The Proud Soul of Spain

Journey south through eastern France to the Brive-la-Gaillarde region. In the evening you arrive at the hotel for a first group dinner.

Continue over the Pyrenees into the Basque Country. In the afternoon you arrive in Bilbao, the former industrial city on the Nervión, which in recent decades has transformed into one of Europe's most exciting metropolises. After checking in at the hotel, there is time for a first stroll or an aperitif in one of the traditional pintxos bars.

The city tour introduces you to the many facets of Bilbao. The medieval old town, Casco Viejo, with its seven original streets, the neo-Gothic Santiago Cathedral and the lively market halls reveal the city's historic soul. On the opposite bank of the river, the spectacular architecture around Frank Gehry's world-famous Guggenheim Museum, with its sweeping titanium façades, is impressive. Those who wish to experience the museum's interior and its works of contemporary art can do so in the afternoon (optional).

A longer stage through the wide landscape of Castile takes you to the Spanish capital. In the afternoon you arrive in Madrid and check into your centrally located hotel. The evening is yours.

Madrid is both regal and down-to-earth. The city tour begins at the famous Puerta del Sol, the geographical and symbolic centre of Spain, and leads to the magnificent Plaza Mayor with its arcades. Along the Gran Vía, Madrid's glittering boulevard, you reach the Mercado de San Miguel, one of the finest cast-iron market halls in Europe. The highlight of the day is your visit to the Royal Palace. With over three thousand rooms, it is one of the largest palaces in Europe and houses magnificent halls, a famous armoury and paintings by Goya and Velázquez. In the evening a typical tapas dinner invites you to immerse yourself in Madrid's cuisine (optional).

In the morning you visit Toledo, the former capital of Spain, where Christians, Moors and Jews lived side by side for centuries. The guided walk through the narrow lanes of the old town leads to the imposing Gothic cathedral, one of the most important sacred buildings on the Iberian Peninsula, and to the Synagoga del Tránsito, a quiet witness to Jewish culture in Spain. In the afternoon we continue to Granada. A group dinner awaits you at the hotel.

For many, Granada is the emotional heart of a journey through Spain. The city tour takes you to the lively Plaza Nueva, into the mysterious Calle Elvira with its teahouses of oriental character, and along the picturesque Carrera del Darro, one of the most beautiful streets in Spain. The absolute highlight follows with your visit to the Alhambra. This fairy-tale palace complex of the Nasrid sultans is among humanity's most precious heritage. Delicate stucco work, splashing fountains, intricate mosaics and gardens with water features speak of the splendour of Moorish Spain.

You leave Andalusia and travel east to the Mediterranean coast. Valencia, the country's third-largest city, welcomes you with mild sea air and a Mediterranean way of life. A group dinner awaits you at the hotel.

In the morning, city tour of Valencia. The elegant town hall square and the imposing cathedral reveal a city full of history and Mediterranean ease. At midday you have the opportunity to try Valencia's quintessential speciality: an authentic paella with a glass of sangria (optional). In the afternoon, drive along the Mediterranean coast to the Costa Brava, where you spend two nights (with half board) right on the sea.

Today Barcelona is on the programme. The city tour begins at Plaça de Catalunya and continues down the famous Rambla to the Mercat de la Boqueria with its mountains of exotic fruit, fresh seafood and colourful stalls. You wander through the medieval Barri Gòtic with its Roman remains and quiet courtyards, as well as the trendy El Born. The highlight is the visit to the Sagrada Família. Antoni Gaudí's sacred building, under construction for over 140 years and still unfinished, fascinates with its unique play of light through the coloured stained-glass windows.

You travel back over the Pyrenees to France. In the evening you arrive in the Lyon region, where you enjoy the last group dinner together.

A relaxed journey home to Switzerland, with images and impressions of an unforgettable trip through Spain's great cities, magnificent palaces and Mediterranean coastal landscapes in your luggage.