Salamanca Cathedral in Salamanca, Spain

The Ten Historic Cities of Spain: An Inspiring Journey

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Spain

Places Visited

Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Gibraltar...

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Suggested Duration

13 Days

Uncover the essence of culture and history on your 13-day Spain tour that features not one standout city but many, each unique and enticing in a way distinctive to the rest. The architecture provides contrasting backdrops, history is told through a multitude of legends, and the atmosphere is dictated by the vibrancy of a very localized culture in ten exceptional and diverse odes to a country unlike anywhere else.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Explore the revolutionary design of the Modernist movement in Barcelona, a city that makes for an iconic introduction to Spain
  • Uncover the Moorish legacy of Granada, a city enshrined in medieval legend
  • Spend two nights in one of Spain’s oldest cities, 3,000 years of history enveloping you in whitewashed mountain-top Ronda
  • Take a peek into the contradictions of today with a day in Gibraltar, a city-state seeking to create a new identity
  • Soak up the exuberance and enchantment of Seville, a wonderful city that enhances the layers of history with the atmosphere of the modern day
  • The exoticism of ancient Islamic culture provides a beautiful memory with a day in Cordoba
  • Madrid immerses you in world-renowned art and the regal tastes of the monarchs, which is all just the start of what you can admire in the capital
  • Wander beneath the whitewashed walls and spend a morning in Avila, an enchanting city rooted in the 11th century
  • World Heritage Salamanca provides an endearing insight into contrasting architectural movements, from Renaissance to Gothic to Baroque, as told by the sculpted figures that look down from the monuments
  • Segovia symbolizes the juxtapositions of Spain’s cities, a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct cutting straight through plazas filled with relaxed terraces
  • Exploring contrasting cities offers a wonderful insight into Spanish cuisine, and you will enjoy distinctive flavors at each of the destinations you visit 
Begin planning your ideal Spain vacation by visiting the best Spain vacation packages page on Zicasso.

Detailed Description

In some European countries, there are unmissable city experiences. Imagine a first-time trip to France without Paris, England without London, or Italy without Rome. In Spain, there is no single defining city, even if Barcelona may make that claim. From Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia to the exquisite Moorish alcazars, the architecture changes dramatically between the cities, each with a very distinctive design and flavor. From mountaintop perches to arid plains and Mediterranean waters, each city has its own natural backdrop. Each is blessed with a history of stories and fables that weave their way across cobbled lanes and central plazas. Cuisine and culture also vary drastically, inspired by a proud regional independence and demand for the unique.

Across these cities, there is one piece of culture that frames everything and creates the atmosphere. Languid hours are spent on al fresco terraces, and there is always enough time for another drink or plate of tapas. While these cities are distinctive, they also showcase the similarities of the Spanish experience. Visit Paris or London, and you must consciously search for the real city, but in Spain, authenticity comes naturally, and by visiting ten different cities, you will come to recognize that what ties all these places together is greater than what makes them distinct. While ten cities in 13 days may sound like a lot, Spain is relatively compact and blessed with excellent transport connections, ensuring you move at a pace that is suited to the laid-back style of the country.

Start in Barcelona, Gaudi’s feats among the highlights of the Catalonian city on the coast. It is a short flight to Granada, a city of contradictions, grand yet gritty, held together by the Moorish Alhambra palace and a medieval legacy. Spend a day in Ronda, 3,000 years old and counting, perched on a mountain above Andalusia. Contemporary culture marks a day in Gibraltar, where regional independence is magnified. Continuing in the south of the country, you spend time amid the colors and energy of Seville. There are so many layers of history and culture to admire, from a night of flamenco to a canvas of artisanal design and color.

Stop in Cordoba, a testament to the beauty of old Islamic culture and the world’s most cultural city from 800 to 1000 AD. Art and royal palaces provide charm in Madrid, along with maze-like central lanes that make it feel like a sleepy city, not a capital. Then spend the final days on the central plains, first admiring Avila, a city enclosed by breathtaking medieval walls. Salamanca is a gem in the middle of nowhere, 800 years of refined design showing the juxtapositions of Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance. Then you are off to Segovia which offers you a final hurrah, its Roman aqueduct still dominating the city after 2,000 years. In all these great cities, you are immersed in a legacy of the past that is etched with the fresh strokes of a changing country. 

Zicasso works closely with the best Spain travel operators to ensure that you have a fully customized trip of a lifetime.

Starting Price

$4,051 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.91 stars based on 2228 reviews.

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