Artfully Spain Art and Museum Tour

On Tour Excelente!
Artfully Spain: Madrid, Toledo, Talavera de la Reina, and Barcelona

September 30 - October 9, 2007
10 days 9 nights

Experience the impassioned and diverse richness of the art of Spain with Davisville Travel’s new OnTour Excelente! travel package. The art of Francisco Goya, Diego Velásquez, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Antoni Gaudí, Spanish architecture and ceramics will be celebrated and explored during this outstanding 10 day, 9 night tour. We will visit the finest art museums and collections in Madrid including The Prado, one of Europe’s exceptional museums; the unique Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum which houses a remarkable former private collection of old masters and modernists; and the Reina Sophia National Museum of Art which exhibits Spain’s unsurpassed collection of Spanish modern art. Also, the tour will visit Toledo, a preserved medieval city once home of to the renowned mannerist, El Greco.

Before leaving for Barcelona we will visit a town dedicated to Spanish ceramics. Once in Spain’s coastal city our group will visit the Picasso Museum, the Miró Foundation and view the city’s unique Modernista architecture through the buildings of Antoni Gaudí and others.

Nancy Servis, founder of the educationally-based ServisArts, will be guest-guiding this tour while providing insightful perspective to these diverse realms of art. She is a seasoned art historian having lead several art trips to New York, Chicago and other locations and presently teaches art history at California College of the Arts. Experienced Davisville Travel guides, Melissa Chandon and Spanish-speaking Jenni Navas will offer exceptional organizational assistance.

Tour includes: round-trip air from Sacramento to Madrid and Barcelona to Sacramento. All transfers in Spain, hotel accommodations Breakfast daily, two lunches. All sightseeing per itinerary with art expert Nancy Servis, some local guides in addition, all entrance fees for museums (Madrid museum tours will be walking), Private bus for Madrid-Toledo-Talavera-Madrid trip. High speed train. Transportation from Madrid to Barcelona and a donation to URC.

Itinerary:

Depart US Sunday Sacramento to Madrid

Arrive Monday: Madrid - Reina Sofia

Tuesday: Madrid - Museo Prado

Wednesday: Madrid - Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

Thursday: Toledo a leisurely long lunch included in the day

Friday: included is leisurely long lunch in Talavera de la Reina train from Madrid to 5:30 train to Barcelona

Saturday: Free morning Barcelona - Picasso Museum

Sunday: Barcelona - Miró Museum - Park Güell

Monday: Barcelona – Free day

Tuesday: Depart for SMF

Full Itinerary

Sunday Day 1: Departure from US

Monday Day 2: Arrive Madrid - El Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sophia

Reina Sophia image Courtesy of Melissa Chandon

The remarkable museum houses Spain’s most important modern art collection of Spanish art form the 20th century. Often likened to Paris’ Pompidou Center or London’s Tate Gallery, “The Reina Sophia” is an essential visit because most of Madrid’s important art exhibitions are displayed here. Artists well represented in the collection include Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Eduardo Chillida, Juan Gris and many others. One of its most notable works is Picasso’s famed Guernica, 1937 capturing Picasso’s condemnation of the bombing the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. This triangle of art museums offers one of the most remarkable art visits in Europe.

Evening special wine reception.

Tuesday Day 3: Madrid – Museo del Prado

Lake in the park adjacent to the Prado Museum
image Courtesy of Melissa Chandon

Our group will visit one of the world’s greatest museums – The Prado. The outstanding collections of Spanish and European painting reflect the taste of Spain’s Royal connoisseurs including remarkable examples of Spain’s greatest artists, Goya, Velasquez and El Greco with masterpieces by Europen painters like Rubens, Raphael, Botticelli and Titian on view. Spanish highlights of the collection include Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez (1599-1660) and Adoration of the Shepherds by El Greco (1541-1614). Francisco de Goya’s The Third of May 1808 – a remarkable and driving work that reveals the artist’s impassioned style. Close to the Prado are the refreshing Real Jardín Botánico and the beautiful Parque del Retiro. Wednesday Day 4: Madrid – Saturday

