Spain and ItalySpain and Italy

April 2011April 2011

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Leave for SpainLeave for SpainDay 1Day 1

Hola, MadridHola, Madrid(Day 1)(Day 1)

Travel day.Travel day. Meet tour director: Meet tour director:

Rolando CarbonellRolando Carbonell Meet driver.Meet driver.

Hola, MadridHola, Madrid(Day 2)(Day 2)

Madrid city walk:Madrid city walk:

Puerta del SolPuerta del Sol – – Original entrance Original entrance to the city. Has to the city. Has shops, cafes, shops, cafes, gov’t offices.gov’t offices.

Plaza Mayor – Most famous plaza in Spain. Heart of Madrid. Historic site of bullfights, executions during the Inquisition.

Plaza de Espana – Former military barracks. Near palace. Tallest concrete structure in the world.

Hola, MadridHola, Madrid(Day 2)(Day 2)

El PradoEl PradoWorld-renowned museum. Famous paintings by Velazquez, Goya and many others.

Madrid LandmarksMadrid Landmarks(Day 3)(Day 3)

Guided sightseeing Guided sightseeing tourtour

http://www.madridvirtual.com/

Madrid LandmarksMadrid Landmarks(Day 3)(Day 3)

Royal Palace visitRoyal Palace visit

Built to impress, formerly occupied for centuries by the royal family. Now used for state occasions.

Madrid LandmarksMadrid Landmarks(Day 3)(Day 3)

Toledo excursionToledo excursion

The street view

The Toledo Cathedral

El Alcázar (fortress)

Toledo craftsmanship & handmade swords are known worldwide.

Toledo sits on the hill above the Tagus River, still has the old walls that line the city, was capital in 6th c. AD for the Visgoths. The home of El Greco.

Travel to BarcelonaTravel to Barcelona(Day 4)(Day 4)

Stop at Zaragoza cathedral on the way to Stop at Zaragoza cathedral on the way to Barcelona.Barcelona.

Zaragoza is now the 5th largest city in Spain, the old center retains a number of interesting and historic buildings.

Travel to BarcelonaTravel to Barcelona(Day 4)(Day 4)

Tapas dinner in Las Tapas dinner in Las Ramblas- tapas are Ramblas- tapas are Spanish hors d’oeuvres Spanish hors d’oeuvres

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5 Gaudí’s Sagrada Gaudí’s Sagrada

FamiliaFamiliaEurope’s most unconventional church, embodies symbolism and inspired by nature, definitely a Gaudi original.

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5

Parque GüellParque Güell

Gaudi’s most colorful creation- a garden city. Room of a Hundred Columns, there are 2 entry pavillions and a gingerbread-style house where Gaudi lived.

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5

Montjuïc HillMontjuïc Hill699 ft above the commercial seaport, the 1992 Olympics were held here, many art galleries, museums and an open-air theater, Palau Nacional houses the greatest Romanesque art collection and fountains and cascades.

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5

Mercat de la Mercat de la BoqueríaBoquería

A mosaic pavement by Miro and an Art Deco dragon designed for a former umbrella shop.

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5

Columbus MonumentColumbus Monument

Located on Las Ramblas, a cast-iron monument designed by Buigas marks the spot where Columbus stepped ashore in 1493 after discovering America, bringing with him 6 Caribbean Indians.

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5

Las RamblasLas RamblasThe most famous street in Spain, alive at all hours day and night. Rambla means dried-up bed of seasonal river. The Boqueri food market, Opera House and grand mansions are located along this street.

Barcelona LandmarksBarcelona LandmarksDay 5Day 5

Paella dinnerPaella dinner

A Spanish rice dish made with seafood A Spanish rice dish made with seafood and/or chicken. It contains saffron, and/or chicken. It contains saffron, which gives it a characteristic color which gives it a characteristic color and taste.and taste.

Travel to RomeTravel to RomeDay 6Day 6

RomeRomeDay 7Day 7

Spanish StepsSpanish Steps

The steps that lead up to the church of Trinita dei Monti at the top of the square. A fountain below, referred to as French Square (history of Spanish-French conflict and influence here) is crowded with visitors and artisans.

RomeRomeDay 7Day 7

Trevi FountainTrevi FountainThrow a coin in the fountain to ensure your return. Features the central figure Neptune, the sea god. Water is supplied by a 19BC aqueduct.

RomeRomeDay 7Day 7

PantheonPantheonThe best-preserved building in Rome. Originally a temple to all the gods, then converted to a church. Contains the tombs of painters and kings.

RomeRomeDay 7Day 7

Piazza NavonaPiazza NavonaArtisans set up here. Was built over the remains of ancient athletics stadium. There are 3 other fountains in this area including the fountain of Neptune, Fountain of the Four Rivers, and Fountain of the Moor.

RomeRomeDay 8Day 8

Vatican MuseumsVatican Museums

RomeRomeDay 8Day 8

Sistine ChapelSistine Chapel

The Sistine ceiling with the famous frescoes of Michelangelo (the Fall of Man, the Last Judgment, Creation of Adam)…truly an experience of a lifetime!

RomeRomeDay 8Day 8

St. Peter’s BasilicaSt. Peter’s Basilica

The longest basilica in the world. Has 21 altars, 14 chapels, 9 domes and can hold 60,000 people. Has statue of Constantine, La Pieta by Michelangelo, the baldacchino, bronze throne of St Peter, and the tomb of Alexander VII.

RomeRomeDay 8Day 8

ColiseumColiseumSymbol of Ancient Rome. Its size and violent history have intrigued visitors for over 2,000yrs. Christians fought lions, gladiators fought each other to death. The training ground is connected to the arena via tunnels. Became a quarry to supply Rome with materials for buildings in the city.

RomeRomeDay 8Day 8

Piazza VeneziaPiazza Venezia

All roads in Rome lead here, the center of the city’s road network. 800,000 cars squeeze through here every day.

RomeRomeDay 8Day 8

ForumForumWhere the first permanent civic buildings were built. Was kept empty for training grounds in case of war. Julius Caesar was the first to improve the city and had gladiators wear silver armor at the city’s games. Augustus found Rome made of brick and left if of marble. Was also divided in rioni (zones of central Rome) that still exist today.

Return HomeReturn HomeDay 9Day 9

We all board our plane We all board our plane to journey home. to journey home. Everyone will be sad the Everyone will be sad the trip is over, happy to get trip is over, happy to get back home and back home and exhausted from a long exhausted from a long week of once-in-a-week of once-in-a-lifetime experiences!lifetime experiences!