Small Group Guided Tours of Spain and Portugal

Our program explores the lands of Spain and Portugal, two countries bound by many centuries of history reflected in their modern cultures. Divided by history and language, contiguous neighbours Spain and Portugal were once host to gigantic empires that still bear their languages and lifestyles. A small group tour for couple and solo travellers.

From $17,568NZD

Available

Highlights

  1. 1. Experience La Rioja, the mountain kingdom of Navarra, and neighbouring Basque Country with its astounding Guggenheim Museum.
  2. 2. Explore Toledo and Moorish cities of Cordoba, with its awe-inspiring “Mezquita,” and Granada, with its Alhambra Palace.
  3. 3. In Portugal, stay in the charming city of Braga, visit Oporto, and explore the historical capital, Lisbon.
  4. 4. Visit the stunning coastal areas surrounding Lisbon, including Europe's westernmost point.
Small Group Guided Tours of Spain and Portugal itinerary

Departure Dates

Departure Date Price
02 March 2025

Ends 25 March 2025

$18,445 Twin

$20,822 Single

Available
Selected
01 April 2025

Ends 24 April 2025

$18,445 Twin

$20,822 Single

Available
01 October 2025

Ends 24 October 2025

$18,445 Twin

$20,822 Single

Available
01 March 2026

Ends 24 March 2026

$18,445 Twin

$20,822 Single

Available
31 March 2026

Ends 23 April 2026

$18,445 Twin

$20,822 Single

Available
07 October 2026

Ends 31 October 2026

$18,445 Twin

$20,822 Single

Available

Spain and Portugal | Small Group Tours.

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across Western Europe including Spain and Portugal. We explore Spain and Portugal fairy-tale natural beauty, its ancient Roman heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and world famous cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Spain and Portugal, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people.

Discover the Iberian peninsula on these fully escorted small Spain and Portugal tours, perfect for the single traveller or couple.

Although divided by history and language, these close neighbours once possessed mighty empires bringing them great wealth which they then used to create many of the monuments we admire today.

The Iberian Peninsula is renowned for the spectacular views of its scenery, its red wines of rioja , and exotic food. Our Spain and Portugal tour explores the Iberian peninsula 's intricate history and incredible art and architecture as we stroll and wander through its streets. These are small group package tours of Spain and Portugal for mature travellers, either couples or singles.

Itinerary & highlights of the Spain and Portugal tour

Small group tours Spain and Portugal is for senior and mature travellers who seek to learn whilst on a group tour. The itinerary of this small group tour spends 24 days exploring the Iberian peninsula with your tour manager. As expected this trip includes several famous historic destinations rich in Spanish culture on this escorted tour. Your experienced tour director leads the way assisted by local a tour guide for guided sightseeing in key places such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Segovia, Braga and Lisbon ensuring you have a great trip.

This small group tour spends 24 days exploring several famous destinations. The tour commences in Spain in Barcelona , a highlight of which is the colourful Park Guell. As well as Barcelona's Sagrada familia Basilica. From Barcelona, the tour heads to northern Spain into Rioja and Basque country before reaching the northern industrial city and home to Europe's Guggenheim museum, Bilbao in Northern Spain. We leave Bilbao heading south to spend almost 6 days on a city tour in the Spanish capital, visiting the Royal Palace and other highlights. After Madrid the tour heads to Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and northwest into Portugal. We explore the Atlantic coast, and then on to Lisbon , the nation's historic capital. Leaving Portugal, the tour heads into Southern Spain to Seville and finally concludes in Granada.

This tour is fully escorted but also makes great use of a local tour guide and tour operator when appropriate whose knowledge enhances the program's highlights and your travel experiences on this group tour. Highlights include a visit to La Rioja, the mountain kingdom of Navarra, along with neighbouring Basque Country and the astounding Guggenheim Museum. We also take a guided tour of Braga , and wander the cobblestone streets of the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. The magnificent Moorish architecture left behind by the Moors in Seville and Granada will be another highlight of our Spain and Portugal tours.

On this tour of Spain and Portugal, in the evenings you can enjoy wine tasting, food at the tapas bars, and views of the mountains and other wondrous scenery.

Odyssey offers two departures a year, as well as an 11-day short version of the program. You can also combine this tour with our long stay program in Barcelona, an in-depth 22-day program exploring the city.

Odyssey's tours to Spain offered each year are popular package tours with travellers and typically operate every year.

You can learn more about both Spain and Portugal with our country profiles where all other tour departures are listed as well. For more details, click the 'Top 5' or 'Itinerary' buttons above! If you're keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.

Articles about Spain and Portugal tours

The following list of articles are either published by Odyssey Traveller for mature aged and senior travellers or carefully selected articles from external sources to maximise their knowledge and enjoyment of Spain & Portugal when visiting:

Itinerary

24 days

Day 1: Barcelona

Accommodation: 3 nights at Amister Hotel or similar.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, we will come to the hotel individually. Our Spain tour begins with an orientation and welcome dinner. (D)

Day 2: Barcelona

Accommodation: Amister Hotel or similar.

Today, we enjoy a full day tour around Barcelona, visiting the Miró Foundation, the National Museum of Catalan Art and Park Guell, a World Heritage Site since 1984 and located in the gothic quarter. The evening is free to relax or to discover one of the many local restaurants for dinner. (B).

