Spain & Portugal Aboard the Sea Cloud
SPAIN & PORTUGAL ABOARD THE SEA CLOUD: BIRDS, NATURE & CULTURE APRIL 14–24, 2019 SOUTHERN PORTUGAL PRE-TRIP APRIL 8–15, 2019 ©2018 The Sea Cloud © Sea Cloud Cruises Spain & Portugal, Page 2 Vibrant cities, verdant pastoral landscapes, and alluring coastlines characterize two of Europe’s most romantic and evocative countries: Portugal and Spain. For this voyage—VENT’s first-ever cruise to the western Mediterranean—we have chartered the peerless Sea Cloud, a four-masted barque widely regarded as the world’s most beautiful sailing vessel, for a trip that combines the lustrous history and architectural wonders of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and the Andalusía region of Spain, with emphasis on the region’s natural history highlights, particularly birds and botany. An exciting itinerary begins in charming Lisbon, from which we’ll cruise a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean before tracing a route along the south coast of the Iberian Peninsula through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea en route to Valencia on the Spanish Riviera. We’ll call at Huelva and Motril, gateway ports to the famous cities of Seville and Granada. Here, we’ll visit an array of important landmarks, some of which are among the most visually appealing in Spain including the Real Alcázar, Royal Chapel of Granada, and, above all, the monumental Alhambra. Rounding out the cultural offerings will be opportunities to visit charming coastal villages, partake in a wine-tasting excursion, enjoy an authentic Flamenco show in the heart of the country where that style of music and dance originated, and, if the timing is right, view an elaborate Holy Week procession (Semana Santa) in Seville.
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