Madrid, Andalusia, and Mediterranean Coast 10 days

After arriving at Madrid-Barajas Airport, we will be greeted and transferred to our hotel.

We will have the rest of the day to relax and begin enjoying the capital of Spain.

Madrid, lively and awake at all hours, is famous for being an open city where people of all kinds and from anywhere come together.

In addition to its well-known museums, lively avenues with all kinds of shops, world cuisine restaurants, and incomparable nightlife, Madrid surprises with quiet historic corners full of charm for strolls.

There, we will find centuries-old taverns with family traditions where friends gather for a drink, neighborhoods of all styles, and alternative cultural centers away from the more touristy circuits.

At the same time, this city has an authenticity that is hard to match. It is hospitable, diverse, and undoubtedly one of the most interesting in Europe.

Greca Tip: As in any other large city, the center of Madrid offers a diverse variety of gastronomic venues to suit all tastes, where you can taste the traditional local tapas.

After your breakfast, you will have a panoramic tour of the city to discover the medieval origins of Madrid, like the Arabic fortress at the Barrio de la Moreria, famous for its historical buildings. 

You will walk around the courtesan district of the Hapsburg 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. You will admire the Royal Palace, Cibeles, and Neptuno Fountains, and the Puerta de Álcala. 

You will learn about the contemporary areas of the city 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 Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas and the Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium.

The afternoon will be free to keep exploring all the wonders that the city has to offer.

Greca Tip: Located very close to the Plaza Mayor, in the center of the city, you will find the Mercado de San Miguel, a place to enjoy the typical dishes of the region, accompanied by a glass of wine or a "caña".

After enjoying our breakfast and at the scheduled time, we will depart through the La Mancha highway towards Córdoba. This route owes its existence to the most universal work of Spanish literature, "Don Quixote de La Mancha", by the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

During our journey, we will be able to contemplate all the landscapes, towns, and monuments that transport us to those scenarios the author described with his privileged pen. Along the way, we will also admire the famous windmills of La Mancha.

Upon our arrival, we will visit the city, including the interior of the famous Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba (Holy Metropolitan and Patriarchal Cathedral Church of Santa Maria of the See and of the Assumption of Seville) and the Jewish Quarter.

Córdoba is an Andalusian city, the capital of the homonymous province. It was an important Roman city and one of the main Islamic centers of the Middle Ages. Its buildings and architecture reflect the coexistence of various religions throughout its history: Christian, Jewish, and Islamic.

Later, we will continue towards Seville, where we will stay and have dinner.

Greca Tip: The orange blossom is the fragrant white flower of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium) and is a symbol associated with the region of Andalusia in southern Spain. This region is known for its extensive orange groves, and the orange blossom, with its distinctive fragrance, is commonly associated with spring, representing the beauty and tradition of the area.

After a delicious breakfast, we will visit the city accompanied by our guide and explore its most important landmarks. Seville is an emblematic city with a rich historical, cultural, and artistic heritage, making it a favorite destination for visitors from around the world.

We will start our visit at Maria Luisa Park, designed by the French landscape architect Forestier for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Here, you can appreciate the "neosevillian" style that served as inspiration and influence for other Spanish public parks in the early 20th century.

Next, our tour will take us to the Plaza de España, a semi-elliptical square symbolizing Spain's embrace of its former American territories. It is known as the masterpiece of Sevillian architect Aníbal González and covers a total area of 50,000 square meters, making it undoubtedly the most colossal square in Spain.

The tour concludes with an exterior view of the impressive Cathedral and the Giralda (the name of the bell tower) and a visit to the typical Santa Cruz neighborhood with its streets, squares, and narrow alleys.

The rest of the day will be free for you to continue enjoying this wonderful city.

Greca Tip: Don't forget to visit an authentic Sevillian "tablao" to enjoy a typical regional dance show, "las sevillanas."

After a tasty breakfast, we will leave through the Caliphate road​ ​to the heart of Andalusia observing an endless number of olive​ ​trees on the way to Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up​ ​to 1492.

We will visit the world-famous Alhambra complex and Generalife​ ​Gardens, that have inspired several authors with its sound and​ ​sights, such as the “Tales of the Alhambra” by W. Irving. 

