the five-star Hotel Urban, located within easy reach of the city’ s three worldclass art galleries and the relaxing Parque del Retiro.
DAY SIX In Madrid You have the whole day to explore the city, with its many attractive plazas and museums. The Prado Museum is one of the largest art galleries in the world and contains an impressive selection of Spanish paintings and the Reina Sofia Museum is Spain’ s premier collection of modern 20th and 21st century art including Picasso’ s‘ Guernica’. Be sure to also visit the Palacio Real de Madrid, the official residence of the Royal family, which is often open for the public to explore.
DAY SEVEN Madrid to Barcelona by rail We recommend catching a morning train to Barcelona, arriving around three hours later. Stay at Grand Hotel Central, a luxury five- star hotel in the Gothic district close to the Picasso Museum and historic cathedral.
DAY EIGHT In Barcelona The capital of Catalonia is famed for its staggering concentration of Gothic architecture such as the cathedral in the heart of the Gothic quarter. In La Ribera, the former palaces of merchants have become museums, such as the famous Museu Picasso. This quarter is also home to the cavernous Santa Maria del Mar and the Modernist Palau de la Música Catalana. Along the shore, Barcelona boasts of six Blue Flag beaches, and this is also the place to taste some of the best seafood in Barcelona.
DAY NINE Barcelona to San Sebastian by rail In the afternoon, catch a train northwest across the depth of the country to reach San Sebastián. The journey time is about 6 hours and you arrive in the early evening. In San Sebastian stay at the beautiful 19th Century Villa Soro, surrounded by pristine gardens and lawns. Taste some of the best seafood in Barcelona.
68 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk