A Stay in Madrid: An Art History Journey from El Greco to Picasso

Depart on an overnight flight to Madrid, where you’ll be met by your Smithsonian Journeys travel director for the transfer to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, get your bearings with a short walking tour of the neighborhood around your hotel. Your travel director will be available throughout the program for suggestions regarding tours, restaurants and independent activities. Gather this evening for a festive welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. (R,D)

Start each day with a hearty American-style buffet breakfast, then attend a talk on contemporary Spain by a local expert. Depart the hotel for the Palacio Real, the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Madrid, which is now used only for state ceremonies. Step into the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great to find works by the artists such as Francisco Goya; or visit the gem-like Chapel of San Antonio de La Florida, decorated with frescoes by Goya—and home to his tomb (pending completion of chapel’s ongoing renovations). See the vast Plaza Mayor and stop for lunch at Sobrino de Botín, a favorite of Ernest Hemingway. Founded in 1725, it was named the oldest restaurant in the world by Guinness World Records. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, a treasure trove of modern Spanish art that includes works by Salvador Dali, Juan Gris, and Juan Miró, as well as Picasso, whose poignant Guernica has its own gallery. Enjoy an evening to discover Madrid’s dining scene on your own. (B,L)

Embark on a day trip to the World Heritage site of Toledo, set on a hilltop at a bend in the Tagus River. One of the oldest cities in Europe, Toledo was a capital for both the Romans and the Visigoths and later served as the capital of Spain until 1561. Its most famous resident, the Greek-born artist El Greco, arrived the following decade and produced his best-known paintings here. Join a local guide to explore the city’s medieval heart, passing beneath the Moorish-influenced 16th-century city gate, Puerta Nueva de Bisagra. Discovering stunning altarpieces as well as frescoes and paintings by Titian, Caravaggio, El Greco, and other greats inside the Gothic cathedral. At the Church of Santo Tomé , view El Greco’s immense masterpiece The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, and meander beneath the arches of Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue. Sit down to lunch with beautiful city views at the Parador of Toledo before returning to Madrid for an evening at leisure. (B,L)

After breakfast, head to the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Spain’s oldest artistic institution. Less visited than Madrid’s other museums, the academy boasts a vast collection of art by Italian, Flemish, and Spanish masters, including many works by Goya, who served as the academy’s director for several years. After lunch at a local restaurant, experience the legendary Prado Museum on a specially arranged visit with a private guide. Among the many European masterpieces you’ll encounter are Goya’s famous reclining Majas; a self-portrait by Albrecht Dürer; and numerous paintings by Diego Velázquez, who served as court painter for King Philip IV. Join your expert this evening for an informal discussion about the day’s discoveries before dinner on your own. (B,L)

This morning, venture into the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, one of Madrid’s hidden gems. Housed in the former residence of José Lázaro Galdiano, a passionate art collector and publisher, the museum opened in 1951, showcasing his impressive personal collection of over 12,000 pieces, spanning from antiquity to the 20th century. Highlights include a notable collection of paintings by Goya, El Greco, and Velázquez, alongside works by European artists like Bosch, Cranach, and Constable. Enjoy free time for lunch, then meet up to discover another of the city’s private art collections at the intimate Sorolla Museum, set in the former home of renowned Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla y Batista. Savor the original décor and beautiful art in this little oasis of art set amid the bustling city. The remainder of the day is yours to discover more of Madrid on your own. (B)

The walled city of Segovia perches dramatically on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Castilian countryside, a World Heritage site that embodies the glory of Old Castile. Its extraordinary two-tiered Roman aqueduct, dating to 50 AD and still beautifully preserved, stretches through historic center. Spend the morning discovering Segovia with a stroll across the Plaza Mayor to the cathedral to see its stained-glass windows and carved furnishings, and visit the storybook Alcázar castle that overlooks the town. Peer up at the graceful stone arches of the Roman aqueduct, which dwarf the surrounding buildings, towering up to nearly 100 feet. Feast on a lunch of traditional Castilian dishes and return to Madrid for time on your own. (B,L)

A short morning walk brings you to Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, one of the three celebrated museums—along with the Prado and the Reina Sofia—that make up Madrid’s "Golden Triangle of Art." Opened in 1992, the museum has showcased more than 1,600 works from the private collection of Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his son, spanning eight centuries of western art from Italian primitives to the impressionists to modern American art. During your visit, discover works by the likes of Caravaggio, van Gogh, and van Eyck as well as numerous other Spanish artists. You’ll have the afternoon free to revisit your favorite haunts before a festive farewell reception and dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Please note that the progression and contents of this itinerary may be subject to change due to local operational considerations.