Spain is a wonderful country, the people, food, wine, music, dance and of course the art. We visit Barcelona on the east coast, Bilbao in the far north, and then Toledo followed by Grenada, Ronda and Cordoba in the south. We see small villages on the way and finish in the central capital of Madrid. Spain is a big country so we travel in a deluxe coach, fully air conditioned and very comfortable. This allows us to travel in style, and then be taken directly to our hotel upon arrival in each city. We will be located centrally so once we arrive we will walk to most venues, allowing us to experience each place physically – see the sights, smell the smells and be amongst the Spanish people. We will spend time in the old parts of the cities, the squares and the historical buildings. There will be ample time for those wishing to draw and paint to do so and tuition will be given at all levels. In the evening we will review the day’s efforts over a glass of wine – a most pleasant way to create.



BARCELONA is Gaudi’s city, the wonderful “Modernista” architect whose Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell are icons of the city – wonderful subject matter for painters and drawers. Jean Miro is another child of Barcelona and we visit his foundation on Montjuic. Picasso also lived and worked in Barcelona and his museum is wonderful. We also look at the history of the Catalan region visiting the magnificent collection of the Museum of Catalan art. We are introduced to flamenco dancing, Spanish guitar, paella and much more in this the greatest of Spanish cities.

BILBAO home of the fabulous Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Ghery. Situated by the river its organic forms clad in silver titanium have enormous presence and even before you enter you know you are experiencing a work of architectural genius. Inside the building continues to inspire, a fitting complement to the cutting edge art on display.

TOLEDO Our bus takes us south to Toledo, the home of Toledo steel and Don Quixote country. The landscape will be new and different and this can be recorded visually along the way. El Greco became a major artist working in Toledo for many years. We visit his house, now a museum and see a moving collection of his portraits of saints. The history of Toledo has involved the Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, Jews and Christians and there is much to be seen from this rich and varied past.

GRANADA We travel to our first city in Andalusia home of the Alhambra, one of the wonders of the world. Perched on top of a hill overlooking the city the complex includes the 14th century Alhambra Palace, stunning Islamic architecture, the Generalife, the Summer Palace with its magnificent gardens and the Alcazar (fort) which has panoramic views of the plains below and the Sierra Nevada. A wonderful venue to draw.
 

RONDA is one of the stunning “white towns” of Andalusia. It sits on top of a very high cliff overlooking the magnificent El Tajo Gorge. Ronda has a colourful history and one of the largest, oldest and most beautiful bullrings in Spain. We have three nights here with ample time to explore and capture the magic of traditional Spain.

CORDOBA was the capital of the Umayyad dynasty for three hundred years from the 8th to the 11th century. We visit the Jewish quarter and the Great Mosque belonging to that era. Prepare to gasp, this is stunning Moorish architecture.


MADRID has a reputation for being one of the liveliest cities in the world. It has regal buildings, wide streets, hundreds of fountains and restaurants, fabulous shopping plus the Prado, one the greatest galleries in Spain and Europe. It houses dozens of painting by Velazquez including “Las Meninas” and dozens by Franciso Goya including his famous “The Third of May, 1808”. Picasso’s “Guernica” is in the Queen Sophia Museum, an absolute must as is the National Archaeological Museum which houses collections of prehistoric, Iberian, Roman, Visigothic and Islamic artefacts. It is all truly wonderful!