PARADORS OF NORTHERN SPAIN
ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Barcelona
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona, Barcelona,
Spain. Welcome to Barcelona! A transfer is included from
Barcelona Airport to your first night’s hotel, Le Méridien
Barcelona, ideally located on Las Ramblas. Join us for a welcome
dinner tonight. Meals D
2. Art and Architecture in Barcelona
Walk to the city’s beautiful Cathedral in medieval Barrio
Gótico, then take a drive to architect Antoni Gaudí’s
extraordinary unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia - it is
truly Europe's most unconventional church. Continue
to Montjuïc to see the Olympic Stadium, situated high above
the city with the harbor glistening below, before visiting the
Picasso Museum. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Meals B
3. Country Roads of Catalonia
Discover the rural charms of Catalonia soon after you depart
Barcelona. Travel along the Yellow Roads to the spectacular
mountain-top monastery at Montserrat, one of the most important
– and most scenic – pilgrimage sites in Spain, en route to
Cardona. Enjoy authentic Catalan cuisine during lunch at a
9th-century castle, the Parador de Cardona, before driving along
the western edge of the Sierra del Cadi to tiny Castellciutat,
near historic La Seu d’Urgell. Spend the next two nights indulging in the
majestic beauty of the Pyrenees from one of the region’s most
elegant resort hotels, where recreational activities and
stunning views abound. Meals BLD
4. The Incomparable Pyrenees
Visit the 12th-century cathedral in La Seu d'Urgell this
morning, one of the only preserved Romanseque cathedrals in the
Catalan Pyrenees. You have a choice of activities this
afternoon that includes a Catalan cuisine cooking demonstration,
a pampering visit to the spa or a whitewater river-rafting trip.
Feast on a 7-course dinner this evening at a hilltop 9th-century
castle on the grounds of your hotel. Meals BLD
5. The Heart of Basque Country
Travel through wondrous mountain scenery to San Sebastian, in
the heart of Basque country, for a two-night stay at one of the
most spectacular Belle Epoque hotels in all of Spain. Stop
for lunch in Pamplona, site of Spain's annual running of the
bulls, enjoying free time to explore on your own. Your
first view of Spain's popular seaside resort is from the top of
Mount Igueldo, providing a picture-perfect overview of the small
city, shell-shaped bay and Cantabrian coastline. Meals BD
6. Enjoy Seaside San Sebastian
Join us for a walking tour of Old Town before experiencing San
Sebastian, the aristocratic summer capital of Spain, as you
wish. Stroll down the narrow medieval streets of La Parte
Vieja (old town), sampling typical Basque food, and enjoy the
city's waterfront attractions. Its beaches are popular
with surfers from around the world. Meals B
7. Art in Bilbao / Parador de Fuente De
Visit the world-renowned Guggenheim museum in Bilbao to view
works of modern art and continue on to medieval Santillana del
Mar. Drive into the impressive Picos de Europa, through
gorges, remote villages and emerald valleys, en route to Fuente
De. Overnight at a modern parador located in the foothills
of the Picos amidst classic mountain-style decor. Meals
BLD
8. Castile / Parador de León
Cross the Cantabrian Cordilleras on the way to the high Meseta
Plateau of Central Spain. The mountains are now behind, with the
endless flats and wheat fields of Castile ahead. Visit one of
the finest gothic cathedrals in Spain when you arrive in León
for an overnight stay at the ornate Parador de León. Meals BLD
9. Parador de Santiago de Compostela
Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims who walked strenuous El
Camino de Santiago on their pilgrimage to Santiago de
Compostela; take a guided walking tour of its age-old lanes and
narrow streets, and visit the extraordinary cathedral. Spend the
night at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela,
considered to be one of the oldest and most beautiful hotels. Meals BLD
10. Journey to Porto, Portugal
Spend the morning at your leisure, before driving across the
border to Porto, Portugal's medieval port city, nestled on the
shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Meals BLD
11. Sightsee Porto
Giving its name to its important export, port wine, it's not
surprising that the city's historic sights are entwined with its
many wineries. You'll be able to sample this locally
produced product during a whine tasting lunch, a fitting finale
for your morning sightseeing excursion. Meals BL
12. Coimbra / Fatima / Lisbon
Portuguese history comes alive today as you journey to Lisbon,
taking the time to visit Coimbra, home to Portugal's oldest
university, founded in 1210 by King Dinis, and Fatima, world
famous for reported sightings of the Virgin Mary in the early
20th century. Meals BL
13. Sightseeing in Lisbon
Portugal's capital city intrigues with reminders of the
"Great Period of Discoveries," vividly chronicled on this
morning's sightseeing tour. See Mosteiro dos Jeronimos,
the Tower of Belem and the Discoveries Monument. Join us
for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD
14. Journey Home
Tour Ends: Lisbon, Portugal. A transfer from The
Tivoli Lisboa to Lisbon's Int'l Airport is included. Allow
a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
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