Christmas Gourmet tour Madrid

Christmas Gourmet tour Madrid

7 days- Madrid 4 nights and Salamanca 2 nights

Nº of participants: from 2 people

Available upon request

Briefing

During the Christmas season, Madrid is filled with thousands of lights and colors, hundreds of Christmas trees and beautiful nativity scenes. The city is more lively and cheerful than ever, Spaniards and visitors take to the streets to sing Christmas carols, go for tapas and drinks, shop, visit the beautiful nativity scenes or various exhibitions, or attend some musical, theatrical or dance … In addition, in the Plaza Mayor, you can enjoy our most traditional Christmas market, and on the 31st you can enjoy a great New Year’s Eve party and follow our tradition of eating the 12 grapes in the last 12 seconds of the year for your wish to be fulfilled … 

Madrid, the vibrant and modern capital of Spain, will amaze you with its majestic historic quarters and magnificent avenues, monuments, museums and gardens, and a wide variety of cultural activities, as well as excellent taverns and restaurants. 

Madrid is the European capital that has absorbed more the regional cuisines of its country. When Felipe II moved the capital of Spai to Madrid, the emigrants who arrived massively from the most diverse Spanish regions brought with them their culinary customs. So come and enjoy its rich and varied gastronomy!  

After the big party, we will move to a hacienda-hotel Boutique on the banks of the Tormes River, to enjoy a rest and to know the wonderful city of Salamanca, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. We will have the opportunity to visit and taste the wines and cheeses and the Iberian hams from a large winery, artisanal cheese making and hams dryer and ride in a 4×4 by a private farm that breeds Iberian pigs, buffalo, and other autochthonous breeds. 

All this, with the help of people who are proud of their land and their culture, who artistically work their products and their lands, to offer you the best, with their dedication, kindness and smile.

Highligths of this tour:

• New Year,s eve party at one of the most fashion restaurants and party until 6 am
• Guided Tapas tour at historic center
• Gourmet tour at the most chic neighborhood
• Visit to winery , cheese and iberian ham factories, all with profesional and tutored tastings
• Guided tour in Salamanca world wide heritage by Unesco
• Unique experience at organic farm/private state
• Hand selected gourmet /top restaurants
• Unique flamenco show

B- Breakfast L- Lunch D- Dinner

30 December.- D

• Private transfer from Airport to your charming and centric 4*hotel
• Welcome dinner at a renowned restaurant within a walking distance from hotel.

31 December.- B/L/D

• Guided cultural and tapas tour ( 3 to 4 hours) Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel. From your guide will lead you on a private walk through some interesting sites which currently form part of what is known as the Madrid of the Hapsburgs, in the area surrounding the beautiful arcaded Main Square (Plaza Mayor) , the amazing Royal Palace, just in the beautiful Opera plaza, and visiting gorgeous bars and cheerful old taverns at the most famous tapas quarter, telling you fantastic legends of the history of Madrid. Of course we will visit The San Miguel Market, meeting point for friends to start a tapas experience.
• On this day the bars and taverns are full of people singing Carols and celebrating the upcomign New year¡¡
• Free time to explore and live the colourful city in Christmas¡¡
• Gran Great dinner and New Year’s party in a trendy restaurant. Celebrate the beginning of the year in the traditional Spanish way! Welcome to the only hospitality project signed by Philippe Starck in Spain. The emblematic Puerta de Alcalá in the capital will be the views with which you will enjoy this special night. ( If you wish party will last until 6 am ¡¡

1 January- B/L.

• Rest day after the big party yesterday! Today Madrid, will be a quiet city, and almost deserted. The Spaniards rest after the great celebration. Take the opportunity to stroll through the beautiful Retiro Park.
• Lunch at a prestigious restaurant.
• In the afternoon free time, we recommend going to the Gran Via, it will be animated with its cinemas, theaters and numerous shops. (OPTIONAL: check availability of musicals or other events)

