The History & Art of Madrid, Toledo, Avila, Salamanca & Segovia
with Paul Richardson

Having had enough of office work in the 90’s Paul threw it all in and went to Spain to learn flamenco. Eventually realising he was kidding himself, he returned to the UK and gained a degree in Spanish and Archaeology. Paul has now been with us as a Tour Manager since 2007, leading tours to Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Andalucia but also some more out of the way corners too, for example, Extremadura and Galicia.

Day 1  

Our tour begins with a flight from London (either Heathrow or Gatwick) to Madrid (regional flights available at a supplement - enquire for details), where we meet Paul Richardson who will accompany us throughout the tour. We then transfer in our private coach to the centrally located 4* Novotel Madrid Centre Hotel for a three night stay. In the evening, we relax over a welcome dinner in the hotel.

Day 2

Our full day in Madrid starts with a visit to the Museo del Prado for a guided tour, housing the world’s greatest assembly of Spanish paintings especially works by Goya and Velazquez as well as works by Italian and Flemish masters. After free time for lunch we visit the Museo Sorolla, the former studio mansion of the artist Joaquin Sorolla (1863-1923). The house, which was built between 1910 and 1911, has been left as it was when the artist died and displays an impressive array of his finest works. Sorolla is best remembered for his serene and calm narratives depicting children, women and animals - often in Mediterranean seaside settings.

Day 3

Today we travel to Toledo, known as the ‘city of the three cultures’, because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together here for centuries. Behind its walls Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. A guided tour on arrival introduces us to sights such as the exterior of the magnificent 13th century cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in modern Christianity. We also visit the Church of Santo Tomé where we see El Greco’s masterpiece ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’. The rest of the day is at leisure in Toledo, and on an individual basis you may choose to visit the Museo del Greco.

Day 4

After checking out of our hotel, a guided tour of the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, housed in the Palacio de Villahermosa, introduces us to a collection of some 800 paintings including masterpieces by Titian, Goya, Van Gogh and Picasso, regarded by many as the most important privately assembled art collection in the world. En route to Salamanca, we visit Avila, a beautiful city surrounded by the finest preserved medieval walls in Europe with 88 turrets and nine gateways protecting its beautiful palaces and churches. On arrival in Salamanca we check in at the centrally located 4* Abba Fonseca Hotel for a two night stay. A set three course dinner without drinks is included in our hotel this evening.

Day 5

We explore the World Heritage Site of Salamanca’s historic city centre. Our guided morning walking tour takes in such sights as the 12th century old cathedral and the 16th century ‘new’ cathedral, the university and the Plaza Mayor, regarded as one of the finest in Europe. The rest of the day is at leisure in Salamanca. A set three course farewell dinner without drinks is included in our hotel this evening.

Day 6

After checking out of our hotel we spend some time at leisure in Segovia. With its narrow streets and beautiful mansions, Segovia is best known for its Roman churches, aqueduct, cathedral and plaza. On the north west extreme of its medieval walls is the famous Alcazar castle where Queen Isabel promised Columbus the financial backing he needed to discover America. On the south east extreme is the world renowned Roman Aqueduct, the largest and best preserved of its kind. We then continue to Madrid Airport for our direct scheduled back to the UK.

NB: Please note we reserve the right to alter the above itinerary if required for operational reasons. Given the historic nature of the places visited, a certain degree of walking will be involved, and this holiday may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. Flight details may be subject to change. Price based on twin share. Minimum numbers required. Normal booking conditions apply. This holiday and the flights are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Tailored Travel's ATOL number is 5605.

The first three nights of our tour we stay at the centrally located 4* Novotel Madrid Centre Hotel in Madrid (www.novotelmadridcenter.com) with dinner included the first evening and then two nights on half board basis at the centrally located 4* Abba Fonseca Hotel in Salamanca (www.abbafonsecahotel.com). Days 2 and 3 are on bed & breakfast basis. All rooms at both hotels are en suite.

Single room supplement £199

Insurance (including Covid cover) £92

Dinners on Days 2 & 3

Gratuities

Lunches

Donations at any churches or cathedrals visited

Click Here to download the Brochure and Booking Form and then post the completed Booking Form with your deposit payment as instructed on the Booking Form. Please note that you cannot book this holiday online. Once you receive a Confirmation & Invoice from us as confirmation of your booking, you can pay the final balance by following the instructions set out in your Confirmation & Invoice.