Tour description
Highlights of Spain Food, Wine & Cultural Tour
From proud Catalonia to Moorish Andalucia and vibrant Madrid; experience Spain’s diversity on this Highlights of Spain food, wine & cultural tour. In Catalonia, you will not only explore its capital Barcelona, but you will visit the lush Penedes wine region, and try its famous Cava; fine Spanish bubbly. Compare the outlandish architecture of Barcelona to the quaint unspoiled medieval and fishermen’s villages found in the Emporda and along the beautiful Costa Brava. On arrival in Seville the romance of Moorish architecture and flamenco dancing will astound you! All along your Highlights of Spain tour you will taste the diverse and delectable food which Spain offers. With the scent of orange blossom in the air, you will be able to explore the hidden quarters of Seville, before viewing the impressive Mezquita of Cordoba. In Madrid you can observe some of the best art pieces in the world at El Prado or Reina Sofia museums. Our officially licensed guides and chauffeurs will give you the insider’s take on Spain. Do your soul a favour and immerse yourself in the beauty of Spain!
DAY 1 BARCELONA
On arrival at Barcelona Airport to begin your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour, our chauffeur will be awaiting you with a luxury vehicle ready to transfer you to your 4* boutique hotel. Located in the vibrant Barcelona Gothic Quarter, the hotel is near to all major sights but at the same time on the port front. The rooftop terrace bar and pool provide an astonishing view of the city as well as the port, and your lovely room looks out onto the harbor. A representative of Gourmand Breaks will meet you for a welcome drink, and together you will discuss your personalized itinerary for your private food, wine & cultural tour of Spain. Apart from having available your Online Personal Travel Webpage, you will be handed your Personal Travel Journals containing all your itinerary details and plenty of suggestions for restaurants and free time activities. Our excellent guides and chauffeurs will attend you throughout your tour with us and you will also have our 24/7 back office assistance, for anything you might need.
Barcelona has a long and ancient history, but the city was replanned, with its medieval walls demolished in 1854; as the modern and eclectic place visited today. Over the next sixty years, much of modern Barcelona was built, its architecture funded by the bourgeoisie and designed by Antoni Gaudi and his Modernista contemporaries, Lluis Domenech and Josep Puig. The Eixample district, where most of the new building was happening at the time, is where you will encounter the majority of these examples of Catalan Renaissance architecture; often arresting you as you turn a corner, with their lavish decoration and detail. On this first evening in Barcelona you might want to simply relax and unwind after your journey, otherwise we have several dinner recommendations for Barcelona’s best restaurants or informal tapas places nearby.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer from Barcelona airport. Welcome meeting with your Gourmand Breaks tour representative. Overnight in a 4* luxury palace hotel overlooking the port in Barcelona.
DAY 2 BARCELONA
This morning our charismatic Officially Licensed guide will await you at your hotel to continue your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour. Together you will beat the queues as you enjoy a private guided visit to Antoni Gaudi’s incredible architectural feat, La Sagrada Familia. Following, you will visit La Boqueria market, Spain’s largest marketplace, which is a display of the brightest and most delectable foods Spain can offer. Our expert guide will lead you around the best booths and you will taste some of the most delicious local seasonal produce at one famous La Boqueria bar, frequented by celebrities. Continuing your private walking tour through the Gothic quarter of Barcelona you will see Barcelona Cathedral, Sant Jaume Square and the amazing Santa Maria del Mar Church, which is considered the finest and most complete example of Catalan Gothic architecture. Next you will taste some of the best Spanish cheeses at an artisan cheese shop, paired with Priorat wine. For something sweet, your tour will stop at the oldest venue in Barcelona for dried nuts, fruits, nougats and chocolate. This quaint store, having specialized in roasting coffee beans and nuts for over 150 years, is still decorated with its original furniture and wood-burning stove.
Your private Barcelona food & wine tour will be rounded off with a light lunch at one of the best delicatessens in the city! Produce includes Spain’s best ham & cold meats, local preserves of wild tuna, anchovies, or clams and a selection of the best Spanish olive oils, etc. In addition there are English speaking sommeliers on hand to guide you through more than 6000 wines. The rest of your afternoon will be free to enjoy as you wish. Prior to leaving you, your guide will be happy to provide suggestions for really good places to eat and shop, etc.
Tour in a nutshell: Private guided tour of Barcelona. Gourmet food & wine tastings. Overnight Barcelona.
