Spanish Culinary, Wine & Cultural Tours
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Food & Wine Tours
Essence of Spain & Portugal
Itinerary | Features | Prices
Highlights of your unforgettable visit include:
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Accommodations in 4* hand selected luxury hotels in Barcelona, Seville, Lisbon, The Douro Valley, Salamanca and Madrid
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Glorious Spain: Private guided visits to the spectacular architecture and museums in Barcelona, Seville, Cordoba, Salamanca and Madrid
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Picturesque Portugal: Private guided visit of nostalgic Lisbon and luxury getaway to the scenic Douro Valley, capital of Port Wine
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Tastings of exquisite gourmet Spanish foods and tapas in Barcelona, Seville and Madrid
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Introduction to Port Wines in Douro Valley, visit to a leading Port winery and gourmet Portuguese food tastings in Lisbon
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On arrival at Barcelona Airport our Chauffeur will be awaiting you with a luxury vehicle and will transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. Your hotel is a traditional Spanish style hotel conveniently located nearby to all major sights. Formerly, your hotel was the residence of a wealthy Duke in the city and is deep-seated in its history. A fruit and chocolate basket will be waiting in your room to welcome you! On this first evening in Barcelona you might want to relax and unwind after your journey and settle into your lovely hotel. We have several dinner recommendations for fine restaurants, as well as informal tapas places nearby.
Luxury Private Airport Transfer, Overnight in Barcelona
This morning, after breakfast, you will meet your Officially Licensed guide at the hotel. Then, together, you will visit La Boqueria, Spain’s most important, and world-famous, marketplace. It offers the absolute freshest and most diverse selection of produce. At the market, you will visit the famous bar where in-the-know celebrities of Barcelona frequent. Here you will try the best aperitifs, perhaps a reserve cava (Spanish champagne) and sample some of the finest products of the marketplace! Next, you will traverse the city on a gourmet walking tour through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, home to an abundance of tucked away gourmet cafes and shops. You will see a few architectural feats as well, including the amazing gothic Santa Maria del Mar Church and the Jewish Quarter of Barcelona. You will take the path of Picasso on the famous Avignon Street and taste fresh Spanish cheeses paired with quality wines at a charming local specialized shop - for cheese tasting in the fashionable port district.
Your light lunch of exquisite tapas will include Spain's best Iberic “bellota” ham, Joselito, fine cold meats and sausages, etc., all enjoyed at one of the best delicatessens in the city - an excellent, authentic wine shop. You will be in very good hands, as this venue is well known not only for excellent hams, but for its superior wines as well. For dessert, we will stop at the oldest venue in Barcelona - a lovely old fashioned “Master roasters” shop for dried nuts, fruits, sweet wine, toasted almonds or a chocolate dessert of your choice.
For dinner tonight, we have many suggestions for local restaurants of all types and we are of course, only too happy to make reservations on your behalf.
Gourmet Tasting Tour of Barcelona, Overnight in Barcelona
This morning, after a delicious breakfast, your experienced guide will await you and you will leave in a taxi to visit the incredible La Sagrada Família, a work on a grand scale which was begun in 1882. At the end of 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, a task which he did not abandon until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work after his original idea. Throughout Gaudi's work, you will see much of his architectural inspiration came from his experiences in nature. Gaudi is the city's most internationally renowned and emblematic architect. Continuing your morning on the Gaudi route, you will head to the Passeig de Gracia area, where you will enjoy a walking tour of other famous works of Gaudi, including his famous Casa Batllo and la Pedrera.
For a mid morning pick me up your guide will lead you to a sophisticated and fashionable gourmet chocolate boutique to sample the city's finest chocolates with a glass of cava. Many of these chocolate recipes were created by Albert Adria, the dessert chef of famous restaurant “El Bulli”, and the brother of the most famous chef in Spain, Ferran Adria. You will then make a visit to Gaudi´s famous Pedrera built between 1906 and 1910 for the Milà family. This is one of the main Gaudí residential buildings and one of the most imaginative houses of the history of the architecture, this building is more a sculpture than a building.
This afternoon you will have free to discover the lively city and restaurants of Barcelona on your own. We have many suggestions for restaurants which will suit your mood of the moment.
