Northern Spain, The Rioja Valley and Madrid

Admire the gargoyles protecting Barcelona’s Cathedral which was built between 1298 and 1460. Inside marvel at intricately sculpted choir stalls, fine workmanship depicted on the pulpit and the alabaster sarcophagus of the crypt of Santa Eulàlia. Admire Gaudí’s iconic and unfinished cathedral, la Sagrada Família. Visit the Benedictine Monastery in Montserrat to see the Black Madonna. In the Pyrenees, stroll the lovely cobblestone lanes of La Seu d’Urgell to a 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral known to be the most beautiful in the region. Indulge in a tour and tasting at the Marqués de Riscal winery, founded in 1858. Art aficionados will relish a visit to Bilbao's famous Guggenheim Museum. A leisurely lunch in the pristine medieval town of Santillana del Mar is a joy for the senses. Walk the final stretch of the Camino de Santiago. Step into literature's Golden Age on a tapas tour in historic Barrio de las Letras. Witness art history from the 13th through 20th centuries at Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum.