MADRID EXCURSIONS
ALA will provide excursions to all students participating in summer, semester and academic year programs. This will allow our students to get familiar with some of the most interesting cities and areas in Spain from cultural, artistic, and historic perspectives. These are some examples of previous excursions:
Barcelona:
Barcelona is a cosmopolitan, avant garde city in the North East of Spain on the Mediterranean coast. It is famous for its artistic works and culture (Gaudi´s works, Picasso Museum, Modernist architecture…, and represents the spirit of the different Mediterranean peoples that have formed its present personality. Barcelona has many museums and architectural creations that will captivate its visitors. Barcelona’s mild climate and its cosmopolitan atmosphere are other two reasons to spend some time there.
Toledo:
Toledo was the capital of Visigoth Spain during the Middle Ages, fact that explains its really impressive medieval architecture. The city is famous for its rich history and for the coexistence of the Christian, Islamic and Jewish cultures. In the Middle Ages, Toledo was the European capital for the study of languages and natural sciences. Its privileged location, and the natural turn of the of the Tagus River, together with its continuous population from ages ago, create a unique city in which beautiful and harmonious buildings of an array of architectural styles.
Segovia:
The old city of Segovia is located at the top of a promontory, originally for defensive purposes, and offers a series of magnificent monuments to its visitors. The most impressive one is the Roman aqueduct. It is one of the most prefect examples of Roman civil architecture, and it was build around 1st century BC. The city is full of medieval and renaissance examples of civil, military and religious architecture among which the Alcázar (fortress) and Cathedral stand out.
Granada:
The city of the Alhambra was the last Muslim city in Spain to be retaken from the Arabs by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. At the foothills of Sierra Nevada and 30 minutes away from the Tropical coast of the province Granada offers endless opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in the old Muslim and Jewish quarters of the city and visit the traditional gypsy caves of El Sacromonte where the purest flamenco is performed.
Cuenca:
To find the hidden soul of Cuenca, one must begin by walking along the spinal column of the top of the city, between the rivers Huécar and Júcar and toward the Main Square (plaza Mayor), enclosed on the right side by the 12th century Cathedral gothic façade; and in its front, by the convent of Petras façade. The most breathtaking combination of nature and architecture can be seen in Cuenca´s famous “Hanging Houses.” Inside the houses one may visit the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art and a restaurant, which gives its name to the monument.
Valencia:
It is the capital of the Valencia region and the Spanish Costa Blanca. This Mediterranean city, which is the third largest city in Spain, offers the best paella since this is the place where this Spanish and international dish was created. The old medieval town and the modern Palacio de las Artes y las Ciencias provide visitors with a mixture of old and new architecture expressions. Do not forget to stroll along the Malvarrosa beach and enjoy the social life the city offers.
El Escorial:
Built in 1.557 during the kingdom of Philip II, El Escorial is a temple in honor of San Lorenzo. It is a magnificent mausoleum and a combination of temple, pantheon, and study center and meditation refuge. The great expounders of the Humanism of the Renaissance helped the King accomplish his project which was defined by reason, symmetry and balance, without forget even for a moment the all important austerity he desired. The Monastery can be considered a symbol of the might of the Spanish empire in the 16th Century. The Mausoleum of the Kings holds the remains of all the Spanish monarchs from Charles I to Alfonso XIII.
ALA includes ground transportation, entrance fees, and guided tours in all its excursions. Hotel accommodation and breakfast are also included in all overnight excursions.