Heart Of Spain

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1 : ARRIVAL MADRID

Stop At: Madrid - Barajas Airport, 28042 Madrid, Spain
Arrive at Madrid airport, meet with a rent-a-car representative to assist you in picking up the rental car, and drive towards Spain´s capital. Madrid is one of Europe’s liveliest and most elegant cities, boasting beautiful boulevards, vast parks, bustling plazas and numerous historic churches and palaces. It is also home to the legendary ‘golden triangle’ of art galleries, which house some of the world’s most treasured masterpieces.
Overnight in Madrid.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = NH Ventas or similar 4*

Day 2: Day 2 : MADRID

Stop At: Hotel NH Madrid Ventas, Calle Biarritz, 2, 28028 Madrid, Spain
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Discover all the main sights and attractions driving through famous locations like the Paseo de la Castellana, the Plaza de Los Cibeles, and the Gran Via. Visit the Royal Palace - Europe’s largest - and the Reina Sofia Museum of modern and contemporary art. The Royal Palace has more than 3,000 rooms and the appearance of those seen during the guided tour is an eclectic mix, ranging from cluttered Victorian to exotic oriental décors. Works of art by great masters such as Caravaggio, Velazquez and Goya adorn the walls while period furniture graces every room. The lavishness and opulence of the interiors stand in contrast to the sober baroque and neo-classical exterior, which faces the Almudena Cathedral and overlooks the Campo del Moro gardens. The Reina Sofia Museum boasts one of the greatest collections of modern art in the world. Admire works by Spanish masters such as Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Juan Gris, and Pablo Picasso, whose vast and haunting Guernica is complemented by an exhibition of other works and resources, which help put the iconic painting in context.
Overnight in Madrid
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = NH Ventas or similar 4*
Day 3 Toledo

Day 3: Day 3 : MADRID – TOLEDO (75 Km – 1 hr)

Stop At: Sercotel Alfonso VI, Cuesta de los Capuchinos, 2, 45001 Toledo, Spain
Depart after breakfast at the hotel, heading to Toledo. Explore the historic core of this town. Discover this living museum, which evokes the mix of Jewish, Muslim and Christian cultures of medieval Castile. Wander through ancient streets dominated by the stunning cathedral and the legendary Alcazar overlooking the River Tagus. The old town boasts buildings from almost all periods of Spanish history. Visit Santo Tome Church – where El Greco’s epic canvas ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’ is displayed – and the former synagogue, whose interior is one of the best-preserved examples of Mudejar architecture in Castile.
Overnight in Toledo.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Alfonso VI or similar 4*

Day 4: Day 4 : TOLEDO – TRUJILLO – CACERES (265 Km – 3 hrs)

Stop At: Parador de Cáceres, Calle Ancha, 6, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Bid farewell to Toledo after a delicious breakfast at the hotel, heading for Trujillo, in the region of Extremadura. Trujillo was the hometown of Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of the Inca Empire, and many of the town’s attractions owe their existence to the wealth plundered by him and his fellow conquistadors. Enjoy a walk through the old town with its narrow cobbled alleys within the walls, see the Moorish castle as well as a number of historic palaces. Outside the walls, explore the vast open space of the elegant Plaza Mayor, which is dominated by the church of St Martin of Tours and where three of the town’s most important Renaissance ducal palaces can be found, including the Palace of the Conquest, which was built by the Pizarro family. Continue to Caceres for check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Caceres.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Parador de Caceres or similar 4*

Day 5: Day 5 : CACERES – MERIDA – CACERES (150 Km – 2 hrs)

Stop At: Parador de Cáceres, Calle Ancha, 6, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Explore the historic core of Caceres after a delightful breakfast at the hotel. Not to be outdone by its provincial neighbour, the medieval walled old town of Caceres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, packed with fortified homes, Renaissance palaces and historic churches. The walled area is compact and there are two main clusters of monuments. In the Santa Maria-Golfines area can be found the Renaissance Toledo-Moctezuma Palace as well as the Co-cathedral of St Mary while the area around the Plaza de las Veletas-Plaza San Mateo is dominated by the 15th century Cigüeñas Palace. Take to the road along the southern stretch of the ancient Silver Way to Merida, which, as Emerita Augusta, was one of the Roman capitals of Spain. The classical heritage of Merida is breathtaking with a Roman bridge and a theatre that are both still in use. See the ruins of the adjacent amphitheatre and the columns of the Temple of Diana in the former Forum. Return to Caceres for a relaxing evening at the hotel.
Overnight in Caceres .
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Parador de Caceres or similar 4*Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Parador de Caceres or similar 4*

