Madrid and Andalusia

Experience Spain’s capital with a licensed guide. Visit the Royal Palace, Europe’s largest, to see lavish halls and frescoes. Stroll lively Gran Vía with its theatres, shops, and cafés. Admire the Cibeles Fountain depicting the earth goddess Cybele. See the Neoclassical Puerta de Alcalá in Plaza de la Independencia, a ceremonial gateway to the city. Conclude at Columbus Square, a hub of monuments and museums.

Tour Toledo, long considered the spiritual capital of Spain and once home to El Greco. Visit Toledo Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece filled with treasures such as alabaster sculpture, El Greco’s paintings, and a gilded monstrance carried in Corpus Christi processions. Step into St. Mary’s Synagogue, a symbol of coexistence among three faiths, and explore Toledo’s famous sword-making tradition at a local factory.

Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt of Puerta del Sol, Madrid's most famous and most central square! Enjoy an after-dinner adventure, complete exciting activities and solve fun clues. Each clue and every activity is built to maximize on-tour experiential learning.

Stop at Córdoba to visit one of Spain’s most impressive monuments, the Moorish Mezquita, which dates from the 8th to the 10th centuries. Walk through narrow white-washed alleys, passing tile covered patios, dotted with vibrant coloured flowers. Don’t miss the beautiful back quarters.

The Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba is a breathtaking monument that blends Moorish and Christian architecture. Its forest of columns and horseshoe arches creates a striking visual rhythm, while intricate mosaics and the gold-adorned mihrab add to its beauty. Dating from the 8th to 10th centuries, the Mezquita reflects the rich and complex history of Córdoba.

Explore Seville with a local guide as students discover the city’s rich history and architecture. Walk through the Old Jewish Quarter of Santa Cruz and San Bartolomé, visit the impressive Seville Cathedral and ascend the Giralda Tower, and explore Casa de Pilatos, a model of Andalusian palace design. The tour also includes a stop at the iconic Plaza de España.

Discover this world-famous gypsy dance, its music, and rich history as you watch professional dancers perform, and give the intricate footwork and elaborate arm gestures a try yourself.

Explore Granada’s Alhambra on a guided visit. Students examine Moorish architecture and Islamic art while touring the gardens, Summer Palace, Medina, Royal Arab Baths, and Alcazaba fortress, gaining insight into life in medieval Al-Andalus and the cultural legacy of Muslim Spain. Please note: Entry to the main palace building is subject to availability.

Immerse yourself in the art that captures the passion of Spain. Compare the techniques and meanings in the works of artists from El Greco to Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. Deepen your understanding of art history as you debate how these and other masters defined and shaped Spanish culture.

Take a guided sightseeing tour of Malaga, Picasso’s birthplace and a city known for its beaches and citadels. Stop at the town’s Renaissance-style cathedral and visit Museo Picasso, which contains an incredible 285 of Picasso’s original works. See one of the busiest ports of the Mediterranean before heading to the colourful market and Gibralfaro castle, the hilltop fortification with a beautiful view of the city from above.

Experience rural Andalusian culture in the mountain village of Alfarnatejo. Students visit historic olive groves and tour a local olive oil factory to learn how olives are cultivated and pressed into extra virgin olive oil, followed by a tasting with regional bread. Continue with a guided village walk and house museum visit before sharing a traditional home-hosted lunch with local residents.