| Spain Performing Itinerary
Discover Spain: Break away from the traditional performance tour, and challenge your students in a unique culture. Visiting Spain is not only about sun, great cuisine, and a warm welcome. You will enjoy a rich monumental heritage, dazzling natural environment and most of all, exotic music drenched in old world culture. Check out this ten day itinerary for ideas to begin planning your own European Tour!
Day 1 - Departure
Our adventure begins today with our flights to Madrid, Spain. In flight meals
Day 2 - Madrid
Upon arrival in Madrid, we meet our driver and guide, and have a panoramic tour of the city. We see such sights as the Parque del Retiro, the Plaza de la Independencia with its Puerta de Alcalá, the Plaza de Cibeles and its famous fountain, the Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, and the Puerta del Sol. Also on our tour we will stop at the impressive Royal Palace in Madrid, which was commissioned to be built by Felipe V with the instructions that it should be "a palace to dwarf all others." Given that the Royal Palace contains 2,000 rooms and 20 square miles of tapestry, it seems Felipe V's wishes were fulfilled. After checking into our hotel, the remainder of the day is free to acquaint yourself with Spain’s energetic capital. B/D
Day 3 - Madrid
After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the Prado, one of Europe’s most significant art museums, where we’ll see the world’s greatest collection of Spanish paintings. Here we see pieces by Spain's most famous artists-Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. We have some free time this afternoon to continue exploring - some attractions you may want to visit are the Reina Sofía Art Museum or vast Plaza Mayor. If you want to get to the heart of Madrid, go to the Puerta del Sol. "The Door of the Sun," as it is translated, is a large roundabout connecting several streets which contain boutiques, cafes, and el Museo de Jamón (the ham museum) - certainly the best place to experience the Spaniard's passion for pork. This evening we give our first performance in Spain. B/D
Day 4 - Segovia
Today we journey to the historic pueblo of Segovia, a medieval city perched on a rocky incline of the Guadarrama Mountains. Upon arrival we meet our local guide and enjoy a tour which includes a visit to the Segovia Cathedral, the Acueducto Romano - one of the greatest surviving examples of Roman engineering, and the Alcazar – a picturesque castle where we can climb up 140 steps for a breath-taking view. This afternoon we have free time to explore Segovia on our own. B/D
Day 5 - Santander
After a relaxing morning, we leave Segovia behind as we drive to Santander, with its many hills, cliffs, beaches, and upscale shopping district. A fire ruined most of the city center in 1941. Since then the city has been rebuilt and is now a favorite seaside resort town in Spain. After arriving in Santander, we visit the Magdalena Peninsula, located between the El Sardinero and Playa de la Magdalena beaches. Here there is a mini zoo and the “Parque de La Magdalena”, a beautiful park, overlooking the ocean. After checking in to our hotel, we have the remainder of the afternoon free to explore. You may want to check out the historic buildings in the town center, stroll along the marina, or pick-up some souvenirs. B/D
Day 6 - Santander
This morning we drive to the nearby town of Santillana del Mar to visit the Altamira Museum. In the museum we see a life-like replica of the famous Altamira Cave, which is known as the Sistine Chapel of Palaeolithic Art because of the clear and detailed paintings which adorn the ceiling and walls. We also see an exhibition that illustrates what everyday life was like in this area during the Palaeolithic times. This afternoon we return to Santander for our second performance. B/D
Day 7 - Zaragoza
On our way to Zaragoza, where we will stay this evening, we visit the Guggenheim museum in the city of Bilbao. The museum has a design alleged to resemble a metallic flower, and represents a broad spectrum of modern and contemporary art. After arriving in Zaragoza, we visit the Basilica of Nuestra Senora del Pilar on the Plaza del Pilar. This temple dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Inside is a Renaissance choir-stall. The basilica was declared a National Monument and is one of the most important spiritual destinations in Spain. B/D
Day 8 - Barcelona
Today we continue our adventure as we travel to Barcelona, one of Spain’s most unique and vibrant cities. Upon arrival we visit Montjuïc, Barcelona’s largest recreation area, which overlooks the city and harbor. We visit the Poble Espanyol, a small medieval Spanish city within the city, where we see replicas of all of Spain’s major attractions! Wondering through the pueblo we see various architectural and artistic styles. We also see artisans at work and have the opportunity to purchase their goods. We enjoy dinner together at the Hard Rock Café before heading to our hotel for the evening. B/D
Day 9 - Barcelona
We begin our last full day in Spain with a panoramic tour. We will see such sites as the Bario Gótico, Las Ramblas, and the Cathedral of Barcelona. Construction of the cathedral began in 1298 and remained unfinished until the end of the last century. We also stroll through Güell Park where we experience the charm and wit of famed Spanish Architect, Antonio Gaudí. This evening we have our final performance in Spain. B/D
Day 10
Sadly, this morning we drive to the Barcelona airport, for our return flights. We return, however, with memories of charming Spanish architecture, magical castles, breath-taking landscapes, and most importantly, newfound friends. Welcome home. In flight meals
BRT will plan World Class performance opportunities for you!
Spain offers performance groups the opportunity to experience a variety of performing opportunities from first class venues such as a music conservatory, Conservatorio de Musica Jesus de Monasterio in Santander, to a small community performance in a local community center. Casa de la Cultura in Valdemorillo would be an example of this. Contrasting performances could be in a Basilica such as Santa Maria del Pi in Barcelona. These three venues are examples of venues we have used in the past with this itinerary, but please remember they are subject to availability and your group’s repertoire and credentials when booking your tour.
Spain offers many wonderful venues for your group to perform in. Community and Concert halls are often available to perform in. School concerts and joint concerts depend on the time of year and the schedule of your Spanish counterparts, but they offer a wonderful experience and exchange of culture. Between May and September there are many plazas, courtyards, town squares and bandstands in which your group may perform.
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Itinerary and tour planning co-sponsored with Ed-Ventures, Inc.
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