Educational Tours

Spain and Portugal12 days | Summer 2020

Included on tour

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Educational Tours

Spain and

Portugal

Round-trip flights on major carriers; full-time Tour Director;

weShare, EF’s personalized learning experience; hotels

with private bathrooms; breakfast and dinner daily

Sightseeing: Madrid; Granada; Seville; Evora; Lisbon; Sintra andCascais

Entrances: Prado Museum, Madrid; San Bernabeu FootballStadium; Tapas evening; Gypsy flamenco show, Granada;

Alhambra, Granada; Teteria, Granada; Granada city challenge;

Cathedral, Seville; Fortaleza de Sagres; Boat ride, Lagos; Chapel

of Bones; Mosteiro dos Jeronimos; Castelo De Sao Jorge; PalacioNacional de Sintra; Palacio de Pena

Overnight stays:Madrid (1)

Granada (2)

Costa Del Sol (1)

Algarve region (2)

Lisbon (3)

Your itinerary

Day 1: Fly overnight to Spain

Board your overnight flight to Madrid!

Day 2: Madrid

Arrive in Madrid

At 2,100 feet, this is Europe's highest capital, a Mecca for art-lovers,

the world-stage for bullfighting and home to the world's most famous

soccer team! The city was elevated to capital status in 1561 at the

instigation of Phillip II, and the lavishly opulent Palacio Real, built in

1738, is now an uninhabited but fascinating monument to Spain's

much-revered monarchy.

Walking tour of Madrid

Meet in Puerta del Sol at the statue of the bear and the strawberry

tree; Madrid's emblem, which stands just meters from the site of

kilometer zero from where all distances in Spain are measured. Puerta

del Sol acts as the hub for demonstrations and New Year's Eve

celebrations and in the nearby 17th century Plaza Mayor you can

imagine the duels, hangings, festivities, bullfights and theater this

space has staged.

Visit the Prado Museum

Explore the Museo del Prado which houses an astonishing 3,000

paintings collected by Spanish royalty. This massive building is

constantly expanding in order to accommodate its impressive

catalogue of Velazquez and Goya. It also boasts fine pieces by El

Greco, Botticelli and many Flemish artists.

Day 3: Madrid

Guided sightseeing of Madrid

Your local guide introduces you to the sights of Madrid on a

panoramic tour of the city. Continue with a visit to the extravagant

Palacio Real (Royal Palace), built by Bourbon King Philip V. Once the

seat of the most powerful court in the world, it was here that Spain

officially joined the European Community in 1986. The palace boasts

more than 2,000 extravagant rooms, including one encased in

porcelain. Marvel at the splendor of the marble staircase, the golden

Throne Room and the incredible collection of priceless frescoes and

chandeliers.

Visit the San Bernabeu Football Stadium

Enjoy time for a self-guided tour of the San Bernabeu Football

Stadium, home of the famous Real Madrid Football Club. Mega-stars

David Beckham, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo and have all

played here on the home team. Besides being host to several finals of

the Spanish Cup, the stadium has played host to Pope John Paul II

and was the site of the 1982 World Cup finals.

Free time at Retiro Park

Enjoy some time relaxing in one of the largest parks in Madrid.

Located very near the city center, this beautiful park has many

sculptures, monuments and even a lake.

Tapas evening

No trip to Madrid would be complete without getting a taste of the

tapa-Spain's own unique dining tradition. Tonight, enjoy a tapas

evening at a local restaurant where you will sample some of Spain's

best-known culinary traditions. While you eat, you'll be serenaded by

a traditional band. Finish off your meal with a Spanish treat: chocolate

and churros. Churros are a Spanish treat served traditionally for

breakfast but are now a delight any time in the day and accompanied

by a cup of chocolate or café con leche for dipping.

Day 4: Madrid | Granada

Travel to Granada

Journey to Granada, which was once the capital of Moorish

Andalucia. It is now an architectural masterpiece and thriving

university city. Strategically located between the foothills of the

imposing, snowy-peaked Sierra Nevada and the beautiful

Mediterranean coast, Granada boasts an eclectic cuisine of sweet

Moorish desserts. It also boasts one of Europe's most romantic

buildings, the exquisite Arabian palace of the Alhambra.

