Tour of “La Sierra de Francia”
Thursday 3rd July 2008
10.00hrs – 18.00hrs
£75 per person inclusive of lunch
A Visit the Sierra de Francia with its traditional architecture in villages such as La Alberca, a picturesque mountain village located at 1050 metres. La Alberca was the first rural village in Spain to be given National Historic Heritage status. A walk around its historic centre with its tradidional houses and streets, which were built some centuries ago. Travel to the Monastery Sierra de Francia sheltering the Black Madonna. This sanctuary houses the image of the Virgin of La Peña de Francia, the name probably referring to the immigrants who came from France in the 11th and 12th centuries. An image of the Virgin was discovered in 1434 and a chapel was built to guard it. From here we will enjoy fantastic sights: the mountains of Las Hurdes to the South, the border of Portugal to the West, the Castilian Meseta or Highlands to the North and the Mountain Range Sierra de Gredos to the East. We will also have the chance to sample the quality Ibérico Ham of this area

Tour to Segovia
Friday 4th July
10.00hrs – 18.00hrs
£72.50 per person inclusive of lunch
After being a military trading centre under the Roman Empire, Segovia lived its golden age during the Middle Ages, when it became the place of residence of the court of the Trastámaras and an important centre for cattlebreeding and textiles. This period was responsible for the construction of a large number of Romanesque buildings, a wealth of heritage that is still conserved today. The entrance gate to the historic quarter of Segovia is the Roman Aqueduct, in the plaza del Azoguejo. Its 163 arches and 29 metres at its highest point are supported by blocks of stone from the Sierra de Guadarrama without mortar, lead or cement. Inside the city are important medieval and Renaissance buildings, such as the Casa de los Picos, the Corn Exchange or the Tower of los Lozoya. On our way to the Plaza Mayor and the Cathedral, called “the grand lady of cathedrals”, we will stop at some important places of worship. The Cathedral Museum also offers us a large collection of religious art from various periods of history