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Day 1 | Monday 27 May 2024
WELCOME TO MADRID
Arrival in Madrid.
In the afternoon we will take a sightseeing tour of Madrid including the Salamanca district and the Bull Ring Arena, the second largest in the world. Then you will stop at the Torre Picasso and the soccer stadium Bernabeu. The tour will continue with many other emblematic sights of the Spanish Capital: Puerta del Sol, Colon Square, Alcalá Gate and the famous Cibeles & Neptuno Fountains. Welcome group dinner. Overnight in Madrid.
Day 2 | Tuesday 28 May 2024
MADRID DISCOVERIES
Begin the day with a guided visit to the imposing Prado Museum and view the masterpieces of artists such as Velazquez, Goya, Bosch, Rubens, Titian, and other great European painters.
Continue with a walking tour towards the Royal Palace, a monumental construction of the seventeenth century, a mixture of baroque and classicism. See also the Plaza de Oriente, the Opera House and the modern Almudena Cathedral.
After that, walking through the “Madrid de los Austrias” and the impressive Plaza Mayor, one of the most popular and typical corners in Spain. Overnight in Madrid.
Day 3 | Wednesday 29 May 2024
SEGOVIA
Bus transfer to Segovia, located in Castilla- León, one the 17 Provinces in Spain. Though only few traces tell the story of a glorious past, Segovia stills stands as a remarkable monument to its past. In a walking tour, discover the historic legacy of the Jews. Witness the imposing Roman Aqueduct and enter in heart of the ancient Jewish Quarter. Visit the Alcazar of Segovia, one of the most famous fortresses in Spain. Return to Madrid in the later afternoon. Overnight in Madrid.
Day 4 | Thursday 30 May
TOLEDO
We depart Madrid for Toledo, the city of 3 cultures perched high on a hill by the Tagus River.With its naturally fortified location, Toledo was once was also the center for Jewish Spain, with a rich, creative heritage. You will feel this atmosphere as you stroll the narrow alleys in its historic section, the true center of Spain, and is widely considered a “pearl” in terms of its subtle beauty. You will visit El Greco’s house, formerly the palace of the prominent Samuel Halevi (treasurer of King Pedro I, and architect of the El Transito Synagogue). Continue to Synagogue de Santa Maria La Blanca, later converted to a church, and to the Synagogue del Transito, which today houses the Sephardic Museum, both remarkable heritage of the Jewish culture. . Overnight in Toledo.
Day 5 | Friday 31 May
UBEDA & GRANADA
Early morning transfer to the magnificent city of Ubeda. Ubeda´s glorious past is reflected in its architecture, highly influenced by the Renaissance period- which earned the city a UNESCO heritage recognition. Its medieval atmosphere lingers in the air.
Next, we will ride to the famously beautiful city of Granada.Upon arriving we head straight for one of the Wonders of the World, the Moorish Palace of Alhambra, and the Genera life. Located on a hilltop with the Sierra Nevada as background, Alhambra’s exquisite design and layout have few rivals. Be filled with a sense of mystique as you are guided past graceful courtyards, splashing fountains and lavish rooms. Overnight in Granada.
Day 6 | Saturday 1 June
LUCENA & CORDOBA
This morning we will transfer to Lucena for a meaningful stopover, what once was regarded as the “City of Jews”. We will contemplate its Necropolis in the outskirts of town. Its Jewish heritage has transcended time. Our next destination is Cordoba, the former home of many Jewish scholars and poets. Once the biggest city in all of Europe, Cordova thrived and expanded with its unique blend of cultures. These are beautifully expressed with a visit to the Mosque-Cathedral, the most significant Muslim architectural achievement in the Western world. Walk through the streets leading up to the Jewish quarter that have been preserved whit whitewashed houses and colorful courtyards and shops. We will end the day with another ride to Seville and enjoy a free evening. Overnight in Sevilla.
Day 7 | Sunday 2 June
SEVILLE DISCOVERIES
A full day dedicated to discovering the vibrant and modern city of Seville on a panoramic walking tour who will include the grand Plaza de España, site of the pavilion of the great 1992 exhibition. Next visit the Barrio de Santa Cruz – the former Jewish Quarter with tiny cobble stone streets and magnificent indoor gardens hidden behind some sumptuous house’s façades. Continue towards the Alcazar Palace, still used as a residence for the Spanish Royal Family, and the Cathedral, said to be one of the largest in the world, that you will both visit. Here, you can find the resting place of Spanish Kings and Queens, as well as the impressive sepulcher of Christopher Columbus. In the evening, enjoy a Flamenco show. Overnight in Seville.
Day 8 | Monday 3 June
CACERES
Bus transfer to Cáceres.Caceres is declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO (1986)- a fascinating historic stone walled old town, where an important Jewish community thrived. We will visit the well-preserved Jewish quarter known today as the “Barrio de Sant Antonio” where we locate the “Hermita de San Antonio”, former site of the ancient synagogue. We will also explore the “Nueva Juderia” (New Jewry) among others. Overnight in Caceres.
Day 9 | Tuesday 4 June
MÃRVAO & CASTELO DE VIDE
We are off across the border with Portugal, to reach the imposing citadel town of Mãrvao. Marvao is a pleasant and peaceful town that offers exceptional panoramic views of the plain and the Sierra de São Mamede. Its streets are narrow, and the houses have picturesque roofs. The town is full of colorful flowers where you will enjoy breathtaking views over the mountains and Spanish frontiers. Our next stop is Castelo de Vide located at the bottom of a double hill. crowned by a Medieval castle and the São Roque Fortress. Also, there’s a small “Judiaria” and a Synagogue, nowadays a museum that you will visit. The synagogue was transformed into a small museum that tells about customs, persecutions and the expulsion of Jews in the Iberian Peninsula between the 15th and 16th centuries. A jewel of synagogue preserved over the centuries, located in a Jewish quarter with a lot of charm. Our final destination for the day is Porto with the rest of the evening free. Overnight in Porto.
Day 10 | Wednesday 5 June
PORTO DISCOVERIES
Today we will explore Porto. Discover the Jewish Porto and walk along the streets where a community was born and developed, a community that is supposed to have appeared just before the foundation of Portugal. The Jewish quarter of the city was situated deep in the heart of the village, which, in the 12th century, was located near the Cathedral, in the area that is today defined by the ruins of the Convent of Monchique, by the Torre dos Clérigos, Sé, Alfândega do Porto and the square and tunnel of Ribeira – and where some Jewish altars still survive in private estates. Walk towards the area of the old Mercado Ferreira Borges and visit the Palácio da Bolsa. This is where another Jewish quarter once stood, with a synagogue in its center, in what is today known as Rua do Comercio do Porto. In the Boavista area, the hub of Jewish life in the 17th and 18th centuries, visitors can see the Kadoorie synagogue, the largest synagogue in the Iberian Peninsula Jewish temple built between 1929 and 1937. In the afternoon, you will take a 50-minutes cruise through the Douro before heading back to the hotel. Overnight in Porto.
Day 11 | Thursday 6 June
TOMAR & LISBON
We set off to Tomar where your local guide will show you the Synagogue and Luso-Hebrew Museum of Abraham Zacuto. A very rare example of a medieval Jewish temple and of pre-Renaissance Portuguese art, the Tomar Synagogue is the only one of its kind from this period to have been fully preserved in Portugal. Before leaving, it is mandatory to visit the Templar Castle and the Convent of Christ in Tomar, a unique monument in the history of the western world, awarded the classification of world heritage by UNESCO. Built on a site that was originally used for Roman worship, this vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal's history and contains several important mementoes of decisive moments in the history of the western world. Upon arrival in Lisbon awaits an interesting visit of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, housing one of the World´s largest private art collections. Overnight in Lisbon.
Day 12 | Friday 7 June
LISBON DISCOVERIES
Full day tour of Lisbon with your local guide. Uncover all about the Jewish legacy in the Portuguese capital. It is known that until 1496 there were three Jewish Quarters in Lisbon. Besides strolling through Alfama, we will visit Shaarey Tikva synagogue in Lisbon.
In the afternoon, we leave towards the district of Belém, where were built the monuments alluding to the time of the Maritime Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Free time for lunch. We will stop at the Belém Tower (classified as World Heritage by UNESCO), the 15th century fortress and departure point of caravels, and at the Discoveries Monument to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. Farewell group dinner. Overnight in Lisbon.
Day 13 | Saturday 8 June
LISBON | DEPARTURE
Check out from your hotel and transfer to Lisbon airport.
Choose your preferred dates and book your trip today
BOOK NOWDates & Rates
For information please contact our office at info@ibmttours.com or call 1-877-977-4268
PACKAGE INCLUDS
- Meet and greet upon arrival by IBMT representative at the airport
- Transfer from airport hotel / airport (could be purchased during booking online)
- Air-conditioned motor coach
- IBMT Tour Escort through out the tour (days 1 - 13)
- 12 nights’ accommodation at below hotels
- Local Guides: Licensed, local, English-Speaking guides wherever needed as per itinerary especially where visits to important sites
- Entrance fees
- Meals plan as follows:
- Day 2 to Day 13 (breakfast at hotels)
- Day 1 Welcome dinner(local restaurant, Madrid) *transfer on foot
- Day 12 Farewell dinner (local restaurant, Lisbon) *transfer by bus
- Trunk capacity 1 luggage + carry on or backpack.
- Audio guides throughout itinerary (Days 1 to 12)
- Porterage in & out at all hotels
- Bottles of water (2) per person & day (Days 1 to 12)
- All tips for local service providers (guides, bus drivers & waiting staff)
HOTEL 4 & HALF STARS SELECTION / OR SIMILAR
- 3 Nights – Hotel Catalonia Atocha (Madrid) https://www.cataloniahotels.com/es/hotel/catalonia-atocha
- 1 Night – Hotel Pintor El Greco (Toledo) https://www.hotelpintorelgreco.com/en/
- 1 Night – Hotel – Porcel Sabica (Granada) https://sevilla.zenithoteles.com/en/
- 2 Nights – Hotel Zenit Sevilla (Seville) https://sevilla.zenithoteles.com/en/
- 1 Night – Hotel EXE Agora (Caceres) https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/exe-agora-caceres.html
- 2 Nights – Hotel Catalonia Porto (Porto) https://www.cataloniahotels.com/en/hotel/catalonia-porto
- 2 Nights – Hotel Zenit Lisboa (Lisboa) https://lisboa.zenithoteles.com/en/
TOUR ESCORT
- The Tour Escort is an-English speaking professional who will give, during the day travel, general information about the country so as helping the clients to find restaurants during their free meals, helping them during the check-in and check-out, or any others needs the clients might have during the tour.
- The Tour Escort is not able to do any local visit because of a Government touristic law.
THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Airfare & departure taxes (can be purchased upon booking with IBMT)
- Transfer from airport / hotel / airport
- Meals and beverages not mentioned
- The city tax in Lisbon of € 2,00 per person per night (subject to current rate).
- The city tax in Porto of € 2,00 per person per night (subject to current rate).
- Porterage
- Personal expenses
- Tips not included -
- Tip for the bus driver 3€ per day/per person.
- Tip for the National Tour Guide 5€ per day/per person.
- Tip for local guides 4€ per visit/per person. - Travel & Medical insurance
- Other services not mentioned in the program.
