Day 1, Sevilla
Arrival Airport Sevilla and meeting with the bus. Transfer to the hotel in Sevilla. Overnight in Sevilla
 
Day 2, Sevilla
Breakfast. Guided Visit Sevilla (Cathedral, Giralda, Alcázar) We enjoy a guided tour of the city with its splendid Gothic Cathedral, the emblematic tower La Giralda and Reales Alcázares. Built on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville is heir to a rich Arab legacy, and to the condition of being a prosperous trading port with the Americas. Every street and square that makes up the historic quarter of the Andalucian capital bursts with joy and bustle. This area has an interesting collection of historic buildings, many of which have been declared World Heritage Sites, and also contains colourful districts with great popular flavour, such as Triana and La Macarena. Free afternoon in Sevilla. Overnight in Sevilla

Day 3, Sevilla – Mérida
Breakfast. Departure to Mérida. Arrival in Mérida. Free time in Mérida. Guided Visit Mérida (Theater, Amphiteatre) Located in the path of the Silver Route, or Vía de la Plata, Mérida is heir to a magnificent Roman legacy. The theatre, the amphitheatre and the Temple of Diana make this city —the ancient capital of Roman Lusitania— one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Spain, reason why it was declared World Heritage. Overnight in Mérida

Day 4, Mérida – Cáceres – Plasencia – Salamanca
Breakfast. Departure to Cáceres. Guided Visit Cáceres (Old Quarter) The city of Cáceres was founded by the Romans in 34 B.C., under the name of Norba Caesariana. But it wasn't until the arrival of the Arabs in the 12th century that the city would experience a period of splendour. A century later, the city would fall into Christian hands, after being reconquered by King Alfonso IX of Leon. In the 15th century, queen Isabel the Catholic put an end to the continuous fights over the control of power among noblemen by cutting off the top of the towers that crowned their fortified homes. Henceforth, a period of economic prosperity began in the city, which also benefited greatly from its active role in the Discovery of America. The walled precinct of Caceres, mostly Almohad, still preserves several medieval towers, such as the towers of Bujaco, Yedra and Horno, built in the 12th century.
Free time for lunch in Cáceres. Departure to Plasencia. Free time in Plasencia. On the bank of the Jerte River, in the Extremaduran province of Caceres, Plasencia has a historic quarter that is a consequence of the city's strategic location along the Silver Route, or Ruta de la Plata. This town was inhabited by Romans and Arabs until the 12th century, when King Alfonso VIII reconquered it. Since the 15th century, the noblemen of the region began to move to Plasencia, defining its current appearance. Palaces, ancestral homes and significant religious buildings make up a unique old quarter. Departure to Salamanca. Overnight in Salamanca

Day 5, Salamanca
Breakfast. Guided Visit Salamanca (Cathedral, University, Old Quarter)
Salamanca: one of the oldest university cities in Spain remains young and erudite thanks to a monumental layout teeming with churches, places and ancestral homes. This city, a World Heritage Site and European City of Culture in 2002, is the perfect base from which to tour the province. Two major cultural itineraries, the so-called Vía de la Plata ("Silver Road") and the Camino de la Lengua Castellana ("Road of the Spanish Language") cross the province of Salamanca, offering visitors interesting historic towns and natural beauty spots, as well as local cuisine of recognised standing.
Free time for lunch in Salamanca. Guided Visit Salamanca (Roman Bridge, San Esteban, Museum Art Nouveau and Art Déco "Casa Lys") Overnight in Salamanca

Day 6, Salamanca – Astorga – León
Breakfast. Travel to Astorga. Guided Visit Astorga (Old Quarter, Cathedral, Bishop's Palace by Architect A. Gaudí). Astorga appears at the junction of two important Spanish routes which used to be pilgrimage roads. The origin of the older of the two, the Vía de la Plata, goes back to Roman times. Following this route, (Gijón-Sevilla) the metal extracted from the mines in the north of the peninsula was transported to the trading ports in the south. During the Middle Ages, it was used by Arab and Christian troops in times of conquest and reconquest. An excellent communication route, it became a pilgrimage road to Santiago de Compostela.

