Winter 2026-2027 Tour of Spain

 

Dec 28, 2026 – Jan 11, 2027

Director: Raymond L. Capra

This winter tour trip will visit Catalunya, Spain to explore the development and interaction of three distinct cultures, Iberians, Greeks and Romans. Iberia became part of the greater Mediterranean world with the arrival of the first Phoenician traders who came to the south of the peninsula in the late ninth/ early eighth century BCE. The first Greek traders were there by the middle of the eighth century. In the early sixth Greeks founded a small city on the northeastern shore, always called by the name which connotes its mercantile origin, Emporion. In the late third century BCE this city became the entry point for the Roman conquest of the Peninsula at the onset of the second Punic War. This tour will follow the Eastern coast of Spain south-westward from Barcelona to Valencia and Alicante. These latter cities are near the heart of the Iberian culture.

Furthermore, the tour will take place during the Christmas holidays, and Spain as a Catholic country will be adorned in full seasonal regalia. The day of the Epiphany, Jan 6, the twelfth day of Christmas or Dia de Reis in Catalan, is among the holiest of days.

Price: $3,275, Single Supplement $450

Includes hotels, bus travel in Spain, all breakfasts and most lunches, two dinners, and all museum and archaeological site entries.

 

Dec 28 Monday 

Barcelona
Arrival in Barcelona meet at hotel by 2:00
Barcelona Cathedral and cloister
Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)
Barcelona
Hotel in Barcelona

Dec 29 Tuesday

Barcelona
Museu del Ciutat /Roman City
Free Lunch
Drassanes (Naval Museum)
Welcome dinner
Hotel in Barcelona

Dec 30 Wed

Empordan
St. Martí d’Empúries
Empúries (Ancient Greek city of Emporion)
Lunch
Puig de St. Andreu (Ullastret) Iberian Oppidum
Hotel in Barcelona

Dec 31 Thurs

Tarraconensis
Arch. Museum of Catalunya
Calafell
Lunch
Arco de Bera
El Medol
Aqueduct
NYE Dinner
Hotel in Tarragona

Jan 1 Fri

New Year’s Day. Mandatory day of rest.
Lunch

Jan 2 Sat

Tarraco (Tarragona)
Roman Tarraco: Colonial Forum, Theater
MNAT (Archaeology Museum) Exhibition
Roman/Medieval Walls
Lunch
Circus
Amphitheatre
Hotel in Tarragona

Jan 3 Sun

Valencia
Morning bus to Valencia
Free Lunch
La Almoina Archaeological Museum (Ruins of Roman Valentia)
Museo de Prehistoria de Valencia
Hotel in Valencia

Jan 4 Mon

Valencia
Cathedral
La Llonja
Central Market
Botanical Garden
Hotel in Valencia

Jan 5 Tues

Valencia
Museo des Bellas Artes
City Gates
Free Lunch
Museum Visit
Hotel in Valencia

Jan 6 Wed

Valencia
Epiphany
Lunch
Hotel in Valencia

Jan 7 Thurs
Alicante
La Illeta dels Banyets  (Roman villa, garum facility)
Lucentum (Tossal de Manises)  (Roman city)
MARQ (Archaeology Museum)
Lunch
Castell de Santa Barbara
Hotel in Alicante

Jan 8 Fri

Elche
Site of ‘La Alcudia’ and museum
Archaeological Museum in Elche
Lunch
Santa Pola (Archaeological site and museum)
Hotel in Alicante

Jan 9 Sat

Murcia
Bus to Murcia
Archeological Museum
Museo de Santa Clara
Museo de la ciudad
Lunch
cathedral
Hotel in Alicante

Jan 10 Sun

Cathedral
Museum of Contemporary Art
Free afternoon
Farewell dinner
Hotel in Alicante

Jan 11 Mon

Departure from Alicante
(local airport or high speed train to Madrid Airport)