Once part of the Aragonese Empire, Catalonia is now an autonomous Spanish province, proud of its distinctive language and culture. Stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees, it was here that the Romans first landed on the Iberian peninsula and founded a new “colonnia” on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement, the area now forming Barcelona’s “Barri Gotic.” Catalonian heritage is a mixture of old and new as ancient churches and monuments vie for attention with the Modernist school of Gaudi and Dali. The Catalonian capital reflects this contrast with architecture ranging from its Gothic cathedral to Gaudi’s modernist Sagrada Familia.

Day 3: Barcelona

Accommodation: Amister Hotel or similar.

Today, we continue exploring this wonderful city with our local tour guide. We walk along the Paseo de Gracia and through the Barrio Gothic (gothic quarter) and then visit the Maritim Museum. There will be some free time for lunch at our own arrangements. Later we continue with our tour, with a guided visit of Palau de La Musica Catalana. We then enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent, though still unfinished, Sagrada Familia. Dinner tonight is at own arrangements.

(B)

Day 4: Barcelona - Calahorra

Accommodation: 1 night at Parador de Calahorra or similar.

After breakfast, we have a morning visit to the Picasso Museum. Thereafter, we head to the train station to catch the high speed AVE train to Zaragoza. The journey takes around 2 hours, and on arrival we’ll be transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore the surrounding area. Dinner this evening is at our hotel.

(B,D)

Day 5: Calahorra - Bilbao

Accommodation: 1 night Silken Indautxu or similar.

This morning we will travel to Pamplona, a city made famous by its annual bull runs. We will meet our local guide for a tour of the city, exploring its rise from an army camp for the Roman general Pompey to the capital of the semi-autonomous Navarre region. After lunch at own arrangements, we carry on to Bilbao, (Basque country)where will have dinner at our hotel.

(B,D)

Day 6: Bilbao - Burgos

Accommodation: 1 night at Meson del Cid or similar.

This morning the group starts with a tour of the city of Bilbao, including a visit to the magnificent Guggenheim museum where we spend 2 to 3h viewing the collection of contemporary works of art. We will stop at Mercado de Ribera to get some lunch (own arrangements) before continuing on to Burgos. Most of this section of the tour today runs parallel to the Camino de Santiago, the Catherdral in Burgos is an important stop for those making the pilgrimage. We arrive at our hotel in Burgos in time for dinner.

(B,D)

Day 7: Burgos - Madrid

Accommodation: 4 nights at Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar

We check out of our hotel this morning bound for the Spanish capital, Madrid. Before leaving Burgos, we meet our local tour guide for a walking tour this morning of the city’s highlights, including entrance to the cathedral. En route to Madridwe pause to stretch our legs and grab some lunch (at own arrangements). In Santo Domingo de la Calzada, we stop to view the spectacular Roman aqueduct. We arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon.

(B)

Day 8: Madrid

Accommodation: Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar

This morning we meet our local tour guide for a full-day viewing and exploring the highlights of the Madrid, including entrance to the Royal Palace and “Museo Reina Sofia”; which is is Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art. In the evening, we meet up with a local guide who takes on a Tapas tour of the capital, where we will sample local cuisine across a series of bars. After a post-dinner walk to Mercado San Miguel, we return to our hotel.

(B,D)

Day 9: Madrid

Accommodation: Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar

Today we join our local guide again in exploring the nearby city of Toledo on a walking tour. We will visit the Synagogue de Santa Maria la Blanca, Sante Tome Church, the cathedral and view the exterior of the Alcazar, before we return to Madrid for dinner at a local restaurant.

(B,D)

Day 10: Madrid

Accommodation: Quatro Puerta Del Sol or similar

This morning, we visit the Prado Museum with our local guide. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the city at leisure.

(B)

Day 11: Salamanca

Accommodation: 2 nights at Hotel Grand Coronal Sol or similar

This morning we check out of our hotel bound for Salamanca. We pause first in El Escorial, where we visit the Royal Monastery. We continue on and pause to view the medieval walls in Avila before arriving at our hotel in Salamanca. Salamanca is probably best known for having the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. This university is still what gives a charming ambiance to the town. Hundreds of students pass through the narrow streets and enjoy the numerous and beautifully decorated cafes until late at night. This charming town is unrivalled in its architectural purity. In central areas all recent buildings are built in Salamanca’s best tradition. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have dinner at a local restaurant tonight.

(B,D).

Day 12: Salamanca

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Coronal Sol or similar.

We meet our local guide this morning and have a field trip taking in Salamanca’s main sights. We visit the old and new Cathedrals, the House of Shells (Casa de las Conchas) and the University. We have a free afternoon to continue to explore Salamanca at our own pace.

(B)

Day 13: Braga

Accommodation: 2 nights at Mercure Braga Centro or similar.

We check out of our hotel and depart for Portugal this morning. En route to Braga, we pause to explore Zamora. We arrive in Braga and check in to our hotel. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.

(B,D)

Day 14: Braga

Accommodation: Mercure Braga Centro or similar.

This morning, we meet our local guide for a full-day tour introducing us to Porto. We visit the cathedral and the Church of São Francisco. We stop in a local port lodge for a guided tour and tasting of port. En route back to Braga we pause to view the main sights of Guimarães. Dinner tonight is at leisure.