DAY 3 BARCELONA
Barcelona is yours for discovering solo on your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour today! You may have had your curiosity piqued by a certain area you visited yesterday with your guide, maybe an interesting cafe or a local atelier in the Born quarter. Otherwise, you might want to explore more of Barcelona’s architectural curiosities; there are many remarkable buildings to see. Gaudi’s first work, Casa Vicens, is a spectacularly decorated house in the up-and-coming Gracia area north of the centre. Here several small food and design businesses thrive; be it a bakery, a gelateria or a potter’s studio. Optionally, we can arrange for you to have a Spanish cooking class today at a prestigious Barcelona cooking school, where you will learn the secrets of the best seafood paella, suquet or crema catalana. You will not only learn to cook a few key Spanish dishes, but with our fantastic Spanish chef, you will head to La Boqueria market to choose the best ingredients for your 4-course Spanish feast. Enjoy the attention of our chef and a delicious lunch with wines to follow.
Alternatively, take time to do a little shopping on the Passeig de Gracia, the place for Barcelona’s best shopping, with over a kilometre of incredible designer shops and interesting boutiques where few major international designers are not present. Otherwise have a casual lunch, stroll along the seafront, visit Parc Guell, Montjuic Mountain or maybe there is another area you wish to see. We can recommend a few fine dining venues nearby for a sumptuous meal to say goodbye to Barcelona in style!
Tour in a nutshell: Free day Barcelona. Optional Spanish cooking class. Overnight Barcelona.
DAY 4 EMPORDA
Your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour takes you to the beautiful and serene countryside of the Emporda. Here, you will stay in an authentic medieval castle, an architectural jewel that was built eight centuries ago; now converted into a 4* luxury hotel. After checking into your fairy-tale residence, you will visit the nearby medieval village of Pals. As you walk through the narrow village streets, you will feel as though you have stepped back in time. The stone archways, cobblestone streets and wrought balconies adorned with flowers, create a welcoming feel to this Romanesque village. Your “medieval journey” continues to another nearby village, where you are booked for a delicious lunch of regional Catalan fare with Emporda wine, at an authentic stone farmhouse which has been converted into a delightful restaurant.
Afterwards, head to the Mediterranean coast and take in the serene views before you. Picture-postcard villages are situated here, beachfront cafes and inviting walkways. There are many clifftop paths to appreciate why Costa Brava translates as Wild Coast. The romantic and beautiful clifftop Botanical Garden is a delight to wander around with its many species and magnificent setting. Return to your country retreat where you will still have plenty of time to get acquainted with the grounds of the castle and enjoy all the amenities (including a gorgeous swimming pool) before a peaceful dinner.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured tour of Costa Brava and medieval villages. Regional Catalan lunch with wine. Overnight in a 4* castle hotel in the Emporda countryside.
DAY 5 BESALU & GIRONA
Visit two adorable medieval towns on your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour today. Along with our Officially Licensed guide, you will visit Besalu, a fascinating Catalan medieval village, renowned for its stunning bridge and Jewish mikvah. Besalu villagers grow herbs in the quaint local public gardens for their well-known and traditional homemade wine, ratafia. Most Besalu families have been jealously keeping for generations their own secret combination of aromatic herbs to flavor this digestive liquor. You will surely enjoy your ratafia tasting with a chatty and charming local producer!
Next you will head to the enchanting city of Girona. Your private guide will show off its stretches of cobblestone streets, the old Jewish Quarter, the Arab baths and the magnificent Girona Cathedral. Wind through the narrow streets and encounter little shops, cafes and medieval homes that families have passed down through the generations. Enjoy a romantic lunch at one of the best restaurants in town. First class service, innovative takes on traditional recipes and an elegant atmosphere; will provide the perfect end to your visit in Girona. Girona is also home to the mythical Celler de Can Roca restaurant, winner of many best restaurant in the world awards. This exquisite 3-star Michelin eatery, owned by three charming Catalan brothers is a truly unique place to experience and if you wish to go there, let us know and we will do our best to get you in. The enthusiasm and creativity of the cooking, with mains by Joan, the oldest brother and desserts by Jordi, the youngest, is only matched by the mind-blowing wine pairing by the third brother Josep, considered by many the best sommelier in Spain.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer. Private guided tour of Besalu & Girona. Sophisticated lunch with wine. Overnight Emporda countryside.
DAY 6 CADAQUES
Indulge in the breathtaking beauty of the rugged Mediterranean coast on your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour, as you are driven to the remote village of Cadaques. This white-washed seaside town is a favorite of many Bohemian artists, including the master of surrealism; Salvador Dali. You will visit the summer seaside home of Dali, left as it was when he and his wife, Gala, lived there; where you can have a glimpse into their life. Stroll along the quiet Cadaques promenade, with pretty villagers’ houses and artsy little cafes and shops hidden among the tiny cobblestone streets. For lunch, follow in the artist’s footsteps and enjoy a delightful seaside meal at our favorite window table in one of the small haunts, frequented by Dali himself.
