5-Day Spain Tour Package from Barcelona to Madrid: Valencia → Alicante → Granada → Seville → Lisbon → Toledo【Product Code: 8710】

After having breakfast at the hotel, you’ll leave Barcelona for Spain’s third largest city, Valencia. In Valencia's history, the city was celebrated as the gateway to the Mediterranean. It’s commercially and culturally rich, with Moorish and Arab culture and food. Although today’s Valencia is less prominent, it’s still an important city for large commerce exhibitions and trade fairs to be held in throughout the year. Upon arrival, you will visit the Modernisme Plaza of the City Hall of Valencia, Valencia's Ancient City Gates and the Valencia Cathedral, where the true Holy Grail is preserved. After the tour the day is rounded off with a drive into Alicante.

Valencia's Ancient City Gates

It is an important landmark and one of the best preserved monuments of Valencia. Of the ancient city wall, which was pulled down in 1865 on the orders of the provincial governor Cirilio Amorós, only the Serrans Towers, the 15th century Quart Towers, and some other archaeological remains and ruins, such as those of the Jewish Gate, have survived. The Torres de Serrans were built in the 14th century, 1392, by Pere Balaguer. It was the main entrance to the city and it was originally built with a defensive function. From 1586 until 1887 the towers were used as a prison for nobles.

In the morning, you depart for the city of Granada on the plateau of the Andalusian province. This historic city has been ruled by the Visigoths and Arabs. It became the last stronghold of the Arab dynasty during its eight-hundred-year-long rule of the Iberian Peninsula. In the 15th century, King Ferdinand successfully expelled the Arabs and managed to unite Spain.  You will have a picture moment in front of the Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, also known as the Red Palace. Then you will continue to tour the old city of Granada, with its exquisite and delicate architecture. 

The Alhambra（Red Palace）

In the morning, the tour will go northbound to the largest city of the autonomous region of Andalusia, Seville. This city was the capital of the Muslim dynasty, considered to be the guardian angel of culture in Andalusia and the birthplace of the flamenco dance. Seville is the primary setting of many operas, of which the best known is Bizet's Carmen. As the fourth largest city in Spain, it has hosted the Universal Exposition of Seville in 1992. Upon arrival, you will visit the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. Its completion dates back to the early 16th century and now the cathedral halls serve as the Royal Chapel, the burial place of the kings for over a century. The tomb of Christopher Columbus, who discovered the New World, is also in the church as a credit to the great navigator. From there onwards you will see the Alcázar of Seville, which used to be a Muslim palace and a Spanish Royal Palace. The upper levels of the Alcázar are still used by the royal family as the official Seville residence today, which makes it the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. It was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the Seville Cathedral. We will walk to Santa Cruz, Torre del Oro (the Tower of Gold) and Maria Luisa Park, where the 1992 World Expo was located. In Plaza de España (Spain Square), you can admire crafted porcelain paintings, detailing the history and elegance of historical Spain. If possible, your tour guide will add an optional excursion to Mijas and/or Ronda. 

Alcázar of Seville

Today the tour departs for the capital and the largest city of Portugal, Lisbon. You are expected to arrive in Cabo da Roca (Cape Roca) in the afternoon. This is the most western extent of mainland Portugal and continental Europe. At the cape, you can see the enormous Atlantic Ocean surrounded by endless scenery. Don’t forget to buy the remembrance certificate to prove that you once set foot on the west point. Later we will head back to the Lisbon city centre and visit the Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, both were classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Belem Tower was important during the Age of Discovery, as this was the place where the ships would depart. The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most prominent examples of Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. You will pass through the Marquis of Pombal Square and then stop at the Rossio Square for some free time. Those who are interested in Portuguese custard tarts can taste the authentic ones at a century-old bakery.

Belem Tower 

Belém Tower, officially the Tower of Saint Vincent is a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. It was built during the height of the Portuguese Renaissance, and is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style, but it also incorporates hints of other architectural styles.The structure was built from lioz limestone and is composed of a bastion and a 30-metre (98.4 ft),four-storey tower.

Today we will drive back to Madrid via Toledo, a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage. This old city is located on a mountaintop, surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River, and contains many historical buildings. By strolling across the city, overlooking the Alcázar of Toledo and visiting the grand structure of the Toledo Cathedral, you will feel the bustling of Spain in the old time. Then take a well-earned rest as you sit back, drive through the breath-taking landscape of Spain and enjoy its rich palette of colours in natural surroundings, while you journey to Madrid.