Madrid, Northern Spain & Portugal
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VIEW PACKAGE MADRID, NORTHERN SPAIN & PORTUGAL (11670) 浗Madrid A panorama of Galicia and Portugal to soak up its landscapes, traditions and customs. The most interesting points to know about Portugal. Its great cities yet to be discovered. Duration Spain/Portugal 14 nights 㳖 CULTURAL Destinations 㻚 PRIVATE ESCORTED TOURS Spain, Portugal Travel Departs Highlights Madrid Discover one of the most marvelous areas of See the most emblematic monuments of Travel Ends Galicia, the Rias Bajas Madrid Madrid Day Cruise to discover the historic heritage Visit The Sanctuary of Fatima winery in Porto Experiences Cultural This 15-day journey starts in Madrid, Spain’s capital city that features elegant boulevards and historic Travel Style landmarks. Discover the main highlights of the city, including Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Prado Private Escorted Tours Museum, and then head to the ancient city of Zaragosa to see the Basilica of Our Lady of The Pilar, patroness of Hispanity.Travel to San Sebastian and bask in the sun at Playa de la Concha, San Sebastian’s most popular beach. When you reach Bilbao, don’t forget to visit the famous Guggenheim Museum, the Fine Arts Museum, and Plaza Nueva, the beautiful square of the old town lined with pintxos bars. Then, depart for the capital city of Asturias, Oviedo. Explore the fascinating city of Santiago de Compostela, the highlight of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. From Santiago de Compostela, travel to Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. Experience a panoramic cruise along the Douro River and enjoy Port wine tasting.You'll continue to Fatima, the Centre of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary and see its impressive Basilica and the magnificent Cova da Iria.Continue your journey to the remarkable Monastery of Batalha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then move on to Nazare and Alcobaca for more historical wonders. Reach Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and join a day tour around the ancient Olisipo. Admire some of the city’s tourist attractions, including the famous Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery. On your way back to Madrid, visit the old town of Caceres, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that you will not forget so soon. Included Included 3 nights in Madrid in a 4* hotel 1 night in San Sebastian in a 4* hotel 1 night in Santander in a 4* hotel 1 night in Oviedo in a 4* hotel 1 night in La Coruna in a 4* hotel 1 night in Santiago de Compostela in a 4* hotel 1 night in Vigo in a 4* hotel 2 nights in Porto in a 4* hotel 1 night in Fatima in a 4* hotel 2 nights in Lisbon in a 4* hotel Air conditioned deluxe minivan/minibus Return Transfer to/from airport in Madrid Daily Breakfast Guided visits in Madrid, Santiago de Compostela and Porto, Lisbon Panoramic sightseeing tours in San Sebastian, Bilbao and La Coruña Driver-guide during the tour Itinerary Day 1 Madrid Airport →Madrid Meet and greet at the airport. Take a transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay in Madrid in a 4* hotel. Day 2 Madrid Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Madrid panoramic city tour; find the medieval origins of the city, like the Arabic fortress, at the Barrio de la Morería, famous for its historical buildings. Drive through the courtesan district of the Hapsburgs characterized by Phillip II and its Renaissance and Baroque style buildings, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Villa; the Madrid of the Bourbons and the complex town planning schemes of Charles III, the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Neptuno Fountains and the Puerta de Alcalá. Admire the XIX C. works such as Prado Museum. The contemporary Madrid with areas such as Gran Vía, Castellana, the district of Salamanca, Plaza Castilla and Parque del Oeste, as well as commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, the emblematic Las Ventas Bullring and the Santiago Bernabéu Football Stadium. Afternoon free to explore the wonders that the city has to offer. Overnight stay in Madrid in a 4* hotel. Breakfast Day 3 Madrid→ Zaragoza → San Sebastian Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from our established hotels in Madrid. Depart towards Zaragoza. Free time to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of The Pilar, patroness of Hispanity and stroll through the old streets of Zaragoza. In the afternoon we will continue to San Sebastian, it’s one of the most famous tourist destinations where they hold the International Film Festival. Panoramic city tour of this marvel style bourgeois city, seeing the extraordinary landscape dominated by the bay and the magnificent La Concha beach. Overnight stay in San Sebastian in a 4* Hotel. Breakfast Day 4 San Sebastian→ Bilbao →Santander Breakfast at hotel. We will approach