After lunch, you will cross through the natural park of Cap de Creus to a lighthouse on the edge of a cliff that overlooks the Mediterranean sea. It so happens, that this point is the first place in Spain where the sun’s rays shine every morning. Take in the impressive and romantic views of the Mediterranean. The mountains overlooking Port de la Selva from where you can see the sea, will take your breath away with its magnificence. See the imposing Sant Pere de Rodes Benedictine Monastery, constructed on the hillside below the ruins of the medieval castle that gave protection to the monastery. Dating from the 10th century, it is a prime example of the Catalan-Roman era. After your busy day, enjoy a relaxing evening at your hotel or have a romantic dinner at one of the local restaurants.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured tour of Cadaques. Visit the Dali House museum & Sant Pere de Rodes. Local lunch with wine. Overnight Emporda.
DAY 7 SITGES & PENEDES
You will leave your Emporda castle hotel and head south to the seaside town of Sitges on your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour. At every turn Sitges gives you picturesque views of the Mediterranean, and the town abounds with colonial style houses fashioned for the local aristocracy of the 18th and 19th centuries. After a stroll, relax with a glass of Chardonnay as you take in the Mediterranean, prior to enjoying a delicious lunch with wines at the best restaurant in town.
In the afternoon, your venture will take you on a VIP private visit to the Cava cellar of Agusti Torello, one of the most important vineyards in the Penedes wine region of Spain. These quality sparkling Spanish wines are made using the traditional method of making Champagne, but with a blend of the classic Penedes region grape varieties of Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada. Fine bubbles slowly develop in the bottles placed in deep cellars, where they are shielded from light and enjoy low temperatures at a constant humidity. Only the best of conditions combined with a long and patient ageing process make possible the miracle of transforming grapes into this complex and unique Cava. Your in-house wine specialist will show you the beautiful masia and grounds, as well as the underground stone cellars – then, a complete private tasting awaits you. Your final stop today will be your excellent 5* winery hotel in Penedes wine country, amidst the lush vineyards.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured tour. Visit to Sitges. Private tour of a prestigious Penedes winery with wine tastings. Overnight in a 5* winery hotel in the Penedes wine region of Spain.
DAY 8 PENEDES
This morning enjoy a wine tour at Pares Balta, an exceptional biodynamic vineyard, owned by one family since 1790 and situated in the heart of the Penedes wine region. Winemaking has existed in the Penedes wine region since the 6th century BC, when the Phoenicians introduced Chardonnay vines. In the 18th century when Spain exported much of its wine to the South American market, the demand for Penedes wine began, and has not diminished since. On this unforgettable winery visit, the fantastic in-house expert will take you on a private tour of the vineyards, which have been ecologically cultivated for more than 300 years. You will be amazed at how the “intervention” of bees, sheep, and lunar phases help to create their outstanding wines. Keeping to age-old methods of vinification, the grapes in this vineyard are all hand-picked to ensure harvest at the ideal time for each vine. Back at the cellar, one of the winemakers will show you the entire wine making process. Following, you will be given a complete tasting of their wines and cavas; an array of ecological and organic varieties. Additionally, the owners make their own olive oil (which you will also taste) and will gladly explain to you the process and properties of extracting this “liquid gold”; integral to Catalan and Spanish cuisine.
After trying the finest wines of the region on this part of your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour, you will return to the hotel for a light snack, where you will also have time to relax. We suggest a walk around the hotel’s picturesque vineyards.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured wine tour. Private guided tour of one Penedes winery with wine tastings. Overnight Penedes wine region of Spain.
DAY 9 SEVILLE
Andalucia, Spain’s Moorish southern region, is the next destination of your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour. On the train heading south, your cross-country journey will showcase the changing Spanish landscape. Your boutique 4* Seville hotel is situated in the picturesque and authentic Barrio de Santa Cruz, and the hotel is a converted manor house dating back to the 16th century.
This afternoon, our Officially Licensed guide will be waiting for you at the hotel and you will depart on a private sightseeing tour of Seville’s Barrio Santa Cruz, which is the old Jewish quarter. You will amble around its beautiful squares and narrow streets, which form a labyrinth, but beware, it is very easy to get lost! The jasmine and orange scented Barrio abounds in beautiful palaces, artisan shops and interesting art galleries. Your tour will include a visit to Seville Cathedral, the oldest and most spectacular Gothic cathedral in the world. Having worked up an appetite on this fascinating tour, your guide will lead you now to a delicious tapas dinner. Seville boasts more than 4,000 tapas bars – roughly 1 for every 200 locals so you know they know what they’re talking about! Plate after plate of hot and cold food appears on the bar to tempt your palate, so you can try cold roasted pepper salad or anchovies in vinegar, a hot dish of meatballs in sauce or a slice of potato omelet … the choice is yours! Of course, as is customary, you will accompany your mouth watering bites with a glass of dry Spanish Sherry, wine or draught beer.