(B)

Day 15: Lisbon

Accommodation: 3 nights at Hotel Florida or similar.

We check out of our hotel this morning bound for the Portuguese capital. On the way we pause to explore Coimbra and arrive at Lisbon in time for dinner at a local restaurant.

(B,D)

Day 16: Lisbon

Accommodation: Hotel Florida or similar.

This morning we meet our local guide for a half-day tour of Lisbon including entrance to the Royal Carriage Museum. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the city at leisure.

(B)

Day 17: Lisbon

Accommodation: Hotel Florida or similar.

Today we explore the coastal areas surrounding Lisbon. We travel first to Estoril and then on to Cascais. We pause in Cabo de Roca, to view Europe’s westernmost point, and also stop in Sintra where we pause for lunch (own arrangements). We carry on to Queluz to visit the Royal Palace and gardens before returning to Lisbon. Tonight we have dinner at a local restaurant where we are exposed to the traditional Portuguese art-form of the fado in an evening performance.

(B,D)

Day 18: Merida

Accommodation: 1 night at Hotel Velada Merida or similar.

We leave the Portuguese capital today as we travel to Mérida. En route we pause in Badajoz. Upon our arrival in Mérida, we meet our local guide and have a city tour during which we visit the Roman theatre, the amphitheatre, the Casa del Mitreo, and the National Museum of Roman Art. We have dinner at our hotel tonight.

(B,D)

Day 19: Seville

Accommodation: 3 nights at Hotel Sevilla Macarena or similar.

We depart Mérida for Seville this morning. We pause in Aracena with time to explore the town at our own pace and get some lunch (own arrangements). We arrive in Seville late afternoon.

(B)

Day 20: Seville

Accommodation: Hotel Sevilla Macarena or similar.

This morning, we meet our local guide for a tour that takes in the highlights of Seville. On our tour, we will visit the Alcazar, the cathedral, the Treasury and Giralda. We will also walk through the Barrio de Santa Cruz. This afternoon is free for us to explore at leisure, and in the evening we will attend a flamenco show with a tapas dinner.

(B,D)

Day 21: Seville

Accommodation: Hotel Sevilla Macarena or similar.

Today we explore Jerez de la Fronterra on foot, where we will visit a sherry bodega for a tour and tasting. We then continue to Cadiz to view the city on our own, before returning to Seville.

(B)

Day 22: Granada

Accommodation: 2 nights at Barcelo Carmen Hotel or similar.

We check out of our hotel this morning bound for Granada. En route we meet a local guide in Cordoba where we are introduced to the highlights of the city. Our guide will take us to the Mezquita and Tower, the beautiful Mosque of Córdoba, before we continue on to Granada.

(B)

Day 23: Granada

Accommodation: Barcelo Carmen Hotel or similar.

We meet our local guide this morning and begin our exploration of Granada. We view the main sights of the city and visit the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real). We then enter the magnificent Alhambra Palace and the Generalife Gardens. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore Granada at leisure. We come together this evening for our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

(B,D)

Day 24: Granada

After breakfast, the tour will end today in Granada. (B)

Tour Notes

  • Group size is limited to a maximum of 16 participants.

Includes / Excludes

What’s included in our Tour

  • 23 nights of hotel accommodation.
  • 23 breakfasts and 13 dinners.
  • Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
  • Touring by comfortable and modern coach.
  • Field trips as indicated.
  • Gratuities and necessary tips.
  • Services of an Odyssey program leader.
  • Detailed tour information booklet.

What’s not included in our Tour

  • Return international airfare and departure taxes.
  • Comprehensive international travel insurance.
  • Items of a personal nature such as telephone calls and laundry.
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary.
Level 2 - Moderate

Participants must be able to carry their own luggage, climb and descend stairs, be in good health, mobile and able to participate in 3-5 hours of physical activity per day, the equivalent of walking / hiking up to 8 kilometers per day on uneven ground.

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Departure

02 March 2025

Available

Ends 25 March 2025 • 24 days

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Room Type

Single Traveller
$20,822
Two Travellers
$18,445 pp

By booking two travellers sharing a room you save $2195 per person.

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You can reserve your spot by paying a $1,000 pp deposit, for full details please see our Terms & Conditions .

Pay Deposit
$2,000
Pay Full
$36,890

Prices are per person and valid until 30th December 2024.

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Make it a private tour

If you have a group of 6 friends or more you can book this tour as a private departure, with all the benefits of our small group tours.
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Easing your journey

Crossing international borders with restrictions

The list of requirements to travel internationally has changed and will continue to change for several years. Odyssey is here to assist you in managing your way through these requirements:

Pre-departure checklist for travelling across International borders.
Support over email or phone available 24/7 for any questions you have.

For more information see our Crossing international borders with restrictions page.

Book With Confidence

If less than 30 days before your tour starts you are unable to travel as a result of Government travel restrictions, Odyssey Traveller will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.

See Terms and conditions for details.

Peace of Mind Travel

The safety of our travellers, tour leader, local guide and support staff has always been our top priority and with the new guidelines for public health and safety for keeping safe for destinations around the world, we’ve developed our plan to give you peace of mind when travelling with us.

See Peace of Mind Travel for details.

