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DAY 1: FRIDAY: MADRID

Arrival in the Madrid airport, where you will be welcomed by our representative and escorted to the Bauza Hotel, a sleek, urban hotel located in the posh Salamanca district, in the heart of Madrid.

You may wish to upgrade to the deluxe, five-star Westin Palace Hotel, one of Madrid's top hotels and a charming historic property from 1913.

Refresh and relax in your hotel this afternoon.

This evening experience what has become a Madrileno ritual, dining on tapas. Your private, English-speaking escort will meet you at your hotel and take to several great tapas bars, where you will experience (as a local would) the best tapas Madrid has to offer: savory meats, delicate canapés and superb seafood, to name just a few.

Overnight: Madrid.

DAY 2: SATURDAY: MADRID Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a private, half-day tour of Madrid with an expert guide.

Visit the enormous and magnificent Prado Museum, overflowing with masterpieces not only by Spanish artists such as Velazquez and Goya, but also Bosch, Rubens, Titian and other giants of European art through the 19th century.

Continue to the 17th-century Plaza Mayor, a wonderful Baroque square lined with arcades filled with picturesque cafes and colorful activity. From here, wander the streets in the heart of Old Madrid.

The remainder of your day is free for independent exploration of Madrid, shopping or relaxing.

Overnight: Madrid.

DAY 3: SUNDAY: MADRID (TOLEDO EXCURSION) Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your English-speaking driver for your excursion to the mystical city of Toledo, just one hour from Madrid.

Upon arrival in Toledo, meet your expert guide for a private tour.

Enter the House and Museum of El Greco, which contain an extensive collection of the Master's paintings.

Visit one of Europe's most splendid medieval synagogues: Santa Maria La Blanca. Enter the tranquil interior and weave through the series of white columns reaching up into horseshoe arches. The synagogue was designed and constructed by Moorish craftsmen in the 12th century with intricate designs and a symmetrical Eastern sensibility.

Visit the soaring Gothic cathedral and the Sacristy, which contains many paintings from El Greco, Van Dyck and Goya.

If time allows, enjoy the tranquil 15th-century monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and its handsome gothic cloister.

Enjoy lunch at leisure in Toledo. After lunch, return to Madrid with your driver.

Evening at leisure in Madrid.

Overnight: Madrid.

DAY 4: MONDAY: MADRID - SEVILLA

Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the Madrid train station, where you will board the high-speed AVE train to Sevilla (only 2hr 20min).

Upon arrival in Sevilla, you will be welcomed by our representative and escorted to Casa de la Juderia, situated in Sevilla's charming historic quarter.

You may wish to upgrade to the sumptuous, five-star Alfonso XIII, a member of Conde Nast's Gold List and one of the most famous hotels in Europe.

After lunch, enjoy a private half-day tour of Sevilla with an expert guide.

Sightseeing includes the enormous cathedral, the third largest in Christendom and the largest Gothic building in the world. Within, visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus (although where he is actually buried is in dispute).

Visit the cathedral's 12th-century bell-tower: the Giralda (originally built by the Moors as a minaret).

Wander through the Barrio de Santa Cruz: originally the Jewish Quarter and now the most fashionable quarter of Sevilla. The street signs call back to a time when each street was occupied by a particular craft guild.

The remainder of your afternoon is free for independent exploration or relaxing.

Tonight, we have arranged for you to experience the passionate art of Flamenco. Enjoy dinner, followed by a live performance, at one of the city's best venues, El Arenal. The art of flamenco exists in three forms: Cante, the song, Baile, the dance, and Guitarra, guitar playing, with rhythms drawn from Arabic, African, Jewish and Spanish roots.

Overnight: Sevilla.

DAY 5: TUESDAY: SEVILLA (CORDOBA EXCURSION) Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast, depart for an excursion to Cordoba. Independently transfer to the Sevilla train station and board the high-speed AVE train to Cordoba (40 mins).

Upon arrival in Cordoba, meet your expert guide for a private tour.

Begin at the greatest monument of Cordoba: the Mezquita or Grand Mosque, dating from 785. So massive that it contains a Catholic Cathedral within, it is one of the world's best-known pieces of religious architecture. A vast forest of hundreds of delicate marble columns and elegant arches, its mihrab (the niche which denotes the direction of Mecca) is a dazzling composition of mosaics sent as a gift by the Emperor of Byzantium.

Cordoba's medieval quarter is one of the largest in Europe. Wander down the picturesque and evocative streets, including the streets of the old Jewish Quarter. Visit the tiny synagogue of Maimonedes, built in 1315 and a national landmark since 1885, is located on a winding medieval road not far from the statue of Rambam that the city of Cordoba erected to honor their native son.

