A sample of the program proposed by Destination Spain for your next trip!
BARCELONA: Arrival & “Savor Spain” through the Old City
· Upon arrival at the airport: private transfer to selected hotel and check in (if rooms available).
· Lunch at leisure (light)
· Afternoon small group walking guidedgourmet tapas touracross the Old Town of Barcelona (Raval, Gothic and Ribera districts).
· Dinner at leisure (if still hungry). Accommodation.
SAVOR SPAIN (4h) from 15h45 to 20h00
We bring you Savor Spain, a boutique walking food tour that guides you to explore, discover and experience Barcelona as a local. We walk you through the little alleys in the old city of Barcelona, stopping in spots to enjoy where the locals eat and drink. We share stories about this beautiful city and its people as we take in the gothic and modernist architecture. We look at the history of the buildings that were transformed from banks and convents into bars and restaurants. Moreover, although many years have passed, we will still see the telltale signs of those bygone days.
You will walk with your passionate guide through three historic neighborhoods in the old city of Barcelona, (Raval, Gothic and El Born) stopping in at least six different spots along the way. Tasting more than 15 different dishes originating from all over Spain: From Andalusia in the south to the culinary gem of Asturias in the north and some local Catalan cuisine. At each stop, a traditional drink (vermouth, wine, beer etc.) will be paired with the food, but you will also have the option of a non-alcoholic drink if you prefer. As we taste and savor these local delights, we will learn how the climate, history and politics influenced these traditional dishes to become core to today’s Spanish cuisine.
We can cater for most dietary needs, so please bring your appetite as this is not “just” a guided Tapas Tour and you WILL be full by the end of this walk! The Savor Spain Barcelona Food Tour is approximately 4 hours long, but don’t worry – the overall walking time is only 1.5 hours at a relaxed pace. With the exception of our privately arranged tours, the groups are limited to eight people per tour to ensure an intimate experience. You will feel like a group of friends enjoying an afternoon together – walking, eating, drinking and laughing. So click the link below to join us on our next tour and discover Barcelona like a local with us.
Traditional tapas
Bishop Street with its beautiful Gothic arch. View of the “Sea Cathedral” Sta.
Maria del Mar
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BARCELONA: Gaudi’s Modernism Heritage
Breakfast at your hotel.
· Departure for a morning Modernist Heritageprivate tour, visiting Colonia Güell, Park Güell and Sagrada Familia.
· Lunch at leisure
· Afternoon free. Suggestions:
o Picasso Museum(pre booking recommended)
o Complete your modernism tour on your own at La Pedrera orCasa Batllo.
o Exclusive dinner at a selected restaurant (ABAC***, Moments**, Lasarte***).
· Dinner at leisure
Time to visit the Modernism Heritage!One of the greatest treasure this city can offer to you. We propose you a half-day morning private guided tour to visit two of the masterworks of Modernism architecture, by Gaudi architect: Sagrada Familia temple,Park Güell.
COLONIA GÜELL
It is an industrial town (30min south of Barcelona), created by Count Güell (Gaudi’s main sponsor) around a textile factory. The Colònia is a complete town: the factory, the houses of the workers, the house of the factory’s general manager, the school, the civil center and, of course, the church. Most of the houses are still inhabited by descendants of the initial workers.
The entire town was conceived by Gaudí, and among all buildings, the special one is the church, known as the Cripta Güellsince is an unfinished church with only the crypt completed.
This crypt was the place where Gaudi tested all his architectural techniques that he then applied to Sagrada Familia, his masterwork. Therefore, it is essential to know the crypt before discovering the Sagrada Familia.
Entrance to the Crypt Interior of the Crypt
The church, as conceived by Gaudi Town House
SAGRADA FAMILIA
The jewel in the crown of Gaudi’s works, this temple is a synthesis of his overall conception of architecture. The richness of detail and its significance need explaining in order to appreciate this fascinating and extraordinary building in full. Frightening from outside, but a magic of color inside. Gaudi wanted the temple to be voluntarily financed by the people, not by taxes or public funding, and that is just what your entrance fees do (included in our tour price): finance the completion of the building started in 1882. This temple is to be completed by 2026.