Day 6: Day 6 : CACERES – PLASENCIA – YUSTE – SALAMANCA (300 Km – 4,5 hrs)

Stop At: Hotel Sercotel Artheus Carmelitas, Paseo de Carmelitas, 67, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Depart Caceres after a delectable breakfast at the hotel, heading north along the Silver Way to Plasencia on the north bank of the River Jerte. Enjoy a walk of the magnificent medieval old town, which was founded as a fortified Castilian city following its conquest from the Moors in the late 12th century – the walls built back then still surround virtually all of the old town. Explore the area to the west of the bustling Plaza Mayor, admiring historic structures such as the Mirabel Palace. See also the New Cathedral, with its plateresque façade, and the Romanesque Old Cathedral as well as the aqueduct. Continue to the rebuilt Yuste Monastery, which is where Emperor Charles V spent his final years and died. Head to beautiful Salamanca, checking in on arrival.
Overnight in Salamanca.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Artheus Carmelita or similar 4*

Day 7: Day 7 : SALAMANCA

Stop At: Hotel Sercotel Artheus Carmelitas, Paseo de Carmelitas, 67, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Discover Spain’s most venerable seat of learning, after indulging in a tasty breakfast. Salamanca University is the third-oldest in the world and the college gives the city a lively buzz. At the time of the university’s founding in 1134, Salamanca was in the Kingdom of Leon. Head to the heart of the action at the magnificent Plaza Mayor and savour the atmosphere. Every corner of Salamanca exudes history such as the Irish College, the Casa de las Conchas palace, the Monterrey Palace, the Art Noveau and Art Deco Museum at the Casa Lis, the Clavero Tower, the convents of Las Dueñas and St Stephen and the Clergy Church.
Overnight in Salamanca.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Artheus Carmelita or similar 4*

Day 8: Day 8 : SALAMANCA – AVILA – SEGOVIA (200 Km – 2,5 hrs)

Stop At: Hotel Eurostars Plaza Acueducto, Av. Padre Claret, 2, 4, 40001 Segovia, Spain
Depart after breakfast at the hotel, heading for Avila, whose old town is still surrounded by uninterrupted medieval walls. The perimeter of more than 2.5 kilometres is dotted with 88 towers and nine gates. Behind the ramparts is a city of immense beauty and heritage. Stroll through its ancient streets, with Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and baroque styles evident, and take in the splendour of the Plaza de Santa Teresa. Continue to sensational Segovia with its Gothic cathedral and the Alcazar, which was one of the inspirations for Disney’s Cinderella castle. See also the awe-inspiring Roman aqueduct, which dates from the reign of Emperor Domitian in the first century and cuts through the city centre. Check in and spend a relaxing night in Segovia.
Overnight in Segovia.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Eurostar Plaza Acueducto or similar 4*

Day 9: Day 9 : SEGOVIA – SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL – MADRID (110 Km – 1,5 hrs)

Stop At: Hotel NH Madrid Ventas, Calle Biarritz, 2, 28028 Madrid, Spain
Head to San Lorenzo de El Escorial after enjoying breakfast at the hotel. This pretty and prosperous town is the location of one of Spain’s most important Renaissance monuments, the magnificent monastery of El Escorial, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex also served as the royal palace of Philip II. After exploring San Lorenzo de El Escorial, continue to bustling Madrid for check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Madrid.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = NH Ventas or similar 4*

Day 10: Day 10 : DEPART MADRID

Stop At: Madrid - Barajas Airport, 28042 Madrid, Spain
Begin your last day in Madrid with a tasty breakfast. Then, at the appropriate time, head towards the rental company to return the vehicle. The rent-a-car shuttle service will transfer you to the terminal for you to catch your departure flight back home.
Breakfast included.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.