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Dates and Booking
From
SPAIN

Made in Spain

PILATES IN PUGLIA

Made in Spain

Made in Spain

Heading

An ACBA Expedition

Oct. 19-26, 2025

14
Days
20
Travelers
7
Cities
View Itinerary
SOLD OUT
May 20 - June 2, 2025

Discover the architectural and artisanal heritage of Spain on this 14-day journey. Visit iconic landmarks like the Sagrada Familia and Seville Cathedral, engage in workshops on blacksmithing, wood carving, and stone cutting, and enjoy cultural experiences like olive oil tasting, jamón ibérico, flamenco music, and wine. Explore Spain’s rich cultural tapestry; from ancient Roman aqueducts to the legacy of Islamic Golden Age architecture, or Catalonian modernist masterpieces.

A JOURNEY THOUGH THE BUILDING ARTS OF SPAIN

On this 14-day expedition through Spain, you will explore the architectural and artisanal heritage from ancient Roman aqueducts to the lasting influence of Moorish design. In Barcelona, Córdoba, and Seville, and Madrid you’ll visit iconic landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia, the Seville Cathedral, and the Prado Museum while engaging in hands-on workshops on blacksmithing, wood carving, and stone cutting. Learn the timeless crafts that have shaped Spain’s architectural masterpieces, from intricate mudéjar wood detailing in Córdoba to the art of religious sculpture in Seville.

As you journey through the diverse regions of Spain, you’ll enjoy cultural experiences like sherry tasting, live flamenco music, and Andalusian seafood taverns, all while delving into the region’s deep artistic traditions. Explore the beauty of Spain’s Roman ruins, the rich legacy of the Moors on Spain’s architecture and design, and take an immersive look at Spain’s craftsmanship through a unique blend of hands-on experiences and cultural exploration.

Tour Price:
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Tour Dates:

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AT A GLANCE

2 nights--Barcelona: Sagrada Familia, Gaudi houses, and the Gothic Quarter

2 nights--Córdoba: Royal Alcázar, Mezquita

3 nights--Cádiz: Torres miradores, taller de carpintería, Camara oscura de Tavira, sherry tasting, beach day

1 stop--Seville: Imaginero workshop, Royal Alcazar, Seville Cathedral, and the Tomb of Cristopher Colombus, Guadalquivir River

2 nights--Trujillo: Olive oil tasting, jamón ibérico, Spanish village life

1 night--Segovia: Roman ruins and the summer house of Spanish monarchs

3 nights--Madrid: Prado Musuem, Royal Palace, and La Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

ITINERARY

Day 1

Days 1 & 2: Barcelona

Your adventure begins in Barcelona, a former Roman town and capital of the culturally and linguistically unique community of Catalonia. Here you'll stroll through the gothic quarter while glimpsing the varied monuments from the Carolingian empire and the splendor of the 13th to 15th centuries. Together with your professors you'll explore the building arts covering more than a thousand years of history, including Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Familia and fantastical houses.

Day 2

Days 3 & 4: Córdoba

From Barcelona, you will travel to Córdoba, capital of the Córdoba Caliphate in the 10th century and the center of scholarship and scientific study during the Islamic Golden Age in Spain. Here your professors will guide you through the magnificent examples of Moorish architecture like the Mezquita or subsequent Spanish derivations like the Royal Alázar. In Córdoba, you’ll also dive into the intricate art of mudéjar wood detailing, a traditional craft that blends Christian and Muslim influences and can be seen in many of the region's historic buildings.

Day 3

Days 5, 6, & 7: Cádiz

Stopping en route near Seville, you’ll meet with one of the region's many local craftsmen dedicated to the building arts where you’ll learn the techniques that have shaped Spain's architectural and artistic history. 