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer. 1st Class high-speed train tickets to Seville. Private guided tour of Seville. Tapas dinner with wine. Overnight in a 4* boutique hotel in Seville.
DAY 10 SEVILLE
Today you can enjoy Seville as you wish! Along with the information we have provided you, our tour guide will have given you many ideas for further sightseeing options and foodie hotspots which the locals enjoy, to experience the best of Seville. You might wish to visit the Reales Alcazares, the oldest royal palace in Europe and residence of the Spanish Royal Family when they stay in Seville. Originally founded as a fort in 913, it is a fascinating building to explore, because of the many layers of history; both Muslim and Christian, which have created it. The gardens here are a delightful way to spend a relaxing hour. If you are in the mood for more walking, maybe you would like to visit the Plaza De Espana and take a stroll in Maria Luisa Park, home to 3500 magnificent trees, it is a tranquil respite from the hubbub of the city. An alternative option, a typically Andalusian experience, would be to take a tour of Seville’s bullring, Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza. A handsome and quintessentially Spanish building, it was here that bullfighting on foot (as opposed to horseback) began in the 18th century. Guided visits include the ring and the museum, as well as seeing the hospital for bullfighters who came off second best.
In the evening your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour will wow you with a wonderful Gypsy Flamenco Show, where the swirling skirts and tapping heels of the dancers will excite and amaze the senses. You may wish to have a relaxed dinner, perhaps something typically Andalusian before or after the Flamenco Show for which we have several suggestions; in the Barrio Santa Cruz or elsewhere in Seville.
Tour in a nutshell: Free day in Seville. Gypsy Flamenco show. Overnight Seville.
DAY 11 CORDOBA
Cordoba is your destination today. Our excellent Officially Licensed tour guide will be waiting for you at the train station, and you will start your private tour of Cordoba. A Roman colony which was founded in 152 BC, Cordoba was once the biggest city in all of Europe. As the Islamic capital on the Iberian Peninsula, Cordoba had an array of mosques, libraries, observatories and a university and thrived with its greater tolerance of creeds and cultures. These imprints are beautifully expressed with a visit to La Mezquita, the most significant Muslim architectural achievement in the Western world. This 8th century structure was first a church, then a mosque, and today has a cathedral oddly placed in its center, constructed in the 16th century. The Jewish community was dynamic in Cordoba 700 years ago, and the medieval Jewish Quarter is a maze of narrow streets and small plazas with white-washed buildings. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, Cordoba’s Juderia is one of the largest in Europe. Today Cordoba’s Jewish quarter has been restored and is filled with charming shops and cafes, a pleasure to get lost in.
Your private Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour will then take you to some local taverns to savor typical Cordobese tapas. Cordoban taverns are designed as lively, yet less frenetic, venues to taste tapas. Try the local Spanish food specialties such as Flamenquin (battered pork or ham), Salmorejo (cold tomato soup thickened with breadcrumbs), Rabo de Toro (bull’s tail) and for dessert the typical Pastel Cordobes – a pastry filled with sweet pumpkin. On return to Seville we have many suggestions for a final Sevilliano style dinner tonight!
Tour in a nutshell: 1st class high-speed return train to Cordoba. Private guided tour of Cordoba. Lunch of typical tavern tastings with wine. Overnight Seville.
DAY 12 MADRID
Spain’s capital of Madrid is the next destination of your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour. Your 4* boutique hotel is housed in an eighteenth century building which used to be the residence of the Duke of Noblejas and has maintained its frescoes, mirrors and stained glass whilst being equipped with modern comforts. The hotel’s location is perfect, next to the famous Plaza Santa Ana, within the Golden Triangle of Art, so you will not have far to walk to get an art fix. This afternoon, our Officially Licensed guide will take you on a private tour of El Prado and Old Madrid. Starting with the Prado museum, which is the biggest art gallery in the world, your private guide, additionally qualified in Spanish History and Art; will make sure you don’t miss anything. It has more than 7,600 paintings, but can exhibit only one part of its collection due to a lack of space. However, a recent addition to the museum increased the space by 50%, so more paintings will gradually be displayed. Prado means meadow, and the museum got the name of Prado because there was an open meadow where the museum now sits. Your private tour of Madrid will then take you to the Plaza Oriente to see and learn about the Royal Palace and the Cathedral.
