On arrival in Spain we learn about the history and people of Spain and Portugal whilst being briefed on our Iberian Odyssey.

Catalonia, Barcelona
Once part of the Aragonese Empire, Catalonia is now an autonomous Spanish province, proud of its distinctive language and culture. Stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees, it was here that the Romans first landed on the Iberian Peninsula and founded a new 'colonnia' on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement; the area now forming Barcelona's 'Barri Gotic'. Catalonian heritage is a mixture of old and new as ancient churches and monuments vie for attention with the Modernist school of Gaudi and Dali. The Catalonian capital reflects this contrast with architecture ranging from its Gothic cathedral to Gaudi's modernist Sagrada Familia.

Accommodation
We stay in a conveniently-located 3-star city hotel offering en-suite share twin, double and single rooms. Typical local breakfasts and welcome dinner are provided.

What We Will Experience
We learn about Catalonia's history to understand its varied culture and heritage. We explore Barcelona to inspect its many icons such as the 17^th century fort on the Montjuic Hill with panoramic views over the city, the mediaeval Gothic quarter and the city's art nouveau / modernist buildings culminating in the buildings of Antoni Gaudi.

Included are lectures and field trips to:

• Learn about Barcelona's and Catalonia's history and culture.
• Explore Barcelona with its Gothic Cathedral and Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia.
• Experience the mediaeval city of Girona with the famous Dali museum in Figueres.

En route to Rioja we pause to explore the ancient Aragonese capital city of Zaragosa, founded by the Romans in 25BC, where we experience some of Spain's best examples of Mudejar architecture.

Rioja and The Basque Country
Rioja was an important stopping point on the pilgrimage route to Santiago but is best known as perhaps Spain's best wine producing area. It is also an ideal base to visit the city of Pamplona in neighbouring Navarra and the Basque port of Bilbao.

Accommodation
We stay in a conveniently located Parador with en-suite share twin, double and single rooms. Typical local breakfasts and dinners are provided.

What We Will Experience
We experience the wine producing region of La Rioja, the mountain kingdom of Navarra with its capital, Pamplona, as well as the neighbouring Basque Country and the maritime city of Bilbao, now dominated by the awesome Guggenheim Museum.

Included are field trips to:

• Explore the fortress city of Pamplona, capital of Navarra, famed for its bull run, featured in Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises".
• Visit the Mediaeval Castle of Olite.
• Learn about the viticulture of Rioja.
• Visit the Guggenheim Museum in the Basque port of Bilbao

En route to Castilla we explore Burgos, with its famous cathedral and birthplace of the legendary El Cid.

Castilla
For eons, the geographical and spiritual heart of Spain, Old Castile, is where much Spanish history has been determined. As the seat of power the region's dialect, Castillano, became the nation's language and from here Ferdinand and Isabella orchestrated the unification of ancient Iberian kingdoms, the Reconquista and the exploration and conquest of the "New World". The raised plateau of Castilla provided the ideal vantage point from which to rule Spain. Here we will marvel at the capital city Madrid and at the architectural splendours of Salamanca and Avila.

What We Will Experience
To best experience Castilla we stay one night in the historic city of Valladolid in a centrally located hotel with en-suite share twin, double and single rooms where typical local breakfast and dinner are provided. Here we learn about the history of this important region and explore Valladolid, the former capital and an important academic and industrial centre where Ferdinand and Isabella were married and Columbus died. We then spend 3 nights in Madrid and 1 night in Salamanca

Spain, Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain and Europe's highest capital city, located close to the country's geographical centre on the Castilian Plateau. With a population of over 3 million, it offers a rich treasure chest of Spain's art and ancient monuments. According to tradition, the Moors founded the city. It was just a small fortress town when captured by Alfonso VI of Castile in the 11^th century. Felipe II chose Madrid as his capital in 1561 and it soon became the centre of a great Empire. Since then it has become the capital of a modern European democracy but continues to house the great heritage of Spain. Amongst Madrid's many interesting features are the Palacio Real (Spain's Bourbon Palace), the impressive 17^th century Plaza Mayor and the great art collection of the Prado. Madrid is also an ideal base to explore Toledo, the Visigoth capital of Spain in the 6^th century.

Accommodation
We stay at a comfortable 3 star central city hotel offering share twin, double or single rooms for 3 nights. Typical local breakfasts and 2 dinners are provided.

What We Will Experience
We explore the Spanish capital and learn about the Golden Age of Spanish History. We also explore Toledo, the melting pot of Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures in the Middle Ages and a microcosm of Spanish history. There is also some free time in the city to pursue personal interests.

Included are field trips to:

• The monuments and icons of Madrid.
• The historic city and icons of Toledo.

En route to Salamanca we visit the massive monastery palace of El Escorial as well as Avila with the finest preserved mediaeval walls in Europe.

We stay overnight in the great university city of Salamanca with its fine Renaissance period honey-coloured architecture evoking a past and glorious era, known as Spain's "Golden Age". There is a guided visit of the city and we stay in a city hotel offering en-suite share twin, double and single rooms. A typical local breakfast and dinner are provided.

En route to Braga, we pass the historic city of Zamora before crossing the Portuguese border close to Braganca.

Portugal Braga
The verdant valleys and vine clad slopes of the Douro and Minho regions are considered to be the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. From Braga, the seat of Portugal's most spectacular religious sanctuary, we explore Guimaraes where Alfonso Enriques proclaimed himself King of Portugal in 1139, and Oporto, the second largest city which gave its name to the popular fortified wine, Port. In Braga we will learn about the birth of the Portuguese nation, the significance of the Catholic Church in Portuguese life and enjoy sampling the famous port produced in this region.

