The History & Art of Madrid, Toledo, Avila, Salamanca & Segovia

Day 1

We depart by executive coach from our designated pick up point and travel with our tour manager to Folkestone for our Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. On arrival in Bruges we check into the 4* Dukes' Academie Hotel for a four night stay. A welcome dinner is included at a restaurant close to our hotel this evening.

Day 2

This morning, we enjoy an included guided walking tour of Bruges, whose historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the 'Venice of the North', Bruges is famous for lace making, chocolate and its picturesque network of canals. An included 45 minute cruise on the picturesque canals of Bruges enables us to see the city from a different perspective. This afternoon we visit the Groeninge Museum in Bruges, home to a fine collection of Flemish and Belgian painting from Jan Van Eyck to Marcel Broodthears, a wide range of Renaissance and Baroque Masters and representations of Belgian Symbolism and Modernism.

Day 3

Our morning guided tour of Antwerp takes in sights such as the Great Market Square, Town Hall, Butchers' Guild House and the Cathedral of Our Lady. This afternoon we visit Rubens House, the former house of Peter Rubens from 1616 until his death in 1640. The house was built around an inner courtyard and the Baroque portico between the courtyard and the Flemish-Italian Renaissance garden was designed by the master himself. Our guided tour of the House introduces us to the life and works of Rubens, including his self portrait, 'Adam and Eve in Paradise', 'Henry IV in the battle for Paris' and a portrait of Sir Anthony Van Dyck as a boy.

Day 4

We visit Ghent this morning for a guided walking tour. Originally the capital of Flanders, Ghent retains more historical buildings than any other Flemish city. Here we visit St Bavo Cathedral, which is home to the famous 24-panel altarpiece 'The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb'. This afternoon we have a guided tour at the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts with works ranging from 19th century Realism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Symbolism and Expressionism to 20th century Surrealism, including two works by Hieronymus Bosch.

Day 5

After checking out of our hotel we enjoy a guided tour at the Palais des Beaux Arts at Lille, considered by many to be one of France's most important galleries. Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we return to Calais for our return Eurotunnel crossing to Folkestone, and onwards coach travel back to our original pick up point.