APRIL 01-08, SPAIN Madrid & Barcelona

Transcription

1 APRIL 01-08, 2016 SPAIN Madrid & Barcelona

2 MADRID The capital of Spain is a cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. But the highlights of the city are certainly its artistic richness, its elegant architecture, its intense cultural activity and its attractive nightlife. It's a charming and beautiful city that will certainly amaze to you. BARCELONA The Barcelona we see around us now, the Barcelona we enjoy today, is a new Barcelona, Mediterranean in keeping with its traditions, with its face to the sea and its arms open to others cultures and peoples, giving and receiving, happy to make and to share its richness.

3 HOTELS MADRID HOTEL MELIA CASTILLA (4*SUP) BARCELONA HOTEL PRINCESA SOFÍA (5*)

4 DAY-BY- DAY ITINERARY Day 1 Friday April 01 st - Depart USA Depart the US this evening to Madrid. Day 2 Saturday April 02 nd - Arrive Madrid Welcome to Spain. Upon arrival at the Madrid Airport you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel located in the city center for checkin and to receive your welcome packets. Madrid is synonymous with culture and street life. It is a capital open and welcoming, with the most exciting nightlife, But above all it is a cultural paradise, where you can find the biggest concentration of art masterpieces in Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Art Centre and the Thyssen-Bornesmiza Museum, all within few meters distance. You'll also be able to visit such impressive monuments as the Royal Palace, places with their own particular charm like the Plaza Mayor square, the Retiro Park or the active Gran Vía, drop into typical bars and taverns to sample a range of delicious tapas. Overnight at the hotel in Madrid. Day 3 Sunday April 03 rd Madrid Today is yours at leisure to explore this fascinating city, or take advantage of the many optional programs offered in and around the city of Madrid. Overnight at the hotel in Madrid. (B)

5 Proposed OPTIONAL TOURS: per / person prices: Toledo (Half-Day): $90.00 Escorial & Valley of the Fallen (Half- Day) $96.00 Toledo (Full Day) $ Segovia Escorial Valley of the Fallen (Full Day) $ Avila Segovia (Full Day) $ Toledo Escorial Valley of the Fallen (Full Day) $ NOTE: Lunch is included on the Full Day sightseeing. Day 4 Monday April 04 th - Madrid Breakfast at the hotel. This morning enjoy a guided panoramic city tour (4 hours), we will travel some of its main avenues such as the Gran Via, full of life with its big old cinemas and theatre, a Spanish version of Broadway. We will follow Castellana Avenue where monumental fountains are located such as the beautiful Cibeles Fountain. See the Parliament and other remarkable buildings such as the Royal Palace of the King. Balance of the day is yours at leisure to continue your exploration of this monumental city. Overnight at the hotel in Madrid. (B, D) This evening transfer to the Palacio del Negralejo, manor house with remains from XVI to XIX century transformed in an excellent restaurant full of charm and historic atmosphere where you will enjoy a fabulous Welcome Dinner complete with music and dancing. Included: One to one-half hours of group meeting venue to be determined.

6 Day 5 Tuesday April 05 th Madrid / Barcelona This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to the Atocha Train Station to board your AVE (Alta velosidad rapid) train for your journey to Barcelona. As you travel north relax and enjoy the changing scenery while crossing through the three regions of Castilla, Aragon and Cataluna. Upon arriving at the main train station of Barcelona, you will once again board you deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and be transferred to your hotel while enjoying a panoramic tour of the city. Barcelona s history goes back in time 2,500 years, and all important periods of history in the peninsula passed by the city: Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Its long history and economic dynamism have made Barcelona a cultural city, which can be seen in the historic-artistic heritage and the promotion of the most innovative artistic trends. At the beginning XXth, the Modernism art by Antoni Gaudí arrived in the moment of big expansion of the city (Exaimple quarter) and this art style marked the present semblance in a considerable way. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Barcelona. (B)

7 Day 6 Wednesday April 06 th - Barcelona Breakfast at the hotel. This morning s guided panoramic city tour will include the most emblematic monuments of the city, starting with a visit to Montjuic a broad shallow hill overlooking the city. Continue to Catalunya Square, which is the starting point of two of Barcelona's most famous streets, the Rambla (a wide promenade in the old city) and the Passeig de Gràcia (a grand showcase of modernist architecture). We will follow along the famous Ramblas Street, with its characteristic market of flowers and birds in the morning. Drive by the Sagrada Famiglia designed by Antoni Gaudi and considered one of the most magnificent sites in Barcelona. We will walk in the Gothic Quarter where many of the buildings date from Medieval Times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. Remains of the squared Roman Wall can still be seen. It has a labyrinthine street plan, and contains many of the city s most important buildings such as: City Hall and the Generalital (regional government). The balance of this afternoon is yours at leisure to continue our enjoyment of Barcelona. This evening you will be transferred to the Olympic Port area of Barcelona, to enjoy a festive Paella Dinner in one of the many restaurants located on the boardwalk. Later, return to your hotel for overnight. (B, D)

8 Day 7 Thursday April 07 th - Barcelona Breakfast at the hotel. Today is yours at leisure to explore this fascinating city, or take advantage of the many optional programs offered in and around the city of Barcelona. (B, D) Proposed OPTIONAL TOURS: per / person prices: Monserrat (Half-Day): $85.00 Dali Museum (Fugueres) & Girona (Full Day) $ Monserrat & Sitges (Full Day) $ Catalan Dinner with Panoramic Tour (Evening) $ NOTE: Lunch is included on the Full Day sightseeing. This evening transfer to the Cavas Cordiniu wine cellar in San Sadumi di Noia (approx. 35 minutes from the hotel) producing wine from To enjoy a Welcome Dinner. After return to the hotel for overnight. Included: One to one-half hours of group meeting venue to be determined. Day 8 Friday April 08 th Depart Today, after breakfast, you will be transferred to the Barcelona Airport for your return flights. (B)

9 DINING VENUES MADRID RESTAURANT PALACIO DEL NEGRALEJO In 1790, on the ruins of a castle named Negrales, a family from Madrid s nobility built their country palace. Later on, well into the the 19th Century, the Marquis of Villamejor founded his famous stables, the renowned Figueroa stud. In 1982 the proprietors decided to turn this fabulous complex into a venue for events and functions, keeping the original style but introducing all the modern functionality required for such a luxurious installation. Such was the determination and perfectionism put into the restoration that Palacio del Negralejo can today be considered an ethnological museum where one can find countless antique farm implements, household and decorative items.

10 BARCELONA CAVAS CORDONIU Cordoniu is the world's largest producer of bottle-fermented sparkling wine, known as cava, made by the traditional champagne method It was founded in Catalonia Spain in 1551 and produces 60 million bottles annually.