155 W. 72nd Street, Suite 302, New York, NY 10023 Tel: 212-580-0760 Fax: 212-874-4554 info@Concept-Tours.com

Heritage Catholic Tour of Spain

The Ancient Pilgrimage Route of Santiago & Roman Hispania (10 nights-12 days)

Sample Itinerary Day 1 Departure Departure from your home airport. Overnight flight(s) to Madrid, Spain. Day 2 Madrid Bienvenidos a España! Arrival at Madrid Barajas International Airport. After clearing customs and claiming your luggage, you will be met by your English speaking tour escort, who will be with you throughout your tour. Transfer to the capital of Spain, Madrid. With a population of about 4 million, this major European cultural center is a surprisingly modern city that is compact for a national capital, especially when compared to other capital cities in Europe. You will take a walking tour of Old Madrid which is located in the central zone of the city with streets, plazas and palaces dating back over five centuries. Overnight in Madrid Day 3 Segovia/Avila Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Cities, Segovia and Avila. Take a guided tour of the highlights of Segovia. The golden age of Old Castile can be seen in the architecture and engineering of the 2,000 year old Roman Aqueducts which are still used to carry water. The city walls (dating from the 11th century) enclose the historic center which have some wonderful architecture, including one of Spain’s last and finest Gothic structures, the Cathedral. You’ll also visit the Alcazar, a spectacular Moorish fortress/palace built in the 16th century. Boasting the finest preserved walled city in the world, Avila is also Spain’s highest city at an elevation of 3,700 feet. This “City of Saints and Stones” is both the birthplace of St. Teresa and the burial place of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada. Constructed in the 11th century, the 36 foot high walls are reinforced by nine gates and ninety turrets, the most important of the latter being the Cimorro (Cathedral apse). Avila Cathedral, an early Gothic masterpiece with Romanesque alterations, is uniquely incorporated into the city’s defensive wall. Your visit also includes one of the finest religious sites in the city, the 12th century Romanesque Church of San Vicente, with its colonnaded gallery and magnificent sculptures that adorn the west entrance. The Church of San Pedro is a gem of medieval purist architecture. Overnight in Avila Day 4 León/Lugo/Santiago Compostela Transfer to Santiago de Compostela via León. Founded under the name Legio VII as a Roman military outpost. Over the course of time, the city became the capital of the kingdom in the Middle Ages and a historic enclave on the

Heritage Spain Tour page 2

Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela. Visit the ostentatious gothic cathedral, aptly called the beautiful "leonina". Its stain-glass windows rival those of the Chartres cathedral of France. Close-by is the Romanesque jewel, the Pantheon of Saint Isidoro, constructed in the eleventh century to house the mortal remains of the Saint, who died in the seventh century. Stop in Lugo to visit the ancient Roman City walls which are beautifully preserved and protected by UNESCO as a Human Heritage site. Continue to Santiago de Compostela and overnight Day 5 Santiago de Compostela Guided tour of Santiago de Compostela, The city became a symbol of the Spanish Christians' struggle against Islam. Destroyed by the Muslims at the end of the 10th century, it was completely rebuilt in the following century. With its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings, the Old Town of Santiago has one of the world's most beautiful urban areas. The oldest monuments are grouped around the tomb of St James and the cathedral, which contains the remarkable Pórtico de la Gloria. The Cathedral is the final destination on the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage route which was born in the 9th century and has linked the city with the rest of Europe ever since. Overnight in Santiago Day 6 Astorga/Salamanca Depart Santiago to Salamanca with a stop at the ancient capital of the Iberians, Astorga. Founded in the 1st century BC by the Romans, Astorga was an important military and administrative center for the Roman presence in northwest Hispania as a gateway from the gold mines in Las Medulas. In the Middle Ages, Astorga regained its importance as a major stop on the French route of the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago), leading to the construction of the Cathedral. The variety of landmarks that span from the Roman ruins to modernist buildings, makes this town a hidden gem. Continue to the magical city of Salamanca and overnight. Day 7 Salamanca/Merida/Cordova Morning guided tour of Salamanca, which boasts the oldest university in Spain. Salamanca is called "La Dorada" (the Golden City) for the color of its buildings, made from golden sandstone. Its streets and plazas are brimming with history and vibrant with life thanks to the large student population which include many foreigners who come here to study the “purest" Spanish, Castilian. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transfer to Cordoba with a stop in Mérida. Located in the heart of the Silver Route, Mérida is heir to a splendid Roman past. Its theatre, amphitheater and

