SLMACLR: Andalucia, Mediterranea Coast and Classic Italy

Meet and greet at the airport. Take a transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, a panoramic city tour will take us through its medieval origins, including the Arab fortress and the Barrio de la Moreria, known for its ancient buildings and traditional taverns. We will explore the district of the Hapsburgs, characterized by Phillip II and its Renaissance and Baroque buildings at Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and Plaza de la Villa. We will see the Madrid of the Bourbons and the urban planning of Charles III, including the Royal Palace, the Cibeles Fountain, the Neptune Fountain, and the Puerta de Alcalá. We will admire 19th-century landmarks such as the elegant Plaza de Oriente and the Prado Museum.

We will also get to know contemporary Madrid with avenues like Gran Vía, Paseo de la Castellana, the Salamanca neighborhood, Parque del Oeste, commercial and financial areas of Modern Madrid, and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Afternoon at your leisure. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive along La Mancha, Don Quixote’s land. Brief stop at typical site in Puerto Lapice. Cross through the natural border of “Despeñaperros” and get into Andalusia, a region for itself that shows and enormous heritage from a splendorous past. Reach Cordoba. Impressive tour of its  Mosque and other sites that will ease our mind and spirit strolling through its narrow winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, after a short two hours ride reach Seville. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning panoramic city tour visiting the Cathedral (the second largest in the Catholic world after St. Peters in Rome), Santa Cruz quarter (a natural scenario of “Carmen” as well as a precisely where the myth of “Don Juan” developed), Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de España. Afternoon at leisure for you to discover exclusive views, specific flavors of this active full of light city. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive east through the Caliphate road to the heart of ANDALUSIA observing an endless number of olive trees on the way to Granada and its incredible and amazing monumental environment, last stronghold of the Moorish Kingdoms up to 1492. Visit the world famous Alhambra complex and Generalife Gardens that have inspired several authors with its sound and sights, such as the “Tales of the Alhambra” by W. Irving. Accommodation at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, departure towards the east to arrive in Valencia, one of the main capitals of the Mediterranean coast, featuring its modern City of Arts and Sciences complex, which includes six buildings: the Hemispheric, Umbracle, Science Museum, Oceanogràfic, Palau de les Arts, and Ágora. Valencia is also the birthplace of the internationally renowned “Paella.” Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning city tour of this bright city including a drive through the old city showing the most prominent buildings, we will then be driven past the old riverbed of the Turia to the most avant-garde complex “Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias” to watch the emblematic exteriors of the six buildings. Early afternoon departure northward all along the Mediterranean coast to Catalunya, via Tarragona, the Roman Tarraco. Reach Barcelona principal Mediterranean city homeland of the famous architect Gaudí symbol of the Catalonian modernism. Accommodation at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour of Barcelona visiting the highlights of the city. Discover the amazing views from Montjuic, the monument to Columbus and the Olympic Port as well as the most emblematic monuments of Gaudí: La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Free afternoon to explore on your own and to savor the typical gastronomy until your transfer pickup from the hotel to the port to board the ferry towards Civitavecchia. Night on board. (B)

Breakfast and lunch on-board the Ferry. During the time of journey you can enjoy the variety and quality of services offered by these latest generation Ferries; large outdoor space with swimming pool (adults and children), sun loungers, bar; party room; discotheque; videogame room; cafeteria (open 24 hours); self-service restaurant; a la carte restaurant; boutique; Internet room; health center and gym with techno-gym machines. Arrival in Civitavecchia at the end of the day, disembarkation, and transfer to Rome. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. (BL)

Note: The estimated time of arrival in Rome is approximately 10:00 p.m.; therefore, we suggest you take this into account when planning your free dinner..

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure at 7:15 AM towards Assisi. Arrival and free time to visit this small city, surrounded by walls with a distinctive medieval appearance. We recommend visiting the famous Basilica of St. Francis, featuring masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue. (Free time for lunch, not included). Traveling along the highway that connects the Italian Peninsula from north to south, we will arrive in Siena.

