Splendid Spain and Andalusian Cities 7 Nights - With THY on October 25 (October 29 Special) (MAD - SVQ)

1. Day Istanbul – Madrid Meeting at Istanbul Airport, International Departures terminal, in front of the Turkish Airlines counter 3 hours before the flight. After baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, departure for Madrid on Turkish Airlines flight TK1857 at 07:00. Upon arrival at 10:30 local time, our city tour of Madrid begins with the vehicle waiting for us at the airport. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is one of the most visited cities in the country with its deep-rooted history and cultural richness. During our city tour, the following will be seen in Madrid: the Bullring (from outside), Alcala Gate and Independence Square, Cibeles Monument, the famous Gran Via, Bernabeu Stadium, Plaza Castilla, Atocha Train Station, the famous Prado Museum (from outside), Plaza de Espana where the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are located, the Royal Palace (from outside), the 9-gated Plaza Mayor, and Sol Square. After our tour, our guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Toledo Tour. (70 Euro) Toledo, located approximately 70 kilometers from Madrid, is a historic city under UNESCO protection that has hosted the different cultures of the Iberian Peninsula and bears traces of Roman, Visigoth, Muslim, and Christian civilizations. Known for its magnificent medieval architecture and cultural heritage, this open-air museum city will be toured through its historic narrow streets, the Toledo Cathedral (from outside), Spain’s oldest cathedral, churches converted from Andalusian mosques, and many other wonders. After the tour, we depart for Ecija. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Ecija is a historic city in southern Spain, located in Andalusia and affiliated with the province of Seville. Often called the “Peacock of Andalusia” or the “City of Towers,” Écija is known for its rich Baroque architecture and magnificent historical structures. Known as “Astigi” in the Roman period, the city was one of the important centers of the Hispania Ulterior province. It also became an important cultural and economic center during the Umayyad period in Andalusia. Today, while walking through the streets of Écija, one can feel a historic atmosphere filled with elegant Baroque-era palaces, churches, and tall bell towers. Especially the 18th-century Santa María and San Juan churches are among the finest examples of Baroque art. For travelers interested in history, art, and traditional Andalusian architecture, Écija is like a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered. As you walk through the narrow streets of the city, it is possible to find traces from both the Roman and Islamic periods. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 2. Day Madrid – Barcelona After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Barcelona. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the vibrant and captivating capital of the Catalonia region, renowned worldwide. Bathed by the warm waters of the Mediterranean, this magnificent city offers a unique blend of history, art, culture, and entertainment. With its grand architecture, colorful streets, delicious cuisine, and lively nightlife, Barcelona attracts millions of visitors every year. The city is like an open-air museum adorned with the unique works of Antoni Gaudi. During our city tour, the following will be seen: La Sagrada Familia Church, Christopher Columbus Monument, La Rambla Street, Spain and Catalunya Squares, the Bullring, and the Olympic Port. After the tour, guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Poble Espanyol & Montjuic Hill tour. (30 Euro) We begin our tour by visiting Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village), built for the 1929 World Fair and now a popular destination for visitors to Barcelona, consisting of 117 buildings, streets, and squares. Here we will see example structures from all regions of Spain, walk through streets reflecting the architecture of different Spanish regions, visit various artisan workshops, and make a short journey across Spain. Poble Espanyol is also home to craftsmen working in ceramics, glass, leather, jewelry, and other handicrafts. Then we head up to Montjuic Hill, which offers much more than a panoramic view of Barcelona. This area, where history, culture, and nature come together, underwent a transformation by hosting important events such as the 1992 Olympic Games. After our photo break, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 3. Day Barcelona After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Pearls of Northern Catalonia (Girona & Figueras & Dali Museum) tour. (70 Euro) Our first stop is Girona. Located in the northeast of Catalonia, approximately 100 kilometers north of Barcelona, Girona is a historic city famous for its medieval streets, historic buildings, museums, churches, and walls. During our tour, the Lion Statue, Cathedral Square, and the famous Jewish Quarter (El Call) will be seen. After the tour, we head to Figueres. Figueres, located northeast of Girona, is known as the birthplace of Salvador Dali. The city is closely associated with the life and works of the famous Spanish painter Salvador Dali. The most important tourist attraction in Figueres is the Salvador Dali Museum. Dali established a museum here to leave something in his birthplace and exhibit his works. Today, this museum has the largest Dali collection and is regarded as Dali’s greatest masterpiece since he designed every part of it. The museum contains more than 4,000 works created by Dali using different techniques. After the tour, we return to Barcelona. Guests who wish may join the extra Gaudi’s Magnificent Masterpiece (Park Guell) & Gothic Quarter tour. (50 Euro) Our first stop is Park Guell. One of Antoni Gaudi’s magnificent works, Park Guell is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Known as the fairy-tale park, it creates a magical atmosphere with its colorful stairways and imaginative pavilions. After seeing this magnificent work by Gaudi, our second stop is the Gothic Quarter. In the Gothic Quarter, you can experience the enchanting atmosphere of the Middle Ages and admire the historical texture with its narrow labyrinth-like streets, Gothic churches, romantic squares, and Roman walls. Among the most important structures in the neighborhood are Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça Reial (Royal Square), Plaça del Rei (King’s Square), and La Rambla. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 4. Day Barcelona – Valencia After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Valencia. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Valencia is a historic and modern city on the east coast of Spain, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. As Spain’s third largest city, Valencia attracts visitors with its rich history, culture, and art. During the city tour, the City Hall, Gothic Cathedral, Bullring, City of Arts and Sciences, historic market Mercado Central, and the Old Silk Exchange will be seen. After the tour, transfer to our hotel, check-in, and free time. Overnight at the hotel. 5. Day Valencia – Granada After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Granada. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Granada is a city full of history and culture in the heart of Andalusia. Granada is famous for its historical heritage, music and dance, breathtaking views, and the Alhambra Palace. The city is one of Spain’s leading tourist destinations and welcomes millions of visitors every year. During our city tour, the following will be seen: Gran Via Street, Bib-Rambla and City Squares, Granada Cathedral (from outside), Madraza, the city’s first university, the Silk Market, and the old Nasrid caravanserai. After the tour, guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Alhambra Palace Tour. (80 Euro) (The Alhambra Palace has a daily visitor limit, and the palace visit may also be carried out without the harem section depending on availability. It is very important that you inform your agency of your participation in this tour during reservation.) One of Granada’s greatest treasures, the Alhambra Palace, is one of the most striking and impressive examples of Andalusian Islamic architecture. As one of the most visited historical sites in Spain, Alhambra is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is known worldwide. This famous structure began to be built in the 13th century on the Sabika hill overlooking Granada as a fortress and palace, and construction continued until the 15th century. It was named Alhambra, meaning “the Red,” due to the red color derived from the red soil used in its construction. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. In the evening, guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Neighborhoods (Albaicin and Sacromonte Gypsy Quarter) tour. (60 Euro) Albaicin is a historic and enchanting district of Granada. This UNESCO World Heritage area is famous for its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and scenic hills. It bears traces of Andalusian Islamic culture and architecture and reflects Granada’s history. After the tour, we will watch a Gypsy show in fully handmade cave houses, accompanied by a drink, and observe their way of life. After the tour, return to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 6. Day Granada – Seville After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Seville. Upon arrival, our city tour begins. Seville is a city in Spain’s Andalusia region known for its historical and cultural richness. On our city tour in Seville, located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, we will first see Maria Luisa Park, including Plaza de Espana and Plaza America, Seville Cathedral (from outside), the third largest cathedral in the world where Christopher Columbus’s tomb is also located, and immediately next to the cathedral, the Giralda Minaret, the last remaining part of the mosque on which the cathedral was built, as well as the Alcazar Palace (from outside), which carries the legacy of the Umayyad state in Andalusia. Then, passing through the Archive of the Indies, where records of all sea voyages to the Americas from the Discovery period until the 19th century were kept, we will reach the narrow streets of Santa Cruz, the old quarter known as “Old” Seville. At the end of our walk, after seeing Torre del Oro, the Golden Tower, formerly the old tobacco factory and today a naval museum used as the central campus of Seville University, we transfer to our hotel. In the evening, guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Flamenco Fire Tour. (55 Euro) Seville is one of the birthplaces of flamenco and is considered one of the most important centers of flamenco culture in Spain. During our flamenco night, you will be captivated while watching flamenco dancers. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 7. Day Seville – Cordoba – Mijas – Malaga – Seville After breakfast at the hotel, guests who wish may join the extra Görkemli Cities (Cordoba & Mijas & Malaga) tour. (140 Euro) Cordoba is a historic city in the Andalusia region of Spain, famous for its historical and cultural richness, impressive architecture, and structures bearing traces of Andalusian Islamic culture. After a 1.5-hour journey, we arrive in Cordoba, where the Guadalquivir River welcomes us first. We will enter the city by walking across the historic Roman bridge and passing through the Roman gate. The city’s most magnificent structure, one of the largest mosques in the world, the Kurtuba Great Mosque, rising on 850 columns, will be visited with our guide, and we will witness the grandeur of this magnificent work while receiving fascinating information. After our tour of the Kurtuba Mosque, we continue on foot, seeing the immaculate old streets, the old inn reflecting all the elegance of Andalusian architecture, and the houses of Cordoba. After this tour, our second stop is Mijas, a charming and traditional mountain town in the Malaga province of Andalusia, in southern Spain, especially famous for its whitewashed houses. Located close to the Costa del Sol coastline, Mijas stands out with both its sea view and historical atmosphere. Mijas Pueblo, the historic part of the town, offers a postcard-like view with its narrow streets, balconies decorated with flowers, and whitewashed houses typical of Andalusian architecture. Although the origins of the town date back to Ancient Rome and even the Phoenicians, its present character was largely shaped during the Muslim period of Andalusia. One of the most notable points in Mijas is the small bullring built on the hilltop and the remains of Mijas Castle. After the tour, our final stop is Malaga. In our Malaga tour, the city where famous painter Pablo Picasso was born, we will see Paseo de Parque (Park Avenue), Plaza de la Merced, the Jewish Quarter, Constitution Square, Larios Street, Puerto Marina (Port), La Alcazaba, and Gibralfaro Castle. After the tour, transfer to our hotel in Ecija. Overnight at the hotel. 8. Day Seville – Istanbul After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport at the time determined by the guide. After baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, departure for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK1300 at 17:45. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:55 local time, and end of the tour.