Reviews

This was by far the 'best' Tour I've experienced both with Odyssey and with other companies - small, pleasant group etc. The tour guidelines, itinerary etc were the best I've had in comparison to other tours. I particularly liked the graph of the expected weather in Spain and Portugal (makes packing easier). I'm a vegetarian and know that in a tour such as ours providing food for me can be fraught. Almost without exception the restaurant/hotel meals were worthy of a 5 star restaurant. My meals always met the five food group criteria and were beautifully presented - we even photographed some! The restaurants even managed vegetarian tapas! Carol T. May '19

This was a wonderful tour, crammed with experiences of Spain and Portugal, and all delivered apparently with the greatest ease. Well done! John M. May '19

Great small mature travellers tour. Well organised, great hotels , lovely food, local knowledgeable guides showed us around their towns. With entry included to the majority of sites. A comfortable small coach so the fourteen of us had plenty of room but we weren’t in a massive coach. It wasn’t really like the other tours following someone with a flag. We were more like a group of friends out exploring. Lesley and Ken S. May '19

I like Odyssey - it provides small groups where you can get to know one another. Angela L. Sep '18

This tour was really wonderful in its scope of meeting Spanish and Portuguese culture and history. Being able to link it in with my previous European travels was very meaningful to me. I was totally impressed by every aspect of the tour. Participant May 2018

Cannot speak too highly of our tour director, Stephan De Roeck. Stephan's local knowledge, command of the language, care for our welfare and unfailing good humour made everyone feel special. Participant May 2018

A wonderful experience. learnt a lot and enjoyed everything. The trip covered the places that i have wanted to see in Spain and Portugal. Participant May 2018

Reading List Download PDF

Spain: The Centre of the World 1519-1682

Robert Goodwin

n the sixteenth century, the Spaniards became the first nation in history to have worldwide reach; across most of Europe to the Americas, the Philippines, and India. Goodwin tells the story of Spain and the Spaniards, from great soldiers like the Duke of Alba to literary figures and artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, Cervantes, and Lope de Vega, and the monarchs who ruled over them.

At the beginning of the modern age, Spaniards were caught between the excitement of change and a medieval world of chivalry and religious orthodoxy, they experienced a turbulent existential angst that fueled an exceptional Golden Age, a fluorescence of art, literature, poetry, and which inspired new ideas about International Law, merchant banking, and economic and social theory.

The Moor's Last Stand: How Seven Centuries of Muslim Rule in Spain Came to an End

Elizabeth Drayson

The Moor's Last Stand presents the poignant story of Boabdil, the last Muslim king of Granada. Betrayed by his family and undermined by faction and internal conflict, Boabdil was defeated in 1492 by the forces of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of the newly united kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. The Christian victory marked the completion of the long Christian reconquest of Spain and ended seven centuries in which Christians, Muslims and Jews had, for the most part, lived peacefully and profitably together. Five centuries after his death, Boabdil continues to be a potent symbol of resistance to the forces of western Christendom, and his image endures in contemporary culture.

Elizabeth Drayson presents a vivid account of Boabdil's life and times and considers the impact of his defeat then and now.

Amazon

Moorish Spain

Richard A. Fletcher

Written in the same tradition as John Julius Norwich's engrossing accounts of Venice and Byzantium, Richard Fletcher's Moorish Spain entertains even as it enlightens. He tells the story of a vital period in Spanish history which transformed the culture and society, not only of Spain, but of the rest of Europe as well. Moorish influence transformed the architecture, art, literature and learning, and Fletcher combines this analysis with a crisp account of the wars, politics and sociological changes of the time.

Beginning in the year 711 and continuing for nearly a thousand years, the Islamic presence survived in Spain, at times flourishing, and at other times dwindling into warring fiefdoms. But the culture and science thereby brought to Spain, including long-buried knowledge from Greece, largely forgotten during Europe’s Dark Ages, was to have an enduring impact on the country as it emerged into the modern era. In this gracefully written history, Richard Fletcher reveals the Moorish culture in all its fascinating disparity and gives us history at its best: here is vivid storytelling by a renowned scholar.

Amazon

The Revolution and Civil War in Spain

Pierre Broue, Emile Temine

An outstanding history that shows how a promising workers' movement ended in a fascist victory. What emerges most clearly in this detailed and long out of print history, is how the popular front held back radical measures that would have galvanised the working class and peasant base of the revolution, and decisively weakened Franco's forces. Author Pierre Broue way for many years a professor of contemporary history at the Institut d'Etudes politiques in Grenoble, and was a world-renowned specialist on the Communist and international workers' movements.

Homage to Catalonia

George Orwell

Because this war book is really about frustration as Orwell battles Fascism in Spain and takes a bullet in the throat for his troubles.

Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe

John Julius Norwich

'Never before had the world seen four such giants co-existing. Sometimes friends, more often enemies, always rivals, these four men together held Europe in the hollow of their hands.'

Four great princes - Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V of Spain and Suleiman the Magnificent - were born within a single decade. Each looms large in his country's history and, in this book, John Julius Norwich broadens the scope and shows how, against the rich background of the Renaissance and destruction of the Reformation, their wary obsession with one another laid the foundations for modern Europe. Individually, each man could hardly have been more different ­- from the scandals of Henry's six wives to Charles's monasticism - but, together, they dominated the world stage.