Heritage Spain Tour page 3

temple dedicated to the goddess Diana, make this former capital of Roman Lusitania one of the best conserved archaeological sites in Spain today and also part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Visit The Temple of Diana and the Arch of Trajan —one of the gates to the city, rising to a height of 15 meters— located in the city center. Also see the Roman Bridge, with its 60 arches and the Aqueduct of Los Milagros which crossed the Abarregas River and supplied the city with water from the Roman dam of Proserpina. Continue to Cordova and overnight Day 8 Cordoba/Seville Guided tour of Cordoba. This ancient city has been declared a World Heritage Site and contains a mixture of the diverse cultures that have settled it throughout history. Initially a Roman settlement, it was later colonized by Muslim armies in the eighth century. Cordoba became the capital of the Islamic Emirate, and then of the Caliphate of Córdoba. You will see the mixed cultures during your tour, including the famed Mosque, La Mezquita, with the distinctive red and white striped horseshoe arches topping thousands of marble columns. Built over the site of an old Roman Pagan temple, this magnificent structure is the crowning glory of Muslim architecture from the 8th century. It was later re-consecrated as a Christian church with the addition of chapels and a cathedral. Another popular activity is to walk the winding streets of the old Jewish Quarter. Cordoba is also home to the Alcazar, or Palace of the Christian Kings, where Columbus first requested funding for his renowned journey to discover the Indies. Continue to Seville and overnight. Day 9 Seville Guided tour of Seville. According to legend, Seville was founded by Hercules. It was called “Hispalis” by the Romans and “Isbiliya” by the Moors. Your sightseeing tour will include the delightful Plaza de España, a vast semicircular complex with fountains, monumental staircases, a moat and ornate blue and white tile work. You’ll walk through the old Santa Cruz Quarter to visit the Cathedral and the sumptuous Royal Alcazar, built as a fortress in the 10th century but adapted and/or expanded in almost every century since. Today your visit will also include the roman city of Italica and its beautiful amphitheater, the third biggest in the Roman Empire. Overnight in Seville Day 10 Seville/Granada Transfer to the fabled city of Granada. This distinctive city embodies the melding (and clashing) of the Moorish and Christian civilizations in a dramatic and beautiful setting. Granada came to prominence in the 1200s at the peak of Muslim power and stood as the last surviving Islamic capital in Spain up until the re-conquest by the Catholic Kings. You’ll take a walking tour of the famed Alhambra Palace. This monumental hilltop fortress, palace of the last Muslim rulers of Spain,

Heritage Spain Tour page 4

is one of the world's fabled landmarks. Surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, the Alhambra affords superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte, a mountain occupied by Gypsy cave dwellers. Wander through the magnificent water gardens of the Generalife, the royal summer residence adjacent to the Palace. Overnight in Granada Day 11 Toledo/Madrid Transfer to Madrid with a stop in Toledo, a medieval city as spectacular as it is rich in history, architecture and art. Within the city walls are many beautiful sights including winding alleys and impressive churches. Among the treasures not to be missed are Toledo Antiguo with its ancient Catedral (one of the finest in Spain); the Santo Tome Church containing El Greco’s masterpiece, The Burial of Count Orgaz; and the Sinagoga del Transito(For much of its early history, Toledo had a sizable Jewish community who lived in peace with Christians and Moors). Continue to Madrid and free time to continue to explore the Spanish Capital. Overnight in Madrid Day 12 Return to U.S. Following breakfast and check out, you will transfer to Madrid Airport for your return flight(s) to the U.S. Welcome home!