Day
1
SUN I MADRID
Upon arrival to Madrid Airport you’ll be met by your chauffeur and transferred to your hotel downtown in the Spanish capital. Rest of the day is at leisure to rest or discover the highlights of this monumental city.
Day
2
MON I MADRID I LERMA
Today you will hit the road, destination - wine country! Travel north into the plains of Spain crossing the plateaus of Castille and visiting a stunning winery such as ‘Abadia Retuerta’, run by the charismatic New Yorker Donald Cusimano. You´ll visit the vineyards by 4X4, and taste Cru wines in a 13th century monastic dining hall in the Romanesque Abbey - priceless highlights include the Reserva Selección Especial (winner of best red wine in the world at the London Wine Challenge) and the sexy Pago Negralada wine. After this visit, continue to Lerma, via Roa and Aranda de Duero, two of the most important wine villages of the Ribera de Duero D.O. Region. The more than 30 meter cliff is the first image that you get of the Monastery de la Vid, the Parador of Lerma, formerly a 17th Century Ducal Palace. (B)
Day
3
TUE I LERMA I BURGOS I SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA
Depart to Burgos, the capital of the Castilla & Leon Community, land of kings and the birth city of the famous medieval Spanish hero ‘El Cid’. Here we will pay a visit to one of the world’s best Gothic Cathedrals, built in 1221, the Arch of Santa María, Casa del Cordón, a beautiful Renaissance Palace from the 16th century, before continuing to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The Parador, attached to the Cathedral, is housed in a 12th Century Hospital formerly used to shelter the pilgrims on the Road to Santiago. (B)
Day
4
WED I SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA I RIOJA MAIN VILLAGES I SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA
We will depart for the Rioja Wine route, visiting the most important villages, such as Haro, El Ciezo, Cenicero…where the most important wineries of La Rioja are located. Visit & wine tasting at some of the cellars. Today we will visit the Winery of Ysios, whose main building has been designed by Santiago Calatrava, the famous Spanish architect, and has made it an icon of the art/design wineries. Here wine tasting will be offered after visiting the cellars. Lunch at your own leisure and return to Santo Domingo de la Calzada for a local visit of the village including the Torre Exenta, the Cathedral with the Mayor Altarpiece, Mausoleum and Cloister, before heading to your Parador. (B)
Day
5
THU I SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA I LAGUARDIA I LOGROÑO I OLITE
After breakfast, depart for Olite. En-route, pay a visit to The Wine Culture Museum, located in Dinastía Vivanco Cellars, in the Old village of Briones with permanent & temporary expositions. A visit to the Museum & Cellars ends with a Wine Tasting and explanation given by a sommelier. Continue to LaGuardia, probably the most preserved medieval village in la Rioja. You can enjoy some free time to walk along the ancient wall, have a coffee outside in the plaza, take in the views, and see its collection of splendid country churches. Lunch at your own leisure. Continue to Logroño, the capital of La Rioja Region. Although it is renowned for wine, this capital has remains from the 3rd century B.C. with a celtiberic setting at the Catabria Mountain, overlooking the city. Later, drive towards Olite for your overnight stay. This Parador in Olite is partially set into the Old Palace from 15th Century, where you can find beautiful hidden corners of Medieval archeries, glaziers, etc. (B)
Day
6
FRI I OLITE I CARIÑENA I SIGÜENZA
Today visit Olite, an ancient village where you will go back in time. Don’t miss the French Gothic Castle-Palace, home of the Kings of Navarra during centuries. Stroll along its narrow streets, manor stone houses with Coat of Arms by the wooden doors, medieval galleries and, of course, the very well preserved Roman walls. The Mediterranean climate has also made Olite one of the capitals of Rioja Wine. After this visit, continue to Cariñena for a visit & tasting at the Cellars Señorío de Ayles. Lunch at your own leisure then continue towards Sigüenza. Arrival for check-in & overnight at the Parador, a gorgeous 12th Century Medieval Castle, which is the symbol of the city. (B)
Day
7
SAT I SIGÜENZA I ALCALÁ DE HENARES I MADRID
Today you will explore the village of Sigüenza with its storied history, winding paths of medieval buildings, its distinguished cathedral, 16th Century Plaza Mayor, and its 12th Century Castle turned Parador. Next visit Alcalá de Henares, featuring a rich historical and artistic heritage and boasting the best conserved Renaissance university complex in Europe. During your visit here, discover: the house of Hippolytus, remains of a Roman villa dating back to the 3rd Century A.D.; the Calle Mayor (Main Street), the longest porticoed street in Spain; the Gothic Magisterial Cathedral of Saints Justo and Pastor built over the tomb of the saints martyred here in 305 A.D.; and the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, at Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes. Enjoy lunch on your own before departing to Madrid for overnight. (B)
Day
8
