“Lady of Spain, I adore you. Right from the night I first saw you.” We’re sure you’ll be joining Bing Crosby and Eddie Fisher in singing these lyrics when you return from this 12-day vacation to Spain—you may even be inspired to grab an accordion and sing along! That’s because Monograms has made it easy for you to travel to Spain. We’ve arranged your hotel reservations, daily breakfast, sightseeing, transportation between cities, and transfers from/to your hotels to/from the train stations. Plus, a one-of-a-kind feature is the Monograms Local Host®, someone who is there for you throughout your stay to answer questions, share little-known secrets, help you personalize your trip, and help ensure your vacation runs smoothly. You’ll have a Local Host in each city, so you’ll have someone to help you feel at home and at ease.

Your vacation begins when you arrive in Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city. We can pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel, where your Local Host will be waiting for you with a set of materials to help familiarize you with the city. The next morning, after an included breakfast, we’ll pick you up at your hotel for guided sightseeing. Hear the inside stories and fascinating details of the must-see attractions, and visit works by the famous architect Gaudí, including Casa Batlló and the unfinished La Sagrada Familia Basilica. A day at leisure in Barcelona gives you time to explore on your own (with the support of your Local Host, of course). You may want to take an excursion to Montserrat with its unique natural park and 1,000-year-old Benedictine monastery, visit the Camp Nou football (soccer) stadium, or relax at the beach.

Then, it’s off on the high-speed train to Madrid, where your guided sightseeing with a local expert features the Prado Museum, where you’ll see the world’s finest collection of European art by masters such as El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. From Madrid, we’ll also take you on an excursion to Toledo, where you’ll visit an early synagogue, the 13th-century Gothic cathedral, and the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco’s painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. From Madrid, you’ll travel once again by high-speed train to Seville, where we’ve arranged for you to enjoy guided sightseeing with a local expert. You’ll hear the inside stories of must-see attractions, such as the university that used to be the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. We’ll take you to the Santa Cruz Quarter and to Seville’s Alcazar, founded in the 11th century as a Moorish fortress. A full day in Seville will also give you the opportunity to explore on your own. Your Local Host will have suggestions and can help arrange the activities you desire, such as a Flamenco show or a cruise on the Guadalquivir River.

Next up is Cordoba for one night. Here, we’ve arranged for you to have sightseeing with a local expert. You’ll see the city’s Alcazar (royal castle), the Roman Bridge, and the medieval Jewish Quarter. You’ll also visit the Mosque of the Caliphs, built in the 8th century. Finally, after all this exciting sightseeing and time spent in the cities, there’s time for relaxation. Like we’ll do in each city, we’ll pick you up at your Cordoba hotel, take you to the train station, and get you on the correct train. You’ll journey to Malaga, where we’ll pick you up at the train station and take you to your hotel in the resort town of Torremolinos. Here, you’ll relax and have time to explore. You may want to visit the local amusement park, take a trip to the botanic gardens, stroll along the Costa del Sol’s extensive beaches, or just relax and sample the seafood restaurants for which this area is famous. Be sure to ask your Local Host for suggestions on where to go.

And did we mention that your train travel will be first-class on Spain’s high-speed trains? Between the transfers and transportation we’ve included, the sightseeing and guides we’ve arranged, and the hotels we’ve booked, all you have to do is have fun. Add the comfort of knowing you’ll have a Local Host in each city to help you navigate, translate if needed, and feel at ease, and you’ve got yourself a vacation that is more like a fiesta.

City Highlights

Sightseeing with a Local Guide, inside visits, and special features are shown in UPPERCASE

Meals

Buffet breakfast daily

Transportation

Travel by by high-speed AVE train (first-class) between cities; by coach round-trip Madrid-Toledo; transfers to/from train stations

PRODUCT_LINE: MONOGRAMS-DBC-2015