You will then walk through Madrid’s old town to San Miguel market, the hottest gastronomic spot in Madrid whose bars and restaurants make it the place to meet! On your journey, you will enjoy some fantastic bites to eat, and a beverage or two, as you sample the best variety of tapas the city has on offer!
Tour in a nutshell: 1st class high-speed train to Madrid. Private guided tour of El Prado & Old Madrid. Tapas-hopping meal with wine. Overnight in a luxury 4* hotel in Madrid.
DAY 13 TOLEDO
This morning you are off to Toledo for the day. Our Officially Licensed tour guide will be waiting for you at the train station when you arrive, and will lead you on a visit to Toledo Cathedral, considered to be one of the high points of Gothic art. The construction of this monumental building, with a basilica floor plan and five naves, commenced in 1226, although it was not finished until the 15th century. On its main façade the outstanding feature is the doorway, made up of three doors: Infierno (Hell), Perdon (Forgiveness) and Juicio (Judgement). The exterior is topped by the two cathedral towers, one of them in flamboyant Gothic style and the other in Gothic-Renaissance. Following on, your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour will lead you to the Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca. Remains of the Jewish community are still preserved in the city in the synagogues of Santa Maria la Blanca and El Transito. The former, built possibly in the 12th century, is also a good example of Toledo’s Mudejar art. In the synagogue of El Transito, built in 1357, you can admire one of the best Mudejar coffered ceilings of all those preserved in Toledo, along with walls richly decorated with geometrical and botanical designs and Hebrew inscriptions. Nowadays, this Jewish place of worship houses the Sephardic Museum, in which an interesting collection of art and objects used in Jewish ceremonies are exhibited. Your tour of Toledo, will finish with a visit to the church of Santo Tome, famous for housing El Greco’s El Entierro del Conde Orgaz (The burial of Count Orgaz). You will then have free time to enjoy Toledo and have lunch, for which we have several suggestions, prior to returning to Madrid. Back in Madrid, the rest of the evening is free to do as you wish – relax, have a light dinner, wander around Madrid, the choice is yours. We have many suggestions for great restaurants.
Tour in a nutshell: 1st class high-speed return train tickets to Toledo. Private guided tour of Toledo. Overnight Madrid.
DAY 14 MADRID
Today your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour gives you a free day to wander around Madrid and see the museums, art galleries and famous parks of this fantastic city. Perhaps you wish to visit the Reina Sofia Museum or the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection in the company of our expert guide; this can be arranged. The Reina Sofia Museum is the national museum for 20th century art in Spain. The museum was officially inaugurated in Madrid in 1992 and is named after the former Queen of Spain. The Reina Sofia museum collection consists of more than 20,000 works from the late 19th century to the present day, mainly dedicated to Spanish art with highlights including two of the greatest 20th century masters; Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. The most famous painting displayed is Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ – incredible to see up close. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is a collection of art which in the 1980s, was one of the greatest coups in European art history. Amassed by a central European collector beginning around 1920, and formerly displayed in Lugano, Switzerland, its 700 canvases, by artists ranging from El Greco to Picasso, are arranged in chronological order. This fantastic collection rivals the legendary holdings of the Queen of England herself.
Maybe you wish to return to the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) to view its interesting interior. The palace is used by the King for ceremonial purposes only; he actually lives in the Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of the city. Otherwise, take a leisurely walk through El Retiro Park, a great place to enjoy the open air as you stroll along the paths, passing fountains, statues, the delicate Palacio de Cristal and the boating lake. This evening we have many recommendations for fine dining in Madrid, be it old style Spanish food or a Michelin starred extravaganza!
Tour in a nutshell: Free day in Madrid. Overnight Madrid.
DAY 15 DEPARTURE
This is the last day of your Highlights of Spain Food & Wine Tour. After checking out of your hotel, our chauffeur will be waiting to transfer you to Madrid airport for your onward journey.
We do hope you will join us for this enticing and exciting food and wine tour of Spain! Here with our insider knowledge, you can enjoy some of the very best food, wine and cultural experiences that Spain can offer. No doubt it will be a truly memorable vacation!
Tour in a nutshell: Chauffeured transfer to Madrid airport.
Tour quotation
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Tour in a Nutshell
Insider’s take on Catalonia, Andalucia and Madrid
Gourmet food tastings, fine wine & authentic tapas haunts
Local flair & hidden gems, architecture & history
Chauffeured tours, first class trains & top guides
15 days/14 nights, boutique 4* and 5* hand selected hotels
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