Grand Tour of Spain for Couples: Madrid, Seville, Barcelona

Your first full day of this journey will find you indulging in a leisurely morning at your five-star accommodation. After yesterday’s caper through the gardens, monuments, and ponds of El Retiro park, you will be feeling rested and ready to explore the artistic treasures of the Spanish capital. Meeting you at your hotel, your knowledgeable guide will lead you on a tour of some of Spain’s finest art museums on the Paseo del Prado or Art Walk. This guided stroll includes entrance to the world-renowned Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia, and the museum of Thyssen-Bornemisza. This trio of museums will present to you some of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture and works from such masters as Goya, Velazquez, Dali, and El Greco. After stretching your legs and imagination, your guide will depart but not before introducing you to one of the finest local restaurants for your sampling of Spanish tapas.

As you wander the halls and corridors of the Art Walk, you and your partner will get the chance to indulge your inner art critic as you explore these three museums. As each museum boasts collections of thousands of items your personal guide will make sure that the examples of artistic achievement that are the most notable will not be missed as you survey the creative careers of the masters. The tapas sampling will transfer responsibility from your eyes to your mouth as a procession of small Spanish dishes that will delight your palette. Favorites include Spanish meatballs or albondigas, fried anchovies, olives, peppers, and the ubiquitous patatas bravas or fried potatoes with dipping sauce. Each will arrive at your table exquisitely prepared, and your sampling of regional favorites will ensure that no stone is left unturned as you delight in this culinary tradition.

This morning, the sun will complement the architectural beauty that surrounds you. You will be met by your private driver who will escort you to the main train station, where your first-class accommodation is waiting to provide you with a comfortable journey to Seville. Upon your arrival to Seville, another convenient transfer will ensure your timely arrival to your luxurious hotel in the city center, where you will spend the rest of the day in different forms of rest and relaxation. Located only a short walk from your hotel are the ancient thermal baths that, when combined with modern spa management, will offer you and your partner a romantic way to reflect on your travels while receiving facials, massages, and any other combination of relaxing treatments.

As you dip into your new surroundings in Seville, you will be dipping into a unique part of Spanish history that capitalizes on its juncture between two different continents. For much of the medieval period, Spain was occupied by Muslim forces that left their Islamic influence on much of the artwork, architecture, music, and cuisine of Spain. Seville is no different, and as you stroll through the city center, you will find evidence of this unique past everywhere. You will see the Alcazar, which is a 14th-century Mudejar palace that contains many examples of Moorish influence, and its architectural splendor has earned it appearances on popular television shows like Game of Thrones.

The scent of the of your spa treatment will linger as you wake up, feeling revitalized from your spa day. Seville is best explored in comfort, and your hotel will honor this by ensuring that your stay in Andalusia is met with the finest care and service. Today, you will explore one of Spain’s more dramatic and infamous pastimes of bullfighting. You will be met at your hotel by your private guide who will be knowledgeable in the Spanish tradition of bullfighting and will escort you to the nearby bull ring of the Plaza de Toros Real Maestranza.

The Plaza de Toros is a still operating bull arena, but the authorities will ensure no angry bulls interrupt your visit to the museum, chapel, or ring of this 18th-century source of Spanish entertainment. As you wander the exhibits and marvel at the horned heads that stare down at you from the walls, you can take a moment to contemplate those feelings of the bullfighter who would seek glory on the sand of the arena. Evidence of a bloody encounter may appear in the form of the stained jacket that is on display, showcasing the ornate costumes that were worn by the matadors or bullfighters and the sometimes violent ends that they would face.

The sand of the arena will be washed away amid the flight of cavas that you will savor after a thrilling visit to the bull ring. The Spanish history of viticulture dates back to the Phoenicians, giving this region plenty of time to perfect varieties of wine and cava that it produces. The sparkling wine that you will be served has a texture that more akin to champagne, but your knowledgeable host will guide you through the different types and history of cava before your return to your comfortable beds.

Today, you will awake in Seville to the scent of the blooming orange trees that will float in through your open window. As you peer through the billowing curtains from the softness of your bed, the sight of the sun as it shines off Seville’s whitewashed homes will be enough to entice you out of bed for the excitement of the day. Any remnants of sleepiness will be washed away with a cup of the delicious cafe con leche or coffee with milk. You may see locals who pair their cafe con leche with a copy of the day’s paper or the most recent neighborhood gossip.

The morning will be yours to spend however you like before you guide meets you at midday for a tour of the magnificent Plaza Espana and adjacent Parque Maria Luisa. Both sites were developed in preparation for the 1929 World’s Fair and enjoyed central prominence in displaying the uniqueness of Spain in general and Seville in particular. As you make your way along the perimeter of the crescent-shaped plaza, you will notice the particular detailed engravings and tiles that have won Sevillian ceramicists recognition around the world. If the midday sun gets to be too much, you can duck into any number of alcoves or overhands as the distant notes of the street performers drift to you on the lazy conveyance of the Andalusian breeze.

Your day will conclude with the proud, Spanish tradition of a Flamenco show from a number of quality performers who are well versed in this musical legacy. Largely Arabic in origin, Flamenco’s musical heartbeat comes from the clapping and footsteps of the dancers and their tablao or entourage. Flamenco is experiencing a recent resurgence, and although you are able to see a performance in most major Spanish cities, Andalusia continues to be largely considered the home of this famous musical heritage.

