Portugal & Spain Tour

Arrive at Porto Airport 14.30 Hrs, met by airport assistance and commence a 4 hrs city tour in Porto.

Porto, known in Portugal as simply “Porto”, is the second largest city in the country, and stands at the mouth of the Douro River. Since the 1850s port wine producers have matured and stores their wine in warehouses in Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, and about 60 establishments scramble up the hill from the waterfront. It is possible to tour about half of them, and sample their wares. In the 1980s five dams with locks in were constructed along the Douro enabling small cruise ships to sail through to the heartland, where port wine grapes are grown on hot, steeply terraced hillsides.

Dinner and Overnight at Porto Hotel.

American Breakfast at the hotel.

Leave to Lisbon and commence on a 4 Hour tour of Lisbon. Any trip to Portugal needs to include the country’s charming capital, Lisbon. The city is very walk able and you can get to various attractions. Start exploring Lisbon in the downtown area called Baixa. Make your way down to the Alfama neighbourhood with its narrow, maze-like streets that will make you feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. As you walk, you will pass many attractions like the Elevator of Santa Justa, Se Cathedral, and the House of Spikes. There’s a castle up on a hill that can be seen from many parts of the city – the Castle of Sao Jorge, which you should visit to get an amazing panoramic view of Lisbon and the Tejo River. There are many beautiful old churches and cathedrals, including the remains of Carmo on top of a hill that was party destroyed during the devastating earthquake of 1755. There are a couple of miradouras – or viewpoints which offer fabulous views from atop hills. And there’s a fun a vibrant nightlife in the Bairro Alto area of Lisbon.

Lisbon : On the Atlantic coast where the River Tagus flows into the ocean, lies Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon, nestled between seven hills. Lisbon is a beautiful, relaxed city full of contrasts, from modern high rises to Art Nouveau buildings, wonderful mosaic pavements, brightly tiled buildings and medieval Moorish architecture. Close to the harbour is the Praca do Comercio, one of the most elegant city squares in Europe. The surrounding buildings have attractive arcades along their facades. The city centre of Lisbon, Baixa, is organized in a grid pattern and was largely built after the earthquake of 1755. The oldest district is Alfama, close to the Tagus, which survived almost intact and retains many medieval buildings.

Dinner and overnight Lisbon.

American Breakfast at hotel.

Leave Madrid to Toledo and commence a 2.5 hrs tour of Toledo with guide. Once you arrive at Toledo, enjoy a magnificent panoramic tour. The bus will stop in a couple of points for you to photograph the most impressive views of the city. The guide will take you to the main square of Zocodover. We will visit Toledo’s Cathedral, the second richest Catholic building in the world after St. Peter´s Cathedral in Rome. Admire the Alcazar, an impressive fortress and El Greco’s most famous painting, Count Orgaz´s Burial. Explore the Jewish Quarter’s narrow streets and do not miss the Santa María la Blanca Synagogue, San Juan de los Reyes Monastery, and the Christ of the Light Mosque. Taste Toledo’s sweet marzipan made of almonds and honey.

Leave Toledo and proceed Seville On arrival, commence on a 4 hrs tour of Seville with guide. Take this opportunity to get to know Seville and enjoy the two most emblematic monuments of Sevill’s Cathedral and the Royal Alcazar Plaza Espana, Giralda Tower. You will then be able to enjoy and admire the great architecture and sights.

Thereafter to Flamenco Show. When you hear people talk about flamenco, you will often hear the word denude thrown about. This is a word with no exact translation, but what they are referring to is the spirit of the performance; the passion on display. No one knows for sure where flamenco was born, but it was certainly in southern Spain, between Seville, Cadíz and Granada. Seville however is the most important pillar nowadays to see some of the best flamenco in the world.

Dinner and overnight stay in Seville.

Toledo
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Toledo is in central Spain, south of Madrid. Under the Moorish Caliphate of Cordoba, from the eight century, Toledo experienced La Convivencia, an extended period when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together in harmony. Today, it attracts an equally cosmopolitan crowd, being one of Spain’s most attractive tourist destinations, with its magnificent setting, picturesque old town and a wealth of architecture and art treasures to be found.
It is impossible to describe all there is to see in this magical city. Starting from the busy Plaza de Zocodover, go north to the Miradero, south to the Alcazar or east to the Hospital of Santa Cruz. Do all three and you will understand why Toledo stands as a living monument to the history of Spain….and appreciate that a month here would not be enough. But if you see nothing else, at least be sure not to miss two of Toledo’s most iconic buildings – Spain’s principal cathedral, the country’s finest Gothic cathedral after Burgos, and the impressive Alcazar, which saw the last of many actions in the Spanish Civil War, holding out against republican forces for 68 days.

Seville
Despite a challenge from Malaga, Seville remains the political, business and cultural capital of southern Spain. It bestrides the busy Guadalquivir River, which is navigable to the Atlantic coast. In common with much of Spain, Seville’s recent economic growth has been rapid and it now sits at the centre of a major commercial and industrial conurbation.

For all that, evidence of its long history is everywhere, and despite the hustle and bustle of a modern city there are powerful reminders of traditionally flamboyant Spanish life to be found in the man barrios (old quarters) with their narrow streets and charming balconied houses. There are enough sights in Seville to satisfy even the most compulsive heritage addict and its possible to spend day wandering about, soaking up the atmosphere. The Roman period is represented by various ruins, including an aqueduct. Well-preserved remains of Italica, 8km out of the city, give a wonderful impression of which Roman Seville must have been like. Moorish influence is also evident, with the Giralda minaret tower being a fine example. The 15th century Seville Cathedral itself is a vast, medieval Gothic triumph with a stunning richly gilded interior.

American Breakfast at hotel.

We now proceed on one of the most colourful routes covering a distance of 495.80 KM admiring the scenery to the “City of Arts and Science” – Valencia. You are sure to see rolling hills dotted with picturesque olive groves, and amazing scenery en-route. Valencia is a treasure trove of Roman and Arabic architecture, surrounded by citrus groves. Despite, being on the Mediterranean Sea, even residents say that “Valencia has always lived with its back to the sea”, meaning that the spirit and the core of the city is not necessarily integrated with its beach. The city center and the most visited neighbourhoods are not particularly close to the beach.

On arrival in Valencia Commence 3 Hour Tour of Valencia with Guide.

Dinner and overnight in Valencia.

American Breakfast and check out hotel.

Last day in Barcelona will be shopping for 2.5 hrs and Leave at 12.30 hrs proceed to Barcelona Airport for departure at 15.30 hrs for your flight to Colombo.