Enjoy lunch at leisure in Cordoba. After lunch, return to Sevilla by AVE train.

Evening at leisure in Sevilla.

Overnight: Sevilla.

DAY 6: WEDNESDAY: SEVILLA-GRANADA

Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast, pick up your rental car and depart for Granada (3hrs). Upon arrival in Granada, check in at Palacio de Santa Paula, a unique hotel combining modern and medieval architecture.

You may wish to upgrade to the Parador de San Francisco, a beautifully restored 15th-century Moorish palace-turned-convent, neighboring the Alhambra and its gardens.

After lunch, enjoy a private tour of the famed Alhambra with an expert guide. After you have toured the Alhambra (whose beauty was legendary even in its own days), continue with your guide through its extensive terraced gardens and the nearby summer palace of the Generalife.

Evening at leisure in Granada.

Overnight: Granada.

DAY 7: THURSDAY: GRANADA - MARBELLA (COSTA DEL SOL)

Breakfast at your hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Marbella.

Drive directly to Marbella or if you like, explore some of the places along the way. Directly south you'll find the scenic area of Las Alpujarras, a rural area of small villages. Drive along the coast and visit La Cueva de Nerja (caves of Nerja).

Alternately, arrival in Marbella via Antequera and Malaga. In Antequera, you'll find prehistoric dolmens (ancient burial chambers), some of the oldest in Europe. In Malaga, sights include the Moorish Alcazaba and the Gardens La Concepción, sheltered from the city inside a mid-19th century tropical gallery.

Late afternoon arrival in Marbella where you will check in at Hotel El Fuerte, located within walking distance to Marbella's charming old town.

You may wish to upgrade to the deluxe, five-star Hotel Puente Romano, set in ten acres of lush gardens, the hotel is one of the most luxurious on the Costa del Sol.

Overnight: Marbella.

DAY 8: FRIDAY: MARBELLA

Full day at leisure to explore posh galleries and shops or enjoy sipping cafe con leche in Marbella's charming old town.

Overnight: Marbella.

DAY 9: SATURDAY: MARBELLA

Day at leisure in Marbella.

We suggest an independent excursion to nearby Ronda. Grandly perched on a large rock outcropping, Ronda straddles the deep gorge of the Guadalevin river, and has one of the most picturesque bridges in the south. Wander the small streets of the Old Quarter with its distinctive wrought iron balconies and whitewashed homes.

Sights include the Plaza de Toro (bullring), one of the countries oldest and most architecturally beautiful, with elegant arches and columns.

Overnight: Marbella.

DAY 10: SUNDAY: DEPARTURE

Drive to the Malaga airport where you will drop off your rental car and board your departing flight.

All arrangements are subject to availability; we reserve the right to offer equivalent accommodation if a hotel is fully booked by the time we receive your reservation.

Please be advised that many of the smaller and more exclusive hotels fill up early. We urge you to return your form and deposit as soon as possible.

Your reservations are placed only upon receipt of a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person and one completed reservation application form per person.

The above prices include a 3% discount to pay by check. We do accept American Express. If you wish to pay by means other than check, please add 3% to the above prices.

Included in your land package:

Nine nights accommodation in hotels as noted:

   Our hand-picked SELECT hotel package:
      Hotel Bauza in Madrid
      Casas de la Juderia in Sevilla.
      Palacio de Santa Paula in Granada.
      Hotel El Fuerte in Marbella.

   Our hand-picked DELUXE hotel Package - Spain's Finest.
      Palace Hotel in Madrid.
      Hotel Alfonso XIII in Sevilla.
      Parador de San Francisco in Granada.
      Hotel Puente Romano in Marbella.

Breakfasts at hotel every morning (deluxe or buffet where available).

Private transfers: Madrid airport-hotel-train station, Sevilla train station-hotel.

Special Tapas Tour of Madrid with an English-speaking escort (cost of food included).

Flamenco performance at El Arenal in Sevilla (includes dinner).

Private sightseeing tours with an expert local guide in Madrid, Toledo, Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada (all admission included).

Transportation for excursions: Toledo full day private driver; Cordoba round-trip AVE train tickets.

City to city transportation: AVE train tickets Madrid-Sevilla; Five days rental car mid-size, manual transmission.

Value Added Tax and all service charges.

Round-the-clock in country ground office assistance.

Not included:

International Air arrangements.

Rental car extras: additional driver, gasoline, parking expenses.

Sightseeing listed as independent.

Meals unless noted above.

Transport unless listed above.

Cordoba excursion transfers (taxi's are metered and inexpensive).

Gratuities.