Cultural Madrid, Salamanca and Segovia

Known as the town of the '1001 escutcheons', you'll feel like you're in a fairy tale meandering through narrow cobblestone streets. Take a step back in time as you walk through this 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site. Embrace the heart of the town at Plaza Mayor, lined with coffee-scented cafes nestled in whitewashed archways. Locals and travellers come here daily to sit down to a hearty 'café manchadito' – also known as milk with a bit of coffee –  before disappearing into one of the narrow alleys leading to eye-catching medieval monument

This elegant town is nestled on the banks of the Tormes and boasts history with a touch of finesse, textbook Spain. Salamanca has an ancient past dating back to pre-roman times. It became a Roman settlement after its former Carthaginian occupation. But the city really started to thrive in the 11th century when the Moors brought about a period of splendour. Architecture, culture and elegance started to really kick in during the Renaissance period.

At the foot of the Guadarrama mountains in Spain’s north-western region of Castilla y Leon, lies Segovia. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, the sleepy city is bursting with unique attractions, like Romanesque churches, a former royal palace and a Gothic cathedral. Its network of medieval streets and twisting alleyways, bordered by a medieval wall and a pair of rivers, are an attraction in themselves. Then there’s its awe-inspiring aqueduct, the symbol of the city.

There is hardly any other city that presents the Spanish lifestyle as compactly as the Spanish capital. It combines economy and trade, culture and art with the typical elements of the Spanish way of life. Madrid offers world-class galleries, a wide variety of culinary delights, a legendary nightlife and beautiful architecture. The historic centre of Madrid between the Palace and the Retiro recreation park is relatively well laid out and is an ideal starting point for exploring the city.