Spain Castles

 

Day 1

Madrid
Arrive in Madrid. Transfer to hotel.

 

Day 2

Madrid
Today drive southeast to Belmonte in the province of Castilla y La Mancha. Here visit Belmonte’s fine 15th century castle - a gothic style residence built about 1795, created by Juan Pacheco, Marquis of Villena.  Later visit Alarcon Castle, now converted into a Parador hotel.  The castle itself is an 8th-century Moorish fortress situated at the narrowest point of the land, surrounded by ancient but well-preserved crenelated walls, completely dominating the town.  Return to Madrid and overnight.

 

Day 3

Madrid -  Burgos (242km/3h) -  Navara (234km/3h) – Pamplona (18km/20min)
Leave Madrid and enjoy a drive to Navarra. There are many historical towns worth visiting en-route such as Burgos - historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, and has many historic landmarks, specially the Cathedral of Burgos, Las Huelgas Reales Monastery and the Cartuja of Miraflores. Continue to Navara - a mixture of Vasconic tradition, the Trans-Pyrenean influx of people and ideas and Mediterranean influences coming from the Ebro.  Overnight in Pamplona.

 

Day 4

Pamplona - Navara (18km/20min) - Pamplona
Navara features two important castles which you can visit today.  The first is the Royal Castle-Palace of Olite which was built in the early 15th century with an interior decorated by artists using ceramic tiles. Olite is a pleasant historical town, and was once used as the royal residence by the Kings of Navara . The second fortress is the Castle of Javier, located in the village of Javier, which dates from the 11th century. It is now a Jesuit College. Return to Pamplona for overnight.

 

Day 5

Pamplona - Valladolid (332km/5h)
Today travel to Valladolid in the Duero Valley visiting the stunning 15th century castle of Penafiel. The castle has often been compared to a battleship because of its long narrow structure. The castle now hosts the Wine Museum of Valladolid, and offers an impressive view of the town and the surrounding region. The other castle of interest in this area is La Mota Castle located in Medina del Campo which also dates from the 15th century. Important guests such Isabel I and Juana La Loca (the Mad), have both stayed here. Check in at the hotel.

 

Day 6

Valladolid – Simancas (14km/20min) – Segovia (123km/2h30min)
This morning visit the Castle of Simancas in the town of the same name, which houses the state archives of Spain. This historic archive is the largest in Spain and second in Europe only to the Vatican Library. It contains more than 30 million documents dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Next make your way to Coca Castle in Segovia, built in the 15th century, primarily as a residence, and is one of Castilla y Leon’s most outstanding fortresses. Accommodation in hotel in Segovia.

 

Day 7

Segovia
Today explore the Alcazar in Segovia, that towers over the city. The palace is one of the best remaining examples of mudéjar architecture.  Segovia offers countless vestiges of the past to be seen in buildings and remains of the old city.  Most remarkable of all its landmarks is the near perfect Roman aqueduct, which dates from the 1st century AD and was in use up to the 19th century. Also The gothic Cathedral is worth a visit - the building has a structure in three tall vaults and ambulatory, with fine tracery windows set, and plentiful stained glass. Overnight.

 

Day 8

Segovia – Madrid (93km/1h30min)
Transfer to the airport.