Spain Tours
Spain offers life-changing, eye-opening tour possibilities for every performer. The American Celebration of Music will incorporate the best that Spain’s great cities have to offer, by arranging amazing concert venues and “must-see” site-seeing experiences. Please click on the itinerary links below to discover the best fit for your ensemble. Remember — in order to maximize your cultural and musical experience abroad, we consider these tour options a solid starting point, upon which we can further customize the ideal concert tour for your ensemble.
Tour #1 – 5 nights | 7 days
Madrid | El Escorial |Aranjuez | Toledo
Arrive in Madrid. Take a panoramic tour of Madrid’s highlights including Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza de España, etc. See many of Madrid’s remarkable landmarks including Buen Retiro Park (founded in 1631), the immense Royal Palace and entrance to the Prado Museum which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Half-day excursion to El Escorial, the magnificent palace and monastery built by Phillip II. Visit the Royal Apartments and the Basilica. For choirs only: noon recital at El Escorial. A few miles away, view the Valley of the Fallen. Half-day excursion to Aranjuez to visit the Palace (built in 1561 by King Philip II as a royal summer residence). Continue to Chinchon (made famous in Around the World in 80 Days) to see a typical Spanish village. Full-day excursion to Toledo. Enjoy a guided tour including a visit of the magnificent Cathedral (with the El Greco paintings and other valuable relics) and the Church of St. Tomé (El Greco’s The Burial of the Count of Orgaz). Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #2 – 5 nights | 7 days
Barcelona | Montserrat | Tarragona | Salou
Arrive in Barcelona. Take a panoramic tour of Barcelona’s highlights including Gothic Quarter, Plaça del Rei, Roman City, Plaça Reial, Port Vell, etc. A guided tour includes the Eixample Quarter, location of many of Barcelona’s best Modernista buildings. Travel down the Passeig de Gràcia. Then visit La Sagrada Familia. Afternoon clinic or school exchange. Take a half-day sightseeing tour to Montserrat to visit the monastery. Hear Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys choir sing the 11 am Mass in the monastery. Afternoon guided tour to Montjuïc for a great view overlooking the city. Visit the Poble Espanyol. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Excursion to Tarragona. Sightseeing in Tarragona includes visits to the Archeological Promenade and Amphitheatre. Also see the Roman Mosaics. Continue to Salou for a visit. Along Salou’s extensive coast, protected by Cape Salou, beautiful beaches and coves with fine sand give way to one another. Half-day sightseeing in Barcelona includes Park Güell. Also visit the Picasso Museum. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #3 – 7 nights | 9 days
Toledo | Cordoba | Seville | Granada | Madrid
Arrive at Madrid airport. Transfer to Toledo. Visit the magnificent Cathedral (with the El Greco paintings and other valuable relics), and the Church of St. Tomé (El Greco’s The Burial of the Count of Orgaz). Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Transfer to Seville via Cordoba. Take a guided tour of Cordoba includes the Mezquita. A morning guided tour of Seville includes Maria Luisa Park (Plaza de España), entrance to the Giralda and the Cathedral. Drive past the Torre del Oro. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Transfer to Granada. A guided tour includes entrance to the Alhambra which includes the Nasrid Palace, exquisite gardens, Emperor Charles V’s Palace etc. Also visit Generalife. Transfer to Madrid. A morning guided tour of Madrid includes seeing Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España, Retiro Park, Royal Palace and entrance to the Prado Museum which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #4 – 7 nights | 9 days
Barcelona | Montserrat | Tarragona | Valencia | Madrid | Toledo
Arrive in Barcelona. Take a panoramic tour of the city including the Gothic Quarter, Placa del Rei, and the Roman City. Enjoy a guided tour of the Eixample Quarter, location of Barcelona’s best Modernista buildings. Visit La Sagrada Familia. Afternoon clinic or school exchange. Take an excursion to Montserrat to visit the monastery. The monastery with its church and subsidiary buildings, is a little city on its own. Take a guided tour of Montjuic for a great view overlooking the city of Barcelona. Visit Poble Espanyol to see regional styles in Spanish architecture. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Transfer to Tarragona. Sightseeing includes visits to the Archeological Promenade and Ampitheatre. Also see the Roman Mosaics. Continue to Valencia. See the Palacio de la Generalidad and Lonja (Silk Exchange). Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Transfer to Madrid. See the Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, Royal Palace, and entrance to the Prado Museum. Take an excursion to Toledo to visit this golden city rising from a granite eminence, encircled by a steep ravine filled by the green waters of Tagus. Visit the magnificent Cathedral and the Church of St. Tomé. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Return to Madrid for a Farewell Dinner and depart for home.
Tour #5 – 7 nights | 9 days
Barcelona | Montserrat | Pont du Gard | Avignon | Aix-en-Provence | Nice
Arrive in Barcelona. Take a panoramic tour of Barcelona’s highlights including Gothic Quarter, Plaça del Rei, Roman City, Plaça Reial, Port Vell, etc. Take a guided tour includes the Eixample Quarter, location of many of Barcelona’s best Modernista buildings. Travel down the Passeig de Gràci. Then visit La Sagrada Familia. Afternoon clinic or school exchange. Half-day sightseeing to Montserrat to visit the monastery. The monastery, with its church and the various subsidiary buildings, is a little city on its own. The monastery complex proper is reached by way of the Plaza de la Cruz (Catalan Plaça de la Creu). Hear Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys choir sing the 11 am Mass in the monastery. Afternoon guided tour to Montjuïc. Visit the Poble Espanyol. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Transfer to Avignon via Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge. Take a half-day sightseeing tour of Avignon, the capital city of Provence. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in France. Transfer to Nice via Aix-en-Provence, a charming city renowned for its elegant boulevards, historic fountains, and vibrant markets. Arrive in Nice and take a short orientation tour including a visit to the Promenade des Anglais. Enjoy an excursion along the French Riviera, beginning in Monaco to explore the charming Old Town. Visit the picturesque seaside town of Villefranche-sur-Mer known for its colorful Mediterranean architecture. Performance as part of the American Celebration of Music in Spain. Enjoy and evening Farewell Dinner. Transfer to Nice and depart for home.