Private Tours of Spain : Art, Architecture, History and Heritage

Madrid & Surroundings

Enjoy a walking tour that includes some of the capital's most impressive sights, such as the Plaza de Oriente and the historic quarter including the 17th-century Plaza Mayor, a wonderful Baroque square lined with arcades filled with picturesque cafes. Walk through the peaceful and the narrow streets of olde Madrid. Your guide will also provide an in-depth tour of either the Royal Palace or the majestic Prado Museum*, recently revamped and home to one of world's finest collections of European art.
*Can be substituted with either the ThyssenMuseum or the Reina Sofia.

Widely seen as another chapter in the ongoing struggle between fascism and communism, internal Spanish struggles brought many of the tensions in the country to a head. A fascinating tour for any history buff and an ideal platform to understand and appreciate contemporary Spain.

Want to go beyond the famous monuments and sights and explore a different Madrid? Allow Mark Besas, the author Hidden Madrid and a successful radio presenter and film director, to take you through the streets of Madrid revealing the less commonly known facets of the city. Delve into the stories, legends and anecdotes that lie hidden behind the streets, cafes, buildings, statues, monuments and odd nooks of the capital.

Madrid is a city to see up close, and the segway allows you to do just that. Riding a Segway is a unique and fun way of “gliding” through the best visual and historic parts of the city. Great fun for any age but a must for small groups or families with children.

No one would dispute the Prado’s claim to house one of the world’s greatest collections of paintings. Gain a unique insight into not only Spanish but also European artistic culture with your expert guide.

On this unique insider’s tour, become a part of Spanish tradition by visiting some of the city’s oldest and finest traditional stores, many of which where you’ll be personally welcomed by the staff and be provided with an explanation of their products, and how they fit into the cultural fabric of Spain. A fun and lively entrée into local life and traditions. Step inside!

Regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns, Goya’s work spans a remarkable period in Spanish history, where the ideals and realities of the French Revolution played out their own remarkable story. Immerse yourself in the life and works of Goya as your expert guide explains a story of both personal and social turmoil.

It is Toledo, perhaps more than any other city, with its narrow, winding streets and steps, stone houses and churches that embodies Spain’s past. Explore the city’s splendid medieval heart, marvelling at the soaring Gothic cathedral, among the greatest of Gothic structures in Europe, and home to paintings by El Greco, Van Dyck and Goya. Later, enjoy El Greco’s finest work, the famed Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Explore the old Jewish quarter, which includes two of the few remaining medieval synagogues in Spain. At the beautifully crafted El Tránsito, you can visit the Jewish Museum, devoted to the history and legacy of Jewish Spain.

Segovia, declared as belonging to the Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO, is a natural fortress - a reflection of Castile at its best. The city's location atop a limestone elevation, dominates the Castilian serene grain-producing fields, spread out below. It possesses some outstanding architectural monuments, the Roman aqueduct, the cathedral and the Alczar being the highlights. It’s also the capital of Castilian cuisine, with some classic restaurants serving roast lambs and suckling pigs. A great day out, Segovia always surpasses expectations.

With a private driver, combine Segovia and El Escorial to make a fascinating full day touring.
The Palace of El Escorial, built by Philip II in the second half of the 16th century, contains the bodies of all but two of the kings of Spain from Charles V to Alfonso XIII. At close range the beauty of the palace's ornamentation and of its pools and gardens can be seen; but one can also view the small, bare and poorly furnished cell in which Philip chose to die. It is this mixture of royal grandeur and monastic austerity that makes El Escorial unique.

Barcelona & Surroundings

Enjoy a private tour that covers the city’s famous boulevards, the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, the awesome central food market La Boqueria, and the neighborhoods that ooze avant-guard style and design. Barcelona is today renowned for being one of Europe's most dynamic and innovative cultural centers yet its Gothic Quarter rests on the ancient Roman city of Barcino, today full of buildings from the 13th to the 15th century. The Quarter is full of interesting shapes, peaceful plazas and winding alleyways, with its medieval Cathedral and the Picasso Museum. Plenty to explore!

Girona's history dates back to the Roman era, and you will find the town full of magnificent monuments, museums and archives. Our guide will lead you through the winding medieval alleyways of Girona. The Call, the old Jewish Quarter, was home to a prosperous community until the end of the 15th century. To make it a full day tour, you might spend the afternoon exploring Catalunya's medieval villages or head to Figueres, and visit the Dali Theatre-Museu, full of the outrageous and surreal. Dali himself is buried in a crypt here, next to a series of gold cobra statues.

Nestled between mountain peaks, the monastery is the center and symbol of Catalan faith and identity. It contains “La Moreneta”, the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalunya. After touring the monastery, you may want to enjoy some hiking with your guide or winery visits in the nearby Penedes wine region. Whichever you choose, you will return with a true appreciation of the Catalan countryside.

