Until 1561Toledo was the political and ecclesiastical capital of Spain. As a consequence of the Reconquista, however, whose frontier was perpetually on the move, the Spanish court acquired a peripatetic habit, so that it was not until the Spanish empire was at its zenith, that Philip II decided to transform a 15th c. royal residence and the small town which surrounded it into his “unica corte” almost exactly in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. While politics created Madrid, piety and paranoia created its spiritual alter ego, the vast monastery palace of the Escorial in whose granite bosom that lugubrious monarch

plotted the extinction of the protestant reform. Once the filthiest and most squalid capital city in Europe, Madrid owes its grandiose appearance to Spain’s eighteenth and nineteenth century monarchs, but still strikes the modern visitor as an artificial growth, lacking many of the amenities of a great cosmopolitan city. It is nonetheless home to one of the world’s greatest art collections, the Prado, as well as the Reina Sofia Gallery of Modern Art, and – its most recent acquisition, originally offered to and refused by London – the Thyssen-Bornamisza collection.

We fly to Madrid and transfer to our hotel.

This morning we visit the Royal Palace begun by Philip V and reconstructed in 1734 after a fire in the old fortress. It was the principal royal residence until 1931 and is still used for State Functions. From the Palace we will return to the Plaza Mayor whence we will explore the heart of the city including some historic churches and the Monastery of the Discalzes. After an independent lunch we will visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum for a stroll though the history of western art.

We spend this morning at the Prado – one of the great art galleries of the world. There are magnificent works by the great Spanish Artists from the primitives to Velasquez and Goya. There is also a fine collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings (due in part to the links with the Spanish Netherlands) including important works by Van der Weyden and Bosch (a favourite painter of Philip II). From the Italian school there are magnificent works by Titian, Tiepolo Veronese, Caravaggio and others. After an independent lunch we go on to the Reina Sophia gallery of modern art.

This morning we leave the city and make our way to the Escorial, a vast granite stronghold, part monastery, part palace and part mausoleum, whose plan was derived from Josephus’ description of the Temple of Solomon. Embellished with works of art by painters and sculptors from all over Europe, and sanctified by the accumulation of over seven thousand relics, this extraordinary place was Philip the Second’s New Jerusalem. From here he directed the destiny of the Spanish Empire and the catholic counter-reformation for the last 14 years of his life.

After some free time to enjoy the modern amenities of the city, we board our coach for the transfer to the airport and our flight home.

• Accommodation - 4 Nights B&B in a 4 star hotel in the city centre plus 1 dinner
• Transport
  • Private coach for transfers and excursions, and public transport within the city.
• First or second series tickets to the included concert or opera
• Excursions as outlined in the itinerary.
• Entrance fees to all places mentioned in the itinerary
• Services of an experienced lecturer/tour leader -
• Local guide where required by local legislation
• All tips and gratuities

• Insurance
  • It is a condition of booking that you have adequate travel insurance to cover your needs when you travel with us. This will need to cover a missed departure, any emergency that may arise while you are travelling with us, and should also enable you to claim back from the insurance company any monies already paid to us or due to us in the event of your having to cancel the tour after booking and before the departure date.
    
    If you have difficulty finding cover due to your age, it may be of help to know that there are at least two companies who provide Travel Insurance to those over retirement age:-
    • Age Concern - Tel 0845 601 2234 Click here for Website
    • Saga - Tel 0800 559 3231 Click here for Website
  
  
• Walking - Most of our tours involve a good deal of walking.
• Sites and Museums - Archaeological sites in some countries can be rough and uneven underfoot and do not always conform to western standards of health and safety.

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ACCOMMODATION:                 Single Rooms: 0 1 2 3 4          Double Rooms: 0 1 2 3 4          Twin Rooms: 0 1 2 3 4

FLIGHTS:             Economy Class    Club Class (if available and at supplementary cost)    None