Wednesday Day 4: Madrid – Saturday, April 14 Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum image Courtesy of Melissa Chandon

This collection is considered one of the world’s finest private art collections which was purchased by Spain in 1992. It focuses on European painting from13th – 20th century and is one of the most important art collections in the world. It was established by a wealthy Swiss Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza who collected Old Masters during the 1920’s for his villa overlooking Lake Lugano. After his death in 1947 his son broadened the collection with outstanding modern masterpieces including works by French Impressionists, German Expressionists and a fine selection of Russian Avant-Garde work. Selections from these holdings include Rembrant’s (1606-1669) selfportrait which is one of the more than sixty of the Dutch master’s work in the museum. Modern masterpieces include Swaying Dancer by Edgar Degas (1834-1917), The Dream by German artist, Franz Marc (1880-1916) and a collection of American masterpieces by artists like Albert Bierstadt, John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, and Jackson Pollock.

Thursday Day 5: Toledo long lunch included

Toledo is one of Spain’s most historic cities. Still maintaining it medieval flavor, it reflects its rich history of Christian, Muslim and Judiac populations and still has preserved Roman ruins. Toledo was home to one of Spain’s most renowed artists, El Greco (born in Greece) and a home similar to his which now contains several of his paintings. Not-to-be missed stops include The Cathedral with its collection of paintings by El Greco, Caravaggio, Goya, Van Dyck and Bellini, the church of Santo Tomé which houses El Greco’s famous work, Burial of the Count Orgaz still in its original setting.

Friday Day 6: Talavera de la Reina –

The beautiful ceramic history of Spain is fully expressed in the ancient town. Pottery and porcelain of all types are produced here, especially the distinctive blue and yellow tiles, remarkable vessels and sculpture. Many of the area’s sites, like the 18th century Virgen del Prado Chapel, the Ruiz de Luna Museum and the peaceful Plaza del Pan are richly decorated with ceramics. Tile-making was brought to this area by the Moors. The rich clay geology of the Tagus River supported its development. Today there are several active ceramic factories and the Ruiz de Luna Ceramics Museum houses ceramics from the early 1600’s.

Travel to Madrid and take the train to Barcelona.

Check into Hotel.

Chandelier in an interior court yard of a restaurant in Madrid close to the Prado Museum image Courtesy of Melissa Chandon

Saturday Day 7: Free morning Barcelona - Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum is dedicated to the early work of this remarkable 20th century artist. Housed in a medieval palace complex this extensive collection shows landmark pieces from his formative years to his blue and rose periods. At age 14 Picasso moved to Barcelona with his family and this museum honors its native son with a remarkable presentation of works. The five inter-connected palaces contain works by Picasso and also host period special exhibitions.

Sunday Day 8: Barcelona - Miró Museum - Park Güell

Miró Museum is dedicated to the whimsical yet enduring work of Catalan artist, Joan Miró (1883 – 1993). Founded in 1975 it contains a broad scope of his artistic production including paintings, tapestries, sculpture, ceramics and graphics which can be found throughout the architecturally engaging museum. Miró’s work embraces much of 20th century art from his first drawings in the early 1900’s to his death in 1983.

The concept of masterful whimsy is continued with a visit to Park Güell, one of Antoni Gaudí’s amazing creations in the city of Barcelona. Remarkable for its imaginative structures and fountains adorned with mosaic, Park Güell also offers a remarkable view of Barcelona and the Mediterranean beyond. Gaudí planned and directed the construction of the park from 1900 to 1914 and built several other buildings throughout Barcelona. The artist’s modest house still remains on the grounds and contains furniture designed by this master of Modernista style.

Day 9: Barcelona – Free day

Tuesday Day 10 Depart for SMF

Tour price is $3399.00 per person, double occupancy, Single supplement is $499.00

Sign me up!

