Easter Week-Madrid to Salamanca
Feb 16th, 2003, 07:01 AM
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Easter Week-Madrid to Salamanca
My husband and I will be visiting Spain from April 17-24. WE plan on flying into Madrid and want to meet our daughter who is studying at the Univeristy of Salamanca. What suggestions on an itinerary from Madrid to Salamanca is suggested? Start from Madrid and travel north through Segovial, El Escorial, etc. to Salamanca or the reverse? Also, I would like to visit Toledo--maybe that should be first? Any moderate to inexpensive hotel suggestions would be appreciated.
Feb 16th, 2003, 07:53 AM
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radar,
I suggest that you end with Toledo (we'll be there on Palm Sunday on our way to Andalucía) and begin on Maundy Thursday with the Castilla-León region for their glorious Easter weekend. The Holy Week processions of Zamora and Valladolid have been proclaimed of National Tourist Merit and are very, very worthy of a side trip from Salamanca. The solemn and fascinating Good Friday processions in Zamora will be packed with spectators, but it's only a short drive from Salamanca, and it really merits the journey.
The processions in Valladolid are equally somber and spectacular, and many of the treasured 17th century polychromed wood statues, true masterpieces of Spanish Baroque, from Valladolid's magnificent Museo Nacional de Escultura will be displayed on the floats during the weekend. These are Castilla-León's finest Holy Week celebrations, and it would be a shame to be so close and not see one of them.
Then after Easter Sunday, I'd move down to Segovia and castle country (Turégano, Cuéllar, Pedraza, Coca), Avila to walk the walls, El Escorial for a visit to Phillip II's Monastery/Royal Pantheon and finish up in Toledo. The most celebrated religious processions in Toledo come during Corpus Christi in early June.
For inexpensive-moderate lodging during Holy Week, please book ASAP.
In Segovia the Infanta Isabel on the Plaza Mayor is extremely popular, as is Los Linajes, tucked into the city walls, offering nice views of the plains.
In Salamanca, I'd head straight to the Salamanca Plaza, as the Don Juan is already booked.
In Toledo, I'd opt for the Hostal del Cardenal or the Pintor El Greco or the Hostal Santo Tomé.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
I suggest that you end with Toledo (we'll be there on Palm Sunday on our way to Andalucía) and begin on Maundy Thursday with the Castilla-León region for their glorious Easter weekend. The Holy Week processions of Zamora and Valladolid have been proclaimed of National Tourist Merit and are very, very worthy of a side trip from Salamanca. The solemn and fascinating Good Friday processions in Zamora will be packed with spectators, but it's only a short drive from Salamanca, and it really merits the journey.
The processions in Valladolid are equally somber and spectacular, and many of the treasured 17th century polychromed wood statues, true masterpieces of Spanish Baroque, from Valladolid's magnificent Museo Nacional de Escultura will be displayed on the floats during the weekend. These are Castilla-León's finest Holy Week celebrations, and it would be a shame to be so close and not see one of them.
Then after Easter Sunday, I'd move down to Segovia and castle country (Turégano, Cuéllar, Pedraza, Coca), Avila to walk the walls, El Escorial for a visit to Phillip II's Monastery/Royal Pantheon and finish up in Toledo. The most celebrated religious processions in Toledo come during Corpus Christi in early June.
For inexpensive-moderate lodging during Holy Week, please book ASAP.
In Segovia the Infanta Isabel on the Plaza Mayor is extremely popular, as is Los Linajes, tucked into the city walls, offering nice views of the plains.
In Salamanca, I'd head straight to the Salamanca Plaza, as the Don Juan is already booked.
In Toledo, I'd opt for the Hostal del Cardenal or the Pintor El Greco or the Hostal Santo Tomé.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
Feb 16th, 2003, 08:11 AM
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radar,
Another thought-if the 2 above mentioned Segovia hotels aren't available, you might enjoy staying nearby in one of the charming villages of the Segovia province, either in Turégano at the great value El Zaguán (60 euros) or in delightful, incredibly picturesque (but very sleepy mid-week) Pedraza at the Posada de Don Mariano (75 euros).
The loveliest small hotels in Salamanca I didn't mention-the NH Palacio de Castellanos
(http://nh-hotels.worldres.com)
and the Rector (www.karenbrown.com), because they may be already filled. '03 rates for both should run slightly above 100 euros.
The Parador de Avila's rates after 4/20 are 94 euros, double. It's a lovely place as well, and you can easily "commute" to Segovia from there if need be.
Another thought-if the 2 above mentioned Segovia hotels aren't available, you might enjoy staying nearby in one of the charming villages of the Segovia province, either in Turégano at the great value El Zaguán (60 euros) or in delightful, incredibly picturesque (but very sleepy mid-week) Pedraza at the Posada de Don Mariano (75 euros).
The loveliest small hotels in Salamanca I didn't mention-the NH Palacio de Castellanos
(http://nh-hotels.worldres.com)
and the Rector (www.karenbrown.com), because they may be already filled. '03 rates for both should run slightly above 100 euros.
The Parador de Avila's rates after 4/20 are 94 euros, double. It's a lovely place as well, and you can easily "commute" to Segovia from there if need be.