And the main Pilgrim's Road to Santiago, now declared a World Heritage Route by UNESCO, also led here. It formed part of a set of paths that ran across Europe and northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela, a holy city because it housed the tomb of the Apostle Saint James. The historic centre of this Galician city is also a World Heritage Site.

Asturica Augustea
Astorga, the former Asturica Augustea, was born under the Roman empire. The majority of archaeological remains belonging to this historical period have been brought together in a theme park, where you can see interesting Roman relics: sections of a basilica, baths, mansions and part of the sewerage system, among others.
The Puerta del Sol leads into the fortified area, where the Cathedral is the outstanding feature. Construction work on the current building began in the 15th century, although work continued until the 17th C. So, its layout preserves Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements and works by masters from all the periods. Its initial plans were by Gil de Hontañón, while the High Altar was the work of Gaspar Becerra. The Baroque carving of La Inmaculada is the work of the sculptural genius Gregorio Fernández, although a Romanesque sculpture of La Virgen de la Antigua is also preserved. You can also admire the exemplary craftsmanship of a silver chest that belonged to Alfonso III el Magno (the Great). Other important churches with Baroque plasterwork are those of San Andrés, Santa Clara and San Bartolomé.

In the past, as well as this group of buildings, there were pilgrim hospitals. Today, travellers can approach this tradition through the Pilgrimage Museum, housed in the Bishop's Palace. This is a Neogothic work by the Modernist master Antoni Gaudí. Another notable monument is the City Hall, which is Baroque, from the 17th century. This work by Manuel de la Lastra has its beautiful façade in the Plaza Mayor. Two towers flank a beautiful balcony with railings running round it and a steeple supported by flying buttresses. Colasa and Perico, the most popular Maragatos (as the local people are known) in Astorga sound the hours on a great bronze bell.

Free time for lunch in Astorga. Travel to León.Guided Visit León (Old Quarter, Cathedral, San Isidoro, San Marcos). León: what was the Roman Legio VII Gemina Pia Felix preserves an interesting Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance legacy, the result of its splendour during the Middle Ages. The Plaza Mayor forms the centre of this city, crossed by the river Bernesga. Among this baroque collection of buildings stands the City Hall, popularly known as the "Balcony of the City", since from its galleries the nobles observed the town's activities taking place.

Next to the City Hall is the neighbourhood of San Martín, built around the square and the church of the same name. In this area, there are small palaces and large houses such as the Casa de las Carnicerías and the Palace of Count Luna. The institution which once supplied meat to the city is a 17th-century building which today houses an exhibition hall. The palace has a 14th-century Gothic façade with Arab influences and a large dressed tower. Also worth a visit is the church of San Salvador de Palat del Rey, dating from the 10th century and the oldest in the city.
Dotted around these streets are bars and restaurants where we can sample the best of the region's gastronomy and which have made it worthy of the nickname El Húmedo. We can continue our route on to the Palace of los Guzmanes and the Casa de los Botines. The main façade of the palace, site of the County Council, dates back to the 16th century and featuring prominently on the building are the lattice balconies and the lateral façade. The Casa de los Botines, meanwhile, is the work of the architect Antonio Gaudí, who launched the modernist style in the city. León has more examples of this artistic trend in the square of Santo Domingo.

From here, we can enter the area surrounded by the Roman walls, with the city's two jewels located at either end: the Cathedral and Basilica of San Isidro. The “Pulcra Leonina”, one of the most striking Gothic temples in Spain, stands on the site of an old Roman baths and a Romanesque church. Approaching it face on offers us, on its main front, a view of one of the most significant series of Gothic sculptures, a richly-coloured rose window and two towers, curiously free-standing from the main façade. But perhaps what most captures the visitor's attention are the 1,800 square metres of stained-glass windows. Once inside, stopping by at the choir, the Romanesque tombs in the transept and the chapels of the ambulatory is a must. A visit to the Cathedral Museum, one of the most complete of its kind, takes us to see the cloister and a plateresque stairway, as well as major paintings and sculptures.