Mount Igueldo, to contemplate the marvelous views of the city and then proceed towards Bilbao. Panoramic driver in Bilbao and free time on the esplanade where The Guggenheim Museum is located in order to admire this modern architectural building. Proceed to the old fishing village “Castro Urdiales”. Free time. Departure to Santander, a port city located between the sea and the mountains, well known for its Sardinero Beach, one of the best known beaches in Spain. Free time to stroll through this elegant city. Overnight stay in Santander in a 4* hotel. Day 5 Santander→ Santillana→ Covadonga→ Oviedo Breakfast at hotel. Departure to Santillana, it’s one of the most important historical artistic towns in Spain. It contains architectural treasures such as the Collegiate of Santa Juliana, a Jewel of the Romanesque Arquitecture in Cantabria. Continue to Covadonga, where you will have free time to see the Sanctuary and the Grotto where you will see the patroness of Asturias our Lady of Covadonga. In the afternoon, departure to Oviedo, where you will see on a series of hills the beauty of Saint Maria de Naranco Church, Jewel of the pre Romanic asturian architecture. Free time to explore Oviedo, many of their streets are pedestrian, where you will be able to see World Heritage sites like The Cathedral, a splendid example of gothic asturian architecture. Overnight stay in Oviedo in a 4* hotel. Breakfast Day 6 Oviedo →Lugo → A Coruña Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Galician region, first stop is in Lugo, where you have free time to admire the Roman remains that still retains like its walls, declared World Heritage. Continue to A Coruña for a brief panoramic driving through the main avenues of its fabulous Marine Avenue. You will glimpse the elegance of this city and its typical Galician architecture of glass house-galleries. Brief stop in one of the oldest working lighthouse the “Tower of Hercules” dating back to the roman period. Afternoon is at leisure to relax. Overnight stay in A Coruña in a 4* Hotel. Breakfast Day 7 A Coruña→ Santiago de Compostela Breakfast at hotel. Departure to Santiago de Compostela declared World Heritage as it is one of the most important center of Christian Pilgrimages in Spain and this city marks the end of the Camino de Santiago route that was built during the Roman Empire. City tour where we will see the main square called Obradoiro and also the Cathedral (entrance included) dedicated to the Apostle Santiago. Balance of the day at leisure to explore the narrow cobblestone streets and get the feel of the student atmosphere. Overnight stay in Santiago de Compostela in a 4* hotel. Day 8 Santiago de Compostela→ Ria Bajas→ La Toja→ Vigo Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards one of the most marvelous areas of Galicia, the Rias Bajas (Spanish Fjords). Driving through this magnificent landscape we will arrive to La Toja Island, universally known for its spa. Free time and continue to the Ria de Arosa, passing through Pontevedra to arrive to Vigo, situated in the middle of the Rias Baixas. Overnight stay in Vigo in a 4* hotel. Breakfast Day 9 Vigo→Viano do Castelo→ Porto Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Portuguese border and then continue via Viana do Castelo, city located between the mouth of the river Miño and Porto, arrive to Porto. Overnight stay in Porto in a 4* hotel. Breakfast Day 10 Porto Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic sightseeing tour of Porto, considered World Heritage city. We admire the Cathedral, Stock Exchange building and Santa Clara church. Afterwards, enjoy a different perspective of the city along the river Douro aboard the BlueBoats Cruise and discover the historic heritage visiting one wellknown Port Wine Cellars with a wine tasting included. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight stay in Porto in a 4* hotel. Breakfast Day 11 Porto→ Coimbra→ Fatima Breakfast. Departure to Coimbra, city of one of the oldest universities in Europe and the birthplace of Fado. Free time. Then, continue to Fatima,considered the center of the Christian Faith and World Pilgrimage Sanctuary with its impressive Basilica and the Cova da Iria place where the Virgin Mary appeared. You can visit the Chapel of the Apparitions, heart of the sanctuary, with the tombs of the three shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. At night there is the possibility to attend the procession of the candles. Overnight stay in Fatima in a 4* hotel. Breakfast Day 12 Fatima→ Batalha→ Nazare→ Alcobaca→ Lisbon Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Batalha Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic and Manueline style considered a World Heritage place by UNESCO. Proceed to the picturesque fishing town of Nazaré where you'll have free time to wonder around before leaving for Alcobaça (World Heritage) with its Gothic church and Cistercian monastery, whose origins date back to the XII C.