Spain: Madrid, Seville, Bilbao & Barcelona
Feb 23rd, 2015, 04:31 PM
#1
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Spain: Madrid, Seville, Bilbao & Barcelona
Hi,
I know you are all going to think I'm crazy, but here's my itinerary:
Madrid - 2 nights, 2 1/2 days
Seville - 2 nights, 2 full days (leaving late at night)
Bilbao/San Sebastian - 2 nights, 2 full days (again, arriving late at night, leaving late at night)
Barcelona - 3 nights, 3 days
I'm traveling with my 12 year old daughter and my parents (75), who like art, museums, galleries, etc. We are meeting my other daughter who is studying in Seville. I know it's a crazy itinerary...but is it do-able? We'd be flying between cities (except to Seville, which would be by train). I was hoping to add to a hike or a bike ride into the trip....what do you think? I lived in Spain years ago, my daugher is there now for 6 months and my parents have been before too. So, it's really just a highlights trip. Any ideas are welcome! (Initially, we were staying in Seville for 4 days, visiting Cordoba for one of them. We've all been to Granada, so not necessary to go back this trip.) THANKS!
I know you are all going to think I'm crazy, but here's my itinerary:
Madrid - 2 nights, 2 1/2 days
Seville - 2 nights, 2 full days (leaving late at night)
Bilbao/San Sebastian - 2 nights, 2 full days (again, arriving late at night, leaving late at night)
Barcelona - 3 nights, 3 days
I'm traveling with my 12 year old daughter and my parents (75), who like art, museums, galleries, etc. We are meeting my other daughter who is studying in Seville. I know it's a crazy itinerary...but is it do-able? We'd be flying between cities (except to Seville, which would be by train). I was hoping to add to a hike or a bike ride into the trip....what do you think? I lived in Spain years ago, my daugher is there now for 6 months and my parents have been before too. So, it's really just a highlights trip. Any ideas are welcome! (Initially, we were staying in Seville for 4 days, visiting Cordoba for one of them. We've all been to Granada, so not necessary to go back this trip.) THANKS!
Feb 23rd, 2015, 04:55 PM
#2
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First - you are counting wrong. Two nights in a city gives you one full day of sightseeing.
I would relook at the itinerary listing each day separately, showing where you will start, what you will do or where you will travel and where you will sleep.
If you do that you will see you have much less time than you think.
Also - you can;t count the day that you arrive - due to jet lag and just finding your way around the city - or the day you depart.
Not sure what you mean about "leaving late at night". Do you mean overnight trains? I don;t believe there are any. Or are you looking at flights - and how many hours will that take when you include transit to and fro airports, security waiting lines, etc.
I would relook at the itinerary listing each day separately, showing where you will start, what you will do or where you will travel and where you will sleep.
If you do that you will see you have much less time than you think.
Also - you can;t count the day that you arrive - due to jet lag and just finding your way around the city - or the day you depart.
Not sure what you mean about "leaving late at night". Do you mean overnight trains? I don;t believe there are any. Or are you looking at flights - and how many hours will that take when you include transit to and fro airports, security waiting lines, etc.
Feb 23rd, 2015, 06:25 PM
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One thing I hate about departures late in the day is that you have to check out at noon . One can
leave the luggage at the hotel, but there is no place to rest...are your parents o.k. with this ?
leave the luggage at the hotel, but there is no place to rest...are your parents o.k. with this ?
Feb 25th, 2015, 02:56 AM
#6
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Some not that obvious highlights when it comes to art, museums, galleries.
Sevilla,
The excellent Fine Arts museum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html
I will also recommend you to see the Hospital de la Caridad, it might give you the ultimate Sevilla experience.
The 17th century repenting benefactor/co-founder Miguel de Mañara was - according to himself - previous to his 'awakening' "the most evil man that ever lived". All the paintings he commisioned from some of the most famous golden-age arists (Murillo, Valdés Leal, Zurbarán etc.) for the hospital and it's adjoining church dealt with the theme of death and redemption. The hospital, the church, the paintings and Mañara's grave are all in Calle Temprado, 3 close to the Maestranza theater and the Torre del Oro.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville/sights/411842
Among many other paintings you'll find Valdés Leal's famous In Ictu Oculi and Finis Gloariae Mundi here (1671-1672):
In ictu oculi (in the blink of an eye): http://www.artehistoria.jcyl.es/v2/obras/10662.htm
Finis Gloriae Mundi: http://www.artehistoria.jcyl.es/v2/obras/10663.htm
Bilbao:
Also a fabulous Fine Arts museum here, close to the Guggenheim: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...que_Count.html
San Sebastian:
The newly renovated San Telmo museum is great, a "Museum of Basque Society and Citizenship" through the ages. On the outskirts of the old town: http://www.santelmomuseoa.com/index.php?lang=enbut
Barcelona:
Splurge in the many museums and cultural institutions up at Montjuic (Jewish mountain) almost right in the city center. Fabulous views of both the city and the sea from the Castell at the top. Also plenty of possibilities for making a few hours at Montjuic into a hike, lots of green: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Engl...SJpH1t4T6vJumh
Sevilla,
The excellent Fine Arts museum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html
I will also recommend you to see the Hospital de la Caridad, it might give you the ultimate Sevilla experience.
The 17th century repenting benefactor/co-founder Miguel de Mañara was - according to himself - previous to his 'awakening' "the most evil man that ever lived". All the paintings he commisioned from some of the most famous golden-age arists (Murillo, Valdés Leal, Zurbarán etc.) for the hospital and it's adjoining church dealt with the theme of death and redemption. The hospital, the church, the paintings and Mañara's grave are all in Calle Temprado, 3 close to the Maestranza theater and the Torre del Oro.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville/sights/411842
Among many other paintings you'll find Valdés Leal's famous In Ictu Oculi and Finis Gloariae Mundi here (1671-1672):
In ictu oculi (in the blink of an eye): http://www.artehistoria.jcyl.es/v2/obras/10662.htm
Finis Gloriae Mundi: http://www.artehistoria.jcyl.es/v2/obras/10663.htm
Bilbao:
Also a fabulous Fine Arts museum here, close to the Guggenheim: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...que_Count.html
San Sebastian:
The newly renovated San Telmo museum is great, a "Museum of Basque Society and Citizenship" through the ages. On the outskirts of the old town: http://www.santelmomuseoa.com/index.php?lang=enbut
Barcelona:
Splurge in the many museums and cultural institutions up at Montjuic (Jewish mountain) almost right in the city center. Fabulous views of both the city and the sea from the Castell at the top. Also plenty of possibilities for making a few hours at Montjuic into a hike, lots of green: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Engl...SJpH1t4T6vJumh
Feb 25th, 2015, 08:17 AM
#7
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Honestly, you're out of your bloody head. No, it's not doable with two septugenarians in tow.
And you're proposing hopping around a country that's larger than California and covering far more territory than a San Francisco to San Diego trip. All the way east to Barcelona, north to Bilbao or San Seb, south to Seville and back to the center in Madrid. Yeesh.
And you're proposing hopping around a country that's larger than California and covering far more territory than a San Francisco to San Diego trip. All the way east to Barcelona, north to Bilbao or San Seb, south to Seville and back to the center in Madrid. Yeesh.
