This 14-day journey via Southern Spain and Portugal invitations you to pattern the distinctive cultural delights of each international locations. On a spherical journey from Madrid, benefit from the wealthy historical past and great thing about Andalusia and Central Portugal.
The beating cultural coronary heart of Spain, Madrid strikes to its personal busy rhythm as one of many world’s nice artwork, tradition, and structure cities. Let a metropolis tour take you to its historic sights and thrilling neighbourhoods earlier than having fun with a day by yourself to go to no matter a part of the town pursuits you, whether or not it’s a deep cultural dive on the Prado Museum, a wander via Habsburg historical past on the Royal Palace, or a calming afternoon in Retiro Park.
Set out from Madrid towards Avila, Salamanca, and Portugal, stopping in every of the historic cities earlier than settling into Porto for 2 nights. Take a sightseeing tour of the town’s most stunning buildings, and go to its well-known Port Wine cellars on the opposite aspect of the Douro for a tasting. Then flip south towards Coimbra, Portugal’s most well-known college city, and Fatima, a spot of pilgrimage for a lot of Catholics. Then it’s time for the magical trio of Batalha, Alcobaca, and Nazare. See two of essentially the most stunning former monasteries in Portugal, whereas Nazare is a conventional fishing city with its personal retro charms.
Proceed on to Lisbon, Portugal’s fabled capital, for a go to to the Belem neighbourhood and its well-known tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, the Coach Museum, the Monument to the Discoverers, and a tour of the historic Alfama Quarter, little modified since Medieval instances. From Lisbon, reduce throughout the border to Cordoba in Spain, stopping off on the World Heritage Listed metropolis of Caceres to admire its distinctive mix of structure. Cordoba’s foremost declare to fame is its Moorish historical past, most notably enshrined on the astonishing Mezquita Mosque. With an evening right here, you’ll even have time to discover the atmospheric Jewish quarter.
On to Seville, a metropolis that captures the spirit of Andalusia like no different! See the second largest church within the catholic world, the sprawling Plaza de Espana, and go for a Flamenco tour if you happen to’re inquisitive about this most Andalusian of dance arts. Then take pleasure in a day visiting Ronda with its spectacular views, and the Costa del Sol, a thriving vacationer hub for contemporary Spain. After all, no first journey to Andalusia is full with no go to to Granada and the superior Alhambra palace advanced, your subsequent vacation spot.
Return to Madrid, stopping for a sightseeing tour of historic Toledo en route. You might want to e-book an additional day or two to take pleasure in all Spain’s energetic capital has to supply.
