Dream-Like Don Quixote Tour of Spain

The medieval city of Toledo will create the timeless ambiance as you imagine knights and nobles wandering the preserved cobbled lanes that overlook the waters of the Tajo River. The cultural synthesis between the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities has been preserved in mosques with horseshoe arches, glamorous Sephardic synagogues, and dramatic Gothic cathedrals. Your flight will land in Madrid’s Barajas International Airport, where your private transfer will meet you at customs. Once in Toledo, you can settle into the charm of the city and the luxuries of your hotel. You can also visit the 13th-century Moorish Bridge and 18th-century Baroque gateway.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel and lead you on an immersive tour of the medieval city. The sound of the river will filter through the streets as you venture to the Cathedral of Toledo to view the remarkable Gothic design. Light will filter through the rose windows while the flying buttresses and ribbed vaults provide atmospheric details. The sacristy displays art by Renaissance masters, including Velazquez and El Greco. At the Church of Santo Tome, you can find the faint aroma of incense accentuating the fascinating masterpiece of El Greco’s The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.

You will further explore the regional home of Don Quixote de la Mancha as you drive through the scenic countryside. Windmills crown the lush rolling hills. As you pass, you can wait to see if they turn to dragons. Twelve windmills border the preserved 12th-century stronghold of Consuegra. As you travel along the rural road, set beneath the expansive sky, you can easily imagine Don Quixote mistaking a local inn for a castle. In Puerto Lapice, you can find hints of Roman settlements accompanying the point at which Don Quixote dueled in the battle of the windmills.

The charm of Almagro emanates from the cobblestones and lively ambiance of Plaza Mayor. Tapas bars line the square with trimmed greenery adorning the facades. Locals enjoy their morning coffee while the theater museum’s doors reveal the importance of Almagro in Spain’s theatrical development. Your guide will take you through the enchanting town to reach the 17th-century Corral de Comedias, the oldest theater in Spain. Wooden balconies face the original stage, and costumed actors provide the history of the theater. At Teatro Municipal, you will find an elliptical stadium from the 19th century supporting 800 spectators.

The serene medieval town of Alarcon offers seductive charm on the banks of the Jucar River, which forms a natural moat. Before reaching the three defensive arches acting as an entrance to the city, you can stop at Argamasilla de Alba. The town possesses the Casa Cueva Medrano that served as a prison for Miguel de Cervantes, inspiring in part the story of Don Quixote. Once in Alarcon, you can discover the marvel of the 8th-century castle with Islamic flourish. Five exterior towers and the powerful ramparts act as the town’s defenses.

You will travel to Cuenca to find colorful stacked houses evoking the wonders of medieval architecture rising along the steep promontory. Two rivers shape the steep gorges beneath the town as you reach the meandering cobbled lanes and narrow houses with wooden balconies. The houses hang over the cliffs overlooking the rushing waters below with the antique architecture juxtaposing the town’s connection to abstract modern art. The hanging houses date back to the 14th century and look as though they emerge from the stone. The interior possesses an airy gallery displaying works by Fernando Zobel and Antoni Tapies.

The authenticity of Albarracin’s twisting narrow streets and wooden balconies bring to life the dreams of Don Quixote. Pink facades glint in the sunlight behind picturesque fortifications on a rocky promontory above the Guadalaviar River. You can wander the Castle that crowns the village with foundations dating back to the 9th century. The twelve towers soar above the perimeter walls joining the skyline with the 16th-century Salvador Cathedral. The bare pine altarpiece represents the life of St. Peter. You can climb the tallest tower in town, the 10th-century Torre del Andador, for a panorama of the surrounding countryside and walls.

After settling into the opulence of your historic hotel set inside a medieval castle, you can indulge in the traditions of Siguenza. The jewel of a town was once a Celtic settlement and now enjoys a sleepy ambiance set against the low hill shaped by the Henares River. The scent of churros and cinnamon fill the 16th-century Plaza Mayor while the Gothic-Mudejar design of Casa del Doncel reflects a dynamic history. The medieval castle represents the layers of heritage in town with ancient Roman foundations, Moorish flair, and time used as a royal palace, an asylum, and army barracks.

You will journey to the remarkable 13th-century Piedra Monastery in the morning to find the remains of an old Moorish castle, repurposed into a Christian place of worship. The conservative design of the passages reflects the transition between Romanesque to Gothic Cistercian aesthetics. Thick stone masonry protects eight centuries of history, including a wine museum dedicated to the vines and wines cultivated on the Calatayud Wine Route. After wandering through the Romantique world reminiscent of Don Quixote’s daydreams, you can enjoy a tranquil immersion into the Nature Park where the roiling sounds of the Piedra Monastery waterfalls echo through the lush forest.

After arriving in Alcala de Henares, you will discover the fascinating home of Miguel de Cervantes. The town buzzes with literary history and mouthwatering tapas. Cervantes’s home is now a museum and features artifacts from the author’s early life between the 16th and 17th centuries, including furniture and artwork. Statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza adorn a bench outside of the museum. The University of Alcala dates back to the 13th century and evokes a historical atmosphere in the heart of town. The picturesque 12th-century boulevard of Calle Mayor possesses charming 18th-century pillars framing bakeries, restaurants, and boutiques.

Your day will fill with the artistic wonders of Spain and Europe when you head to the renowned Reina Sofia Museum. The galleries brim with masterpieces of Spanish contemporary art with the likes of Dali, Miro, and Picasso. The museum hosts Picasso’s Guernica, a 1937 piece condemning the Nazi bombing of the Basque town. At the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, you will find over 1,000 European works from the 13th to the late 20th centuries, including Monet’s Charing Cross Bridge and El Greco’s Annunciation. In the afternoon, you can enjoy the bustling pace and charm of Spain’s capital city.

The scent of rich chocolate and fresh churros will fill the 17th-century Plaza Mayor in the morning. The day will be yours to enjoy Madrid at your preferred pace. You can visit Kilometer Zero in Puerta del Sol to find the point from which all distances on Spain’s road network are measured. You can also discover the ancient Egyptian temple in La Montana Park, which was brought from Aswan and dates to the 2nd century BC. In the evening, the rhythm and passion of flamenco will captivate you as you witness the fascinating combination of music and movement.

In the morning, life will return to the bustling Gran Via, where the iconic Telefonica Building soars above the streets at 290 feet tall. The sunlight will filter through the windows of the San Antoni de la Florida Hermitage. The charming chapel behind the Royal Palace houses some of Goya’s finest frescoes, including the miracle performed by Saint Anthony. Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel when you are ready and escort you to the airport for your flight home, bringing an end to your novel exploration of Spain.