From the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a pageant of jousting, feasting and general carousing so lavish that it nearly bankrupted both France and England, to Suleiman's celebratory pyramid of 2,000 human heads (including those of seven Hungarian bishops) after the battle of Mohács; from Anne Boleyn's six-fingered hand (a potential sign of witchcraft) that had the pious nervously crossing themselves to the real story of the Maltese falcon, Four Princes is history at its vivid, entertaining best.

With a cast list that extends from Leonardo da Vinci to Barbarossa, and from Joanna the Mad to le roi grand-nez, John Julius Norwich offers the perfect guide to the most colourful century the world has ever known and brings the past to unforgettable life.

Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country's Hidden Past

Giles Tremlett

The Spanish are reputed to be amongst Europe's most voluble people. So why have they kept silent about the terrors of the Spanish Civil War and the rule of dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco?

The appearance - sixty years after that war ended - of mass graves containing victims of General Franco's death squads has finally broken what Spaniards call 'the pact of forgetting'. At this charged moment, Giles Tremlett embarked on a journey around Spain - and through Spanish history.

As well as a moving exploration of Spanish politics, Tremlett's journey was also an attempt to make sense of his personal experience of the Spanish. Why do they dislike authority figures, but are cowed by a doctor's white coat? How had women embraced feminism without men noticing? What binds gypsies, jails and flamenco? Why do the Spanish go to plastic surgeons, donate their organs, visit brothels or take cocaine more than other Europeans?

'Lively and well-informed . . . at once a history, a journalistic inquiry and a travel book.' Sunday Telegraph

The Portuguese

Barry Hatton

Portugal is an established member of the European Union, one of the founders of the euro currency and a founder member of NATO. Yet it is an inconspicuous and largely overlooked country on the continent’s south-west rim.
In the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Age of Discovery the Portuguese led Europe out of the Mediterranean into the Atlantic and they brought Asia and Europe together. Evidence of their one-time four-continent empire can still be felt, not least in the Portuguese language which is spoken by more than 220 million people from Brazil, across parts of Africa to Asia.
Analyzing present-day society and culture, The Portuguese also considers the nation’s often tumultuous past. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake was one of Europe’s greatest natural disasters, strongly influencing continental thought and heralding Portugal’s extended decline. The Portuguese also weathered Europe’s longest dictatorship under twentieth-century ruler António Salazar. A 1974 military coup, called the Carnation Revolution, placed the Portuguese at the centre of Cold War attentions. Portugal’s quirky relationship with Spain, and with its oldest ally England, is also scrutinized.
Portugal, which claims Europe’s oldest fixed borders, measures just 561 by 218 kilometres . Within that space, however, it offers a patchwork of widely differing and beautiful landscapes. With an easygoing and seductive lifestyle expressed most fully in their love of food, the Portuguese also have an anarchical streak evident in many facets of contemporary life. A veteran journalist and commentator on Portugal, the author paints an intimate portrait of a fascinating and at times contradictory country and its people.

The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain

Maria Rosa Menocal

A brilliant and fascinating portrait of medieval Spain explores the golden age when Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived together in an atmosphere of tolerance

Journey to Portugal: In Pursuit of Portugal's History and Culture

Jose Saramago

When José Saramago decided to write a book about Portugal, his only desire was that it be unlike all other books on the subject, and in this he has certainly succeeded. Recording the events and observations of a journey across the length and breadth of the country he loves dearly, Saramago brings Portugal to life as only a writer of his brilliance can. Forfeiting the usual sources such as tourist guides and road maps, he scours the country with the eyes and ears of an observer fascinated by the ancient myths and history of his people. Whether it be an inaccessible medieval fortress set on a cliff, a wayside chapel thick with cobwebs, or a grand mansion in the city, the extraordinary places of this land come alive.
Always meticulously attentive to those elements of ancient Portugal that persist today, he examines the country in its current period of rapid transition and growth. Journey to Portugal is an ode to a country and its rich traditions.

Amazon

Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire

Roger Crowley

In Empires of the Sea and City of Fortune, New York Times bestselling author Roger Crowley established himself as our generation’s preeminent historian of the great European seafaring empires, and the go-to author for post-Crusade clashes of East and West. Now, in Conquerors, Crowley gives us the epic story of the emergence of Portugal, a small, poor nation that enjoyed a century of maritime supremacy thanks to the daring and navigational skill of its explorers—a tactical advantage no other country could match. Portugal’s discovery of a sea route to India, campaign of imperial conquest over Muslim rulers, and domination of the spice trade would forever disrupt the Mediterranean and build the first global economy.

Crowley relies on letters and eyewitness testimony to tell the story of tiny Portugal’s rapid and breathtaking rise to power. Conquerors reveals the Império Português in all of its splendor and ferocity, bringing to life the personalities of the enterprising and fanatical house of Aviz. Figures such as King Manuel “the Fortunate,” João II “the Perfect Prince,” marauding governor Afonso de Albuquerque, and explorer Vasco da Gama juggled their private ambitions and the public aims of the empire, often suffering astonishing losses in pursuit of a global fortune. Also central to the story of Portugal’s ascent was its drive to eradicate Islamic culture and establish a Christian empire in the Indian Ocean. Portuguese explorers pushed deep into the African continent in search of the mythical Christian king Prester John, and they ruthlessly besieged Indian port cities in their attempts to monopolize trade.

The discovery of a route to India around the horn of Africa was not only a brilliant breakthrough in navigation but heralded a complete upset of the world order. For the next century, no European empire was more ambitious, no rulers more rapacious than the kings of Portugal. In the process they created the first long-range maritime empire and set in motion the forces of globalization that now shape our world. At Crowley’s hand, the complete story of the Portuguese empire and the human cost of its ambition can finally be told.

Amazon

Iberia

James Michener

Spain is an immemorial land like no other, one that James A. Michener, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author and celebrated citizen of the world, came to love as his own. Iberia is Michener’s enduring nonfiction tribute to his cherished second home. In the fresh and vivid prose that is his trademark, he not only reveals the celebrated history of bullfighters and warrior kings, painters and processions, cathedrals and olive orchards, he also shares the intimate, often hidden country he came to know, where the congeniality of living souls is thrust against the dark weight of history. Wild, contradictory, passionately beautiful, this is Spain as experienced by a master writer.

Amazon

A Concise History of Spain

William D. Phillips Jr and Carla Rahn Phillips

The rich cultural and political life of Spain has emerged from its complex history, from the diversity of its peoples, and from continual contact with outside influences. This book traces that history from prehistoric times to the present, focusing particularly on culture, society, politics, and personalities. Written in an engaging style, it introduces readers to the key themes that have shaped Spain's history and culture. These include its varied landscapes and climates; the impact of waves of diverse human migrations; the importance of its location as a bridge between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and Europe and Africa; and religion, particularly militant Catholic Christianity and its centuries of conflict with Islam and Protestantism, as well as debates over the place of the Church in modern Spain. Illustrations, maps, and a guide to further reading, major cultural figures, and places to see, make the history of this fascinating country come alive.

Amazon

Spain: A Literary Companion

Jimmy Burns

Spain has one of the richest cultures in the world - and one that has inspired writers throughout history.

Anyone visiting the country will want to know more about its literary heritage.

Jimmy Burns's 'Spain: A Literary Companion' is the perfect travel partner, a book that will open your eyes and allow you to view the country afresh - and introduce you to aspects of Spanish life you never knew existed.

Part personal travelogue, part anthology, this literary companion will surprise, entertain and, on occasion, move the reader.

It is a wide-ranging and incisive portrait of a country and its people: starting with the Roman poets, it journeys through Cervantes to Orwell and Hemingway.

Highlights include: the enduring nature of regional identity; the joys - and pitfalls - of Spanish food and wine; tributes to Spain's three cultures - Christian, Jewish and Muslim; the passions of flamenco and bullfighting; battlefield experiences from Wellington to the Civil War; and the changes to the country wrought by tourism.

"A fascinating portrait of a country that writers have always loved' - Robert Avon, best-selling author of 'Diary of an Angel'.

Jimmy Burns is an award winning journalist and author. His books include the internationally acclaimed 'Hand of God: The Life of Diego Maradona' and 'Barca: A People's Passion'. Born in Madrid, he has reported for the Financial Times, London Observer, BBC and the Economist, and was the FT correspondent in South America in the early 80s and his book on Argentina and the Falklands War, 'The Land That Lost Its Heroes', won the 1988 Somerset Maugham Award for non-fiction.

Amazon

A Short History of Spain

Mary Platt Parmele

The history of Spain dates back to the Early Middle Ages. In 1516, Habsburg Spain unified a number of disparate predecessor kingdoms; its modern form of a constitutional monarchy was introduced in 1813, and the current democratic constitution dates to 1978. After the completion of the Reconquista, the kingdoms of Spain were united under Habsburg rule in 1516. At the same time, the Spanish Empire began to expand to the New World across the ocean, marking the beginning of the Golden Age of Spain, during which, from the early 1500s to the 1650s, Habsburg Spain was among the most powerful states in Europe.

Written in an engaging style, Mary Parmele’s concise study A Short History of Spain introduces readers to the key themes that have shaped modern Spain.

Amazon

The New Spaniards

John Hooper

A fully revised, expanded and updated edition of this masterly portrayal of contemporary Spain.

The restoration of democracy in 1977 heralded a period of intense change that continues today. Spain has become a land of extraordinary paradoxes in which traditional attitudes and contemporary preoccupations exist side by side. Focussing on issues which affect ordinary Spaniards, from housing to gambling, from changing sexual mores to rising crime rates. John Hooper's fascinating study brings to life the new Spain of the twenty-first century.

Spain

Jan Morris

Passionate, evocative and beautifully written, Spain is a companion to the country: its people, its history - and its character. First published in 1964 and no less compelling today, Jan Morris's classic work is back in print, bringing Spain, its glory and its tragedy, vividly to life.

Jan Morris's collection of travel writing and reportage spans over five decades and includes such titles as Venice, Coronation Everest, Hong Kong, Spain, Manhattan '45, A Writer's World and the Pax Britannica Trilogy. Hav, her novel, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the Arthur C. Clarke Award.

