Mrs. Weiner's Spain & Portugal

Life in Madrid is centered around talking, toasting and tapas-eating. In a walk through this crowded and social city, your Tour Director will help you get to know the lay of the land. Then stroll over to the Puerta del Sol, the bustling city center. Next, you'll relax at the Plaza Mayor, a grand square where every sort of human drama has taken place—trials of faith, public burnings of heretics, royal marriages, the canonization of saints, and countless balls and bullfights. End at the Plaza de España for a stop at an outdoor café.

Explore the Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid's busiest and most historic squares. While here we will view the Kilometre Zero marker, from which all distances in Spain are measured, and Madrid’s symbol, the Madrono.

Spend time in the Plaza Mayor, Madrid's most famous square. Throughout its long history the square has hosted markets, bullfights, soccer games, public executions, and the Spanish Inquisition. It is now ringed by shops and cafés and is often filled with artists and musicians.

The Plaza de España is a popular place to gather in Central Madrid. It features a large monument to Miguel de Cervante, author of Don Quixote.

Officially recognized as Spain’s National Museum of 20th‑Century Art, the Sofía— as it’s commonly known—stands as a cornerstone of modern Spanish culture. Its collection showcases pivotal works by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, artists who helped redefine modern art on a global scale. Picasso’s Guernica anchors the museum as a powerful symbol of 20th‑century history and expression, complemented by a vibrant library, archive, bookstore, and restaurant that make the Sofía a dynamic center for contemporary culture.

Get a taste of Spain's cultural, political and economic center with a tour led by a licensed local guide. See Madrid's mix of traditional and modern as you visit the Royal Palace, an 18th-century masterpiece. The enormous Baroque palace currently has more rooms (2,800) than any other European palace, but it was originally supposed to be four times as large. The palace is dripping with porcelain, jeweled clocks, amazing ceiling frescoes—the most magnificent, in the Throne Room, was done by the Venetian artist Tiepolo when he was in his seventies. Next take a look at the Neoclassical architecture of the Prado Museum and the Puerta de Alcalá triumphal arch, built to honor Carlos III’s entry into Spain.

Stroll down the Gran Vía, Madrid’s lively signature boulevard featuring magnificent shopping and cafes.

The Fountain of Cybele, one of the most recognizable fountains in Madrid, depicts Cybele, a Phrygian earth and fertility deity.

See the Puerta de Alcalá, the ceremonial gateway to Madrid commissioned by Carlos III. The Neo-classical structure is located in the Plaza de Independencia and is named for the old path leading from Madrid to nearby Alcalá de Henares.

Browse through the 3,418 rooms in the largest palace in Europe. Art lovers will marvel at the walls lined with priceless paintings, but don’t expect to catch a glimpse of the Spanish royal family—they reside elsewhere.

Enter Toledo Cathedral, a Gothic landmark filled with remarkable art and history. Admire the dramatic Transparente, El Greco’s Twelve Apóstoles, and an exquisite alabaster Last Supper. Then see the famous 500‑pound gilded monstrance, believed to contain New World gold and still used in Toledo’s annual Corpus Christi procession.

Visit The Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, the oldest intact synagogue building in Europe. As it was constructed by the Christian Kingdom of Castile and designed by Islamic architects for Jewish use, it is considered a symbol of cooperation among the three religions.

Toledo is famous for its traditional crafts, especially sword-making. Find out more at a local Toledo sword factory.

A castle fit for a king! This stone fortification rises up imposingly from a rocky crag in the old city of Segovia. See its towering round turrets, spindly spires, luxurious throne room and fully stocked armory.

The past and present meet in Salamanca. Like many great medieval cities, Salamanca has a multitude of towering cathedrals and convents. Yet, the city’s university students give it a hip, international vibe. One of the leading institutions of Europe, the university has attracted countless Spanish intellectuals, including Antonia de Nebrija and Miguel de Unamuno.

Visit the Casa de las Conchas, currently a public library. The building, constructed in the late 15th century, is covered with 300 carvings of scallop shells, the symbol of the famous pilgrimage The Camino de Santiago.

Visit the Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral), one of the two cathedrals in Salamanca. During a 1992 restoration, some unusual carvings were added to the façade, including a faun eating ice cream and an astronaut.

The Catedral Vieja de Santa María, or Old Cathedral, dates back to the 14th century and preserves Salamanca’s medieval architecture. It stands directly connected to the New Cathedral, creating one of the city’s most striking historic complexes.

Visit the University of Salamanca, founded in 1134 as a "cathedral school". Here, Christopher Columbus presented his case for a new West Indies Route to geographers. Today, the University is known for its language studies.

Guimaraes, known as the "birthplace of Portugal," is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its medieval architecture. See the 10th-century Guimaraes Castle, which was built to protect against invaders, stroll through the picturesque Old Town, and admire the medieval Largo da Oliveira square and the Gothic Our Lady of the Olive Tree church.

Portugal's second largest city bustles with commerce, but its spectacular bridges (one designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel) and picturesque Ribeira district continue to draw visitors from around the world. Start your tour along the riverfront, where bright houses and intricate balconies rise haphazardly over narrow cobblestone streets. Continue on to the Church of São Francisco, whose plain exterior belies the dripping-with-gold Baroque magnificence of the interior. The Sé (cathedral) is only slightly less elaborate, with marble and stone substituting for gold leaf. The silver altarpiece in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament and the typically Portuguese azulejos (tiles) add to the beauty.

Journey through Portugal's renowned wine region on a traditional Rabelo boat, taking in breathtaking views of terraced vineyards, historic estates, and charming villages along the riverbanks.

Portugal's biggest university town, Coimbra has been a center of learning since 1290, when the country's first college was founded here. Fátima draws pilgrims rather than students. In 1917, three children saw several apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a field here, and the enormous basilica that was built in her honor attests to the continuing flood of pilgrims who visit the city each year.

Enjoy a Walking Tour through the University of Coimbra, where highlights include: the Porta Pérrea; the Via Latina; the Sala dos Capelos, a portrait gallery of Portuguese kings; and the University Chapel, containing an 18th-century organ, 16th-century candelabra, 17th-century tiles, and a fine Manueline portal.

See the Castelo de São Jorge, a castle dating back to the Middle Ages, which sits formidably overlooking the city and its port. The Monument to the Navigators, dedicated to various important figures in Portugal’s history, depicts Henry the Navigator, and other explorers on top of a caravel, the standard Portuguese ship used for sailing expeditions. Take an elevator to the top of the monument for an impressive view of the city. Finally, travel to the vast Jerónimos Monastery, an awe-inspiring structure that is considered to be one of the most prominent monuments in Lisbon.

Tour the Jerónimos Monastery, a monastery ordered by Manuel the Fortunate to commemorate Vasco da Gama's voyage to India. The monastery is one of Portugal’s finest examples of Manueline architecture that combines flamboyant Gothic and Moorish influences with elements of the nascent Renaissance. The church features tombs of many of the great figures in Portuguese history, including Vasco da Gama.

Visit the luxury resort town of Cascais and see the citadel that once served as a summer home for the King of Spain in the 16th century.

Take some time to relax and enjoy two of Portugal's most beautiful beaches. Visit Cascais and Estoril to take in some rays and meet the locals.

Enjoy the stunning views and capture the moment with a photo at Cape Roca, Europe’s most westerly point.

Portugal's version of the Blues, Fado means "fate" or "destiny," and its songs generally tell the tale of lost love or glory. Head to a Fado house in the Bairro Alto and see the singers swathed in black, accompanied by 12-stringed guitars, crooning their hearts out.