Madrid 4 days

Flight from Athens to Madrid. Arrival and departure straight away for a first acquaintance with the city through a panoramic tour by our coach. With stops for photos at points such as Plaza Castilla with its twin curved towers (Puerta de Europa), the Madrid arena (Plaza de Toros Las Ventas) the largest in the country, as well as a stroll in the largest natural lung in the city centre, the Retiro park, where we will see the artificial lake and the Glass Palace (Palacio de Crystal). Then we head to Atocha station. Atocha station is the largest railway station in Madrid, from here the high-speed AVE trains depart for Barcelona, Zaragoza, Sevilla, Málaga, Valencia and Alicante. There is a magnificent and lush garden inside the station which is the reason for our visit. It was inaugurated in 1992, and occupies the section of the old station after it was expanded to serve the high-speed trains. In the garden, one can find 7,000 plants, from more than 260 species of the plant kingdom! Arrival and check-in at the hotel, a little time for rest and we start for a walk in the historic centre Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel, and free time for dinner.

After breakfast, departure to the Prado Museum. We will pass through the Plaza Colon, the Paseo de Recoletos, and the Plaza de Cibeles with the Bank of Spain and the City Hall and from the Paseo del Prado to get to the museum. The Prado Museum is one of the most important painting houses in the world with a plethora of famous works that we would need days to be able to see them, in the 1 hour and 35 minutes we are given to do our scheduled tour with an official guide we will enjoy mainly from the Spanish School works of El Greco, Velazquez and Goya as well as some paintings of the Venetian School such as Tintoretto or the Flemish School such as Rubens. Also here we will have one hour free for you to see other works or visit the museum store. Then we will walk from Madrid to the Bourbons with the large open spaces i.e. squares, boulevards etc. The LP. and specifically from the Prado Avenue, also known as the Art Avenue, to Madrid of the Habsburgs with its many narrow streets, and we will pass the Quartier of Letters Barrio de las Letras.

From there you will be free to “lost” in these streets, try a chocolate con churros at the Chocolateria San Ginés, or find yourself on Cava Baja in the neighborhood of La Latina with the many Tapas Bars.

For later in the afternoon, we suggest you visit the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and specifically the 2nd floor where the permanent exhibition is located. There you will have the opportunity to admire some of the most famous works of Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and of course the world art masterpiece Guernica of Pablo Picasso as well as other well-known works of the artist.

Then we have our optional excursion to medieval Segovia, where we will walk through its streets and see the Roman Aquarium 2. 000 years old, the Plaza Mayor, the Castle-Palace of Alcazar de Segovia and we will have the opportunity to try in local restaurants, dishes such as the cochinillo (chicken baby) or try the local sweet Ponche Segoviano. Return to Madrid in the afternoon. A minimum of 15 participants are required for the tour and the cost per person is 50 €.

After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Toledo, the old capital of Spain. Upon arrival, we will initially take a panoramic tour by coach and stop at a point overlooking the city to take photos, and Toledo will be presented to us like a bride showing off her wedding dress. Then, we will head to the annex of the factory of Damascene and Swords, i.e. the two most characteristic examples of Toledo's art.

Next, we will start walking across the old town from one end to the other. We will stop to visit the antechamber of the sacred temple of Saint Thomas, where El Greco's masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, is located.

Afterwards, we will go to visit the most beautiful Cathedral in Western Europe, the Cathedral of Toledo. In addition to the temple, we will also be able to see works by El Greco, who lived and worked in Toledo, and not only that...

Later, free time and return to Madrid.

In the evening, to nicely conclude your trip to Madrid, we suggest a Flamenco show !!!

After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Madrid Airport and return to Athens.