'The most evocative book ever written about Spain.' Independent

Articles about Spain and Portugal

Lisbon- monument ot discovery

'Queen of the Sea': Lisbon: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

‘Queen of the Sea’: A History of Lisbon In 1554, the writer Damião de Góis claimed that out of all the European cities, only Lisbon and her rival Seville ‘could rightfully be called Ladies and…

12 Apr 19 · 7 mins read
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Pilgrimage Routes for the Modern Traveller

Ancient Routes, Fresh Eyes: European Pilgrimage Routes for the Modern Traveller

Ancient Routes, Fresh Eyes: Nine European Pilgrimage Routes for the Modern Traveller The word ‘pilgrimage’ or ‘pilgrim’ comes from the Modern French word pèlerin, which means ‘foreigner, stranger’, highlighting the concept that the faithful is not of…

20 Nov 19 · 11 mins read
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Atlantic Ocean - Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay

Atlantic Ocean and How it Shaped Ancient Communities In Europe

Article of interest for senior couples and mature solo travellers joining a small group European tour to Faroe Islands, Scottish Isles, Morocco or Portugal. Focus is on the early exploration of the Atlantic.

1 Sep 21 · 12 mins read
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Castillo de Zafra

History & European Pilgrim Walks

History & European Pilgrim Walks Walking pilgrimages provide solitude and tranquillity in an increasingly busy and fast-paced world. These walking tours follow ancient pilgrimage routes, giving the modern pilgrim the chance not only to meet new…

27 Aug 18 · 13 mins read
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Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon Travel Notes for mature & senior Travellers

Lisbon Travel Notes for mature & senior Travellers Travellers, meet Lisbon. Lisbon, Travellers. Hello there. Olá! I am Lisbon, an elegant Portuguese city perched upon the banks of the sparkling River Tagus. Locals call me ‘Lisboa’.…

11 Oct 21 · 11 mins read
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Praco do Comercio waterfront square

Questions About Portugal for senior travellers

Enjoy escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Portugal. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel to Lisbon, Mafra, Nazare, and Obidos and beyond.

8 Nov 19 · 2 mins read
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Barcelona-Spain

Barcelona Travel Notes

Barcelona is one of the cultural highlights of Europe. Situated on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the Catalan capital is famous for its distinctive architecture and its world-renowned food and wine.

18 Dec 19 · 13 mins read
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Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Bilbao, Spain

n the heart of Basque Country, 11km from the Bay of Biscay, you will find Bilbao, one of northern Spain’s greatest treasures. Renowned for its famous Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao’s architectural wonders are surrounded by a ring of rolling green hills and lies on the mouth of the Nervion River. Once an industrial city, it has been transformed into a design city, where sleek new buildings sit alongside Gothic cathedrals and art nouveau train stations. At the end of 2017, Bilbao was chosen the Best European City 2018 at The Urbanism Awards 2018 and it is not hard to see why, with a new rapid transit system, a tram line and the Azkuna Zentroa, a wine storage warehouse turned cultural centre. This Spanish city has it all: vibrant history and culture, modern architecture, beautiful scenery and spectacular regional cuisine.

27 Jan 20 · 3 mins read
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Burgos Cathedral, Spain

Burgos, Spain

Burgos, Spain Burgos in northern Spain is the country’s original heartland, initially known as Castilla la Vieja – the old part of the kingdom of Castile. The city of Burgos, founded in 884, was the…

11 Mar 20 · 2 mins read
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Dali museum

Figueres, Spain

On Catalonia’s Costa Brava, 45 minutes from Girona, lies the small town of Figueres, the birthplace of surrealist artist Salvador Dali and home to the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dali. Apart from the Dali museum, Figueres is a lively and vibrant town with great restaurants, local boutiques, interesting architecture and dreamy beaches only a short drive away.

28 Jan 20 · 4 mins read
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Moorish architecture in Alhambra, Spain

Granada, Spain

Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain’s southernmost region of Andalucia, Granada was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors and the brilliance of Moorish spirit and culture endures in the city today. The Alhambra, the palace fortress of the Nasrid sultans, is the heart and soul of Granada and one of Spain’s most popular tourist attractions. With its magnificent palaces and gardens, the Alhambra is an unmissable sight but the city itself also has a lot on offer including buzzing cafes and restaurants, vibrant tapas bars, a bustling Jewish quarter and funky street art.

27 Jan 20 · 4 mins read
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Cibeles Fountain In Downtown Madrid

Highlights of Madrid

Learn about Madrid and its history on a small group package tour for mature and senior travellers for couples and single travellers. Odyssey offers a range of tours that take the traveller to Madrid in its collection of Spain tours.

18 Dec 19 · 5 mins read
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Plaza de España in Seville

Highlights of Seville

Seville is a lively and disarming city, and a popular tourist destination in Spain.

11 Oct 21 · 5 mins read
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The Benedictine Abbey

Montserrat, Spain

An hour outside of Barcelona is the impressive multi-peaked mountain range known as Montserrat. Within its dramatic, rocky mountain tops hides the Benedictine Monestir de Montserrat, a monastery popular with visitors from all over the world. Everyone from pilgrims and culture lovers to hikers and speleologists love the spot thanks to the gorgeous hiking terrain and beautiful abbey village built into the mountain and to top it all off, it is an easy day trip from Barcelona. Today, Montserrat is often used to refer to both Montserrat mountain and Montserrat Abbey.