In Cádiz, you’ll explore the city’s rich maritime history and stunning miradores (watch towers), which offer spectacular views of the coast. Here, you will also have the chance to participate in a woodworking workshop, gaining insight into the region’s long-standing carpentry traditions. Alongside these artisan experiences, you’ll enjoy a sherry tasting, visit the historic Cádiz Cathedral, and explore the Cámara oscura de Tavira, a unique optical device that offers a 360-degree view of the city. At the mid-way point of your journey, you'll have a free day to relax at the beach or continue to explore the city in small groups with your professors.

Day 4

Days 8 & 9: Trujillo

Departing from Cadiz you'll head north, returning to Seville for a free morning of exploration. The heart of Andalusia, you will explore the legendary Royal Alcázar and Seville Cathedral, where centuries of history come to life. You’ll also visit the Tomb of Christopher Columbus and delve into the intricate world of imagineros, the skilled religious sculpture carvers who have adorned churches with their masterpieces for generations. Seville offers an immersive experience into the artistry that has defined Spain’s sacred architecture for centuries. This evening you'll arrive in Trujillo in time for a celebratory Spanish meal. 

The following day, you’ll indulge in the Spanish traditions of jamón ibérico, olive oil, wine, and cheese making.  In the picturesque town, you'll also have time to experience Spanish country life or stroll through this picturesque town where you'll uncover the techniques used to create sculptures for churches—a tradition that has endured for centuries.

Day 5

Day 10: Segovia

Departing Extremaduring you’ll head north to Segovia where you’ll take the afternoon to discover the grandeur of one of the largest surviving Roman aqueducts and explore the impressive Alcázar, the summer residence of Spanish monarchs.

Day 6

Days 11, 12, 13, & 14: Madrid

Finally, your journey concludes in Madrid, the capital of Spain where you'll revisit many of the threads that constitute the tapestry of Spanish culture, history, and art. Your first stop on the day of arrival will be the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. 

Under the direction of your professors, you'll visit the Prado Museum, home to some of the most significant works of Western art, and explore the grand Royal Palace, the former residence of the Hapsburg dynasty where you'll walk through the history of building arts and masterpieces of stone, iron, wood, plaster, and gilding. 

As you explore Madrid with your professors, you’ll learn about Spanish renaissance art as well as  the profound influence of the Moors on Spanish culture, from the intricacies of mudéjar design to the iconic arches and tilework that define Spain’s architectural landscape.

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WHAT PEOPLE SAY

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

All breakfasts and 11 lunches or dinners
All tour related transportation - including flights to Barcelona and return from Madrid
13 nights accommodation
Alithea tour manager, local guide and all included study abroad activities and entrances
Your friendly Alithea tour manager for the duration of the tour
All breakfasts and 11 lunches or dinners

FAQ

For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

explore@alitheatravel.com
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TOUR TIPS

Pack Light

Alithea hotels are boutique, family-run and centrally located in the historic centers where the ancient roads are too small for buses. That often means needing to walk between our bus and hotels and on occasion between our hotel and train station. Between destinations we will be required to carry our own luggage which may include significant stairs and no elevator. We encourage our travelers to take a simple carry-on size bag with a small backpack for outings.

Come Prepared

Come prepared to live in the moment. We will walk, talk, celebrate, dine, and make beautiful discoveries together. This is a physically strenuous high energy trip designed for the immense energy and interest of students. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns before booking.

Bus and Travel Time

On our journey through Spain we'll have plenty of time on the bus and train. We’ll not only use this time to relax and enjoy the view but also to prepare with our Alithea guide for the sites we’re about to visit.

FAQ

For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

explore@alitheatravel.com
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A Christian Classical Approach to Travel
Travel encourages a living experience of art, history, and ideas that transforms the classroom into an immersive experience of truth, beauty, and goodness. Museums, meals, archeological sites, and foreign languages are not merely artifacts that help students consider the world, they cultivate a love of wonder, moral imagination, and a rich understanding of the truth. More than a student trip, travel is an invitation to become a lifelong practitioner of the loves that shape the soul.
The Prayerful Traditions of Europe
Rather than treating churches and monasteries as defunct historical monuments, Alithea and Oakdale Academy invite students to approach them as places of prayer and worship