Group Travel Specialists Spain, Portugal & Beyond 102 NE 2 nd Street, Suite 303 Boca Raton, FL 33432 Toll free 1-800-422-8000, Fax 561-214-4293 ARC#10-52317-0, ASTA, IATA, BBB www.suntoursinternational.com Mail@SuntoursInternational.com Since 1979 The Best of Spain - 12 Days from $3975 including Roundtrip Airfare, 20 Meals & Extensive Sightseeing: Barcelona & Sagrada Familia, Girona/Figueres with Dali Museum,, San Sebastian, Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum, Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Sherry Wine Country with an Andalusian Horse Show & Granada. 3 Nights Barcelona, 1 Night Bilbao, 1 Night San Sebastian, 2 Nights Madrid, 3 Nights Seville, 4* air conditioned centrally located Hotels, 10 Full Buffet Breakfast and 10 Dinners with wine, AVE High-speed Train Madrid-Seville. Professional English speaking Tour Director, Airport Transfers, All Taxes. Price includes $300 per person agency commission and 1 Free Air & Land with every 16 paying travelers. Minimum group size 25. PACKAGE INCLUSIONS: Round-trip Airfare from JFK Meeting and assistance upon arrival 12 Days/10 Nights at 4-star air-conditioned centrally located hotels 3 Nights Barcelona 1 Night Bilbao 1 Night San Sebastian 2 Nights Madrid 3 Nights Seville AVE High-speed train Madrid-Seville
20 Meals: 10 Buffet Breakfasts and 10 Dinners with wine. Extensive Sightseeing: Barcelona & Sagrada Familia, Girona & Figueres (Dali Museum), San Sebastian, Bilbao & Guggenheim, Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Sherry Wine Country & Andalusian Horse Show, and Granada. Airport Transfers & All Taxes. Hotels used or similar: BARCELONA: HOTEL TRIP APOLO 4*- 3 nights SAN SEBASTIAN: HOTEL SAN SEBASTIAN ARANZAZU 4*- 1 night BILBAO: HOTEL NH VILLA DE BILBAO 4*- 1 night MADRID: HOTEL AGUMAR 4* - 2 nights SEVILLA: HOTEL MELIA LEBREROS 4*- 3 nights A glance at the cities we will visit: Barcelona Barcelona is arguably the most beautiful city of Spain, well known for its dramatic architecture, gothic quarter, parks and museums, world class dining, entertainment and shopping. Barcelona is Located in a privileged position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the shores of the Mediterranean. The capital of the province of Catalonia, it is unequivocally a Mediterranean city, not only because of its geographic location but also because of its history, tradition, and cultural influences. The documented history of the city dates back to the founding of a Roman colony on its soil during the second century B.C. The
Gothic Quarter bears witness to the splendor enjoyed by the city from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The 20th century ushered in widespread urban renewal throughout Barcelona, culminating in its landmark Eixample district, which showcases some of Barcelona s most distinctive Catalán art nouveau, or modernista, buildings. Antoni Gaudí, one of the most eminent architects, designed buildings such as the Casa Milà, the Casa Batlló and the Sagrada Família church, which have become world-famous landmarks. Madrid Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry Bilbao Bilbao is an industrial port city in northern Spain surrounded by green mountains. It s the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a skyscraper-filled downtown. It s famed for the Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim Museum, which sparked revitalization when it opened in 1997. The museum houses modern and contemporary works from prominent artists but it s the curvy, titanium-clad building that receives the most attention. San Sebastian San Sebastián is a resort town on the Bay of Biscay in Spain s mountainous Basque Country. It s known for its beaches Playa de la Concha and Playa de Ondarreta, both framed by a picturesque bay front promenade, and world-
renowned restaurants helmed by innovative chefs. In its cobblestoned old town (Parte Vieja), upscale shops neighbor vibrant pintxo bars pairing local wines with bite-size regional specialties. Seville Seville is the capital of southern Spain s Andalusia region and a hotbed for flamenco dance, especially in the Triana neighborhood. The city is known for its ornate Alcázar castle complex, built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty, and its 18th-century Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza bullring. The massive Gothic cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus s tomb and a famous minaret turned belltower, the Giralda. Granada Granada, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalucía, has many important examples of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation of Spain. It s best known for the Alhambra, a grand, sprawling hilltop fortress complex encompassing royal palaces, serene patios and reflecting pools from the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the fountains and orchards of the Generalife gardens. DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY Day 1, USA - Barcelona Evening departure on your transatlantic flight to Spain. Dinner, movie, and breakfast on board. Day 2, Arrival Barcelona Arrival at Barcelona airport. You will be transferred to your superior category 4star hotel. It is suggested that you take advantage of the free time to get to know one of Europe s most cosmopolitan cities. In the evening, it is suggested to dine at the Pueblo Español, featuring architectural replicas from all of Spain s regions. Dinner is included tonight. Overnight in Barcelona
Park Guell Gaudi s architectural works Day 3, Barcelona Buffet breakfast. This morning we will enjoy an escorted tour of one of Europe s most beautiful cities. See the ancient Gothic Quarter with its magnificent cathedral. Stop to visit Gaudi s masterwork, the Basilica of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia) and then on to the Gaudi s Parc Guell (entrance fees included in both sites). Continue to Montjuich Hill (site of the Olympic Stadium), to enjoy a spectacular view of Barcelona and its port area. Tonight we will enjoy a welcome dinner with wine at a local Catalonian restaurant. Overnight in Barcelona. Day 4: Girona & Figueres (Dalí Museum)
Today after breakfast we go on excursion to visit two major towns in northern Catalonia: Figueres, with its landmark Theatre-Museum Dalí, and Girona, a monumental and ancient city, which is home to one of Europe s best-preserved Jewish quarters. We will visit the Dali Museum and Dalí joies in Figueres. Early evening return to Barcelona for dinner and overnight. Day 5: Barcelona-San Sebastian After breakfast we depart for old Aragon and into the proud city of Zaragoza. Pause downtown in a main plaza where you will have free time to visit the impressive Basilica of El Pilar. Lunch is on your own. Continue on to the north coast and the beautiful Basque Country, arriving to San Sebastian called the pearl of the Cantabria Sea. This city is known for its beautiful beaches and elegant buildings and is dotted with stylish stores and excellent restaurants. Tonight we will have a typical Tapas Dinner in the old town quarters. Overnight in San Sebastian.
