| World Heritage Cities of Spain |
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DAY 01 MADRID
Arrive to Barajas airport. Meet your driver host outside customs, who will transfer you to the hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid.
DAY 02 MADRID-SEGOVIA-AVILA (165 kilometres, part toll motorway, part a good road)
Buffet breakfast.
Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985
 Collect your self drive car in the office close to the hotel. Depart along motorway A-6 towards Segovia. See the magnificent aqueduct, built by the romans between I & II centuries AC and admire its 728 metres lenght. It is preserved as it was built, not using concrete at all; see the "lady of  the Cathedrals", so called for being the last one to be built in Gothic style and enter the fairy tale Royal Alcazar, built by the Catholic Sovereigns and today a very interesting museum. Trying the gorgeous suckling pig for lunch will be a must, before you resume journey towards Avila.
Overnight in Avila
DAY 03 AVILA-SALAMANCA (100 kilometres on a good road)
Buffet breakfast.
Old City of Salamanca inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988
 Stroll this perfectly preserved city, which first vestiges go back to the Roman Empire times. It reached prosperity during the XVI Century and amongst its historical background has the importance of being the site where the first "Junta de Comunerso" was created and where they planned to rise against Emperor Carlos I of Spain and V of Germanu. See the Convent of St. Theresa and the place where she was born. Drive outside for a panoramic view of the walls before you continue to Salamanca. Check in at your hotel and walk towards its beautiful Plaza Mayor, probably the most beautiful of Spain, strolling towards the University area, being the second oldest in Europe after the one in Heidelberg and founded by King Alfonso X "the wise".
In the evening it is advised to go back to Plaza Mayor and have dinner at any of its great restaurants. Overnight in Salamanca
DAY 04 SALAMANCA-CACERES (207 kilometres on a good road)
Old Town of Caceres inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986
Buffet breakfast.
Drive South along part of the "ruta de la plata" (route of the silver) to enter the Land of the Explorers
 and arrive in Caceres, one of its maximum architectural exponents. Check in and stroll the old quarters with prehistorical remains, roman and medieval vestiges like the "albarranas" towers, Palace of the Golfines, Palace of Mayorazgo and more. In the evening we suggest that you dine at any of the local restaurants in its Plaza Mayor...... or try the excellent cuisine of your Parador.
Overnight in Caceres
DAY 05 CACERES-MERIDA (70 kilometres on a good road)
Buffet breakfast.
 Morning drive South to Merida, nowadays the capital city of the Autonomous Region of Extremadura. After Rome, Merida is the only city in the World with the greatest Roman heritage, founded in year 25 B.C., being at the time the Capital of the Roman Lusitania Province, which included Portugal. Do not miss the magnificent Roman Theatre --nowadays also used for classic theatre plays during the special season-- and Anphitheatre, remains of its aqueduct, the unique Roman Museum, and more.Overnight in Merida
DAY 06 MERIDA-SEVILLE (195 kilometres on good road)
Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987
Breakfast. In the morning you continue driving Suth again towards the Region of Andalusia, arriving to Seville, its capital city. Check in at your hotel.
We advice you to leave your car parked today and stroll to see sites like Plaza de Espańa, Maria Luisa Park, the site of 1929 Latin American Expo with the different pavillions of Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Portugal, etc. Continue your walk towards the Old Tobacco Factory, nowadays the University. This old tobacco factory is the site that Bizet & Merimeé imagined for the famous "Carmen" opera. In the evening we suggest that you cross the Guadalquivir River to have dinner at any of the famous restaurant-bars of the Triana district.
 Overnight in Seville
DAY 07 SEVILLE
Buffet breakfast
Dedicate the day to visit the beautiful Gothic Cathedral, third in size after
 St. Peter´s in Rome and St. Paul´s in London, with the toombs of Christopher Columbus and King Alfonso X "the wise"; visit the Royal Alcazar, official residence of the Spanish Sovereigns when they visit the city..... and stroll along the narrow streets of Santa Cruz Quarter. In the afternoon you can visit the site of the Expo 1992, with the pavillions of different Countries that remain, today used for different purposes like offices of multinatinational companies, part of the University Faculties. In the afternoon you can drive to visit the remains of Italica, the former Roman city.
