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The Basque
Country
 The
Basque culture and people possess a mysterious quality.
Neither French nor Spanish, the Basque language and way
of life are centuries old.
Descended from unknown origins, the Basque speak Euskera
— an ancient language unlike any other. It is
spoken by about 20 percent of the population.
A part of “Green Spain,” the Basque countryside
spans northern Spain and southern France. There are
seven provinces: four in Spain (Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa,
Álava and Navarra) and three in France (Labourd,
Haute-Navarre and Soule).
No written historical records exist for the Basques;
however, recent discoveries indicate ancestral connections
to Cro-Magnon man. Perhaps the chief reason the Basque
culture remains intact is the character of the people
and the natural boundaries.
We offer four tours, either devoted to or focusing
on parts of the Basque Country:
Bilbao
& Beyond
Barcelona
to Bilbao
Wine
& Gastronomy
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Catalan
Spain
Steeped
in a rich history that predates the Greek and Roman
days, today’s Catalan Spain nurtures a well-preserved
language and a distinct culture. More than eight million
people speak Catalan.
Catalan Spain occupies a small northeastern part of
Spain, touching the Pyrenees Mountains, France’s
southern border and the Mediterranean coastline. One-sixth
of Spain’s population call this area home. The
Catalan heritage actually dates as far back as the Paleolithic
Era. Later, Iberians and Celts arrived. Greek colonization
introduced crops such as grapes and olives, along with
the alphabet and metal coinage. The Romans occupied
this area for six centuries, forming a strong foundation
for the new country.
One-hundred-fifty years ago, Barcelona’s unprecedented
wealth forced the city out of its medieval walls. Modernist
architects such as Antoni Gaudí designed buildings
that epitomize the virtuosity and the delirium of the
times. Barcelona continues to transform itself today.
Our Barcelona to Bilbao
tour showcases the best of this region and parts of
the Basque country.
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Northern
and Central Portugal
Located
on the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal
not only looks to the Atlantic Ocean but embraces a
strong seafaring heritage. Although the country has
been inhabited for more than 100,000 years, a written
account of the Portuguese history only began in the
3rd century B.C., with the arrival of the Romans.
The country’s history offers contrasts as rich
as its people. Aristocrats and seamen alike call Portugal
home. However, because so many of the early Portuguese
explorers sailed off in pursuit of new trade routes,
the country’s culture is matriarchal and family-centered.
Salty ocean breezes to the fragrant aroma of the lush
highlands also define this country. Barefoot Carmelite
monks of the 17th century gathered samples of trees
and flowers from across Europe to create the 250-acre
Buçaco Forest located in the Beiras region.
We offer a tour that covers the Porto and Douro region,
Beiras territory, Estremadura and Ribatejo, and the
upper part of the Lisbon coast: Portugal
Discoveries.
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Sicily
In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, on a
triangle of land, a long series of civilizations has
left indelible traces. Unique in the western world,
it may rightly be considered the melting pot not only
of Mediterranean cultures, but of European cultures
as well. Phoenician, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs,
Norman, French, Aragonese, and Spanish all left their
marks in the local art, architecture, and cuisine. It
offers such a variety of natural landscapes and cultural
itineraries that anthropologists consider it a miniature
continent.
Sicily is an island of extremes...of exquisite sensibility
and Mafia savagery, a melodramatic movie in the making
which writes its own lush script.
Our Secrets of Sicily tour explores the historic cities,
chic resorts, classical sites and exotic scenery: Secrets of Sicily.
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