Excursions

Madrid, capital of Spain, is a cosmopolitan city. Its position as a center for economics, administration, and services combines the most modern infrastructure with an important cultural and artistic heritage, the legacy of centuries of fascinating history.

Art and culture are central to Madrid life. The city has 73 museums that cover all fields of human knowledge. Of these, the most important are the Prado Museum, one of the world’s greatest art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries that go from the earliest Dutch masters to the most avant-garde trends, and the Reina Sofía National Art Center, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris among others.

The impressive city walls are the defining image of Avila; with eighty-eight towers and nine gateways constructed of brown granite they exemplify a history characterized by war and monastic activity.

Avila is renowned for the striking Gothic cathedral which has the appearance of a fortress and the historic Moorish Alcazar. Set amid the winding streets with Romanesque churches, convents and palaces, it is full of architectural beauty. It was also home of the famous Spanish mystic Saint Teresa of Avila.

Segovia is famous for the incredible Roman aqueduct which has become an icon for the city. You can spend hours wandering around the narrow streets, the luminous plaza and exploring the boundaries of the ancient city walls. The impressive cathedral, Romanesque churches and Alcazar are reminiscent of the glorious Middle Ages.

Visit the national park with notable sanctuary and beautiful mountain views and La Alberca, which was the first rural village in Spain to be given National Historic Heritage status. A walk around its historic center gives us a taste of the tradition in its houses and streets, which were built centuries ago. The main square, surrounded on all four sides by columned porches, continues to be the center of the town’s social life.

The most representative religious building is the parish church of La Asunción, erected in the 18th century, which houses a granite pulpit from the 16th century and a splendid Gothic processional cross in gilded copper, as well as a figure of Cristo del Sudor attributed to Juan de Juni.

In inland Spain there are places that are simply unbelievable. The Arribes del Duero Nature Reserve is one of them. In the area bordering the provinces of Salamanca and Zamora you will find one of inland Spain’s most spectacular landscapes: los Arribes del Duero. Follow the trail marked out by the river canyon and you will discover the area’s spectacular beauty.

Aveiro Beach is a small beach town located along the coast of Portugal. This beach town is only a little over two hours from Salamanca and will provide a relaxing and scenic trip.

Aveiro is a beautiful beach on the Atlantic Ocean, with a great town to shop, eat, and explore. On this visit, you would spend your day there enjoying the ocean and the sights. Be sure to remember your sunscreen and water bottle!