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READ MORE...Everyone, from the most passionate food-lover to the casual foodie, will delight in this Tasting Duet. Mix in some of Spain's powerful history & the art of Gaudi and you have a most wonderful vacation.
On arrival in Barcelona, you will be met and transferred by private car to your central hotel for check-in. Settle in and then it's time to explore Barcelona at your leisure; relax in the cafes, people watch, drink pure Italian coffee, and absorb the history and elegance of your new surroundings. The remainder of today is free to visit and absorb the delights of this city.
Wine and gastronomy are part of Catalonia’s popular culture. Through this afternoon's tour, delve into the Penedès region to learn all about the fascinating world of wine. The influence of the sun and the Mediterranean Sea make the Penedès a privileged territory for winemaking. We will travel on a luxury private bus to visit 2 hand-picked selected wineries. Our first stop is a family-run boutique winery which has been cultivating vines for more than two thousand years. Upon arrival, we will be welcomed by an expert winemaker who will tell us about the history of this millenary winery and guide us into the subterranean wine cellar. In this remarkable space, we learn fascinating facts about grape varieties, vine growing, wine making or the optimal conditions for its storage. It is now time to savour 4 charming wines in a stylish tasting room, accompanied by an assortment of gourmet delicatessen. Next, we will visit the traditional manor house (current residence of the owner family) and the vineyards to discover the art and secrets of winemaking! To add a glamorous touch to the experience, continue the visit through the vineyards on board of a convertible 4x4 car (approx. 40 min.) accompanied by our guide and a viticulturist, a true passionate expert! A unique and exclusive way to visit a stunning rural landscape with endless vineyards. Along the way, admire a Romanesque church settle among the vineyards and belonging to the manor. The second cellar visited is an equally historical winery specialized in cava, a naturally sparkling wine with an unmistakable flavour deeply rooted in Catalonia. We have an exclusive opportunity to enter the Capella, the heart of the cellar, being the oldest part of the winery. This is an enchanting candle-lit ancient room where time stands still. After visiting the vineyard and cellar, taste 4 unique cavas. These are also paired by a selection of appetizers to enhance the experience. Raise your glass for a toast to a great wine experience!
Barcelona is known as the capital of Modernism and the place where the famous architect Antoni Gaudí worked and lived. Gaudi, one of the greatest innovators of his time, has left behind numerous treasures for the discerning tourist to discover in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia is one of the most visited buildings in the world. We will visit the astonishing interior of this church, where vaults reach seventy meters. Antoni Gaudí designed a Latin cross plan with five aisles, extremely rich in ornamentation and symbolism. We will also visit the Sagrada Familia museum, where you will see drawings, plaster models and pictures about the history and development of this basilica from its early beginnings to the present day. The museum will also give valuable information about Antoni Gaudi's life and career.
Your afternoon is free today and then in the early evening, you can look forward to a Flamenco Show & Tapas Small Group walking tour. Tonight your expert local guide will take you through one of Barcelona's most authentic and trendiest districts, El Born. Travel back to the Middle Ages on this walking tour of the Gothic Quarter; explore hidden squares and picturesque churches, and admire the greatness of Santa Maria del Mar Church, an icon of Catalan Gothic architecture. Learn about Catalonia’s recent past at Centre Cultural del Born which is also home to the best conserved Roman archaeological site in the city. After visiting the El Born district, enjoy an intimate flamenco show surrounded by the Baroque atmosphere of Dalmases Palace, a hidden treasure from the 17th-Century and once the meeting place of the aristocratic society of scholars. A gourmet Pintxos & Tapas buffet dinner including a drink & dessert at one of the best pintxos restaurants in Barcelona makes for a perfect closing to this unforgettable evening. Pintxos (which means "toothpicks" or "small skewers") is a Basque culinary tradition that has extended to Barcelona and is the art of making delicatessen small bites which can become the sole component of a wonderful dinner.(B)
Travel today on board a high-speed train with reserved seating from Barcelona to Madrid, where you can transfer independently to your hotel in the city centre and pend the remainder of the day getting to know Spain's capital city. (B)
Today you can enjoy this fun introduction to the Spanish gastronomic culture. Learn how to cook Spanish dishes that have travelled the world, including Paella, Tortilla, Sangria and more, preparing the dishes yourself under the guidance of an experienced chef and in a small group setting. The tour begins with a visit to the fresh food stalls of Torrijos Market (Mercado de Torrijos), where the chefs will give you plenty of tips on picking local, seasonal products. Then you can start cooking dishes like Paella, Spanish omelette (Tortilla), Andalusian salad, Sangria, all the while enjoying & learning about Spanish cuisine. After you have prepared your dishes, it is time to taste what you have prepared while trying different Spanish wines. Before leaving, your instructor will give you a recipe card so that you can re-create the food yourself at home to impress friends and family! (B.L)
Today you can discover La Mancha, the homeland of Don Quixote, Belmonte, Mota Del Cuervo and the village of El Toboso, where according to recent research Miguel de Cervantes was inspired by some of its neighbours to write the most famous novel of all times, “The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha”. We will visit the Castle of Belmonte (completely restored) and will know-how was the life of a mediaeval knight, heroes of the stories that made Don Quixote go mad. La Mancha is a land of great wines. We will make a stop along the way to visit the winery Mont Reaga in Monreal Del Llano. After a guided tour, we will enjoy a tasting of their best wines. We will have lunch at a typical inn –“mesón”- at Mota del Cuervo. After lunchtime, we will visit its famous windmills, who witnessed the battle of Don Quixote against the Giants of his imagination. In there is wind enough, we will see how the flour was traditionally made –“molienda”- from the wheat. The tour will end at El Toboso, the village of Dulcinea, Don Quixote’s love interest. El Toboso houses the Cervantes Museum, which keeps hundreds of Don Quixote translated editions in almost all the languages in the World, together with a lot of copies of the great book signed by many international personalities from different countries and eras. The House-Museum of Dulcinea Del Toboso faithfully replicates the home of a knight in times of Cervantes, as it would have been the house of Don Alonso Quijano “El Quixote”. From El Toboso we will return to Madrid, saying goodbye to an extraordinary journey in La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote. This full-day excursion returns to Madrid around 7:45 pm. (B.L)
Today marks the end of your Spanish Tasting Duet and it's now time to return home to impress your friends with your new gastronomic talents! Make your way to the airport to begin your journey home. Adios!
This tour operates as displayed on Thursday & Saturday but can be modified to suit your arrival.