Thanks for all the helpful info. I think the plan now is Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and Granada. We'll do a couple of day trips...possibly to Ronda and Nerja. I think 17 days will be long enough to get it all in. We really appreciate all the postings here and elsewhere. There is just so much unbelievable helpful info from everyone on so many different posts. We're excited and now we're prepared!

Have a great time! Your trip sounds great! :-D

A little late for this but incase others read it, I just came back from my trip and I would say Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Ronda are definitely worth a visit.

I personally don't think it's of any value to spend much time in Madrid or surrounding areas, particularly Segovia. I wasn't all that impressed with Toledo either. Perhaps it was high expectations from everything I read on the message boards but I was thoroughly disappointed, especially with Segovia. I think I would have enjoyed Toledo more if it wasn't cold or raining and the Alcazar was closed for renovations...or perhaps I've been to other cute cobblestone towns and didn't anything special of it.

My fav was Seville for sure...Cordoba has the best Alcazar in my opinion. A lot of people suggest to skip Cordoba but it's definitely worth a visit.

You will be all churched and alcazared out by the time you're finished.

Hello, my name is María and I'm an official tourism guide in Toledo (Spain).
If you need me I would like to show you my beautiful city. I can speak: Spanish, English and French and a little of Chinese.
My phne number is: (00 34) 649 22 35 93.
My e- mail:ppepipedro at yahoo .es

Thank you very much for your attention
Warm regards,
María

Hey Maria, this topic is 10 years old and you are not allowed to advertise on Fodor's.

If you continue to post here, you will get more people angry than use your service.

Well, as long the thread is back up, looking back I would say my favorite city in Spain has to be Seville, it is the one that sticks in my mind through the years and when I think back to my trips to Spain, Sevilla is m first thought. Toledo would be a close second but only if one stays overnight when the character of the city changes and the full extent of its magic is revealed. Toledo at night is haunting - in the good sense. I can't say anything about Barcelona since I haven't been there.