Gypsy flamenco evening

See a unique side of Spanish culture on this evening visit with the

ethnic Gypsies, believed to be of Hungarian origin, who live in the

outskirts of Granada. First, a guide provides a tour of the Albayzin

neighborhood where they have lived for several hundred years and

takes you inside one of their traditional caves. Here you'll be treated

to a beverage and given an informative explanation of Gypsy history

and culture. Afterwards, enjoy a live performance of Gypsy Flamenco

dancing.

Day 5: Granada

Guided sightseeing of the Alhambra

Recall both The Arabian Nights and the works of Washington Irving as

you tour Spain's most celebrated building: Granada's 14th-century

Alhambra. See the exotic mosaics and richly ornamented courtyards

of the country's last Moorish stronghold. Here Christopher Columbus

discussed with the king his plans for sailing to India. Then walk in the

footsteps of sultans as you tour the Generalife- a 14th-century palace

surrounded by magnificent rose gardens- where they often spent their

summers. (Please note: The visit includes the Gardens of Generalife,

the Summer Palace, Alcazaba Fortress, the Medina Arab baths, the

Palace of Charles V and the Partal Palace. Because of the Alhambra's

extreme popularity, guided visits of the interior cannot be guaranteed

during peak seasons.)

Visit a Moroccan tea house

Take part in one of Granada's most honored traditions. Due to its

strong Moorish influence, tea drinking is an extremely popular form of

relaxation and socialization for the people of Granada. Today,

experience an authentic tea house in the heart of the city.

Granada city challenge

After visiting the Alhambra, your local guide will lead you on a

scavenger hunt throughout the city. Using maps, photographs and a

list of challenges, you will scour the city for some of Granada's hidden

treasures.

Day 6: Granada | Costa del Sol

Travel to the Costa del Sol

Travel through the whitewashed villages and olive groves of the

stunning Andalucian sierras, to the cosmopolitan Costa del Sol. This

blue-skied coast is a treasure trove of small coved fishing villages and

family holiday resorts popular with seafood lovers, water sports

enthusiasts and beach-goers alike.

Free time on the beach

Spend the day enjoying the sun on the beaches of the Mediterranean.

Lounge on the sandy beaches, or explore the crystal-waters of small

pebbly coves which punctuate the pine-tree covered foothills of the

Sierra Nevada and immerse yourself in the relaxed yet vibrant culture

of the Andalucian region.

Paella dinner

Students will enjoy a traditional Spanish dish, Paella, which originated

in Valencia and is considered one of the region's identifying symbols.

Much controversy exists over the etymology of paella. While some

claim that it comes from the Spanish “for her” or para ella, others

maintain that it derives from the Arabic “leftovers” or baqiyah, but the

most commonly accepted etymology awards the origin to the Old

French “pan” or paelle.

Day 7: Costa del Sol | Algarve region

Travel via a guied sightseeing of Seville to the Algrave region

Hispalis, as Seville was called in Roman times, rests on the banks of

the Río Guadalquivir and is Spain's only river port. See the Old

Tobacco Factory, setting of Bizet's opera, Carmen, and pass the

Plaza de Toros, one of Spain's preeminent bullrings. Then, visit Maria

Luisa Park to view the beautiful mosaics of Plaza de España, built for

the 1929 Ibero-American Fair. Next, walk through the

geranium-strewn alleys of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, an aesthetic treat

you'll always remember. As you wind your way through this historic

Jewish Quarter, notice the whitewashed houses with sand-colored

trim-this is typical of Sevillian-style architecture. Top off your tour with

a guided visit to the Seville Cathedral, the world's third largest church.

Arrive in the Algarve region

Portugal is a nation with close ties to the sea. For centuries, many of

its people have made their living as fishermen, and some of Western

civilization's best-known explorers began their journeys into the New

World from the seaports of Portugal. Join your Tour Director in

exploring the coastal region of Algarve. During your visit, you will see

the 18th century Church of St. Anthony whose altar was created with

gold from Brazil.

Day 8: Algarve region

Excursion to Cabo de São Vicente

Unspoiled by hordes of tourists, Cabo de São Vicente is a nature

lover's paradise. The area is home to an impressive variety of bird and

marine life. As you walk along the steep cliffs, see if you can spot a

Bonelli's eagle, stork or peregrine falcon. Make sure you stop to see

the lighthouse, which overlooks one of the world's busiest waterways.

