Magical Spain

The Spaniards are a justifiably proud people who have occupied a country ruled by many different cultures. Yet, they have taken this complex heritage and magically blended it into one of the most culturally rich countries in Europe. Visitors to Spain can enjoy some of the finest art in the world, vibrant history, beautiful architecture, flamenco dance and healthy Mediterranean-style cuisine.

Day 1: Phoenix to Malaga, Spain

Day 2: Arrival at Malaga Airport

After our overnight flight, we arrived at Malaga Airport and transfered with assistance to our hotel in time for dinner.

Granada-Seville -- On Day 3, we departed to Granada. During the afternoon, we visited the Alhambra, the most important medieval monument in Europe. We enjoyed seeing the different palaces and gardens.

After leaving the Alhambra, we wandered through the beautiful Generalife Garden surrounded by the sweet fragrances and the soothing sound of water flowing from the countless fountains.

Who can fail to fall for the charm of Sevilla, this capital city on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, especially when its orange trees are in flower and the nights are full of magic? Now a prosperous hub of commercial and industrial activity and the center of the agricultural region, Sevilla is steeped in beauty and impressive monuments dating back many centuries. We have the Moors to thank for the many marvelous examples of architecture, including the gothic cathedral with the Giralda, an Arabic minaret transformed into a Christian bell tower. Finally, our tour ended with a stroll through the narrow lanes of the charming Santa Cruz quarter.

The southernmost part of Spain,Spain Jerez, is noted for its sherry, as well as its horses. We experienced a wine tasting and then attended the show "Equestrian Fantasy" at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. This equestrian ballet implements choreography taken from classic breaking and cattle taming accompanied by Spanish music and 18th-century costumes.

Cordoba is a captivating city with many attractive monuments. We began with a panoramic view of the city. Then, we visited the magnificent cathedral, converted within an original mosque when the Christians conquered Cordoba in 1236. With nearly 1,000 pillars, the original Gothic style is combined with Baroque and Renaissance elements.

Next, we visited the old Jewish Quarter, going back to the time of the Romans and Goths. Here we visited one of the few synagogues existing today in Spain; this one was built in 1315.

In the morning of Day 7, we visited the glorious city of Toledo, the capital of Spain in medieval times and the setting for the famous paintings of El Greco. The city is a national monument to Spain's art, history and spirituality. Imperial Toledo is a walled city with eight access doors to the old quarter. The city is also surrounded by the river Tajo. While strolling through the town's narrow alleys, we came to appreciate many different architectural styles, including Arabic, Mudejar Gothic and Renaissance. Toledo also has many prime examples of an ancient technique, called Damasquinado, that inlays precious metals into steel.

On our visit to this monumental city, we visited the cathedral, the ancient church of San Juan de los Reyes, and Gaudi's famous masterpiece, "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz," which is in the church of Santo Tome, formerly a synagogue built in 1366.

Our visit continued on to Segovia where we had the opportunity to see one of the best monuments left behind by the Romans on the whole Iberian Peninsula: Segovia's incredible aqueduct, built in the time of Augustus. Segovia is also famous for Alcazar, an 11th-century castle that inspired the Disney Castle.

In the afternoon, we visited El Escorial Monastery, which was founded by Philip II in the 16th century and is the largest Spanish building of the Renaissance. It was originally built to provide a place where the king could live the life of a monk while ruling the Spanish Empire.

We planned a full-day, guided sightseeing tour with a visit to the Prado Museum for Day 9. In the afternoon, we started with a panoramic tour: We discovered Madrid as the multifaceted city from its Arab-fortress origins to the court days of Charles III and finally to present-day Madrid. It was during the reign of Charles III in the 18th century when most artistic and cultural ideas were introduced enabling Madrid to become an important cultural and scientific center. On the tour we were driven past Puerta del Sol, Plaza Espana with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala and Paseo de Castellan. We finished with an inside visit to the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Spanish Royal Family built in the 18th century. It is considered one of the most beautiful and best-preserved royal palaces in Europe. Inside every chamber, we experienced rich tapestries, exquisite china pieces, furniture, armor and paintings, and outside, the surrounding gardens enhance the grandeur of the building.