Accommodation
We stay at a comfortable 3-star hotel offering share twin, double or single rooms. Typical local breakfasts and dinners are provided.

What We Will Experience
We explore Oporto where we inspect the old town quarter of Ribeira, the Gothic Cathedral, the illustrated Biblical episodes and extravagant interior of the Church of Sao Francisco and visit a typical port lodge to sample the local product. We also experience Braga, this episcopal seat with its religious architecture. We also learn something about the role of the Catholic Church in Portugal from mediaeval times to the present day. Our field trip to Guimaraes teaches us about the role of the northern regions in the formation of Portugal and our visit to Guimaraes, Alfonso Enriques' capital, allows us to view its crenellated castle of Sao Miguel and experience the Palace of the Dukes.

Included are field trips to:

• Oporto for a city tour and port tasting
• The Episcopal seat of Braga
• The historical city of Guimaraes

En route to Lisbon we pause in the ancient University city of Coimbra.

Lisbon
The Portuguese capital, Lisbon, on the banks of the River Tagus, was rebuilt in the 18^th century following a devastating earthquake. World traders of renown, the Portuguese sailed the seas in search of new territories and merchandise. Remnants of this Golden Age of Discovery still exist in and around the capital and remind us of Portugal's maritime heritage.

Accommodation
We stay at a comfortable 3-star hotel offering share twin, double or single rooms. Typical local breakfasts and 2 dinners are provided.

What We Will Experience
We experience the mediaeval Alfama district, the 18^th century Baixa, the reconstructed centre of the city, and Bellem where the wealth of the maritime Age of Discovery is evident. This great wealth is also reflected in the great summer palaces of Sintra and Queluz.

Included are field trips to:

• The monuments and icons of Lisbon.
• The Palace of Queluz.
• An evening of Fado.

En route to Extramadura we cross the Spanish border and the historic city of Badajoz.

Spain, Extremadura
Of all the Spanish regions, Extremadura is considered the most remote with an unforgiving landscape encircled by wooded sierras. There is little industry with the most important economic activities being sheep and pig farming together with olive, cork and fruit growing. Merida, the regional capital, contains some of the best Roman ruins in Spain as befits the former capital of the westernmost Roman province, Lusitania, founded by Augustus in 25 BC.

Accommodation
We stay in a hotel, conveniently located in Merida, offering en-suite shared twin, double or single rooms for 4 nights. Typical local breakfast and dinner are provided.

What We Will Experience
In Extremadura we step back in time to experience ancient Spain and learn about Roman history.

Included are field trips to:

• Merida, with a tour of some of Spain's finest Roman remains.

En route to Seville, the capital of the region of Andalusia, we pause at the typically white-washed ham-producing town of Aracena

Spain, Seville
After the discovery of the Americas, Seville was given the monopoly on trade with the new colonies and, in consequence, became one of Europe's most wealthy ports. Its wealth is reflected in the city's rich architectural heritage and perhaps its love of fiestas. This is the city of the Flamenco and of Carmen. Western Andalusia is also known for the production of sherry.

Accommodation
We stay in a pleasant hotel, conveniently located close to the centre of Seville offering en-suite share twin double or single rooms. Typical local breakfasts and 2 dinners are provided.

What We Will Experience
In Seville we learn about the city's history and rich tradition of Flamenco. We also learn about the tradition of horse training and sherry production at Jerez.

Included are field trips to:

• The city of Seville with its magnificent cathedral and Alcazar.
• Jerez de la Frontera for a walking tour of the city plus a visit to one of the famous sherry bodegas. We also view a training session of Spain's famous white horses.
• An evening of Flamenco.

En route to Granada, we visit the city of Cordoba with a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter and a visit to the Great Mosque (La Mezquita).

Spain, Granada
The provinces of Cordoba and Granada were at the heart of Moorish Spain. In the 10^th century, Cordoba was arguably Europe's greatest city when the court of Abd ar-Rahman III founded an independent caliphate and created a city of dazzling mosques, patios, gardens and fountains. The city flourished and the frenetic trade and peaceful interaction of Jewish, Christian and Muslim can still be felt in the city's labyrinthine Jewish and Muslim quarters while the pre-eminence of the city can be seen in its great Mezquita, one of the outstanding creations of Al Andalus. Granada became the Muslim capital after the fall of Cordoba and Seville in the 13^th century and its lavish Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens give testament to the creativity of the Nasrid dynasty.

Accommodation
We stay in a hotel conveniently located in Granada offering en-suite share twin, double or single rooms. Typical local breakfasts and dinners are provided.

What We Will Experience
In Granada we discover the great heritage of Al Andalus, Moorish Spain; its architecture and culture. We learn about the history of the Islamic invasion and its repulsion by Catholic Spain.

Included are field trips to:

• Granada with a walking tour of the city and a visit to the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens.

Program concludes with the transfer to Malaga and flight to Barcelona for an overnight prior to return flights to Australia / New Zealand. Alternatively, you may wish to extend with our Moroccan Odyssey which continues south to Morocco from Granada to Tangiers or extend your stay in Barcelona, Spain or Europe. Please contact your Educational Travel Adviser.

Itineraries may change if flight schedules, site availability and other inclusions have to be amended prior to departure. Odyssey Travel will notify registrants if, and as soon as, such changes occur.