Ladies Holiday in Spain - Gold Key Travel, LTD

Ladies Holiday in Spain

~ October 9 to 19, 2016
~ Featuring Malaga, Granada, Seville, Cordoba and Barcelona

Day 1: Sunday, October 9, 2016
Overnight flight

Day 2: Monday, October 10 - Málaga, Spain - Tour Begins
Welcome to Málaga, your home for 3 nights. Birthplace of Picasso, this vibrant cosmopolitan city is the heart of the Costa del Sol region. Blessed with sunshine and an idyllic setting on the Mediterranean Sea, Málaga provides lively nightlife, museums and exceptional seafood restaurants alongside wide boulevards, swaying palm trees and beautiful beaches. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 3: Tuesday, October 11 - Málaga - Mijas - Málaga
During your locally guided tour of Malaga, see Atarazanas Market, the Cathedral and Casa Natal. Next, take a guided tour of the Picasso Museum. Later, depart for Mijas, an Andalucian white village considered to be one of the "jewels" of Costa Del Sol. Enjoy leisure time while wandering through the narrow cobbled streets where many artists and writers have made it their home. Before returning to Malaga, enjoy a lovely dinner in Mijas (B, D)

Day 4: Wednesday, October 12 - Málaga - Granada - Málaga
Travel to Granada, the last great capital of the Moors in Spain before it fell to the Catholic monarchs in 1492. Join a local expert for a tour of the world - famous Alhambra, the immense hilltop palace that is a UNESCO site. Also tour the magnificent Generalife, where the grounds are beautifully designed with waterfalls, courtyards, and smaller secret gardens. It was the leisure place for the kings of Granada to get away and enjoy the complete view over the city and valleys below. (B)

Day 5: Thursday, October 13 - Málaga - Arcos de la Frontera - Seville

This morning, depart Málaga for Seville. Enroute, stop at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art to enjoy a stunning horse show! Next, the charming town of Arcos de la Frontera. This is one of Andalucia's most dramatically positioned white villages, balancing atop a rocky limestone ridge. Declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1962 for its exceptional architecture and impressive location, the old town is a tangled labyrinth of cobbled streets leading up to the Castillo de los Arcos. Then on to Seville, the "cultural capital" of Spain, where you will stay for 3 nights. (B)

Day 6: Friday, October 14 - Seville
Today you will see Columbus’s tomb, the ornate cathedral (UNESCO) and the Giralda Bell Tower. Enjoy a walking tour of the quaint old Santa Cruz Quarter with its bright flowers, white-washed buildings and winding streets. Then, continue to Plaza de Espana and the beautiful Maria Luisa Park, one of the loveliest in all of Europe. This evening, travel on a horse drawn carriage to an authentic flamenco show (UNESCO) featuring Seville's top performers. (B)

Day 7: Saturday, October 15 - Seville - Cordoba - Seville
Today, travel to the extraordinary Moorish city of Cordoba. Embark on a walking tour of the Mezquita. This UNESCO site, an architectural marvel built by the Moors in the 8th century as a magnificent mosque, was converted into the city’s cathedral in the 16th century. Continue your exploration of Cordoba in the city's well-preserved and historical old Jewish Quarter. (B)

Day 8: Sunday, October 16 - Seville - Barcelona
Morning flight to Barcelona, one of Europe's most fascinating cities! After checking in to your hotel, you will have leisure time to explore Barcelona's boulevards, including the famous Las Ramblas, dotted with colorful bird and flower stalls. Perhaps enjoy an optional interior tour of Casa Batlló for a wonderful introduction to Antoni Gaudi, the incredible architect who designed the many magnificent structures you will see throughout the city. Join us for dinner tonight! (B, D)

Day 9: Monday, October 17 - Barcelona - Parc Guell - La Sagrada Familia - Barcelona
Get acquainted with this enchanting city on your locally guided tour. Discover Parc Guell, one of the most impressive public parks in the world, and one of Gaudi’s masterpieces where he let his imagination loose with amazing buildings, sculptures and tile work. Next, explore the most popular monument in Spain, Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, still under construction after more than 100 years. Also, see Las Ramblas Boulevard, the Columbus Monument, Parc de Montjuic and several UNESCO World Heritage sites linked to Antoni Gaudi, including the unconventional Casa Mila building and Batlló House. This afternoon, visit the Montserrat Monastery. (B)

Day 10: Tuesday, October 18 - Penedes Wine Region - Sitges - Barcelona
Your journey takes you to one of Spain's premium wine regions, Penedes - the land of wine and cava -Spain's celebrated sparkling wine. Arrive in the small town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, the birthplace of cava. Take in the sights, smells, tastes, sounds, textures and sensations during a fun-filled interactive cooking class followed by a delightful lunch of Catalan specialties. Later, tour the beautiful Codorniu cellars, the world's largest producer of cava. Be immersed in the Art Nouveau-style architecture, along with the history, traditions and innovations of winemaking. Sample a variety of wines before proceeding to the whitewashed coastal town of Sitges, known for its beaches, compact old town, classic Art Deco buildings and the seafront promenade. Gather this evening for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of an unforgettable trip to Spain! (B, L, D)

Day 11: Wednesday, October 19 - Barcelona - Tour Ends
You return home with vivid memories of spectacular Spain! (B)