​​It was the largest political and aristocratic center of the Muslim West. The Palace enclosure is made up of rectangular patios of great beauty and numerous fountains, in addition to the Nasrid buildings that served as residences for kings and their servants. The oldest building is the Alcazaba.

One of the most important constructions is the Torre de la Vela, from where one of the most beautiful views of the Alhambra can be seen. The Patio de los Leones and its fountain is one of the most beautiful in the complex.

Greca Tip:​ The name Alhambra has its origins in an Arabic word that means "red castle", due to the color tone of the towers and walls that completely surround the​ ​La Sabic​a​​ hill​.

After breakfast, we will set off towards the Mediterranean coast to reach our next destination: Valencia.

The afternoon will be free to explore this city that captivates its visitors with its diverse gastronomy, excellent climate, and cultural heritage.

Valencia is perfect for discovering on foot. One of its highly recommended spots is the Plaza de la Reina, with the Cathedral and the Miguelete tower, which we can climb for the best views of the city.

In the city center, you'll also find the Silk Exchange (Lonja de la Seda), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its idyllic Orange Tree Courtyard (Patio de los Naranjos), and the modernist Central Market (Mercado Central), the largest fresh product market in Europe.

Just a short distance away is the National Ceramic Museum, with its impressive facade, and the Quart and Serrano Towers. Additionally, there are museums like the IVAM and numerous corners that surprise with their street art.

A bit further from the center, the more modern face of Valencia is showcased: the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, it has rightfully become an icon with attractions like the Oceanographic, the largest aquarium in Europe. It's impossible not to want to take a photo in front of its unique shapes.

Greca Tip: Don't miss out on enjoying a Valencian paella by the seaside.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a city tour of this bright city including a drive through the old city showing the most prominent buildings, we will then be driven past the old riverbed of the Turia to the most avant-garde complex “Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias” to watch the emblematic exteriors of the six buildings.

Early afternoon departure northward all along the Mediterranean coast to Catalonia, via Tarragona, the Roman Tarraco. Reach Barcelona, the principal Mediterranean city homeland of the famous architect Gaudi symbol of Catalonia's modernism.

The rest of the afternoon will be free to enjoy Barcelona at your own pace.

Greca Tip: Visit the Gothic Quarter to enjoy its streets filled with bars, restaurants, and shops.

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, the guide will pick you up to start the tour of this great city.

You will begin with a visit to the city known worldwide for its 1992 Olympic Games, you will visit the main avenues with their impressive modernist buildings by Gaudí and you will contemplate his most emblematic works: Casa Milá, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, declared World Heritage buildings.

Then you will walk through Montjuic Park with spectacular views of both the city and the port, the Olympic Ring, the Columbus Monument, and the Gothic Quarter with its historic center. In the afternoon you will have free time to continue discovering the attractions that the city offers, as well as its varied and exquisite cuisine, at your own pace.

At night, you will return to the hotel where you will stay.

Greca Tip: Don't miss the chance to try the "coca," a delicious and diverse dish that represents Catalan cuisine. The coca features a bread base made with flour, lard, sugar, and eggs, topped with an array of mouthwatering ingredients. It's a culinary delight that shouldn't be overlooked during your time in Barcelona!

After an energizing breakfast at the hotel, you will head southwest through a fairly important industrial and agricultural area in Europe, to reach the city of Zaragoza, capital of the province of Aragon, located on the banks of the Ebro River, which is the largest in the Iberian Peninsula.

Zaragoza was known as Cesar Augusta during the Roman period and played a very important role in Spanish history. Here you will have free time to visit the impressive architecture of the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the Stone Bridge, or the Cesar Augusta Forum Museum.

In the afternoon you will continue to Madrid where upon arrival you will stay.

Greca Tip: On your return to the Spanish capital, be sure to enjoy Madrid nights and its great nightlife.

After a tasty breakfast, the tour will come to an end, hopefully full of unforgettable memories!

Having spent a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to help create and enjoy some more wonderful moments that you will cherish forever!

Have a nice trip! Or, as Spanish people say: "¡Buen viaje!".

Greca Tip: Extend your stay in Madrid by adding more nights when making your reservation!