Exterior view of Sagrada Familia (some construction hoists not visible in this picture)
Awesome interior picture of the ceiling of Sagrada Familia
Views of Barcelona from Park Güell.
PARK GÜELL
Mr. Güell was a noble, resident in Barcelona and devoted to his plenty of industrial businesses. He was the main sponsor of Gaudi, and he asked the architect to build plenty of different buildings in the city and in the suburbs. In this fashion, he asked Gaudi to design and build Palau Güell, the sponsor’s home in downtown Barcelona (you can visit it on your own, and is one of the first homes built by Gaudi). He also built, outside Barcelona, the Colonia Güell, a textile factory together with the houses of the workers, the house of the Director, the school, the church…. A little new town. Finally, Mr. Güell asked Gaudi to build his summerhouse on the hills surrounding Barcelona (today part of the city). In this summerhouse (not preserved), Gaudi designed and built a very special garden, what we call today Park Güell. Very special place, where imagination and reproduction of nature (Gaudi’s obsession) bleeds in every corner.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS for you to complete the Modernist Experience. On your own, you can also visit:
a)La Pedrera as an option to do at leisure. A private house, today converted in a visitors’ attraction. You can have a nice dinner in the area and even in the restaurant in the same building. Fast track ticket recommended.
La Pedrera outdoors and indoors
Casa Batlló for real, and what it represents
b) Casa Batlló, another Gaudi’s masterpieces, is not just a building but also an artistic legend; hidden behind an exceptional façade which reflects a tranquil sea is a world of surprises and refined architectural details. These apartments building enchants visitors with its remarkable design and the vast repertoire of visual solutions employed. In every corner, with the help of our video guide you will discover something surprising, details full of life that will fascinate everyone who can appreciate imaginativeness. The tour includes a visit to the legendary Noble Floor (it used to be the home of the Batlló family), the Attic (it was used by the residents as stores and laundry room), the Rooftops and Chimneys, which presents the well-known spine of the multicolored dragon killed by St. George. As well as the magnificent lobby, main staircase and light well (it used to be the main staircase for the rest of the neighbors).
c) MNAC Museum (Catalonia National Art Museum) which contains the world’s largest collection of Romanesque church paintings (Medieval Era).
The beautiful building of the MNAC
d) Picasso Museum – the artist lived in Barcelona for many years and the city museum is one of the world top ones. Worth to visit it.
Picasso Museum in Barcelona, in a medieval palace.
BARCELONA: Cooking Workshop
· Breakfast in the hotel.
· Morning devoted to a Cooking workshop of fine Spanish dishes.
· Lunch at the workshop.
· Rest of the day free.
The workshop takes place in a unique space, in a XV century medieval building, with a full equip kitchen facility. My suggestion is that you go for a “paella“ workshop (Spanish rice) because it combines plenty of different Mediterranean ingredients, but we can go beyond that, and try for Mediterranean rices, Traditional Tapas, Creative Tapas with Avant-garde techniques, Peruvian Ceviches, Italian cuisine… All the workshops are taught by professional chefs, and specialists in each type of cuisine.
The workshop can be private or in a small group (recommended, and quoted as such).
An initial tour with the chef to the local fresh food market is the starting point to get the ingredients for the day.
SAN SEBASTIAN: Old city tour
Early breakfast in the hotel and check out.
· Private transfer to Barcelona Airport.
· Early morning direct flight to San Sebastian.
· Upon arrival, private transfer to selected hotel. Check in (if rooms available; otherwise, just drop luggage).
· Private morning guided tour of San Sebastian, including Igeldo Hill.
· After the tour, guided lunch based on Pintxos (Basque Tapas).