Gaudi Tour of Barcelona, Overnight in Barcelona
After a very early final breakfast at your hotel, you will be ready for departure to another part of your tour, in Seville. Our Chauffeur will drive you to Barcelona Sants Station, where you will take a fast and comfortable high speed AVE train to Seville. Your cross-country journey will take only 5 h 30 min. Alternatively, you may wish to fly to Seville. On arrival, you will take a taxi to your boutique 4* hotel in Seville. Situated in a delightful area, in the picturesque and authentic Barrio de Santa Cruz, the hotel is an attractive, converted manor house dating back to the 16th century.
You may wish to have a relaxed lunch, perhaps something typically Andalusian (much of the cuisine in Seville is influenced by the Moors), after your long journey prior to doing a little private sightseeing! We have several suggestions for a delightful dinner in the Barrio Santa Cruz.
Transfer to Seville, Overnight in Seville
Today, after breakfast, your Officially Licensed Seville guide will be waiting for you and you will depart for a sightseeing tour of the Barrio Santa Cruz, which is the old Jewish quarter and it is a real joy to amble around its beautiful squares and narrow streets, which form a labyrinth, where it is easy to get lost! This is part of its charm, because when one is lost, one may discover a convent or a palace or an hotel. The air in the barrio is perfumed by jasmine flowers and the orange trees that one finds there. Many of the palaces have wrought iron gates that allow one to peep into their beautiful patios. The area abounds in small stores, artisan shops, good art galleries and of course tapas bars - your guide will happily pause now and then for some "tapeo" - "tapear" is the verb to glide from bar to bar indulging in little snacks while sipping little drinks and Seville is the capital of 'tapas', boasting more than 4,000 tapas bars - roughly 1 for every 200 locals! Try tostadas rubbed with tomato and draped with petals of the famous Jabugo acorn fed ham, the espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with chickpeas), patatas a la importancia (fried potatoes stuffed with ham and cheese) or mojama (wind-dried tuna) with good rubust local wines or a glass of Tio Pepe.
Your tour will continues through historic Seville, including a visit to the Seville Cathedral and La Giralda tower. The cathedral is the largest gothic edifice in the world and is an incredibly imposing building. The Giralda which is the cathedral tower was once the minaret of the mosque on whose site the cathedral was built. Climb to the top of the tower for wonderful views across the city. The Reales Alcazares is a fortress/palace which dates originally from the 9th century. Many additions have been made to the building over the centuries but the Alcazar is most famous for the Mudejar architecture from the 14th century. Not to be missed are the beautiful gardens. The Reales Alcazares is the oldest royal palace in Europe and is the residence of the Spanish Royal Family when they stay in Seville.
In the evening, make yourself ready for a wonderful Gypsy Flamenco Show, where the swirling skirts and tapping heels of the dancers will amaze and thrill.
Tour of Historical Seville & Tapas, Gypsy Flamenco Show, Overnight in Seville
This morning you will take a taxi to Seville Railway Station and take a very comfortable high speed AVE train to Cordoba, where you will meet our excellent guide for a private half day tour of this beautiful city.
Once the biggest city in all of Europe, Cordoba thrived and expanded with its unique blend of cultures. These are beautifully expressed with a visit to 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. Walk the street leading up to the Juderia, with its whitewashed houses and colorful courtyards and shops. Though not Jewish in its current expression, a few signs hint of the Golden Age of Jewish life. Note, for example, the statue of the great court doctor and Torah sage, Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon) and the tiny, gem-like Synagogue, (the one in which Maimonedes prayed) which is one of only three remaining synagogues in Spain from before the Expulsion of 1492. The Jewish Quarter is the best-known part of Cordoba's historic centre, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 and is one of the largest in Europe. As you wander down picturesque and evocative streets in the restored heart of Cordoba - one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe - it is not difficult to imagine the days when Cordoba was one of the most important cities in Europe. Cordoba's large Juderia has been recently restored and is now filled with charming shops and cafes.
Maybe you will want to stay in Cordoba after your tour, have a light lunch perhaps before returning to Seville. We have many suggestions for a final Sevilliano dinner tonight!
Tour of Historical Cordoba, Overnight in Seville
This morning, after breakfast, you will check out of your hotel in Seville and a representative of our car rental company will be waiting with your luxury vehicle (Mercedes E, Audi 4, or similar) with automatic transmission and GPS. You will now commence your journey into Portugal and to Lisbon. NB: Should you prefer to fly or have a chauffeured transfer to Lisbon, this is of course possible.
