Discover the Kingdon of Aragon - 5 Nights / 6 Days
This tour is great because it takes you into the heart of Spain, giving you a deep immersion into the country's culture and history. Religion has had a huge impact here, so we get to uncover the fascinating past of some of the most beautiful yet lesser known cities in southern Europe. There are also optional activities to really inject a lot of fun into the trip, from cookery classes to kayaking on the Ebro, whilst everyday enjoying the simply delicious local delicacies.
Itinerary and Specifics
Highlights:
- Visit the Basilica del Pilar, the largest Baroque temple in Spain and the symbol of Zaragoza, offering magnificent views
- Discover the origin of the Roman city - walking through unique spaces such as the Roman Theatre
- Enjoy delicious, local food and drink, including a chocolate tasting and cookery class
- Guided visit of Sos del Rey Catolico - one of just 5 medieval towns in Spain that have been kept in tact
Included:
- 4 Star minimum accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
- Meet and Greet at Airport
- Expert driver/guide
- Comfortable touring vehicle
- Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any bookings you want to make
Not included
- Flights - purchase your own flights
- Gratuities minimum recommended $20 per person per day
- Lunches and dinners not specified in the itinerary
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet and greet in either Barcelona or Madrid depnding on your preference and transfer to Zaragoza. After check-in we walk towards the Basilica del Pilar the largest Baroque temple in Spain and the symbol ofthis city. We will also go up the Tower to enjoy the magnificent views from the BasilicaRomans, Muslims, Jewish and Christians left their own print in this crossway that is Zaragoza sothe list of must-see monuments is endless, we will take a walk around the center which will giveus a good idea of what there is to see.We will also visit the Cathedral of the Saviour, commonly knowns as La Seo, it was the firstChristian Cathedral in Zaragoza, built on top of the grand mosque of Saraqusta, and it is one ofthe best examples of Aragonese Mudéjar style, is also has UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The cathedral is also home to the museum of Flemish tapestry, with examples from the 14th tothe 18th century. It’s considered to be one of the top three collections in the world. We will continue our walk around the Old Quarter, discovering the origin of the Roman city of Zaragoza, Caesaraugusta, walking through unique spaces such as the Roman theatre.We then enjoy a chocolate tasting at the Fantoba confectionery. This one includes a tasting of 5 chocolate specialities locally. Zaragoza is a city with a great chocolate tradition. This is then followed by dinner and an optional walk through the Old Quarter.
Day 2: Transfer to LoarreVisit the Noble Villa of Loarre and its Castle, founded by the great monarch Sancho III the Big. Raised on a rocky rig, it defended the Kingdom of Aragon’s border line, and it became key for the Christians to reconquer these lands from the Muslims. The astonishing wall around it and the eleven towers will welcome you. Built during the 11th century, it was first a royal palace, a monastery later and, nowadays, a film location (among others “Kingdom of Heaven” by Ridley Scott). We then visit the San Juan de la Pena monastery before lunch in Santa Cruz de la Seros.After lunch we take a guided tour of Jaca, a city in the Pyrenees mountains, near the French border. It’s known for the 16th-century Ciudadela de Jaca, a pentagonal fortress that houses the Museum of Military Miniatures. The city is a stop along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
We will then head to Sos del Rey Catolico for dinner and check-in to the hotel.
Day 3: Return to ZaragozaAfter breakfast we start the day with a guided visit of Sos del Rey Catolico - hometown to King ‘Fernando el Católico’ - it stands on a hill and meant, a long time ago, an important border between the ancient kingdoms of Aragónand Navarre. It is one of the “Five Villages” (or Cinco Villas as they are known in Spain) medieval towns that have been kept intact.We then visit Uncastillo (also part of the Cinco Villas) and have lunch here. Following lunch we have a brief stop at another one of the Cinco Villas at Sabada before returning to Zaragoza for a walk around the historical center, visit to the Pablo Gargallo Museum, dedicated to this Aragonese artist, considered one of the most important and innovative sculptors of the 20th century.
In the evening we then enjoy a Spanish cooking class in La Zarola, where they will teach you how to prepare some delicious Spanish dishes with local products that you will enjoy together for dinner.
After dinner there is an optional walk so you can see the atmosphere in the town.
Day 4: Activities!
After breakfast we transfer to Alfamen, where we will visit Festival Asalto, street art at its best. This is then followed by a guided visit of the the Tierra de Cubas Winery where we will do a wine tasting with food pairing.
We then return to Zaragoza for some kayaking - a great sight and a lot of fun! We then take a canoe trip that lasts approximately 2 and a half hours on the river and runs through the amazing nature ofthe Soto de Ranillas before entering the monumental areas of the EXPO 2008 and the historic centre of the city. Storks, swans and even beavers, on the same afternoon as the Bridge Pavilion, El Pilar, and the Stone Bridge from where we will enjoy the incredible sunset.
We then end the day with a tasting dinner at a gastronomic establishment.
Day 5: Cultural ExplosionA guided tour of the Aljaferia Palace starts us off - it's the most northerly Spanish-Muslim palace in Europe dating from the 11th century in the Taifa of Zaragoza. A journey through time and music whose Mudejar legacy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and whose TroubadourTower is the setting for the plot of Verdi's opera Il Trovatore.
We then head to the Goya museum for a guided tour. Zaragoza is a land of geniuses and among them Francisco de Goya stands out in a special way - one of the greatest artists in the history of painting and a particularly influential figure in the art of the 18th and 19th centuries. This is the only museum in the world that permanently displays the entire series of engravings by the illustrious painter from Aragon: the “Caprichos”, the “Desastres de la Guerra”, the “Tauromaquia” and the” Disparates”. Goya, a universal artist, born in Fuendetodos, was a painter and printmaker who still astounds us today with his sense of modernity - most definitely one of the most influential artists of his time.
We take a short coffee break at the terrace of the Alma Mater Museum before a visit to the Exhibition hall La Lonja, the first complete Renaissance building in the city and the most important 16 th century civil construction in Aragón. We will have the chance to enjoy the recently inaugurated exhibition about the relationship between Zuloaga, Goya, and Aragón. “Zuloaga, Goya y Aragón: La fuerza del carácter”
Lunch then follows before some free time. We will end the afternoon with a walk through the José Antonio Labordeta Park, the green heart of the city and its most emblematic park.
We will then enjoy a dinner in the old quarter with an option to walk through it afterwards.
Day 6:
After breakfast we then transfer to either Madrid or Barcelona depending on your flight connection for your trip home. We hope to see you again soon on another Global Dream Travel adventure!