One of the most beautiful towns in the north of Portugal Spain Vacations: Unveiled & Curated
𝔸𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕗𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕟. 𝕄𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕥 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕥 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕚𝕣.
𝔻𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕤𝕖 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤?
𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 !
𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔼𝕟𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕍𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕒-𝔾𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕚𝕫:
𝕋𝕨𝕠 𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕊𝕒𝕟 𝕊𝕖𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚á𝕟, 𝕍𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕒-𝔾𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕚𝕫 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕒𝕤𝕢𝕦𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕚𝕟'𝕤 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 “𝔾𝕝𝕠𝕓𝕒𝕝 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕟 ℂ𝕚𝕥𝕪”.
This hidden gem offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and sustainable living that will captivate the discerning traveler.
Whether you're drawn to history, art, music, or sustainable living, Vitoria-Gasteiz provides a serene yet stimulating environment to satisfy your curiosity and rejuvenate your senses.
Places we can include in your private tour:
- The Medieval: Step back in time as you wander through the beautifully preserved old town, with its ancient layout and remnants of defensive walls, the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria and churches that have inspired literary giants like Ken Follett.
- Cultural: including the world-renowned Playing Cards Museum and the fascinating Natural Sciences Museum housed in the 15th-century Tower of Doña Otxanda.
- Green Spaces: Stroll through meticulously maintained parks and the innovative Green Ring, showcasing the city's commitment to sustainability and urban planning.
- Gastronomic: Indulge in the special cuisine of the region, savoring local delicacies in the vibrant Plaza de la Virgen Blanca.
- Jewish Heritage: Explore the fascinating history of Basque Jews along Judería street and in the historic Casa del Cordón.
𝕆𝕦𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕦𝕥𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠
2019 Camino to Santiago do Compostelo
We're planning this special Camino to Santiago do Compostela for anyone who wishes to either travel alone or organize a small group (up to 15 persons).
Take a look at this map of the places you'll visit during this 12 day tour. To read about eachplace, click on the place marker.
Included with each pilgrimage are accommodations. most dinners, English speaking guide, city tours in Porto, Portugal and Santiago do Compostela and several other places.
Share with your friends who might wish to make this exclusive Pilgrimage to Santiago do Compostela that will start in Porto, Portugal.
We will need a minimum of 30 days to make the arrangements, so its best to start planning your vacation as soon as possible.
Buenas Dias y Bom Dia
Good Morning
Many people have been asking us to arrange trips this year to make the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.
In November 2018 Greg Edwards spent 53 days in Spain and traveled throughout the region where the pilgrimage routes pass.
One place must be on the route; the ocean side point called Finisterre, thought by the Romans to be the "end of the world." This photos on this post show this beautiful place, and others including the main destination: Santiago de Compostela.
If you want to take this pilgrimage for spiritual or just to escape from the grind of daily life and have time to collect your thoughts during one of these beautiful walks, get in touch and we will take care of all the arrangements.
You can contact us through our website at www.spainandportugalvacations.com
Even if you can’t make it maybe you have friends that would like to? Please share a list to your timeline and let others know. We will be happy to arrange their trip as well.
Discover Portugal's Alentejo, located south of Lisbon!
This tour invites you to know parts of the Alentejo region located south of Lisbon. Évora, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage City and either Vila Vicosa or Monaaraz.
Evora has evolved through the centuries without losing its traditional atmosphere and became a UNESCO due to the preserved monuments. The visit can include the nearby town of Vila Vicosa, home to the last ruling dynasty of Portugal's monarchy and their magnificent marble clad palace in the Renaissance style. If you would rather see a real castle from the 13th century located atop a mountain near the border with Spain, you can visit Monsaraz in place of Vila Viçosa.
In Évora you will walk through the historical center and "feel" the atmosphere of this town. WIthin the city walls that entirely encircle ancient Evora you'll see the enigmatic church of St. Francis and its Chapel of the Bones, the remains of the Roman temple dedicated in the 2nd century to Emperor Augustus and the Gothic style arcade of Praca Giraldo with the immense marble Renaissance fountain.
In the already distant 16th century Évora thrived with culture and tradition in its university as much as it still does today, so we’ll show the century-old university courtyard with ancient and priceless 17th century blue and white tiles famous for their allegorical images that were popular in times past.
