Jewels of Extremadura
Extremadura is one of Spain’s wildest and least known regions.
It is one of the centres of Roman civilisation and was the birthplace
of all the uncompromising men who set out into the unknown to conquer
the New World. It is a land of spectacular contrasts: on the one hand,
the majesty of the mountains of the Sierra de Guadalupe, on the other,
the bleak plains of Cáceres where only eagles, vultures and storks
keep us company.
Our tour takes in all the elements which make Extremadura unique. We
visit Trujillo, ‘Cradle of the Conquistadors’ whose greatest
son, Pizarro, is commemorated in the huge statue that dominates its
fine medieval square; we visit Cáceres whose Old Quarter perfectly
evokes the spirit of this ancient land; at Mérida we visit the
most complete collection of Roman remains in the Iberian Peninsula;
in Guadalupe we visit the shrine of the most precious relic of Hispanic
Catholicism: the Black Virgin.
DAYS 1, 2, 3 & 4: We fly to Madrid and make directly for Trujillo.
This is a splendid town full of great mansions built by the returning
conquistadors. Its old quarter has a unique sense of history and its
main square was described by James Michener as ‘the most beautiful
in Spain’. From Trujillo we shall visit Cáceres. This is
a lovely place whose entire medieval quarter has been declared a ‘World
Heritage Site’ by UNESCO. We shall also spend a day in Mérida,
renowned for its amazing Roman, Moorish and Visigothic remains. The
idyllic setting of its theatre, the grandeur of its 65-span bridge,
the ultra-modern curves of the fabulous Museum of Roman Art make this
a visit never to be forgotten.
DAYS 5, 6, & 7: We make our way across Extremadura pausing in the
village of Medellín, birthplace of Hernán Cortés,
into the mountains to the Monastery of Guadalupe which will be our home
for three nights. We shall spend a day amid the glorious scenery and
wildlife of the Sierras.
DAY 8: We return to Madrid to take our flight to London.
THIS TOUR WILL DEPART: 10th May 2010
OUR HOTELS: The lovely Victoria in
Trujillo; with the monks in the Hospedería del Real Monasterio
in Guadalupe
NUMBER IN PARTY: 12-16
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: £1380
(single supplement £140)