One of the most significant sites in the whole of Europe is the Basilica de San Isidoro. Its thick walls jealously guard what is known as the "Sistine Chapel" of the Spanish Romenesque style. It is a series of frescoes from the 12th century which decorate the underground crypt of the Royal Pantheon and which still preserve their original colour. We can find scenes from the Old and New Testament, floral motifs and a calendar of agricultural tasks. But the exceptional condition and quality of the paintings mustn't distract us from viewing the architectural features. The sculptures on the main fronts are a true Bible in images. The museum is housed in its cloisters and conserves an archive of codices, incunabula and a Visigothic Bible, among other works. Its prestigious collection of medieval art is enriched by the San Isidro Chest, the Ivory Chest or the Chalice of Doña Urruca.

Walking around the city, you can discover churches of all ages and styles. In San Marcelo there is a reredos created in part by Gregorio Fernández, one of the most significant sculptors of the Spanish baroque style. Meanwhile, a church which recalls the splendour of the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela as it passed through Léon is the Virgen del Camino, a highly venerated figure in the city. Overnight in León

Day 7, León – Santiago de Compostela
Breakfast. Travel to Santiago de Compostela. Arrival in Santiago de Compostela. Guided Visit Santiago (Old Quarter, Cathedral, Plaza Obradoiro, Hospital Reyes Católicos)
Santiago de Compostela: the legend tells that the appearance of the remains of the Apostle Saint James were the origin of this city (9th C.), which soon became a centre for pilgrimages and a holy city on a par with Jerusalem and Rome. Medieval Santiago experienced centuries of scientific, artistic and literary interchange thanks to the large numbers of pilgrims arriving from all over Europe. The Pilgrim's Road to Santiago, together with the city of Santiago of Compostela, is today a World Heritage Site because of the historic and artistic nature of the route. With the Catholic Monarchs and Archbishop Fonseca, the University arrived in the city and, in the centuries that followed, several religious orders established monasteries and churches in its streets, contributing to the rich Renaissance and Baroque appearance of the Galician capital.

The centre of the city is the Plaza del Obradoiro, which has important monuments, including the Cathedral. Its current Baroque façade gives way to a Romanesque doorway from the original building, the Pórtico de la Gloria, created by Master Mateo in the 12th century. Inside, Romanesque and Gothic elements alternate with other Baroque style decoration. In the Cathedral you have to follow the tradition: bump your head on the figure of its creator to obtain prudence and wisdom. At the main altar, a bust of the Apostle Saint James awaits your embrace. Another tradition is the waving of a huge incense holder, "El Botafumeiro", in the main transept, which even reaches the vaults.
Other squares, the Plaza Quintana, Plaza Azabachería and Plaza de Platerías surround the various doors and façades of the Cathedral. The latter is the only Romanesque one.

Beautiful examples of the civil Romanesque, Renaissance and Neoclassical styles also show themselves in Obradoiro. The Pazo de Gelmírez, the College of San Jerónimo and the Pazo Raxoi accompany the Cathedral and the Old Royal Hospital, today the five-star luxury 'Hostal de los Reyes Católicos', Parador de Turismo. This is an exceptional opportunity to spend the night in a building with more than 500 years of history right in the heart of the medieval city.

The importance of the religious orders associated with the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago and the University mean this area has many churches, convents and monasteries, as well as aristocratic houses like those of El Cabildo, La Parra and Los Canónigos. We could point out the monasteries of San Martín Pinario and San Paio de Antealtares (17th C.), the convent of San Francisco and the college of San Clemente.
After touring the oldest streets of the city, which date from the 12th century - Rúas Franco, Vilar and Nova - we can go to the food market, a medieval structure. Near here stands the University (of Neoclassical plan), the Romanesque church of San Fiz de Slovio and the Baroque church of San Agustín. Overnight in Santiago de Compostela

Day 8, Santiago de Compostela
Breakfast. Transfer to the Airport Santiago de Compostela and return flight