Additional Information

Paseo del Prado, s/n. 28014 Madrid
Ruiz de Alarcón, 23. 28014 Madrid
Tel.: 91 330 28 00 Fax.: 91 330 28 56
Email.: museo.nacional@prado.mcu.es
Website: http://museoprado.mcu.es

Museum Opening Hours

Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays: 9am - 7pm
(Museum will be closed every public holidays on Monday)
December 24th and 31st, Good Friday and January 6th: 9am - 2pm
Closed: Monday, January 1st; May 1st and December 25th.
(Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Visitors are requested to start vacating the galleries 10 minutes before closing)

Public Transport To The Museum

Metro(underground): Banco de España and Atocha Stations
Buses: 9,10,14,19,27,34,37 and 45
Trains: Atocha Station.

Admission Charges

Basic admission: 3.01 euros
Discounted admission (with ID): 1.5 euros
- Holders of youth cards, student´s cards or international equivalents.
- Cultural and educational groups (by prior arrangement)
- Members of national or international museum association. Free admission (with ID):
- Visitors under 18
- Visitors over 65, pensioners, registered disabled
- Unemployed
- Members of the Fundation Amigos del Museo del Prado
- Cultural and educational volunteers (by prior arrangement) Free admission for all:Sundays
-Museo Nacional del Prado annual pass: 24.04 euros
-State museums annual pass: 36.06 euros
-“Paseo del Arte” (combined ticket for the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía museums): 7.66 euros.

Educational Groups(by prior arrangement)

Visits: Tuesdays from 1pm to 5.30pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 5.30pm

Educational and cultural groups carrying backpacks or other large bags will not be allowed in the building.

School groups (maximun of 25 students per teacher) must have the compulsory Museum authorisation. The teachers should request this in advance- at least two weeks- from the Prado Museum´s Office for Visitors and Groups:

Paseo del Prado s/n. 28014 Madrid.
Tel. (00 34) 91 330.28.25 or 91 330.28.31
Fax. (00 34) 91 330.28.59

Guided group tours are not allowed between 5pm and 7pm on Saturdays and on Sundays.

Free Activities

Lectures:
Temporary exhibition:
Included in the admission charge.
Guided Visits.

Museum Maps

Location of the museum in Madrid
Villanueva Building map
Casón del Buen Retiro map
Services Map

AUDIOGUIDE

Avalaible in Rooms 1 and 51. Price 3 euros.

CAFETERIA:

Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 9am to 6.20pm.
24 and 31 December from 9am to1.20 pm.

Restaurant

Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 11.30 am to 4pm

SHOP: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 9am to 6.30pm

24 and 312 December from 9am to 1.30 pm OTHER FACILITIES

MUSEO THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA, Madrid

Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. Closed on Mondays. The ticket office closes at 6.30 p.m.

The Museum closes all day on January 1, May 1 and December 25.

The galleries will be vacated a few minutes before closing time.

http://museoreinasofia.mcu.es/portada/portada_ING.php

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) is an organization depending on the Ministry of Culture. Its main aim is to encourage public access

Its main aim is to encourage public access to the various manifestations of modern and contemporary art in order to increase knowledge and promote formation, and favour the social communication of the plastic arts.

From this aim derive its more important functions:

To exhibit its cultural holdings in such a manner as to allow contemplation and study as well as guarantee their protection, conservation and restoration.
To carry out temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.
To organize events and activities related to the works on display for the purposes of promotion, education and research.
Establish collaboration networks with other Museums and Institutions.

MNCARS:

Santa Isabel, 52 28012 Madrid
Tel: (+34) 91 467 50 62 ,br>(+34) 91 468 30 02
Fax: (+34) 91 467 31 63

Complementary Spaces:

Palacio de Velázquez
Parque del Retiro Madrid
Tel: (+34) 91 573 62 45

Palacio de Cristal
Parque del Retiro Madrid
Tel: (+34) 91 574 66 14

Sign me Up! Or Call (800) 255-4567

On Tour Excelente! Artfully Spain: Madrid, Toledo, Talavera de la Reina, and Barcelona

September 30 - October 9, 200710 days 9 nights