Highlights of Southern Spain and Portugal
with Mariangela Carozzi
Spring 2025

Welcome to Barcelona! When you arrive, a Wherever Tours representative will greet you at the airport. You will then board a luxury coach and be transferred to your hotel. Most flights arrive early, and your room may need more preparation time. In such a case, you can leave your luggage with the concierge, and your tour leader will suggest how to begin exploring the city on your own. Your tour will start at 6 PM that evening, with an orientation meeting and a lovely party complete with dinner and wine!

Today, begin with a drive along the Old Harbor to Plaza Catalunya, the city's bustling central square. Pass the famous works of Antoni Gaudi, the master architect, including the Casa Batlló, which seems to have been constructed from skulls and bones. Continue to visit the colossal Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudi and the most iconic symbol of Barcelona. Afterward, visit Park Guell, another of Gaudi's many masterpieces, and finally, Montjuic Hill, the site of the 1992 Summer Olympics. Tonight, enjoy a special dinner with wine!

After breakfast, you will drive to the outskirts of Barcelona to the Cava Region and visit a well-known winery for a vineyard tour. You will have a chance to sample the different wines and to enjoy a nice lunch (with wine, of course). Upon returning to the hotel in Barcelona, you’ll have free time to shop and explore in the afternoon. Dinner tonight is at your leisure.

Today, we will head along the Mediterranean coast to Valencia. Along the way, we will stop to visit the fortified city of Peñiscola. We will visit the imposing castle built by the Knights Templar. You'll have free time for lunch. Then, we continue to Valencia, known for its oranges and citrus fruits. Few cities like Valencia can combine remnants of its past, dating back to 138 BC, with innovative and avant-garde buildings from the new millennium, the City of Arts and Sciences. This evening, we will learn how to prepare "Paella Valenciana," the popular regional dish in the city where it was created. This will be a cooking show and your dinner for the evening, with great local wine, of course.

Today, take a city tour of Valencia. Hear tales about "El Cid," Spain's national hero who fought here against the Moors. Discover this Roman and Arabic architectural treasure before continuing to the city's gates, City Hall, and the Gothic cathedral. Arrive at the dramatic Arts and Science City, an outstanding scientific and cultural complex with futuristic architecture designed by local architect Santiago Calatrava. Tonight, dinner with your tour group...wine included.

Today's drive takes you from Valencia to Granada. The highlight of your sightseeing is visiting the 13th-century Alhambra, one of Spain's most celebrated monuments. This imposing hilltop fortress declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the finest examples of Moorish art and architecture. Walk along the lanes of the fragrant Generalife Gardens, which have beautifully designed courtyards, waterfalls, ponds, and views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Tonight, dinner with wine is included.

Before heading to Seville, discover the Albaicin district and the Royal Chapel, where Ferdinand and Isabella are buried. Later in the day, we will arrive in Seville, a great city with a fascinating history. Upon arrival, you will have the rest of the day at your leisure to shop and explore. Your tour director will make some suggestions to enhance your experience for the remainder of the day.

Begin your day by visiting the beautiful Plaza de España and the fragrant gardens of Maria Luisa Park. Then, take a walking tour. The tour will take you to the charming Barrio Santa Cruz, which used to be the city’s Jewish Quarter, with its winding cobblestone streets. After that, the tour will take you to visit the Cathedral of Seville. This is a "must-see" location since it is the burial site of the famed explorer Christopher Columbus. Enjoy an included dinner with wine tonight, and celebrate with a traditional Andalusian Flamenco show.

Today, we will cross the border from Spain into Portugal and arrive in Lisbon. This beautiful city is built on a series of hills, offering stunning views from every angle. Tonight, we will have a relaxing dinner with typical Portuguese food and unique green wine, Vinho Verde.

After breakfast, our tour of Lisbon begins with a stop at the top of Edward VII's Park to enjoy a magnificent view over the hills of Lisbon and the River Tagus. Next, view the treasured 16th-century Belem Tower, a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, see Jeronimos Monastery, an impressive symbol of the country's power and wealth and the resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Optional Experience: The tour leader will offer you an optional excursion to experience Cascais and Queluz Palace. Cascais, once a holiday destination for the Portuguese royal family and the world's monarchies, later became a regular meeting place for spies. Then proceed to Sintra to visit the magnificent Palace of Queluz.
Pricing details will be provided prior to the tour. Advanced reservations will be required

Today, our group visits the town of Fatima. We'll see the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, the Basilica of the Holy Rosary, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, and the Chapel of the Apparitions. This is where the Blessed Mary appeared to three shepherd children, Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta, on 13-Oct-1917. Then, visit Valinhos, where Our Lady appeared on 19-Aug-1917 to deliver Her messages. Later, we will return to the hotel to freshen up and travel to one of Lisbon's oldest districts to enjoy a traditional dinner with wine. We will be served Portuguese favorites and entertained by soulful Fado singers. It's going to be an unforgettable experience!

It's time to say goodbye! We will transfer to the airport to return home or continue our journey. We hope you had a wonderful vacation and will consider Wherever Tours in your future travel plans.