Andalusia and Mediterranean Coast 7 days from Madrid

Departure from the meeting point at 8:00 AM through La Mancha highway towards Córdoba. This highway was born thanks to the most universal work of Spanish literature: Don Quixote de La Mancha by the Spanish writer Don Manuel de Cervantes Saavedra.

During our trip, you will be able to contemplate all those places, towns, and monuments that take us to those scenes that the author wrote with his privileged pen. You will contemplate the famous windmills, confused by Don Quixote with outrageous giants, which can represent the imaginary enemies that we create and prevent us from achieving our dreams.

Upon your arrival, you will visit the city, including the interior of the famous Mosque/Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter. The city of Córdoba was an important Roman city and a great Islamic center during the Middle Ages. Its buildings and architecture reflect the coexistence of various religions throughout its history: Christian, Jewish, and Islamic.

Greca Tip: Seville is the cradle of tapas, and although many cities dispute this title, it is said that the origin of tapas dates back to the 16th century when King Alfonso XIII asked for a sherry on a very windy day. In order to prevent dirt from getting into his glass, the waiter improvised a "tapa" with a slice of ham.

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​.

The morning begins with the gentle hum of the road and the promise of the sea on the horizon. After a hotel breakfast, your journey eastward takes you to Valencia a gem bathed in Mediterranean light, where ancient heritage blends harmoniously with futuristic vision.

In the morning, upon arrival, you will encounter the breathtaking City of Arts and Sciences. Designed by the brilliant Santiago Calatrava, this architectural masterpiece feels like something out of a dream: the Hemisfèric, Science Museum, Oceanogràfic, Umbracle, Palau de les Arts, and Ágora invite you to explore the wonders of human creativity and scientific beauty. Valencia, while deeply rooted in its traditions, opens here a gateway to the future.

In the afternoon, you may notice a familiar scent in the air, it’s paella, Valencia’s most beloved dish and a global icon of Spanish cuisine. Did you know the original recipe used rabbit and snails, cooked over open fires in the fields near the Albufera lagoon?

At the end of the day, enjoy your accommodation in Valencia.

Greca Tip: If you're looking to taste an authentic paella, steer clear of tourist menus. Ask locals where they go and take your time, just like a true Valencian would.

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 our services will end.

From Greca, we hope to meet again soon to enjoy new unforgettable moments.

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