You can see its powerful lights from 37 miles away!

Visit the Sagres Fortress

Blank, hulking and forbidding, Sagres' fortress offers breathtaking

views over the sheer cliffs, and all along the coast to Cabo de São

Vicente. According to legend, this is where Prince Henry the

Navigator established his navigation school and primed the early

Portuguese explorers.

Take a boat excursion

Board a catamaran in Lagos and head out to sea! Enjoy the scenic

coastline as you make your way to the grottos. You will then board

smaller boats and take a tour of the enchanting grottos that are

carved into the coast.

Day 9: Algarve region | Lisbon

Travel via Evora to Lisbon

Guided sightseeing of Evora

A local guide will lead you on a sightseeing tour of Evora. A walled

town since Roman times, Evora is now mostly Moorish in character

with alleys cut by arches and brilliant, whitewashed houses decorated

with colorful azulejos (tiles). Evora was once the seat of Portuguese

royalty. Its town center, the Praca de Giraldo, has been designated a

UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your tour, you will see the Agua

de Prata Aqueduct (Silver Water Aqueduct) and the Igreja Real de Sao

Francisco. This church is famous for its chapel of bones, which you

will also visit.

Arrive in Lisbon

Built around the wide, winding River Tagus, the Atlantic port of Lisbon

was conquered from the Moors in 1147 and later set forth intrepid

seafaring discoverers such as Vasco de Gama. Trams run up and

down the narrow cobbled streets of Lisbon's seven hills, from which

you can admire the magnificent government square of Praca do

Comercio, rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1755.

Day 10: Lisbon

Guided sightseeing of Lisbon

Recall the Age of Discovery at Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the

Torre de Belém. It was from here that many navigators set sail,

including Bartolomeu Dias, who sailed around the southern tip of

Africa. Then visit the Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon's oldest

monument, in the Alfama district. The early kings of Portugal once

resided inside the castle, enjoying breathtaking views of the city and

the Tagus River below.

Visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

Further relive the days when Portugal was a great trading empire as

you visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, built by King Manoel to honor

the country's great voyagers. Here the king lies buried, along with

Vasco da Gama, who sailed from Portugal in 1497 and discovered a

sea route to India.

Exploration time in Lisbon

Once reputed to be the eighth wonder of the world, Lisbon was home

to riches beyond compare in its golden age. Today it is an exciting

and vibrant city that has much to offer. Take the time to explore the

city on your own this afternoon.

Day 11: Lisbon

Guided sightseeing of Sintra and Cascais

Enjoy an excursion to the hillside town of Sintra, referred to by Lord

Byron as “glorious Eden”. Here, you'll visit the National Palace of

Sintra, whose two conical chimneys reign as the town's most

recognizable landmarks, as well as the Pena Palace, which is best

known for its whimsically colored façade. Continue to the charming

beach town of Cascais. Due to Portugal's neutrality in World War II,

Cascais became home to many of the exiled royal families of Europe,

including those of Spain, Italy and Bulgaria.

Day 12: Depart for home

Transfer to the airport for your return flight

Your Tour Director assists with your transfer to the airport, where

you'll check in for your return flight home.

Itinerary is subject to change

For complete financial and registration details, please refer to the

Booking Conditions at www.eftours.com/bc.

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For over 50 years EF has been working toward

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Education. Your teacher has partnered with EF

because of our unmatched worldwide presence,

our focus on affordability, and our commitment to

providing experiences that teach critical thinking,

problem solving, collaboration, and global

competence.

– We always offer the lowest prices guaranteed

so more students can travel.

– We’re fully accredited, just like your school,

so you can earn credit while on tour.

– All of our educational tours feature experiential

learning activities and visits to the best sites.

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We have 500 schools and offices in over 50

countries around the world, so local EF staff

members can react quickly and in person

wherever you travel.

– Your full-time Tour Director is with your group

every step of the way on tour, providing insight

about your destinations as well as great local tips.

“ My daughter has gained such an amazing view of

the world and history from this experience. She

has not stopped talking since I picked her up at the

airport. "ank you for all the organization, helpful

hints, #exible payment plan, and knowledgeable

tour guides.”

–CHARLOTTE, PARENT

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