2 January- B/L. 

• Check out. Today we head to Salamanca. ( 2h.)
• Visit an Iberian ham drying shed. Did you know that Iberian Cured Ham is unique in the world and it is made with pure Iberian pork leg from acorn-fed pigs?
• The particular micro-climate of this region originates the unequalled and finest of Iberian cured ham in the world. You will have the chance to visit the installations of one of the best ham producers in a village near Salamanca. One of his owners will explain us the secret of how the “blacked hoof pigs “are reared and their production methods: Serrano means “from the mountains”, as the cool dry mountain air offers the perfect conditions for the curing process.
• You will have the chance to taste this aromatic and very fine meat, which is glory enough in itself. Lunch based on their productos with fine wine.
• Off we go to Salamanca ( 45min.)
• Guided visit. Within Salamanca you will find little streets brimming with history and life, and you will easily fall in love with this city of centennial stones, with its universities, with one of the most beautiful Romanesque cathedral in Europe, its spectacular baroque style “plaza Mayor”, palaces and convents, and also its taxing cuisine with its traditional country ambrosia of flavours. Among its many monuments we will not miss the spectacular Main Square, the University and its Cathedral.
• Transfer to a charming hotel on the banks of the river Duero. Founded in 1366 by the Dominicans and where Christopher Columbus stayed during the Valcuev Conferences. Here we will have a first approach to the famous wine tasting of Rivera del Duero (DO) in Spain

3 January- B/L

• Today we will visit in 4 wheel car a very special place, a private ecofarm of many hectares, with a craft cheese factory, an organic garden, a balsamic vinegar cellar. A private state where we teach and share our lifestyle, our way of enjoying the flavors of life
• For about 3 hours you will enjoy:

– Walk around the farm, admiring the beautiful landscape and seeing their animals, such as the buffalos, or the Spanish Iberian pig.

– Visit to the organic garden, the balsamic vinegar cellar and observation tower …

– Visit to the cheese factory and tasting of our gourmet cheeses directed by a professional.

– Finish with a meal, informal buffet, based on all the products they produce, Iberian ham , cheeses, olive oil, ecologic vegetables and great wines

• In the afternoon Visit and professional tasting in his cellar.

4 January- B/L/D

• Check out. Transfer to Madrid and check in.
• Gourmet Tour or hands on cooking class,, whatever you prefer¡
• Discover one of the finest and luxurious neighborhood of “Salamanca”, not only to admire the beautiful facades of the buildings or the wonderful shop windows brand, but also to discover some of its Gourmet stores with delicatessen products, its fabulous local market and some “innovative” Gourmet markets that gathers, stores restaurants and leisure. Lunch included.
• If you prefer enjoy a hands on cooking class .The chef will welcome you with a glass of wine. In a very friendly and nice atmosphere, the Chef will give you some instructions: , some of you will be cutting the fruit for the sangria, other the potatoes for the omelette or the vegetables for the paella and so on. ( we have many menus available, please ask for options)The Chef will also teach you some about Spanish gastronomy, its most representative products (such us olive oil, Iberian ham…) as well as some culinary tips 
• Farawell dinner with Flamenco show.

5 January- B/D

• Check out. Transfer to airport . End of services.

WHAT INCLUDES:

• Private transportation in comfort bus (groups from 8 pax) throughout the itinerary and transfers from the airport / hotel. For smaller groups(2 to 7 pax) transfers will be with a private driver.
• 6 nights of accommodation with breakfast buffet, in the selected hotels with charm and 4 * centric in standard double room.
• 5 meals:

1. On tapas tour with beers, wine or soft drinks.
2. In pretigious restaurant, with wine ( a bottle for two) and water.
3. In the factory of hams, wine and water.
4. On the private estate, it includes wines or beers, soft drinks and water.
5. On the Gourmet tour or cooking class, beer, wine or soft drinks.

• 3 dinners:

1. Welcome dinner including bottle of wine for every two people and water.
2. End of the year dinner with White and red wine and champagne, and cotillion (pack grapes and a hat for a party)
3. Farewell dinner with Flamenco show, including bottle of wine for every two people, water and glass (ex: whiskey, gin and tonic, etc)

• Cultural visits with official guides in:

1. Visit to Madrid with tapas tour.
2. Visit to Salamanca with tickets to University and Cathedral.

• Guided culinary visits and tastings in:

1. Guijuelo Iberian dryer with tasting
2. Cheese factory in Salamanca with tasting.
3. Winery in Salamanca with tasting
4. Gourmet tour or cooking class including meal

• Local taxes

IMPORTANT:

• Menus will be not “a la carte” and will be fixed before hand by Culinary Spain.If there is any food you are allergic to or cannot eat, please inform us before your travel.
• The order of days in itinerary or schedule of activities can be modified by Culinary Spain. The customer will receive the confirmed itinerary prior to travel.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED/ Optional services:

• Airfare
• Taxi back to hotel after New year´s eve Dinner/party
• Medical or Travel Insurance
• Meals and Drinks not specified.
• Extra nights
• Superior hotel category
• Reservation for musical son 1st January