Help with the Spain itinerary, please
 

My family is planning to spend two weeks in Spain. We are avid hikers, art lovers and history buffs. I would appreciate any ideas on what not to miss.
My preliminary list:
2 or 3 days in Madrid
Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla, Toledo (how much time in each?)
3 or 4 days in Costa Verde (to relax from sightseeing).
Am I missing something I should not have missed? My preliminary list is based on Michelin's guide so far.
Thanks for any help!

Argus

Overnight in Cordoba depending on when you arrive there because you'll want to visit the town as well as see the mosque. 2 nights in Granada (the Alhambra and Generalife take a whole day). 2 days in Seville.

When are you planning this trip? The south is great in the early spring and fall and winter, but is a bit hot for hiking during July and August. If you want to hike and see the countryside, then northern Spain is best during the summer months. History abounds throughout Spain, as does art, so picking one place over another is a bit difficult.

Thanks for the input! We will be in Spain in July 2006. I know it is going to be hot, but can't miss Granada and Sevilla.
Any suggestions on where to stay in Costa Verde?

Argus

At least you might get off-season rates in Seville. We did, but that was 20 years ago.

We covered a few of your preliminary list this year in June. We spent 5 nights (4 days) in Madrid, using one of the days to visit Segovia by bus, and another to visit Toledo, also by bus. We recommend both trips; each is about one hour's travelling, and each town is worth the effort. Unless you are really keen on moving daily, it probably is not worth staying overnght in either place.
Next we stayed two nights in Granada because the visit to the Alhambra does occupy most of a day.
Then by bus to Seville, where we stayed four nights. From Seville we did a day trip to Cordoba to see the old town there, and visit the Mesquita.The day trip was easily manageable by train, and the Mesquita might be the best item we saw in Spain. The other two days in Seville were enough to see most things of interest there. From there we travelled to Salamanca and San Sebastian, so we cannot help you out re the Costa Verde.
Be advised: In June, it was very hot in Granada and Seville. My guess is that in July it will be EXTREMELY hot. (I spent all my childhood living in a desert region of Australia, so I know what HOT is!)

Thank you adeben, I am beginning to narrow down my choises. Looks like the first part of your itinerary matches our ideas.
By the way, we might consider one of the Balearic Islands instead of Costa Verde. Any suggestions on which of the islands: preferably less crowded, quiet beaches etc.

Argus