On arrival in Lisbon in the early afternoon you will check into your hotel, a genuine Art Deco Boutique Hotel in the Historic Centre of Lisbon. The art-deco charm of Hotel Britania as part of a project by Cassiano Branco, the illustrious Portuguese modernist architect, is located on a quiet street right alongside the cosmopolitan Avenida da Liberdade. The only hotel to remain intact until today, this hotel records the glamour of the 1940’s. Everything about its design strives to reawaken the spirit of the unit without losing its original soul, which is in the centre of Lisbon.
If San Francisco had a sister, it would be Lisbon. Both cities have twin bridges and famously foggy weather. Both are situated on the best natural harbors on the west coast of their respective continents. Both have trolleys rattling up and down their steep hills past characteristic buildings. And both have survived horrific earthquakes.
In 1755, an estimated 9.0 earthquake leveled two-thirds of Lisbon. Within a month, a new city was designed, and downtown Lisbon was rebuilt on a progressive grid plan, with broad boulevards and square squares.
Today, Lisbon is a ramshackle but charming mix of now and then. Bird-stained statues mark grand squares, taxis screech around cobbled corners and well-worn people hang out in Art Nouveau cafes. And just like it did during the days of Magellan and Vasco da Gama, the city continues to welcome ships to its large port. Even today, Lisbon still feels like Europe's gateway to the world.
We are sure you will be tired after your journey, but a short siesta is the answer and there are many restaurants in Lisbon for a delicious dinner this evening!
Transfer to Lisbon, Overnight in Lisbon
This morning, after breakfast, your guide will be waiting at your hotel to take you for a Private Gourmet and Historical Tour to introduce you to the Portuguese culture, cuisine and its incredible mix of Mediterranean tradition and exotic influences from all corners of the World. You will start with Lisbon’s great Cafés and Portugal’s strong café-culture and you will have the chance to take a look at delicious and exotic products, from dried, salted Bacalhau to sausages, hams and cheeses. Learn the history of Portugal’s famous fortified wine, Port and then try some with delicious Azeitão cheese. Learn about sweets and pastries and try the famous custard tart, Pastéis de Belém Hear about the only tea produced in Europe, grown in the Atlantic Island of São Miguel, in the Azores. Try some Portuguese Beer in the beautiful Rossio Central Station and finally make a visit to the Moorish St George’s Castle, renamed after conquering the Moors and take in the impressive views over the sea. Leading down from the castle to the river, cross the Alfama, Lisbon's salty sailors' quarter. Its tangled street plan is one of the few aspects of Lisbon to survive the big quake, making the Alfama a cobbled playground of Old World color. Urban-jungle roads are squeezed into a maze of confusing alleys, designed to frustrate invaders trying to get up to the castle. What was defensive then is atmospheric now. Gnarled houses snuggle together in their romantic shabbiness; the air drips with laundry and the smell of clams and raw fish. You will pass by some interesting wine shops on your journey where arrangements have been made for you to taste the very special famous ports from Douro and Portuguese wines, such as Vinho Verde de Minho (the famous green wine of Minho).
Tonight you are free and we are sure you would probably enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants serving excellent local food, with an opportunity to taste both the wine during the meal and port at its conclusion! We have many suggestions to assist you.
Gourmet and Historical Tour of Lisbon, Overnight in Lisbon
This morning you will leave for the Douro Valley, but on the way will have an opportunity to visit Coimbra, which has a rich historical background. Finally you will arrive at Pinhao in the heart of the Douro Valley, where you will check into your hotel, which is a charming 4-star property with a privileged location in the heart of the Douro valley and overlooking the Douro River, that dates back to the XVIII century when it was an old Port winery.
Later, you may wish to explore Pinhao. Spectacularly located at the confluence of the Douro and Pinhão rivers, 22 km upstream from Peso da Régua, the small town of Pinhão is the epicentre of the Port winemaking area and a place where the soil and climatic conditions are considered to be at their very best. Pinhão bursts into life in autumn during the annual grape harvest, attracting pickers from all over the country. Within 40 km between Peso da Regua, Pinhao and Pocinho, are all the main Port vineyards.
