Ávila, Salamanca & Historic Castile

CULTURAL TOURS ÁVILA, SALAMANCA & HISTORIC CASTILE

SEVEN NIGHT HOLIDAYS | 20 APRIL & 28 SEPTEMBER 2023

Our tour to the province of Castile will include visits to Zamora and Segovia as well as Salamanca and Ávila, home to the best preserved mediaeval city walls in Spain. We stay in Ávila before moving on to the charming Hacienda Zorita Hotel located in gently rolling countryside, 20 minutes from the beautiful university city of Salamanca, whose golden, honeyhued buildings seem to glow in the vivid Spanish light. The magnificent Plaza Mayor rivals Madrid for style and is at the heart of this dynamic city. This is the real Spain, a land of wide open landscapes dotted with farms and villages. It is the most important area in the country for breeding bulls, and as we drive along the open roads we will see them enjoying the pastures and sitting in the shade, like Ferdinand, smelling the flowers.

Ávila

the itinerary

DAY 1

On arrival we travel to to the 4* Palacio de los Velada.

2

Today there will be a walking tour of Ávila, whose city walls are the best preserved in the world. Our tour will include the cathedral, the Monastery of the Incarnation, Real Monasterio and the Romanesque Basilica of San Vicente. There is free time to explore Ávila this afternoon.

3

Today is spent in Segovia. The city is famous for its historical buildings and for three main landmarks: its midtown Roman aqueduct, its cathedral (one of the last in the Gothic style to be built in Europe), and the castle. This afternoon, we will visit The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.

4

After visiting the Monastario de San Tomas, we depart from Ávila and drive out through the vineyards of the Ribera del Duero to the Hacienda Zorita, where we will stay for the next four nights. En route, we stop in Salamanca for an included lunch. This evening we will have a wine-tasting before dinner.

5

Today we will enjoy our first of two visits to Salamanca, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain – its Old City is a UNESCO listed Heritage Site. The golden sandstone of Salamanca creates a beautiful, picture-book cityscape of roofs, church spires, convents, academic buildings and elegant squares. We will see its famous university, founded in the 13th century, the convent of San Esteban, the Plaza Mayor and the Town Hall.

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Hacienda Zorita

DAY 6

We visit Zamora, a beautiful old city on the ancient Via de la Plata, spread out along the banks of the River Duero, which is famous for its Holy Week celebrations and processions to which people throng from all over Spain. We visit the Museo de la Semana Santa, the Plaza Mayor and the 12th century cathedral. Lunch will be included in the Parador, which was once the 15th century palace of the Counts of Alba y Aliste.

7

Another day in Salamanca where we will see the city’s two cathedrals, the Old and the New, the market, and the Casa Lis museum of Art Nouveau. After our walking tour, there will be free time to explore Salamanca on your own.

8

We drive to El Escorial, Philip II’s sprawling, isolated palace with an important art collection, before we return to Madrid airport for the flight to London.

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TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP

20 April 28 September £2,649 £398

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with British Airways: Depart London Heathrow, 13.05, arrive Madrid 16.35 Depart Madrid 17.25, arrive London Heathrow 18.55 Flight times subject to change – regional departures available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Six dinners • Two lunches • All sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities as described • Wine tasting at the Hacienda • The services of the Kirker Tour Lecturer & local guides