After an cultural morning it will be time to enjoy the pleasures of one of the most creative cuisines of Portugal in one of the local "alentejano" restaurants (meal not included).
After lunch you’ll visit either Vila Viçosa, land of marble and of the Bragança Family Palace, where the last ruling dynasty lived in Portugal between 1640 and 1910 (date of the end of the monarchy), establishing their opulent court often in this palace. Vila Viçosa, known as the "Marble Village" due to marble found everywhere, from cobble stone streets, parts of houses and the ever presen
Art and History in Toledo and Segovia, Spain
How about another trip idea to Spain? Here's one that we designed recently for a Day Trip to Toledo and Segovia.
With this trip, you get to see both cities. We arrange private transportation from Madrid with an English speaking guide and lunch in Segovia - known for their Suckling Pig. And wine ... of course !
You will see the main sights of Toledo’s Cathedral. Inside is one of El Greco's most most beautiful paintings, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Widely considered among his finest works, it illustrates a popular local legend of his time. The painting has been lauded by art scholars, characterized as "one of the most truthful pages in the history of Spain".
This is a masterpiece of Western Art and of late Mannerism and as the epitome of Greco's artistic style. You will also visit the 15th century of San Juan Monastery.
Leaving Toledo you will visit Segovia, one of Spain’s oldest cities...
Here you will see the stunning Roman-era aqueduct and hilltop Alcazar palace-fortress, originally a palace in the middle ages, it's been since used as a prison and the Royal Artillery School. With beautiful Moorish décor from the 12th to 16th centuries) ceilings. There are great views from the terrace, the armory complete with crossbows and cannons, and the Hall of the Monarchs that features 52 busts of rulers from Castile and Leon.
Already mentioned the sucking pig, one plate is enough for two people !
As we keep saying, it's never too early to start planning your trip for 2019. Contact us to get started www.spainandportugalvacations.com
Foodies will love the cheeses produced in Spain!
Here are 5 from the north of Spain, called "Green Spain".
Cheese will be important features during our 2019 Spain Tours... served with wine, of course!
San Simón is a Gallego mountain cheese and until recently was hard to find in restaurants and shops. This slightly smoked cheese is beautiful to look at, with the appearance of a polished brass knob. It looks like an artifact. Slice it horizontally, so it won’t dry out, and you find an interior that is dense and yellow with a creamy texture.
Cabrales is named for the Asturian town where it is produced. It is a blue cheese, cured in the cool, damp caves found in the nearby Picos de Europa mountains.
It is wrapped in maple leaves, giving its rind a slight ochre tint, which contrasts beautifully with the blue penicillin mold. Cabrales is very creamy, salty, and assertive. It coats the mouth when you eat it, giving you plenty of reason to drink more cider to prepare your palate for the next bite, and more cider. It is widely available in better restaurants all over the country.
Afuega’l Pitu is from the Asturian town of Oviedo. This is a valley cheese, and is salted. Sometimes the makers add a bit of paprika to it for variety. Before you buy you should ask first if it had paprika. At the very least, ask for a taste because it will be gladly given. For an Atlantic cheese it’s a bit on the dry side, with a granular quality, and it sticks to the roof of your mouth. It has a nutty flavor and a long finish. This is a cheese you can really linger over.
Tetilla (literally, nipple) from Galicia is so named because of its distinctive shape. One wonders if the original was in any way a representation of that of its maker. It is a quickly ripening cheese, full fat, and with a mild and sweet, not a salty, taste, Tetilla has a very creamy texture. It melts easily, which makes it good for cooking, if the Spanish were given to cooking with cheese. Perhaps they will be some
In Oviedo, capital of the province of Asturias in Spain its traditional to pour cider this way. Add the delicious dish called “fabadas” and you have a feast #oviedo #spain #cider #sidra #spaintravel
Porto, Portugal
One day in Porto from our 2015 #privatetour #portugal #porto
This fish and seafood market is located a little bit off-center from the area where most tourists go in Madrid.
It’s known as probably the best place to go for fish and all of Madrid.
When we do our 2019 Spain private tours, this is where we will go to buy the fish before our cooking class
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