This afternoon we have arranged for a port wine tasting with an expert at your hotel - an opportunity to start to get to know the best ports of Portugal. Port wine is a wine developed in Portugal by the British. To make the wine, it ferments for only 2 to 3 days, has brandy added, and then is aged in wooden barrels. How long it ages determines the taste and how sweet the wine is. There are generally five different types of port wine – ruby, tawny, white, late bottle vintage (LBV), and wintage. Ruby is aged three years and has a strong grape and pepper taste. Tawny is aged in smaller wooden barrels and varies from 10 t0 40 years with a light, nellow taste. White is aged earlier like ruby and is young and robust. Late Bottle Vintage is aged 4 to 6 years while vintage is from a single harvest and is aged 2 years in wood and then 10 to 30 years in the bottle. All port wines are medium sweet but they do range from a drier, less sweet to to very sweet.
You may wish to eat at your hotel tonight, but there are also many local good quality restaurants we can suggest.
Transfer to Pinhao, Douro Valley via Coimbra, Port Tasting, Overnight in Pinhao
Today we can OPTIONALLY arrange for you to have a private morning Rabelo cruise on the Douro River - a great opportunity for you to see the beauty of the area and the many wineries running down towards the river. These cruises are on replica Vintage boats traditionally used to carry the wine down the river from Douro to the lodges in Oporto. Sip white port whilst taking in the views of the vineyards and colonial style Quintas.
In the afernoon you will enjoy a private visit to the famous Quinta do Seixo, the Sandeman's flagship, beautifully maintained and picturesuely located just up the river, with georgeous views of Pinhao. This old Quinta with a modern winery and an amazing landscape is the perfect place to visit and taste the best wines of the region! After the harvest, the best quality grapes are carefully selected and then taken to be treaded at the robotic “Lagares”. Here, the fermentation occurs in a process that allies best of the traditional treading method with the most advanced technology. The goal is to have the highest control over the temperature and the stabilization of colour and flavour.
The rest of your day is free to relax, take a walk beside the Douro River, sip a port on the terrace of your hotel, take a drive around this incredibly beautiful area - the choice is yours. You might wish to visit Sabrosa, a short drive to the north of Pinhão, the birthplace of Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan), who was born there in 1480. One ship of his fleet of five (commanded by the Basque Juan Sebastián de Elcano) was the first to circumnavigate the globe between 1519 and 1522. Magellan himself was killed en route in the Philippines.
As ever, we have many suggestions for restaurants for lunch and for dinner.
OPTIONAL Rabelo Cruise on the Douro River, Port Winery Visit, Overnight in Pinhao
This morning you will leave for Salamanca but on the way will make a visit to Viseu, a fine Portuguese city whose old center has changed little since medieval times. It is a pleasure to walk through it, and the large cathedral square is home to three imposing buildings. The one that gives the square its name is the twin-towered cathedral, with a delightful interior made up of Manueline vaulting, an outstanding gilded baroque altarpiece, and a graceful cloister.
Onwards to Salamanca, which can be considered one of the most beautiful Spanish cities and is famous in the world for its culture and for its student atmosphere. In fact, the University of Salamanca is said to be the third oldest university in Europe, founded in 1218. The city is large enough to be able to offer the advantages of a real city, but at the same time it keeps the intimacy of a village. In Salamanca, the inhabitants speak the "purest" Spanish in Spain - Castilian. For this reason Salamanca is enormously popular with people all over the world who want to learn Spanish. The city's historic centre has important Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque monuments. The Plaza Mayor, with its galleries and arcades, is particularly impressive; considered to be one of the finest squares in Spain and known as the living room of the Salamantinos. A private guided visit of Salamanca can be arranged, if you so wish.
Here you will check into your hotel - formerly the private mansion of a wealthy family this honey coloured stone building houses a boutique hotel with all comforts and amenities.
Transfer to Salamanca via Viseu, Overnight in Salamanca
Why not have a lazy breakfast this morning and a wander perhaps in the Salamanca's Plaza Mayor prior to continuing your journey to Madrid.
On arrival in Madrid you will check into your 4* hotel, a beautiful 19th Century building in the heat of the City, which was the first US Embassy and was restored as a charming hotel in 2001. It is protected by Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) due to its historical interest and the original staircase and lift have been preserved. A representative of our car rental company will collect your car from the hotel.
After time to settle into your hotel, perhaps a light lunch and a siesta, our guide will be waiting for you and will take you on a private tour of the The Prado Museum, which is the biggest art gallery in the world. It has more than 7,600 paintings, but can exhibit only one part of its collection for lack of space. However a recent addition to the museum increased the space by 50%, so more paintings will be on display. Prado means meadow, and the museum got the name of Prado because there was an open meadow where the museum now sits.
