Madrid in the Spring

Introductory Study Day on May 1st: For those who are able to come, there will be a study morning at the National Gallery giving us an opportunity to explore the Spanish collection and familiarise ourselves with some of the artists who we will encounter on our trip such as Velázquez, Goya, el Greco, Murillo and Picasso. Light refreshments are included before the tour.

Day 1: We depart from London Heathrow in the morning with British Airways and fly to Madrid. We then transfer by private coach to our 5-star boutique hotel which enjoys excellent facilities including an outdoor terrace and swimming pool, and is ideally located near the major art museums.

In the afternoon we visit the nearby Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and explore highlights of the collection such as Holbein’s Portrait of Henry VIII, Carpaccio’s Young Knight in a Landscape, Caravaggio’s Catherine of Alexandria, Ghirlandaio’s Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni and Picasso’s Man with a Clarinet. We trace the history of these acquisitions and the Thyssen-Bornemisza family, who still remained actively involved with the museum today. After the tour there will be some free time to enjoy the rest of the collection at leisure or see a temporary exhibition dedicated to plein air painting (including works by Turner, Constable, Manet and Van Gogh).

Dinner with wine is included this evening in the hotel’s award-winning restaurant.

Day 2 : The Prado contains one of the most extraordinary collections of art in the world, with masterpieces including Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Naked Maja, Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights and van der Weyden’s Descent from the Cross. The museum has recently been renovated with a spectacular extension project designed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, including the restoration of a Renaissance cloister which has been incorporated into the new buildings. We have timed entry reservations to avoid queues, and I shall give guided tours selecting major highlights from the collection as well as lesser-known works. Later today join me for a special private visit of a collection which includes masterpieces by Goya, Zurbarán, el Greco and Rubens.

Dinner this evening is arranged if you would like to join the group.

Day 3: This morning we enjoy a morning’s walking tour of Madrid. We stroll through the city enjoying her most elegant squares and monuments such as the 17^th century Plaza Mayor, the Opera Theatre, the Cathedral and the colourful San Miguel Market ending with a visit to the Royal Palace, built in the 18^th century on the site of the old Alcázar fortress. We then drive to the delightful nearby town of Chinchón, famous in particular for its beautiful central plaza with its picturesque balconies filled with flowers, from which locals and visitors can enjoy the famous bullfights which sometimes take place here. The town was also home to the brother of the painter Francisco Goya. Here we enjoy a leisurely afternoon following a delicious lunch in the well-known Parador restaurant (lunch with wine is included today).

Day 4: This morning we travel to the imposing palace and monastery of El Escorial, built for King Philip II by Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera between 1563 and 1584 and famous for its fine art collection which includes works by Titian, Bosch, van der Weyden, el Greco and other masters, as well as its sumptuous library, vast basilica, royal pantheon and elegant royal apartments. After lunch we return to Madrid where there will be some free time for independent exploration.

Dinner this evening is arranged in a delightful local restaurant serving traditional Spanish cuisine.

Day 5: This morning we visit the third in the Golden Triangle of art museums with a tour of the Reina Sofia Museum which is dedicated to Spanish 20^th century art. Its most important work is without a doubt Picasso’s great mural Guernica, created in response to the bombing of the small eponymous Basque town during the Spanish Civil War. We spend time in particular learning about the dramatic history behind this seminal work, followed by a tour of further highlights including paintings by Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí. After lunch we reconvene and depart by private coach for Madrid airport, arriving in London Heathrow in the late afternoon.

Accommodation
4 nights’ accommodation in a luxury 5-star hotel in the centre of Madrid, a sleek and elegant building with excellent facilities such as a roof-top pool, stylish restaurant and small art museum. Located in the very heart of the 'Golden Triangle of Art', it is perfectly placed for our visits. I have used this hotel on a number of occasions and would highly recommend it. There is an upgrade available if you would like a junior suite - please contact me for more details.

Please note that there is an alternative hotel choice available for this holiday, if you would prefer, with a reduced price. These are standard rooms in a pleasant and very well-located 4-star hotel, just a few minutes' walk from the other hotel. The price for this option is £1364 with a single supplement of £235. Please contact me if you would like further details.

Itinerary and Meals
I will lead guided tours on all days, giving you some free time too (please feel free to join the group or be independent). A detailed, confirmed itinerary will be provided nearer the time and all reservations made where necessary. Please note that flight times may be subject to alteration. All will be done to ensure that the details of the trip remain as indicated, but in the unlikely event of changes being made we will always make every effort to organise alternative arrangements. Dinner with wine is included on the first evening, as well as one lunch with wine, and at other times I will always suggest good places for meals, so we can either eat together as a group or you can be independent – it’s up to you.

How Strenuous?
There is a fair amount of walking involved in the trip, although the pace will be leisurely. If unsure please do get in touch.

Price
The price will be £1449 per person for those sharing a twin or double room, and there is a single room supplement of £350. Please contact us if you wish to enquire about upgrades to junior suites at the hotel.

(See above for alternative hotel option and costs)

The price includes

• scheduled flights and taxes with BA
• 5-star hotel accommodation in Madrid for 4 nights (or alternative if requested)
• a study day in London
• all taxes
• breakfasts, dinner with wine on arrival
• lunch with wine in Chinchon Parador
• transfers and excursions by private coach
• historical notes to accompany the tour
• fully guided tours each day
• reservations and all entrance fees in the itinerary

It does not include other meals; travel to and from UK airports; insurance, and personal spending.

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for booking this trip.

Participation
If you would like to join the trip please complete the online booking form. If you would prefer to send a booking form by post please download a copy here. Please note a £225 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. I will send your tickets, full travel details and other practical information approximately a month before travel. Numbers on the trip are strictly limited, so do get in touch earlier rather than later if you would like to join the group, to avoid disappointment.