Spain offers an intriguing blend of cultures and traditions dating back centuries. This week-long Spain vacation reveals the strong impact of Moorish, Jewish and Christian influences on the history of Spain. Experience the contrasts between Spain's regions and cities, as well as the country's scenic diversity. Discover the country's rich cultural heritage in Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Seville and Andalucía, Córdoba, and Madrid. Highlights of your travels include a private flamenco performance, a horse-drawn carriage ride in Seville, and a guided tour of Madrid's Museo del Prado. If you have just one week for a Spain vacation, this should be it!

View Prices and Dates Tour Highlights and Inclusions Images and Route Map View Itinerary

• Hotel accommodations for 7 nights
• 14 meals
• One-way rail transportation aboard the high-speed AVE train between Cordoba and Madrid
• Motorcoach transportation
• One-way inter-Europe flight between Barcelona and Granada
• Sightseeing (including entrance fees) as specified in itinerary
• Luggage handling
• Airport transfers
• Services of a professional tour manager, local guides and drivers
• All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff and local guides

Day 1 - Welcome to Spain
Arrive in Barcelona, Spain and transfer from the airport to your hotel. Meet the traveling companions at 6:00 pm for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Overnight Le Méridien Barcelona. (D)

Day 2 - Beguiling Barcelona
Barcelona is an exceptional city overflowing with history, art and culture. Walk along famous Las Ramblas to the Boqueria and Plaça del Pi; explore the Gothic Quarter to get a good look at the 13th- to 15th-century architecture; see Barcelona's spectacular cathedral. Drive to seaside Montjuic, site of the 1992 Olympics, and visit the fanciful, unfinished cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí I Cornet. Explore the city on your own for the remainder of the day. Overnight Le Méridien Barcelona. (B)

Day 3 - Moorish wonders in Granada
This morning board a flight to Granada, situated in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. In Granada, visit the famous Alhambra - a splendid example of the Moorish influence that has shaped so much of Spain. The Royal Palace and the Generalife, the former summer palace of sultans, provides fascinating exploration. Your accommodations tonight are just steps from the world-renowned site. Overnight Hotel Alhambra Palace. (B, L, D)

Day 4 - Ronda / Andalucía
Today's travels take you to Ronda. One of the last Moorish cities to fall to the Crusaders, Ronda provides further insights into Spain's Moorish past as you explore the city with a local guide; see the historic bullring and spectacular Tajo Gorge. After lunch it's on to Andalucía, a melting pot of different cultures sometimes referred to as the bridge between two continents. Journey into Andalucía's lovely hills and view charming villages with whitewashed houses clinging to the hillsides. Continue on to romantic Seville, where your Spain vacation continues this evening with a private performance of flamenco dancing and dinner. Overnight Hotel Alfonso XIII. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Seville
A guided sightseeing tour provides insight into this spectacular city dating back 2,000 years. A horse and carriage ride transports you to Seville Cathedral, the third largest Roman Catholic church in the world; tour the Cathedral, which is the final resting-place of Christopher Columbus, with its famous Giralda Bell Tower. Discover Barrio Santa Cruz and explore the maze of old streets in the former Jewish Quarter. The remainder of the day is free for you to pursue what interests you most in Seville. Overnight Hotel Alfonso XIII. (B)

Day 6 - Córdoba / AVE to Madrid
A walking tour of this charming Moorish-influenced city takes you through the historic Jewish Quarter and visits the ornate 8th-century La Mezquita, once of the world's largest mosques and now a Roman Catholic cathedral. Board the high-speed AVE train and travel in Preferente class to Madrid, where your Spain vacation continues for the next two nights in the country's marvelous capital city. Overnight The Westin Palace. (B, L)

Day 7 - Magnificent Madrid
Your day in magnificent Madrid kicks off with a guided tour of the famous Museo del Prado, one of the finest art museums in the world. Later, view sites such as Palacio de Oriente, the ornate Royal Palace built in the 18th-century; grand avenues such as Gran Via and Castellana; El Parque del Buen Retiro; the bullring; and the Neptuno and Cibeles fountains. Enjoy typical Castilian entertainment at your farewell cocktail reception and dinner this evening, a fitting finale to your one-week Spain vacation. Overnight The Westin Palace. (B, D)

Day 8 - Journey Home
Your Spain vacation ends in Madrid. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace to Madrid's Barajas Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in. (B)