DAY 1: Depart your gateway city for Barcelona, Spain.
DAY 2: Upon arrival, transfer by motor coach to the Cristal Palace Hotel in Barcelona. Tonight enjoy a welcome reception. (B,L,R,D)
DAY 3: Learn about the History of Catalonia and Barcelona before departing on a highlights tour of Barcelona where you’ll see the Royal Palace, Las Ramblas and Barcelona’s Gothic and modern architecture. Dine at a Catalonian bodega. (B,L,D)
DAY 4: Learn about the architecture of Gaudí before enjoying a tour of Gaudí’s Barcelona. See the most important examples of his modernist architecture including the famed Cathedral of the Holy Family. Lunch at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
DAY 5: Today is at leisure to discover the wonders of Barcelona on your own. (B,L,D)
DAY 6: Journey to the Penedes wine region, home of Catalonia’s sparkling wine, Cava. Visit the winery, the largest in the world. Continue to the mountain monastery of Montserrat, founded in A.D. 880. Visit the Basilica of Montserrat, then attend a performance of the Escolania, or boys’ choir, the first in Europe. Enjoy a lunch of tapas served with wine from the winery. (B,L,D)
DAY 7: Today, delight in a scenic drive through the picturesque countryside. Stop in the lovely town of Zaragoza for a tour and dine at a local restaurant for lunch. Continue to the town of San Sebastian in northern Spain on the Bay of Biscay. Upon arrival in San Sebastian, check in at the Hotel Costa Vasca. (B,L,D)
DAY 8: This morning, learn about the history of northern Spain. See the Cathedral of the Buen Pastor, the Town Hall and the palace and gardens of Miramar. Enjoy a stroll through the Old Quarter. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
DAY 9: Travel to Bilbao for a tour of the city and a visit to the renowned Guggenheim Museum. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Tonight, enjoy an opportunity to meet with some local residents. (B,L,D)
DAY 10: Enjoy a lecture on the Romance of Hemingway and Spain followed by a trip to Pamplona. Visit the the Chapel of San Fermin and the Navarro Museum. Dine at a local restaurant for lunch. (B,L,D)
DAY 11: Today is free to pursue your own interests. Tonight, enjoy a farewell reception and dinner. (B,L,R,D)
DAY 12: Transfer to the Bilbao airport for the return flight to your gateway city. (B)
|