With the rhythms and notes of the Flamenco dance still ringing in your ears, you will awake to your final morning in Seville that will be complete with the soft comfort of your hotel and the rich flavors of carefully crafted Spanish pastries. When you are ready, your private transfer will whisk you away to the airport for the short domestic transfer to Barcelona. The rolling hills and pastures of Andalusia will be replaced by the abrupt coastline, pristine beaches, and rugged mountains of Catalonia, and your stay at this region’s capital of Barcelona. After you have settled into your luxurious hotel at the heart of the city, you will have ample time to explore the crisscrossing alleys and open plazas that typify many cities in this unique corner of Spain.

In the afternoon, you will meet your guide at one of these central plazas and make your way down the famous La Rambla. This tree-lined, pedestrian street connects the busy port to the Plaza Catalonia and is an excellent way to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of this vibrant community. Adjacent to this thoroughfare is the open air market called La Boqueria and is the destination for tourists and locals alike to stock up on savory treats, produce, or seafood. Here, you will be met by a culinary expert and the instructor of your cooking course. Together, you will explore the beautiful stalls and shops of this large market, searching for the ingredients that are required to prepare the perfect Paella. Only once you have acquired the right items will you make your way back to the kitchen, which is where your guide will guide you step by step through the stages of preparing and cooking this rice-based dish.

Although it can be prepared in any number of ways, you will learn the Catalonian method of cooking, which includes plenty of produce from the nearby Mediterranean Sea. As the kitchen fills with the aroma of cooked rice, steamed mussels, shrimp, and other spices, your knowledgeable instructor will walk you through the debated history of this dish and the best practices for preparation. Refreshment will come in the form of delicious Sangria or Cava, and right when you think you cannot take any more anticipation, instructions from your teacher will be replaced by a steaming plate that is topped with golden Paella.

Now that you have gained some working knowledge of Catalonian customs and culture during your time in Barcelona, it is time to take your knowledge from the urban landscape of the old city center to the rural landscape beyond the city limits. After a satisfying breakfast of local favorites, your private escort will pick you up from your luxury hotel and navigate you through the narrow city streets. Looming up through the heat and haze, you will see what looks to be the sharpened teeth of an upturned saw, but as you get closer, you will see that it is a massive mountain, which is comprised of hundreds of towers and spires that rise above the Catalonian landscape.

Montserrat is a multi-peaked range that extends just inland from Barcelona and is the location of a cliffside Benedictine monastery that dates back to the 11th century. For centuries, these mountains have attracted the pious and secular alike as a destination to escape the bustle of the big city and seek out solace from between the massive sedimentary boulders. The monastery is also home to the Basilica of Montserrat, which is a 16th-century homage to the mountain’s holy past.

Upon your arrival to the monastery, you will receive an informative tour of the grounds as well as an introduction to the famed La Moreneta statues, which are believed to have been carved by St. Luke. The mountains are also dotted with hermitages and crisscrossed by hiking paths for a more robust exploration of this holy site. On a clear day, it is possible to see the Balearic Islands to the East, which is a spout of islands that dot the sea of the Mediterranean. Before retiring to the comfort of your accommodation that will be perched on the side of this quiet mountain range, you will be treated to multiple courses of classic Catalonian cuisine from one of the few restaurants that can be found at this elevation.

The silence will be the first thing you notice as you awake to the crisp mountain air of Montserrat. Having spent the previous mornings of enjoying the bustle of Spain’s major cities, the solitude that can be found here will reinvigorate your sense of adventure just as it restored those who have been traveling to this religious site for centuries. After sampling a typical Spanish breakfast of coffee and pastry, you will be met by a private car to comfortably transfer you back to Barcelona for your final full day in Spain. As Montserrat fades in the review mirror, the memories of the Basilica, art museum, and the views across Catalonia will remain as vivid as ever to remind your recent adventures in Spain.

After your arrival to your luxurious hotel, you will have the opportunity to settle before a short trip to the site of one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks. To the North of the Gothic Quarter lies the consecrated Basilica of La Sagrada Familia, which is a massive monument that was designed by Catalonian architect Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi’s artistic accomplishment appear throughout the city, but the gleaming towers and turrets of this surreal building are a testament to his unique approach. Meeting you at the entrance, your private guide will give you all the anecdotes and details that is missed on the audio tours and will escort you into the bowels of the building, where you can see the tomb of the great architect and catch a glimpse of what the view of the city looks like from inside a tower.

Your final afternoon in Barcelona will conclude with a visit to the tranquil shores of the Mediterranean, where you will have the chance to participate in activities that attract both locals and tourists alike. Barcelona boasts some of the best beaches that can be found among major European metropolises, and a dip in the refreshing waters is best paired with a short siesta on the soft sand. As the beads of water pearl off your back, you will be provided with the opportunity to consider the places and spaces that you have seen on your tour of this amazing country and spend some quality time with your partner as you are free from the crowds of some of the more popular destinations.

Nothing short of one last stroll through the center of Barcelona will pull you from your bed on your final morning in Spain. A shot of espresso here, a souvenir there, and a lasting snapshot of the countless sights will leave you with just enough nostalgia to last until your next trip to this unique part of the world. A private car will transfer you effortlessly to Barcelona’s international airport, where a flight will be waiting to transport you home.