· Afternoon free in San Sebastian.
· Dinner at leisure.
· Suggestion: for the dinner, try one of San Sebastian top places: Akelarre***, Arzak*** or Martin Bersategui***.
La Concha Bay, San Sebastian
In this beautiful city open to the sea you cannot miss a walk around La Concha Bay, a 1.5 km long white-sand beach were you can enjoy a drink while relaxing on the terraces of the cafés around and stroll around while admiring the Old Town with its Romantic streets full of bars where you can taste the local drinks like Txakoli (local white wine) or Sidra (Basque Cider) and the local food (Pintxos).
Along the tour, worth to watch the “Peine de los Vientos” (wind comb) by Chillida artist, and getting up Igeldo Hillto enjoy the great panoramic of San Sebastian bay (La Concha bay).
Peine de los Vientos, by Chillida
Going for Pintxos. One of the foodie treasures in San Sebastián is its famous pintxos; culinary bites ranging from the original slice of bread piled with food, to tiny miniature haute cuisine creations. Pintxos were originally a slice of baguette bread piled high with food of any kind. To hold it in place, a cocktail stick, or ‘pintxo’ was used. But that traditional idea has evolved until becoming today’s miniature haute cuisine, flavors elaborated and concentrated into tiny, mouth-watering experiences: from the traditional Gilda with an olive, guindilla pepper and anchovy, to leek and prawns in brick pastry, for example, passing through a myriad of flavors not to be missed on the way.
The Pintxo bars in San Sebastián make it hard to decide...
Dinner Suggestions - all three are 3* Michelin (not included in the quote).
ARZAK***is the master restaurant in Spain
Chefs Jose Mari Arzak and daughter
Alcalde J. Elosegi Hiribidea, 273, 20015 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
Tel: +34 943 27 84 65 - https://www.arzak.es/
AKELARRE*** by Chef Pedro Subijana- Padre Orkolaga Ibilbidea, 56, 20008 Donostia, Gipuzkoa. Tel: +34 943 31 12 09 - https://www.akelarre.net/es
MARTIN BERASATEGUI***- Loidi Kalea, 4, 20160 Lasarte-Oria, Gipuzkoa
Tel: +34 943 36 64 71 - https://www.martinberasategui.com
SAN SEBASTIAN: Flavors of the Basque countryside
· Breakfast in the hotel.
· Full day tour to unveil the traditions and local gastronomy.
· Rest of the evening free in S. Sebastian.
This is a unique tour!! You will start at 9:30am with a morning visit to a cider house, and then head to the pig farm for the visit and fabulous lunch! The place is a, 16th century farm, fully renovated, where a family breed the endangered Basque pigs free range, and they can host you in their farm, for a wonderful farm-to-table experience.
The homemaker cooks a 5-course gourmet lunch using only products grown at the farm and produce collected in the neighbor forest, and all dishes paired with two different wines. This is a full day gastronomic-traditions experience, in the real Basque countryside, straight from the farm to the table. Authentic. With a family.
Back in San Sebastian around 16:30/17:00.
SAN SEBASTIAN: Bilbao
· Breakfast in the hotel.
· Full day tour to Bilbao, with private transfer, to visit the Old District(“Casco Viejo”) and the Guggenheim Museum.
· Return to San Sebastian in the afternoon
Private tour with English guide (4h) to discover the old quarterof Bilbao, walking around the most typical streets, the Plaza Nueva, the famous Mercado de la Ribera, the Theatre Arriaga and the Arenal. Visit of the Guggenheim Museumdesigned by North American architect Frank O. Gehry, is a magnificent example of the most groundbreaking architecture to have come out of the 20th century. The building itself is an innovatively designed architectural landmark that creates a seductive backdrop for the exhibition of contemporary art.
