Spain at a Slower Pace: The Best of Barcelona and Madrid

Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Note that dinners in Spain generally take place much later than in North America, meaning that there is little or no free time in the evenings. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

We'll enjoy a plated meal, with a glass of wine and mineral water; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night's rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel, the buffet features a variety of hot and cold items, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

This morning we’ll set out by motorcoach with our local expert to see some of Madrid’s most emblematic sites, ending at the majestic Museo Nacional del Prado — the Prado Museum — where we will have an expert-led exploration. In addition to the world’s most comprehensive collection of Spanish painting featuring Grand Masters such as Velázquez, Goya, Murillo, and many more, there are masterpieces of the French, German, and Italian schools, and early Flemish works. The museum opened to the public in 1819. It grew over many years into one of the world’s foremost collections of great art.

At a local restaurant, with a glass of wine and water included; other beverages available for purchase

We’ll return to our hotel late afternoon for an expert local lecture on the art, history, culture and people of Madrid through the ages. While the local area has been inhabited since the Stone Age, the city itself developed out of a citadel built at the end of the 9th century when Al-Andalus — the Iberian peninsula — was ruled by Moors, the name Europeans applied to Muslims from North Africa. It changed hands several times during the Reconquista (reconquest) and was eventually controlled by the kingdom of Castile. The royal court settled in Madrid but it did not become the national capital of Spain until 1606, chosen at least in part because it had no ties to opposing factions as well as for its central location. During subsequent eras, the city’s neighborhoods were referred to as “Los Madriles” — the Madrids — in recognition of distinctive differences from one barrio (quarter) to another. The people, Madrileños, were called “gatos” (cats), perhaps a medieval reference to the alleged ability of troops from Madrid to scale castle walls, though it also suggests the local preference for late evening hours. After many years of war, unrest, and dictatorship, the death of Franco sparked a frenzy of energy and creativity. With 3.3 million residents, Madrid is the third most populated city in the European Union behind London and Berlin.

At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a plated meal, with a glass of wine and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

Travelling by motorcoach, we’ll arrive in the historical town of Segovia for a field trip led by a local expert. Situated to the northwest of the capital in the Castile region and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Segovia boasts a wealth of monuments which span the centuries. Among these, we’ll see the remarkably well-preserved Roman Aqueduct (dating from around 50 C.E.) and enjoy an expert-led field trip to the renowned Alcazar (castle) which began construction in the 11th century. One of Spain’s most important historical sites, it was originally built as a medieval fortress on Roman ruins, but it also served as the royal residence of the ancient Kingdom of Castile up until the 17th century. Following the visit, we will return to Madrid.

On your own to explore the local cuisine.

Free time. Take this opportunity to see and do what interests you most.

We'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with a a glass of complimentary red or white house wine and mineral water; other beverages available for purchase

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

At the hotel, we'll be joined by a local expert for a presentation on 20th-century Spanish art. We’ll then board a motorcoach and ride to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía — Reina Sofia Museum — that opened its doors in 1990. This modern, contemporary Spanish museum on an international scale has a collection of more than 20,000 works including masterpieces by Dali, Miro, Picasso, and many others. Its most famous piece is Picasso’s “Guernica,” based on the bombing of that Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, but with broader symbolism as a plea against the barbarity and terror of all war. At the conclusion of the visit, we'll have the choice of taking the motorcoach back to the hotel or staying on in Madrid.

On your own to sample the local fare.

Free time. Take this opportunity to see and do what interests you most. Afterwards, we’ll gather at the predetermined time and place and take a motorcoach ride to a local tablao (flamenco bar) for a complimentary welcome drink and an introductory presentation given by an expert on the art of flamenco.

At the tablao, we’ll enjoy a simple, light dinner of tapas with wine, sangria, or beer, plus water and soft drinks.

While at the tablao, we’ll be treated to a traditional flamenco performance! The Universidad de Autonoma de Madrid describes flamenco: “Voices filled with anguish and pain in cante jondo, rhythms of happiness and joy in sevillanas and rumbas. Flamenco is all that and more, full of passion and intensity.” Madrid takes pride as the hub of the recording industry and a starting place for aspiring artists performing in tablaos. We’ll revel in the sights and sounds of an evening filled with Spanish folklore, music, and dance. We will return to the hotel via motorcoach after the performance.

Hotel buffet.

We'll transfer to the rail station and board an AVE (Alta Velocidad Espanola—Spanish High Speed) train for Barcelona. Reaching speeds of up to 190 mph on more than 2,000 miles of track, the AVE network is the largest high-speed rail network in Europe and second only to China.

On your own aboard the train.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, we’ll transfer by motorcoach and check in to our hotel with some time to freshen up and relax. Later, we will gather in the hotel meeting room for an expert introductory lecturer on Catalan art, architecture, culture, and life with a special focus on the modernist artists. This will set the scene for our time in Barcelona.

We’ll have plated meals with a glass of wine and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the hotel, the buffet features a variety of hot and cold items, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

We will board a motorcoach and head out for a panoramic exploration through Barcelona to see some of the major emblematic sites of the city including a visit to Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece, the gigantic basilica known as La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) (La Sagrada Familia entrance times are strictly regulated and subject to change; it may be substituted for another Modernist monument.) Construction began in 1882 and is due for completion in 2026. This enthralling and magnificent undertaking has become the symbol of the city, which we will explore inside and out with our local expert providing commentary.

On your own to sample the local fare.

After some free time, we'll return to the hotel with some time to freshen up before gathering in the hotel where we will meet with a local family to discuss life in Spain and Catalonia today

We’ll enjoy a plated meal plus a glass of wine and mineral water; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

Hotel buffet.

After riding to the old town via motorcoach, we’ll go on a walking field trip with our Group Leader around a local market where we’ll enjoy a tasting of local produce. Next, we’ll engage in a cooking class featuring Catalan and Spanish dishes and led by a local chef. This interactive class will include information on these dishes, as well as a demonstration and instruction while we learn how to prepare and cook these regional specialties.

At the cookery class, we’ll enjoy lunch featuring the dishes that we have prepared; a complimentary glass of wine and water included.

Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We’ll meet at a predetermined time and place and take the motorcoach back to the hotel.

On your own to explore the local cuisine.

At leisure. As tomorrow is a busy day, we suggest you take some time this evening to prepare for departure on Saturday,

Hotel buffet.

With a local expert, we’ll head out via motorcoach for a field trip to the Hospital Sant Pau - an outstanding work of modernist architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site by Catalan architect Domenech i Montaner. Later, we will ride by motor coach to lunch.

At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a light tapas meal – small plates featuring different tasty dishes – with wine, soft drinks, and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Led by a local expert, we will walk to the Fundació Museu Picasso de Barcelona – Picasso Museum – for an on-site presentation followed by time to explore independently and see what interests each of us most. Opened in 1963, the museum occupies five large houses dating from the 13th-15th centuries and has a permanent collection of more than 4,000 works displaying the genius of young Pablo Picasso. We’ll then return to the hotel by motorcoach.

At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy dinner with a glass of complimentary red or white house wine and mineral water; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Hotel buffet, flight times permitting. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!