Andalucia

While the rest of Europe was languishing during the “Dark Ages”, Cordoba thrived and, in the 10th and early 11th centuries, was the largest city in Western Europe; a period characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture. With our guide, explore the picturesque and evocative whitewashed streets in the well conserved heart of Cordoba, many houses revealing courtyards and patios with geraniums and bougainvilleas. The greatest monument of Cordoba: the Mezquita dazzles with its vast forest of hundreds of delicate marble columns and elegant arches. The tiny synagogue of Cordoba is located on a winding medieval road, and its cube-shaped, gem-like interior is one of the most beautiful synagogue interiors in Europe.

Captivating and beautiful, the capital of Andalucia intoxicates and excites. The city of flamenco, bulls, Carmen and Don Juan; its history and culture give rise to pride, tradition, passion and joy. With your guide stroll through its enchanting neighbourhoods lifted by the aroma of orange blossoms. Visit the enormous cathedral, featuring the tomb of Christopher Columbus and its 12th-century bell-tower, La Giralda, originally built by the Moors as a minaret. Visit the ornately decorated Alcazar Palace and its Andalusian gardens. Fom the Alcazar's gardens, wander through the Barrio de Santa Cruz: originally the Jewish Quarter and now regarded as the prettiest quarter of Sevilla.

There is no better way to explore Seville and its sights than by bike. The city is flat, offers marked dedicated cycle lanes and is almost always sunny. Ideal for families or small groups.

Enjoy a private tour of the Alhambra, the best preserved example of a Moorish fortress palace in Europe, and one of the world’s most romantic monuments. With our expert guide, go beyond the text in your guide book and discover a fascinating world that was home to the Nasrid sultans, rulers of the last Spanish Moorish kingdom. With its construction, Moorish architecture and art reached spectacular levels, yet as our guide will explain, the Alhambra reveals also much about the life and culture of this lost kingdom. You will visit the Generalife, the country retreat of Moorish royalty just behind the Alhambra.

Allow your expert guide to lead you through taken through the winding cobbled streets of the Albaicín a truly fascinating neighborhood which, to this day, preserves many facets of its Moorish heritage.

Caves, Gypsies, Flamenco: a guided exploration of this scenic, semi-rural neighbourhood, combining stories of religious forgeries, gypsy zambras in the cave houses, and the roots of flamenco in Granada.

One of the delights of a stay in Granada is the close proximity of the city to nature. The valley of the Río Genil, offers for walkers and cyclists alike a pleasant and easy route out of the city into countryside of allotments, wooded areas and fields.

Walk through pine woods above the Alhambra, descend to the verdant valley of the Río Darro and pass through the fascinating cave district of Sacromonte, and enjoy a gourmet picnic en route.

Unveil the artist in you, painting and sketching scenes in the picturesque Albaicín, a magnet for many artists, with expert tuition from a young local artist.

Travel though olive groves, rolling meadows, cork forests and mountainous terrain, visiting a number of Andalucia’s white villages. Prepare for an excursion full of breathtaking views and enchanting villages.

This range of valleys and hills in the lee of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada is criss-crossed by trails which meander through orchards and cultivated terraces, woods, meadows and crystal-clear mountain streams, is an ideal place to unwind, explore and stretch your legs.

Visit one of the most impressive wineries that has appeared in Andalucia in recent times. The beautifully designed winery is surrounded by 75 hectares of vines set against a backdrop of the Sierra de Grazalema.

Northern Spain

The Guggenheim, designed by Frank O. Gehry, is a masterpiece of design and a wonder of construction. Its extraordinary combination of interconnecting shapes has sparked a renaissance in Bilbao. Indeed, for all visitors, the Guggenheim creates a sense of awe.

Explore the other cultural centers in Bilbao such as the opera house, the Teatro Arriaga and the Catedral de Santiago in the old quarter...

Behind the beautiful beaches and the historic centre of San Sebastian, you’ll be able to appreciate the mountainous landscape of the Basque Country which many talk about but few are able to see at first hand. Much more than just a good walk.

Discover the wonderful Basque coast. Visit Biarritz, the “king of beaches and the beach of kings”, admire ports a full of colour and activity, and watch quiet families mingle with festive surfers on the beaches...

Valencia and the Islas Beleareas

We recommend an insight and comparison of the "old" Valencia and the "new" Valencia, a Mediterranean city now boasting some of the most innovative urban architecture in Europe. You might start at the cathedral where you can climb the Miguelete, the unfinished spire and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Step inside the Mercado Central, one of Europe's largest covered markets. You might also wish to see the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM), and of course the tour would not be complete without viewing the major architectural works of local boy Santiago Calatrava at the "City of Arts and Sciences".

Galicia

Santiago de Compostela possesses a mystical beauty rarely matched in Spain, and not surprisingly the medieval city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Cathedral, which stands on the Plaza del Obradoiro and dominates the whole town. It is considered to be one of the finest achievements of Romanesque architecture. You might also stop at the Museo das Peregrinacins, or museum of pilgrimage. Located in a Gothic mansion, the museum presents the history of the pilgrimage to Santiago through models, displays, and artifacts. Other sights include the many medieval plazas and monasteries near the cathedral.