Contact : Tecnic Viajes

(4 days – 3 nights)

Day 1. - Madrid – Segovia

On arrival in Segovia we will enjoy a tour of the city, starting from the Roman Aqueduct, dating back to the 1st century AD, standing next to Azoguejo Square. From there we will head down Cervantes Street as far as the Main Square, passing by important buildings such as Los Picos House, Lozoya Tower and the Church of San Martín.

On reaching the Main Square, we can visit Segovia’s fortified palace, the Alcázar, built  in the 11th century but which was rebuilt following a devastating fire. Much of the original decoration was reproduced, including a series of elements dating from the Mudejar period. It was declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO in 1985.
Lunch.

In the afternoon we will visit Segovia Cathedral. Begun in 1525 at the express desire of King Charles V, this late Gothic building stands on the site of an earlier Romanic cathedral, destroyed during the uprising of the Castilian Communities.

The slender appearance of this building has earned it the nickname “The Lady of the Cathedrals”.

Inside, the Cathedral is noted for the magnificent decoration of its 23 chapels – one of which boasts the altarpiece of the Burial of Christ, created by Juan de Juni in 1571 -, as well as the choir, the ambulatory, the organ and the Cathedral Museum, home to valuable gold and silver items, paintings and more than 500 incunabula.

Dinner and accommodation.

Day 2. - Segovia – Avila

Breakfast in Segovia before heading for the city of Avila.

Nicknamed the City of Knights, Avila is Spain’s highest provincial capital (standing 1,130 metres above sea level) and has been a World Heritage City since 1985.

Our first stop on our tour of this city is at Avila Cathedral. Built in the late Gothic style, work began in around 1170 on this building which has often been compared to a fortress, and considered to be one of the first cathedrals to be built under the influence of the newly emerging Gothic style. As with the other cathedrals to be found in this region, work continued over a considerable period of time, and was not concluded until around 1470. The highlight of the exterior is the so-called “cimorro”, the name given to the apse at the head of the main chapel and which forms part of the city walls. The design of the façade featuring the two Gothic towers is the work of Juan Guas, although they were later altered in keeping with the Baroque style.

Highlights of the cathedral interior include the Renaissance altarpiece and the 16th century tomb of “El Tostado”, the work of Vasco de la Zarza, sculptured in alabaster.
The Cathedral Museum is home to many magnificent objects including a processional monstrance by Juan de Arfe or a painting by El Greco.
Lunch.
In the afternoon, a tour of the 12th century city walls. More than 2.5 km of walls, featuring a total of 90 towers and nine gates. One of the most stunning views of this city can be seen from “Los Cuatro Postes”, a former roadside shrine standing on the outskirts of the city on the road to Salamanca.

Inside the walled city, we will be able to admire numerous noble houses and Romanic and Gothic style churches of considerable historic and artistic interest. Highlights of our visit include the Monastery of La Encarnación and the Convent of Santa Teresa and the Santa Teresa Museum, which will provide us with a fascinating insight into the life and works of Santa Teresa and her connections with the city of Avila.

Those wishing to find out more about this topic should definitely pay a visit to the Mysticism Interpretation Centre.
Dinner and accommodation.

Day 3. - Avila – Salamanca

Breakfast in Avila and departure for the city of Salamanca.

This city, standing on the River Tormes, is particularly privileged in terms of the number of cathedrals it boasts. The Old Salamanca Cathedral was built in the Romanic style between 1150 and 1230. The most outstanding feature of the cathedral’s exterior is the spectacular dome, decorated with scales, earning it the nickname of “the Cock Tower”.

Inside, visitors will be able to admire the high altarpiece with its 53 paintings depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, and a fresco painting representing the Final Judgement, as well a the Romanic image of the Virgen de la Vega, the city’s patron saint. The cathedral also has several magnificent chapels, including the Talavera Chapel, destined for worship in accordance with the Mozarab ritual.

Work on the New Salamanca Cathedral, built in the late Gothic style, began in 1512, but was not completed until around 1765. The exterior stands out for the spectacularly elaborate Hispano-Flemish decoration on the main façade and side doors. Visitors will be surprised by the grandiosity of the interior, accentuated by the ribbed vaulting. Particularly worthy of mention is the “Churriguera” late Baroque style dome over the crossing, which was polychromed in the 18th century. Lunch

After visiting the cathedrals, we could enjoy a relaxing stroll around the Salamanca ancient University, declared a World Heritage City in 1988 and European City of Culture in 2002.

The many delightful spots to be visited include the Baroque Main Square, the Shell House, the University’s Plateresque façade, the “Casa Lis” Art Nouveau Museum or the “Domus Artium 2002” (DA2) Contemporary Art Gallery.
Dinner and accommodation.

Day 4. - Salamanca – Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca) – Madrid

Breakfast in Salamanca and departure for Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca)

On our arrival, we will pay a visit to Ciudad Rodrigo Cathedral. Built during the transition from the Romanic to the Gothic style, work on this cathedral was begun in 1165 on the orders of King Ferdinand II. Although the building work would continue over a period of six centuries, the original style was maintained.

The exterior is noted for its Gothic Portico of Pardon, representing the Crowning of the Virgin Mary. Inside, the Main Chapel is topped by a 16th century Gothic vault, the work of Gil de Hontañón, whilst the Romanic side naves feature Gothic ribbed vaults.

It is in the cloister where we can most clearly distinguish between the Romanic and Gothic styles. A further highlight of the cloister is the decoration of the capitals and bases, many of which depict messages of a moralising nature.

If the visit takes place between June and December 2006, we could also visit the “KYRIOS” exhibition in the Cathedral, a new edition of the Ages of Man exhibitions that marks the end of the season of exhibitions held in the Cathedrals of Castilla y León. Lunch and return journey to Madrid
End of tour.

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