Feb 16th, 2003, 10:45 AM
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Radar, Maribel has given me similar advise and I will be staying in Segovia and Avila before you arrive, and then at the Salamanca Palace from 17 thru 20.
Let me know if we overlap there.
BTW, ain't Maribel fabulous?
Let me know if we overlap there.
BTW, ain't Maribel fabulous?
Feb 16th, 2003, 11:00 AM
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Just another recommendation for Hostal de Cardenal in Toledo, we loved staying there. The adjacent restaurant is also very good.
And if you are not staying with your daughter in Salamanca, we stayed at NH Palacio de Castellanos and loved it there.
And if you are not staying with your daughter in Salamanca, we stayed at NH Palacio de Castellanos and loved it there.
Feb 16th, 2003, 12:00 PM
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While traveling from Salamanca to the cities suggested above to see the Holy Week processions sounds fine, don't miss those in Salamanca itself.I stayed there with Spanish friends during Holy Week in 1995 and was amazed at their processions - especially those at night!
Feb 16th, 2003, 12:31 PM
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radar,
I didn't mean to give such short shrift to the Salamanca processions, also declared of National Tourist Merit.
In Salamanca, look for the procession which comes out at nightfall on Maundy Thursday, and on Easter Sunday, the procession of the Encuentro, celebrated in the Plaza de Anaya, in which all the city's brotherhoods participate.
You can see the schedule of the Salamanca processions at
http://www.terra.es/personal2/javichi/procesi1.htm
(in Spanish, but start with Jueves Santo, Maundy Thursday, and you'll see the times that the processions depart and the church from where they depart. The schedule is from last yr. but usually doesn't vary.
At
www.semanasantasalamanca.com/hermandad/junta.htm
you can see the pictures of the floats of all the brotherhoods (cofradías/hermandades) by clicking on the icon for the hermandad, then on "pasos".
I didn't mean to give such short shrift to the Salamanca processions, also declared of National Tourist Merit.
In Salamanca, look for the procession which comes out at nightfall on Maundy Thursday, and on Easter Sunday, the procession of the Encuentro, celebrated in the Plaza de Anaya, in which all the city's brotherhoods participate.
You can see the schedule of the Salamanca processions at
http://www.terra.es/personal2/javichi/procesi1.htm
(in Spanish, but start with Jueves Santo, Maundy Thursday, and you'll see the times that the processions depart and the church from where they depart. The schedule is from last yr. but usually doesn't vary.
At
www.semanasantasalamanca.com/hermandad/junta.htm
you can see the pictures of the floats of all the brotherhoods (cofradías/hermandades) by clicking on the icon for the hermandad, then on "pasos".
Feb 19th, 2003, 07:27 AM
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Thanks everybody for the advice. It's my first time going to Europe and Spain, and it seems overwhelming. With only a week to travel, I want to see as much as possible, including visiting my daughter. She wants to meet us in Madrid on Friday and travel with us a little. But, after getting your advice, perhaps it's best to meet her in Salamanca first to enjoy the festivities there. I guess no matter what we do, it will be great! Keep the suggestions coming--
Feb 19th, 2003, 01:47 PM
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Radar, if you can, try to go to the Good Friday procession in Valladolid. It´s the main one there (I think to remember that it is called "the 7 Words"). It is really different to the processions down in Andalucia, and the sculptures are amazing.
Rgds, Cova
Rgds, Cova
Feb 19th, 2003, 02:17 PM
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radar,
The "sermón de las 7 palabras" (7 words) takes place in the Plaza Mayor in Valladolid at 12 on Good Friday.
Since this is your 1st trip to Europe and Spain, I'd start in Salamanca to get acclimatized, as your daughter will know the city well, so it will be easy for you to adjust quickly and get around, and it's not overwhelming like Madrid can be. Salamanca is friendly, imminently walkable, beautiful, and the solemn pageantry of Holy Week in Castille is something so truly unique-very special memories that you can take back with you. There's a lovely, completely unspoilt by mass tourism and highly picturesque little medieval village down south from Salamanca in the Sierra de
Francia called "La Alberca" that would make a nice half-day trip. The mountain scenery getting down there, past the Peña de Francia is stunning.
It's routinely voted as one of Spain's most picturesque villages, along with Pedraza, just northeast of Segovia. Both are delightful, most impressive. I highly recommend either one of them for the first time visitor.
The "sermón de las 7 palabras" (7 words) takes place in the Plaza Mayor in Valladolid at 12 on Good Friday.
Since this is your 1st trip to Europe and Spain, I'd start in Salamanca to get acclimatized, as your daughter will know the city well, so it will be easy for you to adjust quickly and get around, and it's not overwhelming like Madrid can be. Salamanca is friendly, imminently walkable, beautiful, and the solemn pageantry of Holy Week in Castille is something so truly unique-very special memories that you can take back with you. There's a lovely, completely unspoilt by mass tourism and highly picturesque little medieval village down south from Salamanca in the Sierra de
Francia called "La Alberca" that would make a nice half-day trip. The mountain scenery getting down there, past the Peña de Francia is stunning.
It's routinely voted as one of Spain's most picturesque villages, along with Pedraza, just northeast of Segovia. Both are delightful, most impressive. I highly recommend either one of them for the first time visitor.
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