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Southern Spain For Gourmets With Optional Portugal Extension



Tour Description:

Sample the gastronomy and wines of southern Spain, particularly in the regions of Extremadura and Andalusia, where there is a great deal of pride in the local specialties. Game, olive oil, Iberian ham, paprika, fish and wine are all part of the essence of life, affording fascinating opportunities for tastes and experiences of the local scene.

Dates & Pricing



ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Apr 23-24
Madrid/Toledo/Madrid Head to La Mancha and stop at farms that produce manchego cheese and saffron. In Toledo, sample the delicious marzipan, made from fresh almonds and honey in a recipe that dates to Moorish (Islamic) times. Hotel Ritz Madrid B L

Day 3: Apr 25
Madrid/C?ceres Carlos Falc? Marques de Gri??n's winery produces one of the most prestigious varietals of Spanish wine, Malpica del Tajo. Visit his vineyard, and after lunch in a local inn, continue to Trujillo, a little hill town that specializes in a liqueur made from acorns. Nearby is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of C?ceres, home to the renowned Atrio restaurant, where you dine tonight. NH Palacio de Oquendo B L D

Day 4: Apr 26
C?cares/Trasierra Drive past evergreen oaks that produce acorns, the secret flavoring of the pata negra hams. Stop in the hilltop village of Montanchez to visit a prestigious establishment that prepares these unique hams. Continue to M?rida to see the superb Roman theater. Trasierra B L D

Day 5: Apr 27
Andalusia Walk in the woods or stroll to the village of Cazalla de la Sierra in the heart of Andalusia for a glass of wine or some tapas. Return to Trasierra for a cooking class hosted by television chef Gioconda Scott, the daughter of Charlotte Scott. You stay in her beautiful Andalusian farmhouse that is often featured in the world's top design magazines. Trasierra B L D

Day 6: Apr 28
Trasierra/Seville/Sanlucar la Mayor Drive to Cortijo El Esparragal, a beautiful country house and stud farm, en route to your manor house hotel, run under the auspices of Spain's most renowned gastronomic guru, Ferr?n Adri?. Dine tonight at La Alquer?a, its renowned Michelin-starred restaurant. The next day, drive to Seville, where you can sample an amazing variety of tapas. Later, take a carriage ride through Mar?a Luisa Park to privately visit one of the city's grandest palaces. (Day 8: B D) Hacienda Benazuza el Bulli B L D

Days 7-8: Apr 29-30
Sanlucar la Mayor/Cordoba/ Lucena In C?rdoba, stop at the Mezquita, a cathedral that was once a Roman temple and then the largest mosque in the world. C?rdoba's Moorish cuisine lives on, and lunch today features specialties that have their origin in dishes that go back before the Christian Reconquest of 1285. Afterward, continue to your hotel in Lucena. MS Convento Santo Domingo B L D

Day 9: May 1
Lucena Learn about the "liquid gold" that Spain exports to every corner of the globe when you attend a lecture on the secrets of producing extra virgin olive oil. Continue with a visit to an ancient olive press and marvel at the olive trees that appear to stretch to the horizon. MS Convento Santo Domingo B L

Day 10: May 2
Lucena/Osuna/Sanl?car de Barrameda Whitewashed villages, seemingly unchanged since the time of the Moors, dot the hills and border the rivers of Andalusia's heartland. Stop in the town of Osuna for a tapas lunch before continuing to the province of Cadiz and your country hotel, where the chef prepares an exceptional farewell dinner. Later, attend a pulsating flamenco dance and song performance by local villagers. Hacienda de San Rafael B L D

Day 11: May 3
Sanl?car de Barrameda/Jerez de la Frontera/Sanl?car de Barrameda Drive to Jerez de la Frontera. After wandering through the market bustling with fishmongers, privately visit the prize-winning Lustau bodega. Learn the secrets of producing this famous Spanish wine and sample some of the bone-dry finos as well as the luscious Pedro Ximenez varietals. Continue to Sanl?car de Barrameda, home of manzanilla sherry, where you enjoy a lunch of local shrimp, another specialty of the region. Later, return to your hacienda for farewell drinks. Hacienda de San Rafael B L D

Day 12: May 4
Sanl?car de Barrameda/USA or Canada Board your homebound flight or continue to Portugal. B

Day 13: May 5
May 5-10: Your journey takes you to Evora, the wine country of the Alentejo and to the heart of central Portugal, home of some of the country's finest regional cuisine. Dine in monasteries, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants. Along the way, sample specialty wines, cheeses and suckling pig. Fly home via Lisbon.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO PORTUGAL