Bilbao Old Center (“Casco Viejo”)
Guggenheim, Bilbao
Should you have time and good mood, I would invite you to explore about Bilbao bridges over the Nervión River: the city is divided by this river, and plenty of different styles bridges cross the river; some for pedestrians, others for heavy traffic. All of them following singular design patterns. It is very interesting the “transporter bridge”, from the Eiffel engineer times, crossing the river with a hanging platform (see Bizkaia picture below).
SAN SEBASTIAN: day tour to La Rioja Wine region
· Breakfast in the hotel.
· Full day tour to La Rioja Wine Region, with a private transfer.
· Return to San Sebastian in the evening.
Spain has 47 wine regions, most of them producing top quality wines. However, out of these regions, three of them stand up as Excellent wine regions: Ribera del Duero, Penedes and La Rioja. Here we are, in La Rioja, Spain’s shrine for wine.
For this day, we propose you to visit two wineries and lunch in a selected place. Bodegas Bilbainasas a traditional one, and Baigorrias a modern winery. For lunch, we can think of the Gastronomic Bistrot at Marques de Riscal winery (1* Michelin). Alternatively we can also think of Portal de Echaurren(1*) or Venta Moncalvillo.
While moving from one winery to the other, the landscape of La Rioja and its little towns of Laguardia and Elciego, is awesome. Laguardia, the capital of Rioja Alavesa, stands guard on a hill surrounded by vineyards. The winding medieval street plan of Laguardia, the old gates into the town and the surviving remains of its walls will carry you back in time, just like the Neolithic and Bronze Age remains found nearby, the oldest agricultural communities discovered in the Basque Country.
Views of Laguardia
Bodegas Bilbainas Cellar
In the afternoon, visit of Baigorri modern winery. Thistime,Baigorriwinery, which has a very different approach to wine production,comparedtoVivancosormanyothertraditionalwineriesoftheregion.Baigorri,amodernwinery,whereallwineagingprocessisdrivenbygravity,avoidingas muchaspossiblehumanintervention.
InteriorandoutsideofBaigorri winery,by IñakiAspizuarchitect.
Withthetwovisits,wegetagoodunderstandingofatraditionalandamodernwinery.
As suggestion (not included in the quote) lunch can be at the singular Marques de Riscalwinery, also designed by Frank Gehry (same architect as Guggenheim Museum).
Marqués de Riscal building and surrounding landscape
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GALICIA: Quinta San Amaro
Early breakfast in the hotel and check out.
· Private transfer to Bilbao Airport.
· Morning flight to Vigo (Galicia)
· Upon arrival to Vigo, private transfer to Quinta San Amaro. Check in.
· Then private transfer to O Grove region (20min) for a sightseeing and a seafood festival for lunch (“mariscada” as it is known in Spanish) in a selected restaurant (payment on premise).
· Return to the hotel and rest of the day free (dinner, if any, suggested at hotel).
You have moved from Euskadi (the Basque Country) into Galicia, at the North West of Spain, just over Portugal. You have moved from the land of Basques to the land of Gaelics, everyone with its own language, which is not Spanish (but they all speak Spanish too).
Galicia is a top Spain region, in gastronomic terms: great meat from the spring fields of the interior, great vegetables grown along all the year, and incredible seafood (they supply all Spain with seafood).
We have prepared three very special days in Galicia. Starting in this unique hotel, where Nacho (Ignatius) will ensure an unforgettable experience for you.
For this arrival day to Galicia, we propose a sightseeing car tour, with some stops, to see the Ria de Arosa(it resembles a Norwegian fiord) ending in the town of O Groveor Cambadosfor lunch.
Images of Quinta San Amaro Hotel, and its relax room below
O Grove, in the island
Cambados town (above) and some sites in Cambados (below)
In the afternoon, if still energy and good mood, possible visit to an Albariño winery.
