Stedenrondreis klassiek, midden Spanje

Über das Reiseziel: Madrid has a tempo of its own: The dry air of the Castilian plain crackles with its cosmopolitan crowds. If the illuminated shop windows along the Gran Vía, and the unrelenting elegance of Paseo de la Castellana are overwhelming, retreat to Old Madrid. Its tangle of side streets south of Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are what makes the real Madrid. Spend half a day in the Prado Museum, thaat sit to rest on the steps leading down to the lake in lush Retiro Park. The city begins to live it up as soon as the sun goes down. Madrid claims to boast the largest number of bars per capita of any European city. Madrid teems with cultural events all year round. After concert, play or film, you can choose among literally hundreds of tapas bars and an endless array of nightspots. Madrid successfylly combines its cosmopolitan sophistication with its most cherished local traditions, the result is fascinating to explore.

Über das Reiseziel: Toledo flourished in the medieval era during the peaceful coexistence of Christians, Muslims and Jews. This fact has left behind a dignified and slightly mystical walled city. Toledo’s monuments crowd together in a dizzying anarchy of periods and styles, held together in a medieval matrix of sagging houses, churches, synagogues, and mosques. The city that El Greco portrayed in a few of his rare landscapes has changed little over the years. Surrounded by Rio Tajo, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of Spain’s most visited cities. Artifacts of Christian, Muslim and Jewish origin continue to complement one another in this city, often within the same building. The cathedral is a complex banquet of architectural and artistic styles. Two synagogues, Sinagoga del Tránsito and Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca, and a museum, the Museo Sefardi, are all that remain of what was once the largest Jewish community in Spain. Reminders of the Muslim presence are visible near the Puerta del Sol a 14th century Mudéjar gate and the 10th century mosque, Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz. The legends and traditions of Toledo seem to come alive at sunset. Visitors can explore the city’s mysterious medieval atmosphere walking through its narrow streets in one of the many night tours organized throughout the city. It is a fascinating experience that will transport travellers to another era.

Über das Reiseziel: Trujillo ist eine Gemeinde in der Provinz Cáceres, in der autonomen Gemeinschaft Extremadura, Spanien. Trujillo ist sowohl ein Zentrum für Tourismus, mit über 25 Hotels, als auch eine regionale Marktgemeinde. Die Altstadt enthält viele mittelalterliche und Renaissance-Gebäude. Viele davon wurden von den in der Stadt geborenen Konquistadoren erbaut oder bereichert. Die wichtigsten Denkmäler sind die Burg (alte arabische Festung), die Kirche Santa María (dreizehntes Jahrhundert) und die Kirche San Francisco. Anfang Mai findet hier das nationale Käsefestival statt.

Über das Reiseziel: Salamanca is an architectural tapestry woven in sandstone. Though there are excellent examples of Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and baroque structures, the golden stone itself is the thread of continuity and harmony. Nonetheless, this ancient university town, has many monumental highlights. Plaza Mayor, considered by many the most beautiful main square in Spain is a fine place for admiring architecture. The town hall is the large, elegant building in the centre of the square. Two beautiful cathedrals stand side by side: the New Cathedral boasts beautiful Plateresque facades and it is the only entrance to the connecting old, Romanesque Catedral Vieja. The university, the focal point of the city, is one of the best examples of Spanish Plateresque style. Salamanca at night is a party. The illuminated city is the meeting point for hundreds of students collecting tapas and beer. But make no mistake, it is also a city to enjoy a quiet night, savoring some wine on a terrace of Plaza Mayor.

Über das Reiseziel: Segovia ist Kastilien von seiner besten Seite. Prächtige goldene Kirchen und verwinkelte Gassen, die vom Duft der Sopa Castellana erfüllt sind, einer reichhaltigen Knoblauchsuppe mit Würstchen, Brot und Eiern. Nur die Unklugen hetzen an dem massiven römischen Aquädukt, der Kathedrale und dem atemberaubenden Alcazar auf einem schnellen Tagesausflug vorbei; andere wissen um die kühlen Plätze Segovias nach Sonnenuntergang. Das beeindruckende römische Aquädukt transportiert seit über zwei Jahrtausenden Wasser. Man kann es von der Plaza del Azoguejo aus betrachten, wo die Struktur eine maximale Höhe von 30m erreicht, oder man kann sein Profil von den Stufen auf der linken Seite des Platzes einfangen. Die Lage der Stadt am Zusammenfluss der Flüsse Eresma und Clamores hat dazu geführt, Segovia mit einem Segelschiff zu vergleichen, wobei der Alcazar, eine Festung, als sein majestätischer Bug dient. Die Festung bietet einen hervorragenden Blick auf Segovia und die umliegende Ebene, im Inneren befindet sich eine Sammlung mittelalterlicher Waffen und mehrere spektakuläre handgefertigte Decken. Die Kathedrale ist ein massives spätgotisches Bauwerk. Elegant und anmutig, Segovia ist das wahre Wesen des alten Kastilien.

Über das Reiseziel: Madrid has a tempo of its own: The dry air of the Castilian plain crackles with its cosmopolitan crowds. If the illuminated shop windows along the Gran Vía, and the unrelenting elegance of Paseo de la Castellana are overwhelming, retreat to Old Madrid. Its tangle of side streets south of Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are what makes the real Madrid. Spend half a day in the Prado Museum, thaat sit to rest on the steps leading down to the lake in lush Retiro Park. The city begins to live it up as soon as the sun goes down. Madrid claims to boast the largest number of bars per capita of any European city. Madrid teems with cultural events all year round. After concert, play or film, you can choose among literally hundreds of tapas bars and an endless array of nightspots. Madrid successfylly combines its cosmopolitan sophistication with its most cherished local traditions, the result is fascinating to explore.