Overnight in Seville.
DAY 08 SEVILLE-GRANADA (250 kilometres on a free motorway)
Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984
Buffet breakfast.
Drive Eastbound in the morning and stop in Loja, a medieval city preserving many of its old churches and temples, before you continue towards Granada.
 We suggest you drive directly to visit the impressive moorish Alhambra, belonging to the last hispanic-arabic period with its Nazari palaces, the Palace of Carlos I, court of the lions, sultans room, baths, the harem..... and beautiful Generalife Gardens. Proceed to your hotel for check in.
Overnight in Granada.
DAY 09 GRANADA-CORDOBA (200 kilometres on a good and sometimes curvy road)
Historic Center of Cordoba inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984 After enjoying your buffet breakfast depart towards Cordoba, the caliphal city, another of our World Heritage treasures.
Check in at your hotel and walk to see the unique Mosque-Cathedral with its labyrinth of colums and the
 within Cathedral, built by order of Emperor Charles I. After the visit you can browse around the Old Quarters and see its flowered patios, the remains of the Synagogue and more. Overnight in Cordoba
DAY 10 CORDOBA-TOLEDO (350 kilometres, most of it a free motorway and only a small part a good road)
Historic City of Toledo inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986
Buffet breakfast. We suggest to depart early in the morning, heading North towards Despenaperros mountain pass which naturally divides Andalusia and Castille.
Stop in Puerto Lapice to see what was written by Cervantes to be one of the inns where worldwide known Don Quixote stayed in his crazy but noble adventures. Then continue towards Consuegra to see many old windmills in a row, which will still remind you of the Knight from La Mancha, resuming your journey towards Toledo for accommodation.
Overnight in Toledo
DAY 11 TOLEDO-MADRID (70 kilometres on a free motorway)
Buffet breakfast.
This is the last of the World Heritage Cities that you´ll visit with this itinerary. The site where christians,
 jewish and muslims lived in perfect peace during the Middle Ages: see the Cathedral --Prime of Spain-- with its main altar, choir, sachristy, chapter room and treasure room; walk to see St. Tome Chapel with painter El Greco´s masterpiece "Burial of Count of Orgaz", the remains of Synagogue of St Mary the White, Transit Synagogue, Church of St. John of the kings.Continue to Madrid. If you arrive earlier than 20:00 hours you will be able to return your car at the rental office.
Overnight in Madrid.
DAY 12 MADRID
Buffet breakfast. If you did not return your car the evening before, do it this morning. After returning your car and hotel check out, your driver host will transfer you to the airport to board your return flight.
Hotels used (or similar):
Madrid Emperador Hotel (4*, super central)
Avila Parador (4*, a XVI Century palace)
Salamanca Abba (4*, an emblematic restored building in the historiacal area)
Caceres Parador (4*, a XIV Century palace)
Merida Parador (4*, a XVIII Century convent)
Seville Posada del Lucero (4*, in a restored XVI Centrury house)
Granada Palacio de Santa Paula (4*, a XVI Century convent)
Cordoba Amistad (4* , an emblematic building in the heart of the Old City)
Toledo Parador (4*, bulding in the opposite side of the Tagus River, blending with the local architecture)
Madrid Emperador (4*, super central)
Prices include:
- Arrival and departure transfers from/to Madrid airport.
- Accommodation at mentioned hotels (or others of similar category), including buffet breakfast and taxes.
- Self drive car (Opel Vectra or similar) from day 02 to day 10, including unlimited kilometrage, CDW & TP insurances and taxes over these concepts.
(there is a minimum franchise that clients have to cover in case of damage of the car).
Prices do NOT include:
- Meals at the hotels other than breakfast.
- Parking fees, PAI insurance, extras at hotels such as laundry, phone calls, room service, etc.
- Entrance fees to monuments
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