Spain's Culinary Heritage Tour

Spain is one of the culinary capitals of the world, and your tour will highlight some of its most popular cuisines. Your first day will have you touching down in Madrid before your transfer to your luxurious accommodation in Salamanca. The rest of your day will be at your leisure, so you can wander the city and stop by one of the many fabulous restaurants for your first dinner in Spain.

After your first Spanish breakfast, your private guide will meet you at your hotel for a walking tour around the city’s center. You will likely witness some of the locations you marveled at the previous day, including the famous La Nueva and La Vieja Cathedrals, as well as Plaza Mayor. Your art historian guide will be able to provide you with the fascinating history of these iconic locations. You will then have the afternoon and evening to explore more areas of Salamanca on your own, whether it be the opulent museums or luscious gardens.

After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up for the journey to the small town of La Alberca. Here, your guide will take you into Espacio del Jamon, which is part museum and part tasting room. You will learn all about the production of Iberian ham before sampling five different types. After a walking tour of picturesque La Alberca, you will be whisked away to Hervas for lunch and another guided tour of the town with wonderful Jewish heritage. Upon arriving in Caceres, you will check in to your hotel and have the rest of your evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, you will be greeted by your art historian guide, who will spend the morning escorting you around the UNESCO walled Old Town of Caceres. Your guide will weave together the story of Caceres as you wander past its buildings that were built in the 14th century, from the Playa Mayor to the Torre de Bujaco. After marveling at the architecture of the Spanish National Monument, your guide will accompany you to a deli where you will sample local wines and Iberian meats together. The rest of the day will be spent strolling the town at your leisure.

Today, your first stop after being picked up by your private transfer will be the ancient Roman city of Merida. Here, your guide will lead you on a tour of the UNESCO city’s archeological sites, including the Roman Amphitheater and Museum of Roman Art. After your tour, you will be transported to the vineyards of Santa Maria, where you can kick back at a winery and taste local wines over a traditional tapas lunch. The countryside will slip away as you make your way to Seville, where you will check in to your hotel and have the evening to yourself.

Today, you will wake up in Andalusia’s capital, ready for a morning of exploring all that Seville has to offer. Your private guide will meet you at your hotel and escort you to the city center. You will make the most out of your morning with skip-the-line access to the Cathedral and the Alcazar. After marveling at these UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you will have the afternoon for a self-guided tour; visiting the gardens, plazas, and parks is highly recommended. This evening, you will witness a Flamenco show over a classic Andalusian dinner.

Your mouth will be watering in anticipation of your full-day immersion into Iberian ham as you are picked up from your hotel. You will first witness the free range black pigs before arriving at a curing cellar in the world-renowned town of Jabugo. Here, you will learn about the history and perfect climate of these cellars, which were created in 1879. Then, you can check out the interactive museum before learning how to carve the ham during your tasting. After enjoying more ham at a local restaurant, you will explore the Cave of Wonders in Aracena before returning to Seville in the evening.

You will spend your final morning in Seville checking off the final items on your bucket list before a high-speed train ride to Cordoba. After you have been transported to your hotel, your guide will meet you in the lobby to escort you to Cordoba’s iconic sites, such as the Mosque and the Alcazar. During your tour, your guide will describe the Islamic, Christian and Jewish influence on the city. After this marvelous tour, you can explore the city on your own, find a tapas restaurant, and unwind over a glass of wine.

This morning, your private driver will transfer you to the wine region of Montilla. Your first stop will be a family-run olive oil mill, where you will learn about the different uses and benefits of the olive oil while sampling a few varieties. You will then jaunt over to a local winery to view the vineyards and cellars, learn about the history of the winery and Montilla, and taste the local wines. Next, you will have lunch at a local tavern before returning to Cordoba. Here, you will have a free afternoon and evening.

Today, you will make your way into the Spanish “Dehesa” habitat to see few more of the black pigs, which are bred in complete freedom between November and February. You will spend a full day immersed in the culture and farming traditions of the unique landscape of Los Pedroches natural reserve, the largest holm oak trees forest in Europe. You can include a ham slicing workshop with different cure meats to taste and a traditional homemade lunch. You will then return to Cordoba and spend the rest of your final day in this spectacular city as you see fit.

Your private transfer will meet you after you check out of your opulent accommodation to whisk you away to the next stop on your journey: Granada. After you have checked in to your new luxury accommodation and discovered your lunch spot, your expert guide will meet you at the ticket office outside the Alhambra Palace. Your guide will have your skip-the-line passes ready, which will allow you to maximize the time you have to observe this Moorish masterpiece. After marveling at all this palace has to offer, you will spend the rest of your evening at your leisure.

After breakfast, your private driver will pick you up for a tour of Sierra Nevada National Park. After a stunning drive into the mountains, you will meet your guide, who will hike with you through the towns of Capileira and Bubion. In these towns, you will visit a local weaving factory before arriving at Pampaneira. Your guide will then take you to a local deli for a ham and cheese lunch. Your afternoon will be free to explore Pampaneira. You can visit the chocolate factory or taste coffee and homemade juices. This evening, your private transfer will return you to Granada.

Your private transfer will be waiting for you this morning to take you to the airport for your flight to Madrid. Upon your arrival, you will be whisked away to your centrally located hotel to freshen up before your afternoon walking tour. Your historian guide will focus on the Hapsburg and Bourbon legacy, and you will also have the opportunity to wander through the Royal Palace. This evening will be at your leisure to continue roaming the city. Your guide can provide you with excellent dining recommendations to conclude your evening.

After a day of traveling yesterday, today will be your opportunity to explore Madrid at your preferred pace. There is no shortage of magnificent sites and museums for you to visit, including Reina Sofia Museum, Thyssen Museum, Retiro Park, Crystal Palace, and Prado Museum. If you desire, your hotel can set up a guided tour of the Prado Museum, which will allow you to gain in-depth knowledge about the different art pieces and artists behind them.

This will be your final morning in Spain, so you will spend it as you please. Whether your morning is spent getting that final bite of Iberian ham or visiting a location you were unable to during the previous two days, you will certainly appreciate the smaller details this morning. Shortly after, your guide will transfer you to the airport so that you can connect with your departing flight.