31 Jan 20 · 4 mins read
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Pilgrimage

Pilgrimages of the World- Advice for Seniors & Mature travellers

Pilgrimage routes and walking tours Several pilgrimage tracks remain intact and active centuries after they were first established. Many Odyssey tours trace their routes, walking in the footsteps of people who sought religious or spiritual…

14 Aug 17 · 9 mins read
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Pamplona, Spain

Pamplona, Spain

Pamplona, Spain Pamplona, the capital of Navarre in northern Spain, is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls during the San Fermin fiesta, and for being one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite cities. Hemingway visited…

11 Mar 20 · 2 mins read
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Barcelona

Questions About Spain for senior travellers

Escorted small group tours for mature and senior travellers to Spain. Designed for couples and solo travellers who like to explore and enjoy learning as they travel to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilboa, Burgos, Figueres, Zaragoza and so much more.

13 Nov 19 · 2 mins read
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The seaside town of Tarragona

Tarragona, Spain

Just over an hour by train from Barcelona is the magnificent port city of Tarragona. Located on the Costa Daurada, Tarragona is home to sparkling beaches and a wealth of Roman ruins. Once a major Roman city, you can feel Tarragona’s history all throughout the city as you wander through the charming old town. Perched on the Mediterranean, you can also expect fantastic places to eat and delicious food. Romesco, a sauce usually made with dry peppers, garlic, oil and nuts, originated in Tarragona and you can find it at restaurants paired with fresh seafood and fish. The province is also known for its fine wine.

28 Jan 20 · 4 mins read
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The Sagrada Familia, still under construction

The Sagrada Familia, Spain

La Sagrada Familia The Sagrada Familia, still under construction A small group guided tour of La Sagrada Familia, perhaps one of the world’s most iconic buildings, including the Basilicai Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia…

28 Jan 20 · 3 mins read
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The view of Toledo

Toledo, Spain

An hour south of Madrid, sitting atop a gorge overlooking the Tagus River, is the magnificent city of Toledo. Often called 'Imperial City' because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in Spain, Toledo is a medieval town that has been heavily influenced by its mix of Christian, Jewish and Muslim inhabitants throughout the centuries. You will find monuments scattered throughout the city that reflect Toledo's 'three cultures' and many of the city's most visited attractions are religious. The historic city of Toledo was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for being 'a repository of more than 2,000 years of history' and for its architectural masterpieces that hold such importance for Christians, Muslims and Jews.

28 Jan 20 · 5 mins read
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Braga Portugal

Braga, Portugal

Braga is Portugal's third-largest city and its most important religious centre. With almost four dozen places of worship, Braga is something of an ecclesiastical destination, particularly around Easter. However, a large student population also means that, despite the numerous churches, Braga is not just a historical or religious tourist site but a dynamic and eclectic city with a lot on offer. Braga offers a slice of authentic Portugal, nestled amongst hills beside the spectacular Peneda-Geres National Park and just an hour from Porto. With a moderate climate all year round and unhurried pace of life, Braga offers the perfect environment to explore the city's cultural offerings and culinary scene.

13 Jan 20 · 5 mins read
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Chapter house window in the Convent of Christ, Tomar, Portugal

Convent of Christ, Tomar, Portugal

The Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo) in Tomar, Portugal is a former Roman Catholic convent that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 12th century, it was originally the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar.

2 May 20 · 2 mins read
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Evora, Portugal

Evora, Portugal

Discover the beautifully-preserved medieval town of Evora with fantastic Roman ruins to explore, Moorish architecture and Gothic churches

8 Jan 20 · 5 mins read
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The Castle of Obidos

Óbidos, Portugal

A tiny, charming town with over 3000 inhabitants, Obidos is an hour from Lisbon and feels like stepping back in time. The medieval village's historic centre features picturesque cobbled streets and traditional white houses, surrounded by a crenellated castle wall which is accessible by foot. The entire scene is like something out of a story book, enhanced by the surrounding hilly landscape.

29 Jan 20 · 4 mins read
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Mafra, Portugal

Mafra, Portugal

A forty-minute drive from Lisbon, you will find the town of Mafra near the west coast of Portugal. The town is known for the landmark that dominates it, the opulent Palácio Nacional de Mafra (Mafra National Palace), a Baroque masterpiece that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. The beautiful palace complex includes the king's and queen's palaces, a royal chapel, a monastery and an impressive library. The buildings are surrounded by magnificent gardens and a royal hunting park known as Tapada.

30 Jan 20 · 5 mins read
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Portugal

Nazare, Portugal

An ancient fishing village turned popular seaside resort, Nazare is only an hour and a half from Lisbon but it feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The town became world-famous almost a decade ago when Garrett McNamara, a 51-year-old from Hawaii surfed a 78-foot wave (23 metres) at one of the town's beaches, breaking the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed. The event put Nazare on the map and surfers flocked to the picturesque coastal village desperate to catch the giant waves that many locals have spent years avoiding. For travellers, it is a great spot to relax and eat fresh fish while taking in the beautiful scenery and watching surfers do their bit.

29 Jan 20 · 5 mins read
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Lisbon Tram

The Golden Years of Lisbon

Successfully breaking the Venetian monopoly on spices and also cornering the African market made Portugal cash-rich. Pepper, which the Portuguese bought for two cruzados (gold coin) a sack in Cochin, India, was sold for 30 cruzados in Lisbon.

31 Oct 19 · 9 mins read
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