Madrid - Aranjuez - Curenca - Valencia - Peniscola - Barcelona - Zaragoza - Segovia - Avila - Salamanca - Seville - Jerez - Ronda - Granada - Cordoba - Madrid

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Spanish Panorama  A tour from Archers Direct (Cosmos) The Itinerary and the map are from their website where the blurb says Enjoy the magic and variety of Spain. With its majestic cities, stunning scenery and rich culture and heritage, it is difficult to beat. Included highlights: Aranjuez: Visit to the Royal Palace Cuenca: Visit Valencia: Orientation drive Peniscola: Castle Visit (entrance fee included) Barcelona: City sightseeing Zaragoza: Visit San Ignacio de Loyola: Visit to the Sanctuary Segovia: Visit Avila: Visit Salamanca: Plaza Mayor visit Jerez: Visit and sherry tasting Granada: Guided visit to the Alhambra Cordoba: Visit the Mezquita La Mancha: Scenic drive Madrid: City sightseeing

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An Archers tour, 11th to 25th October 2008
The brochure says:

DAY 1, Saturday 11th October UK to Madrid Fly with Iberia from Heathrow at 10:55 landing in Madrid at - 14:15 where I will be met by an Archers representative and transferred to the 4* Aba Madrid hotel for an overnight stay. (D) DAY 2, Sunday 12th October Madrid - Aranjuez - Cuenca - Valencia We start the day by driving to nearby Aranjuez in the Castilian Plain, where you stop for a visit of the Royal Palace, the original of which goes back to the 14th Century. Although burnt down twice in 1727 and 1728 it was splendidly rebuilt and became a favourite residence of Spanish royalty. We continue south-east for to the magnificently located old town of Cuenca, standing high above the Rivers Júcar and Huecar and famous for its 'hanging houses', suspended precariously over the Huecar ravine. Overnight in Valencia at the 4* Catalonia Excelsior. (B, D) DAY 3, Monday 13th October Valencia This morning we get acquainted with Spain's third largest city, Valencia. You'll enjoy a drive along its wide avenues lined with fig and palm trees. Enjoy the beauty of the old quarter with the narrow streets and fine Gothic houses. There will be time to do some shopping or more sightseeing and of course, the option of joining a sightseeing excursion. (B) Blue Lagoon & Dinner €40 The Albufera is a unique nature area where you will see native fauna, nesting and migrating birds. Enjoy a boat trip on the lagoon and later a dinner in a restaurant with local specialities. Day 4, Tuesday 14th October Valencia - Peniscola - Barcelona. The day starts with a drive to the nearby Castellon area, where you'll see Peniscola Castle, first built by the Templars in the 14th Century and conjuring up scenes of medieval times. We continue through orange groves along the coast road past the Catalonian hilltop town of Tarragona to the region's lively and elegant capital, Barcelona, for a two-night stay at the 3* Catalonia Aragón. (B) Dinner and Flamenco on Ramblas €63 An evening out in the heart of Barcelona. Enjoy a buffet dinner with Spanish specialities, including wine or soft drinks. Then see the best professional flamenco dancers, singers and guitarists in town. A glass of champagne is served during the show. Day 5, Wednesday 15th October Barcelona (included sightseeing). Called the 'Great Enchantress' by poet Maragall, this vibrant, cosmopolitan city is the pride of Catalonia, full of charm and steeped in history. Our included sightseeing tour with local guide will include a drive around Montjuic Hill to see the Olympic Stadium and a great panoramic view of the port and city. The sightseeing continues to the city centre to Plaza Catalunya and Paeso de Gracia to admire the greatness and eccentricity of Gaudi's architectural masterpieces in the houses 'Battlo' and 'Mila' and the Sagrada Familia (entrance fees not included). (B, D) Montserrat €30 Montserrat means 'the sawed mountain' in Catalan. Situated at the centre of Catalonia, about 25 miles northwest of Barcelona, it rises perpendicularly out of the surrounding lowlands and is a marvel to see. In addition to the natural beauty of Montserrat, the mountain took on religious significance at an early date. The famous Romanesque sculpture of "La Morenta" (the little dark one) presides over the eleventh century Benedictine Monastery. Day 6, Thursday 16th October Barcelona - Zaragoza - Pamplona. We travel through the glorious countryside of Catalonia north west to Zaragoza on the banks of the River Ebro, where you'll have time to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Pilar. We then continue north through fertile valleys, through the Rioja wine-growing region to the Basque Country, and the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Navarra, Pamplona, for an overnight stay at the 3* Hotel Maisonnave which has a sauna. (B) Pamplona - The Basque Culture €45 This fortified city is the former capital of the Kingdom of Navarra. With a local guide we visit the Bull Ring, Running of the Bulls Street, the cathedral, walls, the town hall and the road to Santiago. Stop at the Cafe Inuna, made famous by Ernest Hemmingway, to enjoy a glass of wine. Then proceed to the Baserri restaurant for a sit down of