Madrid

Day 1 | Tuesday 10 March
Arrival and El Retiro
Following independent travel arrangements to Madrid we meet in the hotel in the late afternoon before heading out for an orientation walk of the surrounding area, which includes the lovely El Retiro Park. Established in the 16th century, this green oasis, filled with fountains, monuments and a glass palace inspired by Joseph Paxton’s 19th-century crystal cathedral in Hyde Park, was a private retreat for the Royal Family until the Glorious Revolution of 1868. It is now a favourite place for Madrileños to relax. Returning to the hotel we have a talk by our tour leader before heading out for our welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Madrid (D)

Day 2 | Wednesday 11 March
Medieval Madrid
This morning we make our way to La Latina, the oldest barrio or neighbourhood in Madrid, whose narrow winding streets and hidden squares date back to the Middle Ages. Full of activity on the weekends as people flock to the bars and restaurants that line the streets, it’s equally charming but a little quieter for our weekday walking tour. We’ll visit the museum of San Isidro, dedicated to the history and archaeology of Madrid, and view the lovely little Garden of Anglona, hidden behind high walls and still retaining its original 18th-century layout, before pausing for lunch in one of the barrio’s many restaurants. In the afternoon we head to the Museo de la Historia de Madrid, housed in an impressive Baroque building which once served as the San Fernando hospice, which showcases the history, arts and customs of the city from 1561, when Madrid became the capital of Spain, to the present day. Returning to the hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Madrid (B, L)

Day 3 | Thursday 12 March
The Prado
Established in 1819 under the auspices of Ferdinand VII and his wife, Isabel of Braganza, the Prado’s original collection was drawn from the magnificent works assembled over the centuries by Charles V and succeeding Habsburg and Bourbon monarchs. Enlarged with many notable works acquired from Spanish monasteries and convents and augmented since through careful acquisition, it is now one of the world’s foremost art galleries with a special focus on Spanish masterpieces including works by artists such as Velasquez, Goya and El Greco. After a talk in our hotel this morning we have a guided tour of key works in the collection, followed by a break for lunch and time to continue exploring the museum, or the city, independently. This evening we’ll make our way to the Temple of Debod in El Parque del Oeste. A gift from the Egyptian Government after Spain helped save the Abu Simbel temples during the construction of the Aswan dam, this 2,200 year old Egyptian temple is now the perfect place to watch the sunset at the end of the day. Overnight Madrid (B)

Day 4 | Friday 13 March
El Escorial and Segovia
A full-day excursion takes us out of Madrid today to El Escorial and Segovia. Our first destination is the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial. Commissioned by Phillip II to commemorate the defeat of the French at St Quentin, this vast structure of over 4,000 rooms was both monastery and austere royal residence. Our guided tour takes us through the monastery, royal apartments, basilica and library as well as the mausoleum, the final resting place of almost all Spanish monarchs since Charles V was interred in 1558. After a break for lunch we make our way to the town of Segovia, beautifully sited on a rocky ridge above the Castilian plain with an impressive Roman aqueduct at its heart. Here we have a walking tour of the town centre before making our way up to the cathedral and the extraordinary Alcázar, a beautiful turreted fantasy which reputedly inspired Walt Disney. Returning to Madrid the evening is at leisure. Overnight Madrid (B)

Day 5 | Saturday 14 March Reina Sofia and Lavapiés | Performance
Spain produced some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, reflecting a time of turbulent change in Spain and around the world. This morning we explore the exceptional collection of modern art at the Museo Reina Sofia, whose permanent collection includes works by Juan Gris, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. A highlight of the collection is Picasso’s Guernica, painted in response to atrocities committed during the Spanish Civil War and complemented by a series of preliminary drawings which show how the major work was developed. In the afternoon we stroll through nearby Lavapiés, once the centre of Madrid’s Jewish quarter and now a bohemian, multi-cultural district full of traditional and modern shops. This evening we will attend a ballet, theatre or concert performance at one of the city’s famous venues. Details will be available closer to the date once performance schedules are released. Overnight Madrid (B)

Day 6 | Sunday 15 March
El Rastro Flea Markets and Las Letras
Nothing is more popular in Madrid on a Sunday morning than a stroll around El Rastro, the vast flea market that overtakes the narrow streets of the Medieval Quarter, La Latina. Over 400 years old, the market sells a wide variety of goods and is perfect for finding that special Spanish souvenir. Once you have had your fill of the markets there are superb tapas bars in the area to grab some lunch. This afternoon we explore Las Letras, the literary quarter, an area in which some of Spain’s great authors, including Miguel de Cervantes, lived and wrote. Make sure you look out for inscriptions from the works of these great writers, incised on the cobbles of many of the streets. Dinner tonight is in a relaxed local restaurant. Overnight Madrid (B, D)

Day 7 | Monday 16 March
Madrid de los Austrias
Under the Habsburgs, Madrid was extensively rebuilt to make it the fitting centre of an empire that had extended across great swathes of Europe and the New World. This new Madrid – “el Madrid de las Austrias” – was enriched by Charles I with palaces and monuments, and greatly enlarged by his son Felipe II, much of whose austere architecture survives intact. This morning we take an extended walking tour of Habsburg Madrid, taking in the main squares, the Almudena Cathedral and the Market of San Miguel, a food lover’s delight. After a break for lunch we have a guided visit of the Royal Palace grounds including the Sabatina and Campo del Moro gardens, inspired by Versailles, before we make our way back to the hotel via the Plaza de Espana, stopping for an aperitivo en route. Overnight Madrid (B)

Day 8 | Tuesday 17 March
Thyssen Bornemisza and Bellas Artes
The final morning of our tour is devoted to the Museo ThyssenBornemisza, an outstanding private collection with over 800 works dating from the 13th century to the present day. Partially acquired by the state in 1993 from Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (in a deal which is continually renegotiated), the collection includes magnificent works by Raphael, Titian, the Impressionists and many others. After a pause for coffee at Bellas Artes, whose beautiful Art Deco rooftop terrace offers panoramic views over Madrid, we return to our hotel. For those joining The Moors in Spain tour, we reconvene again at 6.00pm in the hotel lobby. (B)