Your guide will then lead you onwards past other historical monuments towards the the best tapas places in town, starting at the Mercado de San Miguel, the hottest gastronomic spot in Madrid, which functions as a food market during the day, but in the evening its bars and restaurants make it the place to meet in old Madrid. Tonight be ready to stand in bars, drinking slowly but surely and sampling a variety of tapas and wines which, although originally from different Spanish regions, have found their place in the melting pot that is Madrid. By the end of the evening you will have discovered the key to wine and gastronomy (some of it is for the fearless only!) and heard many anecdotes of 17th century Madrid, along whose streets you will stroll
Transfer to Madrid, Tour of Old Madrid, El Prado Museum and gourmet tapas, Overnight in Madrid
Today is a free day to do as you wish. You may care to travel to Toledo for the day, a beautiful town just 30 min away by high speed train. On arrival, your guide will lead you on a visit to the Cathedral, which is one of the most outstanding buildings in the city and is considered to be one of the high points of Gothic art. On its main facade the outstanding feature is the doorway, made up of three doors: Infierno (Hell), Perdón (Forgiveness) and Juicio (Judgement). Following on your guide will lead you to the the famous Toledo synagogues; Santa Maria La Blanca and El Tránsito, where the remains of the Jewish community are well preserved. Continuing your tour you will visit the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. Your fantastic visit to Toledo will terminate with a visit to the church of Santo Tomé, famous for housing El Greco's famous picture entitled “El entierro del Conde Orgaz” (The burial of Count Orgaz).
Alternatively, you might like to do a little last minute shopping or wander around other parts of Madrid - we have many suggestions and the choice is yours - Reina Sofia Museum, Palacio de Oriente, El Retiro Park.
This evening we have many suggestions for a farewell dinner - be it in a Michelin starred restaurant with avant-garde cuisine or a traditional meson with the best suckling pig or lamb in town!
Toledo tour or Madrid museums and shopping, Overnight in Madrid
Day 14 top
Today, after breakfast you will check out of your hotel and will have a chauffeured transfer to Madrid Airport for your return home.
We do hope you will join us for this very exciting tour of some of the very best and representative parts of Spain and Portugal, which will surely be a truly memorable experience!
Transfer to Madrid Airport
Your Essence of Spain & Portugal includes:top
- Accommodation for three (3) nights in a 4* palace hotel in the Barcelona Gothic Quarter (double occupancy)
- Accommodation for 3 nights in a 4* palace-house converted hotel in the historical centre of Seville (double occupancy)
- Accommodation for two (2) nights at an elegant art deco 4* hotel in the very centre of Lisbon (double occupancy)
- Accommodation for two (2) nights at a famous 4* riverside hotel in the heart of the Douro Valley (double occupancy)
- Accommodation for one (1) night at a 4* boutique hotel in the heart of historical Salamanca (double occupancy)
- Accommodation for two (2) nights in a 19th century national heritage 4* hotel in the historical centre of Madrid (double occupancy)
- Thirteen (13) full breakfasts
- Assistance of an experienced bilingual Official Licensed Guide, as indicated in the tour itinerary
- Transfers in a luxury chauffeured vehicle as indicated in the itinerary
- Provision of a luxury rental car (Mercedes E, Audi 4) with automatic transmission and GPS, delivered to your hotel, for the days when you travel between Seville through to Portugal and thence to Salamanca to Madrid
- All the private guided culinary, cultural visits and tastings indicated in the itinerary
- Farewell Dinner with wine at the restaurant in Madrid said to be the oldest in the world
- Train tickets on a preferential basis (1st Class) from Barcelona to Seville and Seville to Cordoba
- Online Personal Travel Webpage including daily itinerary, general local information, restaurant reservations, details of places of interest, and suggestions for your free time, etc.
- Customized Travel Journal, which will include the information on your Personal Travel Website, that you can take with you to use as a reference throughout your tour
- 24/7 back-office assistance
Your Essence of Spain & Portugal does not include:
- Flights
- Meals and Drinks not specified
- Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc.
- Tips and Gratuities (Restaurants, etc.)
- Travel Insurance may be included in your quotation on request
Essence of Spain & Portugal dates:
Available upon request all year round.
Essence of Spain & Portugal Prices:
Please note our tours are available for PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.
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