Monumental and entirely medieval, surrounded by powerful walls, it is known for having one of the most beautiful squares in the world: Piazza del Campo, the site of the ‘Palio delle Contrade.’ We will then continue our journey to Florence. Arrival, check-in at the hotel, dinner, and accommodation. (BD)

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour of this magnificent city, where Italian genius is displayed in all its splendor and purity. The city center, along with the Bell Tower, the Baptistery, and the Cathedral, forms an extraordinary ensemble of white, green, and pink marbles, showcasing the transition from medieval Florentine art to the Renaissance. Visit to the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore, a symbol of Florence’s wealth and power during the 13th and 14th centuries, with Brunelleschi’s Dome contrasting with the slender silhouette of the Bell Tower, designed and begun by Giotto, and the Baptistery, a Romanesque structure famous for its Bronze Doors (including the Gates of Paradise, named so by Michelangelo).

We will also visit Piazza della Signoria, the Old Palace, a Gothic building with an austere appearance, and finally, the Church of Santa Croce, which opens onto one of the oldest squares in the city. Lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant in the heart of Santa Croce Square. Free afternoon, with the option to visit Pisa. Accommodation at the hotel. (BL)

After a delicious breakfast in Florence, we depart for the elegant city of Bologna. Upon arrival, the charming city center, adorned with its iconic porticoes, awaits for you to explore at your leisure. Begin your walking tour at Piazza Malpighi, which leads to the heart of the city at Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore. Here, you can marvel at the historic Palazzo Podestà, as well as the Basilica of San Petronio, the largest Gothic church in the world built with bricks. Then, we will show you why Bologna is often considered the gastronomic capital of Italy, as you dive into its vibrant street food scene, as rich and diverse as its culinary heritage. Strolling through the medieval streets of the city, you will find a delightful variety of food stalls and markets, each offering a selection of both traditional and contemporary delicacies.

As you explore the charming alleyways and bustling squares, you’ll embark on a culinary adventure that goes beyond just a meal. With a light street food lunch experience provided at a local spot, this is your chance to savor the authentic flavors and unique dishes that define Bologna’s renowned culinary identity. In the afternoon, arrival in Venice (Mestre) and accommodation at a hotel in Mestre. (B) .

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to St. Mark’s Square for a city tour. Walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, a symbol of Venice’s glory and power, the residence of the Dukes, and the seat of the government and the court of justice, connected to the Prisoners’ Palace by the Bridge of Sighs, where Casanova was imprisoned. To end the tour, always accompanied by your guide, we will invite you to enjoy a typical Venetian aperitif, the famous ‘cicchetti,’ a variation of tapas (light lunch), accompanied by a spritz or prosecco. Free afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel. (BL)

Breakfast at the hotel and departure by coach from Piazzale Roma towards the region symbolic of Val di Chiana wines in Tuscany. This area is characterized by rolling hills and valleys with vineyards. Among them rise Romanesque churches and ancient villages. We will visit a truly historic and artistic town: Montepulciano.

This beautiful medieval village is renowned for its ‘Nobile’ wine, a famous red wine that can be purchased in the city’s wineries and shops. Montepulciano also offers stunning panoramic views and a rich cultural heritage. Lunch at a typical restaurant. After lunch, a quick stop for some free time. In the afternoon, arrival in Rome and accommodation. (BL)

Breakfast at the hotel, and in the morning, departure at 7:45/8:00 AM for a visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. The guide will accompany you inside the Museums, which house one of the most important art collections in the world. You will walk through the various halls, visiting all the key spots you’ve heard of, such as the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Borgia Apartments.

The guide will tell you all about the Raphael Rooms and their exceptional paintings, including The School of Athens, and will take you to the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling is magnificently decorated with frescoes of The Creation and The Last Judgment. The tour wouldn’t be complete, and as the grand finale, without a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica! St. Peter’s Basilica is not only the largest church in the world but also contains many works of Fine Art: think of the Baldachin designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini or Michelangelo’s Pietà. The tour concludes with the majestic St. Peter’s Square, the open space in front of the Basilica, redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini—a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Free afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport. (B)  END OF OUR SERVICES.