Quinta de San Amaro is located in the Salnés Valley, in Meaño, one of the areas with the highest production of Albariño grapes of all those that form part of the D.O. Rías Baixas. Under the aforementioned denomination, more than 180 wineries of different sizes and productions produce wine. Albariño wine is very much appreciated to accompany seafood meals. Depending on the dates and how the travel proposal is formulated, we will advise to offer the best alternative and facilitate the reservation of a visit, at Mar de Frades.
Albariño Winery Mar de FRADES
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GALICIA: Quinta San Amaro
Breakfast in the hotel.
· Morning devoted to “live” by the anglers, first with the “mariscadoras” (shellfish workers) and then on a boat ride following the anglers’ fishing boats.
· In the afternoon, cooking workshop with the chef of the hotel.
· Dinner (perhaps no need for it…).
The shellfish workers of the area work the clam, the razor and the cockle during the low tide. Cambados, O Grove and the Island of Arousa are three locations, very close to the hotel, where you will be able to learn and practice the picking of shellfish as the “mariscadoras” do. Observe their peculiar work, and appreciate the hardness of a work that results in the product that gives us so much satisfaction at the table.
Shell fish workers (mariscadoras) at work, when sea tide is low.
Second step today is to learn about the higher fishing practice by the anglers. We will do this from a boat that follows the anglers in their job.
And for the afternoon, the cooking workshop: from the sea to the table!!
The workshop place
Everybody at work
(The workshop can be in private or up to 8 people; your choice)
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SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Breakfast in the hotel.
· Full day tour to Santiago de Compostela, with private transfer and guide in Santiago.
· Return to Hotel in the afternoon.
It is not possible to go to Galicia and not visit Santiago de Compostela (Saint Yago = Saint James). The legend says the saint is buried in Santiago, and since medieval ages, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come to Santiago, every year, to worship the tomb of the saint. Some do the Saint James way on foot, other by bike, riding horses and, even, on a luxurious Mercedes Benz. Never mind, the goal is to get to Santiago.
Panoramic of Santiago
Obradoiro Square and Saint James Cathedral
In Santiago we will visit the Obradoiro Square, right in front of the Cathedral. Visit the Cathedral and the medieval old town of Santiago, its fresh food market, and lunch at Horta do Obradoiro, by the cathedral.
Streets of Santiago
Inside the market of Santiago
· Return to Hotel in the afternoon
GALICIA-MADRID: Toledo
Early breakfast in the hotel and check out.
· Private transfer to Vigo airport for a domestic flight to Madrid (flight departs 06:45am).
· Upon arrival to Madrid, private transfer to selected hotel and check in (if rooms available).
· In the afternoon, private half-day tour to Toledo, with private guide and private transfer. Entrance fees included.
· Return to Madrid.
· Dinner at leisure.
Toledois definitely a must: the city of the three cultures, Jewish, Christian and Muslim, who lied in peaceful coexistence for centuries until the expulsion by Christian around 1492.
Picturesquely sited on a hill above the River Tagus is the historical centre of Toledo. The Romans built a fortress on the site, today occupied by the Alcazar fortress. The Visigoths made Toledo their capital in the 6th century AD, and left behind several churches. In the
Middle Ages, Toledo was a melting pot of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures and it was during this period the Cathedral was built.
Beautiful perspective of Toledo
Toledois known for its art and history and has a landscape that combines Arabic, Mudejar, Gothic, Medieval and Renaissance architecture. Surrounded by the River Tajo, the atmospheric walled town is crammed with churches and museums. Must see sights include the amazing 13th-century Cathedral of Toledo, the medieval castle, Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue, San Juan of the Kings Monastery and the Victorio Macho Museum.
Toledo’s synagogue
A highlight of any visit to Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with wonderful architecture, is seeing The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, the famous painting by 16th-century master El Greco. Toledo was the setting for many of El Greco's art, and you can see this painting at the Church of St Tome.
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MADRID: departure day
Breakfast in the hotel and check out.
· Private transfer to Madrid airport for a returning flight.
Final itinerary to be confirmed at booking. For more information phone us at 1-888-DDHRM09
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