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866-729-0314 or 866-729-0315 315-859-4648 (fax) |
Paradores and Pousadas:
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| You're invited on a distinctive small-group journey through the Iberian Peninsula to the intimate lodgings of Spain's paradores and Portugal's pousadas: medieval monasteries, historic fortresses, and stately palaces, each reflecting the spirit of its region. We feel the spell of Iberia's rich Roman and Moorish past—and the pull of its vibrant contemporary life. Exclusive Highlights
Itinerary Day 1:Depart U.S. for Lisbon, Portugal.Day 2:We arrive in the Portuguese capital early this afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure before dinner at our hotel. |
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Day 3:This morning's city tour includes the Jeronimos Monastery, a masterpiece of Manueline architecture; Belem Tower; and the Monument to the Discoveries commemorating Portugal's storied explorers. Then we visit the National Palace of Queluz, the former residence of Portuguese royalty now used for state occasions. After returning to Lisbon, our afternoon is at leisure to explore as we wish.Day 4:Leaving Lisbon this morning, we travel through the rolling hills of the agricultural Alentejo district, with its bountiful fields of wheat, fragrant vineyards, and stands of olive and cork trees. Late afternoon we arrive in Evora, capital of the Alentejo and site of our pousada, considered Portugal's finest and where we dine tonight.Day 5:Our morning walking tour of Evora introduces us to the many charms of this architectural gem—a university town, prosperous regional capital, and UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the many relics of its Roman and Moorish heritage. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy this "Golden Age" city as we wish.Day 6:Today we travel west through countryside peppered with the ruins of fortresses and castles to the Spanish border town of Merida. Once the capital of ancient Lusitania (Latin for the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal), Merida boasts outstanding Roman ruins. There's time to explore and eat lunch on our own before we continue on to Carmona and our parador, a 14th-century Arab fortress.Day 7:This morning we visit splendid Seville, Moorish capital of Spain's Andalusia region and city of beauty and romance. This is the place that inspired Carmen and Don Giovanni; where fragrant orange trees and flower-bedecked balconies delight the senses; and home of the renowned Catédral, the world's largest Gothic building. After a tour that includes the palace and the Arab quarter, the afternoon is free to explore independently. We return to Carmona late afternoon and dine at our parador this evening.Day 8:First the capital of Roman Spain, then of Moorish Spain, Cordoba features some of the country's most important monuments, including the Old Quarter built around the magnificent Mezquita mosque. It was here that the Moors ruled from the 8th to the 11th centuries and fostered a culture of learning and religious harmony known the world over. Cordoba is also home to Andalusia's only synagogue to survive the expulsion of Spain's Jews in the 15th century. After touring these and other highlights we have free time to explore on our own.Day 9:Leaving Carmona this morning we travel south to tiny Ronda, one of Spain's oldest and most aristocratic towns. It's set high in the mountains with whitewashed houses clinging improbably to the edge of El Tajo Gorge—500 feet deep and 300 feet wide. After a brief walking tour, our afternoon is at leisure.Day 10:Today is at leisure to enjoy this charming town on our own. Tonight we dine on regional specialties at our parador, Ronda's original town hall.Day 11:Continuing our journey, we travel today to Granada, the former stronghold of Moorish Spain set in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. The city's undisputed highlight is the Alhambra, the extraordinary palace of Spain's last Moorish rulers. Sprawled across a hilltop above the Darro River, the Alhambra commands breathtaking views of the city below, as we see on our afternoon tour of this splendid citadel. We also visit the Generalife, the palace's acclaimed gardens. Late this afternoon we travel north to Ubeda and our next parador, a former palace dating to the 16th century and where we dine tonight.Day 12:A highlight is in store today as we visit Toledo, capital of medieval Spain. Declared a Spanish National Landmark, the city is little changed visually from its 16th-century days as a subject for the artist El Greco. Toledo boasts an incomparable hilltop setting overlooking the Castillian plains and surrounded on three sides by the Tagus River. After lunch we see Toledo's most important sights on our guided tour, including the massive Gothic Cathedral begun in 1226 and not finished until 1493. Then we continue on to Madrid, arriving late afternoon.Day 13:Our morning tour of this monumental and dignified capital city includes vast Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Old Madrid; the Moorish medieval district; and opulent 18th-century Palacio Real (Royal Palace), with its 2,800 rooms. Our tour ends at the Prado, one of the world's greatest museums, where we're free to explore on our own. Displaying treasures by Spanish masters Goya, El Greco, and Velazquez, the Prado also houses an important collection of Flemish and Italian masterpieces. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.Day 14:A free day to enjoy the Spanish capital as we wish. Tonight we bid adios to Spain and our fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.Day 15:We transfer to the airport this morning for our connecting flights to the U.S. |
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Meet your Professor:
Hamilton College professor Patricia O'Neill will accompany this trip.
A member of the Hamilton College English department since 1986, Professor O'Neill teaches 19th century British literature and a college course, Art of Cinema. She received her Ph.D. from Northwestern University and is the author of Robert Browning and 20th Century Criticism (1995) and editor of Olive Schreiner's 1883 novel Story of an African Farm (2002). Her research is on globalization and film and she received a Fulbright to teach a course on women and film. During the Alumni trip to Spain and Portugal, Professor O'Neill will address topics in Spanish and Portugese cinema, including the work of Pedro Almodóvar, an internationally-known Spanish filmmaker and Luis Buñuel, one of the most important directors in the history of cinema, who was exiled to America in the 1930s after the Spanish Civil War.
Price starts at $4,295 including air. Land only price is $3,795.
Please contact Alumni Relations if you are interested,
toll free at 866-729-0314, or regional@hamilton.edu
Odysseys Unlimited is the tour operator and can be reached at 888-370-6765.