seven different hot and cold tapas, Navarra wine, dessert and coffee. Day 7, Friday 17th October Pamplona - Bilbao - Burgos. Our first stop today is in the heart of the Basque country for a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. We continue to the Basque Country's largest city, Bilbao, where there's an opportunity for an optional visit to the Guggenheim Museum, jewel of contemporary architecture, packed with many fine examples of modern art. We then travel to Burgos in the ruggedly beautiful Castille-Leon region for an overnight stay at either the Corona de Castilla or the Abba Burgos. (B, D) Day 8, Saturday 18th October Burgos - Segovia - Avila - Salamanca. We head south-east from the Basque country into Castille, enjoying some grand vistas as we travel to the edge of the Sierra de Guadarrama, a green oasis in the Castillian plain. We stop off in Segovia, a magnificently sited city perched on a rock formation at an altitude of 1000m, famous for its splendid cathedral, the medieval Alcazar palace and an impressive Roman aqueduct. Next we drive westward to Avila and then to Salamanca, one of Spain's greatest artistic and historical cities, for an overnight stay at the Catalonia Salamanca Plaza. Relax with an early evening drink in the city's elegant Plaza Mayor square. (B, D) Day 9, Sunday 19th October Salamanca - Seville. Today we cross the mighty Tagus River and the Guadiana enjoying more Spanish landscapes before reaching the Andalucian capital, Seville, for a two-night stay at the Don Paco hotel. (B, D) Seville - Classic Flamenco Show €30 You will be taken to a select location to enjoy the guitars, castenets and whirling skirts. One drink is included. Day 10, Monday 20th October Seville. The wonderful Andalucian city of Seville is the epitome of Spain: fiery flamenco, Moorish splendour, fragrant gardens, elegant plazas and more. The morning is yours to do as you please - perhaps join an optional city sightseeing tour to see many of Seville's highlights. (B) Seville - City Sightseeing €30 The most Spanish of all Spanish cities enchants you with unforgettable sights. The main highlight is a visit to the magnificent Cathedral which is the third largest Christian temple in the world and was built on the site of the original mosque. Enjoy a walk through the narrow streets and mysterious small squares of the Santa Cruz Quarter. Seville - An Adalusian Evening €40 Soak up the Spanish atmosphere by first enjoying a boat ride on the Guadalquivir River and then a three-course dinner with drinks in a lovely restaurant decorated in typical Andalusian style right in the centre of Seville. Day 11, Tuesday 21st October Seville - Jerez - Ronda - Granada. Today we head first into the sherry country of the Jerez region for a sherry-tasting stop. Then it's on past typical, quaint white-washed Andalucian villages to the town of Ronda, famous for the ravine which literally cuts it in two. Later we arrive for an overnight stay at the Don Juan hotel in the city of Granada, spectacularly set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains. (B, D) Day 12, Wednesday 22nd October Granada (included guided tour of the Alhambra) - Cordoba.. Granada was the Arabs most treasured city, and they still mourn its loss in their prayers. Included is a visit with local guide to the glorious Alhambra, surrounded by magnificent gardens and fountains, it affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte. In the afternoon, there's more stunning scenery on the agenda as we travel to Cordoba, the 'Athens of the West', for an overnight stay at the Hotel Selu. (B, D) Day 13, Thursday 23rd October Cordoba - Madrid. Cordoba is perhaps Spain's most Moorish city, with its grand 8th century Mezquita mosque, one of Islam's greatest pieces of architecture outside the Arab world. Included is a visit to this amazing landmark, now a cathedral. We then head into the heart of La Mancha, famed for its castles and windmills and the setting for Cervantes' famous novel, Don Quixote. We arrive in the Spanish capital, Madrid, in time to enjoy a relaxed evening. (B) Madrid 'Noche Madrilena' €23 After driving to the old quarter of Madrid you will walk to a typical Madrileno tapas bar near Plaza Mayor to enjoy a selection of tapas and a drink. On the way back to the hotel see Madrid by night. Day 14, Friday 24th October Madrid (included sightseeing). This morning, the optional trip to Toledo is most rewarding. The splendid setting of this old walled city was made famous in El Greco's paintings. The Majestic City of Toledo €43 The panoramic view of the city is an awsome experience and visiting Spain's main cathedral is truly unforgettab;e. See one of El Greco's most famous paintings, the "Burial of Count Orgaz", in the Church of Santo Tome. Drive through Castillian landscapes to the old capital on the Tagus River. Time for a visit to a Damascene steel workshop. Later join the included Madrid city sightseeing, Spain's regal capital and the highest in Europe, offers a wonderful mix of ancient and modern attractions including the famous Prado, one of the world's most impressive museums and galleries. (B) Day 15, Saturday 25th October Madrid to home. Fly home from Madrid.