San Sebastian Day 6: San Sebastian-Bilbao Buffet Breakfast and departure for Bilbao in the Basque Region, not far from San Sebastian. Upon arrival we will visit the town including the Guggenheim Museum which will make the delight of all not only for the works of art in its interior but for its unique and artistic architecture, one of the most beautiful in the world. Return to our hotel in Bilbao for dinner and accommodations. Museo Guggenheim Bilbao Day 7: Bilbao Madrid Today, after breakfast we will board our bus headed for Madrid, the capital of Spain. Free afternoon to relax or perhaps explore Madrid s famous Prado Museum. Dinner with wine and overnight in Madrid
Madrid Cibeles Fountain Madrid Leaning Towers Madrid Prado Museum Madrid- Puerta de Alcalá Day 8: Madrid & Toledo This morning's escorted sightseeing tour will allow you to get a glimpse of some of Madrid's most outstanding attractions, like the Puerta del Sol, the magnificent fountains of Neptune and Cibeles, the stately Alcala Gate, the busy Gran Via, the Plaza de España, and the Royal Palace where we will make a picture stop. In the afternoon we will head for the city of Toledo, where you will be escorted through its narrow cobblestone streets, soaking up the medieval atmosphere. Touring will include the interior of the magnificent Gothic cathedral and a visit to St. Tome Church, where El Greco's masterpiece painting is displayed. Return to Madrid for dinner and overnight.
The medieval walled city of Toledo cradle of Spanish Judaism Day 9: Madrid-Sevilla After breakfast, we will be transferred to Madrid train station to board the AVE High-Speed Train to Seville, the capital of Andalucia and the fourth largest in Spain. The afternoon will be dedicated to visit this city humming with life and prosperity, holding magnificent buildings and monuments, and considered one of the most popular and attractive in the whole country. Our visit will start with the Alcazar, which served both as Palace and Fort, and will continue in the Cathedral, a unique beauty all its own combining old Arabic and Christian architecture. The cathedral was built on top of a former mosque and is now the third largest in the world. Adjoining it, the Giralda tower stands 322 feet high. We continue our visit to the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter where we will ramble along the narrows streets with it small bars and restaurants. We will also see the beautiful Maria Luisa Park with its sunken gardens, the decorative fountains, and the lovely "azulejos"(tiles) in the Plaza de España, a semi-circular square with a great building around it. We finish our trip to Seville with a drive over the Isla de la Cartuja area, where the Universal Exposition took place in 1992. Tonight we will have dinner in a typical Andalusian restaurant. Overnight in Seville
Typical Patio Sevillano Viva el Flamenco! Day 10: Excursion to Granada After breakfast at our hotel, we will drive to Granada. As we enter the city you ll be able to see the peaks of the white-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains. A sightseeing city-tour will lead us to the Alhambra Palace. Alhambra is an Arabic word that means red, the colour of its fortified walls. Built during the 13th and 14th century, it took nearly 100 years to be completed. Visit includes the Court of the Myrtles, the Court of the Lions, the Hall of Secrets, the Hall of the Ambassadors, and the Alcazaba, the castle that guarded the Palace. We will also visit the beautiful gardens of the Generalife with its green water gardens and the fountains that inspired several famous Spanish composers. Over the centuries the Alhambra gradually fell into ruins but, curiously, it was the American Author Washington Irving who helped prod the city into having the monument restored. Irving lived in the palace early in the 19th century, where he wrote his book "Tales of the Alhambra". Now the Alhambra is completely restored and rebuilt. Return to Seville for dinner and overnight. The Alhambra Palace in Granada
Day 11: Jerez & Andalusian Horse Show Today after breakfast we board our bus to drive to the city of Jerez (Sherry Wine Country), a town of great personality. Throughout its long history, the combination of traditions and customs has captivated both inhabitants and visitors. The international prestige of its Sherry Wines, love of horses, the flamenco, and the festive and sacred traditions summarize the rich peculiarity of this region of Andalusia. Our tour includes a visit to one of the most famous wine cellars Gonzalez Byass to admire the magnificent Royal Cellar of the Shell, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1862 (famous architect of the Eiffel Tower in Paris). There we will watch a film of the history of the wine in Jerez and the Cellar of the Apostles with casks of more than 300 years, the Cellar of the Kings, the Constance Cellar, and finally the famous mice that also love the sherry. Also included is the attendance to the Royal School of Equestrian Art to see the show Those Amazing Dancing Andalusian Horses, a fully-fledged equestrian ballet, featuring choreography adapted from the training exercises of classical dressage and doma vaquera, with traditional Spanish music and costumes, which date back to the 18th century. Tonight we say farewell to Spain having dinner with drinks in a Tablao Flamenco watching the Show. Overnight in Sevilla. Day 12: Seville - USA Buffet breakfast and transfer to airport for your flight home, arriving later today. INTERESTED IN THIS PACKAGE? Please email us at: Mail@SuntoursInternational.com and give us desired dates and city of departure. We ll get back to you within 3 business days. Thank you!