Smithsonian Journeys 2017

A Cruise of Spain and Portugal
From Barcelona to Lisbon Aboard the 220-guest Le Lyrial
CRUISE
9 days from approximately $4,395 / Includes $1,000 early booking savings
Sells out quickly! Pre-register now*
Oct. 3–11, 2018
Trace the cultural highlights of Iberia’s historic trade
routes on this popular cruise of Spain and Portugal. The
Moorish, Jewish, and Christian cultures that flourished
here led to great leaps in the sciences and arts. This
blossoming of knowledge became the impetus behind the
Golden Age of Discovery when ships sailed from these
shores to the New World.
Highlights Include
Spain’s Balearic Island: Enjoy a full day in Palma
de Mallorca, where you’ll visit the famous Carthusian
Monastery and former residence of composer Frédéric
Chopin and enjoy a piano recital of classical music.
Valencia: Founded as a Roman colony, Valencia is
known today as the “City of Arts and Sciences” for its
many museums, impressive architecture, and cultural
abundance. Enjoy a panoramic tour featuring a visit to the
World Heritage-designated Silk Exchange, a masterpiece
of Gothic architecture.
Granada: The magnificent Alhambra is a priceless
architectural legacy of the Nasrid Dynasty monarchs
who ruled the last Muslim kingdom in Spain for 250
years. Explore this World Heritage site, a masterpiece of
medieval Moorish art and architecture, along with the
magnificent Generalife Gardens.
Strait of Gibraltar: Look out from the “Top of the
Rock,” the 1,400-foot-high limestone promontory
guarding the strait that separates Europe and Africa.
Seville: Cruise up the Guadalquivir River to Andalusia’s
lively capital, where you’ll visit the Plaza de España, with
its pretty tile work and flowers; the legendary Alcazar, the
distinctive 14th-century, Mudéjar-style former residence
of Moroccan and Spanish rulers and now a World
Heritage site; and the immense late Gothic cathedral,
Europe’s second-largest Christian house of worship.
Portugal’s Algarve Region: Walk along the ramparts
of the 12th-century Moorish castle in Silves and visit the
cathedral, a unique fusion of Romanesque, Gothic, and
baroque architecture. In the scenic port town of Lagos,
once the center of trade between Moorish Portugal and
Africa, admire the baroque Church of St. Anthony.
Space reserved for 50 Smithsonian Journeys guests. Best
booking availability before mid-March. Learn more about
Le Lyrial on page 14 and on our website.
Port of Call
Featured Site
Ship
Atlantic
Ocean
Lisbon
PORTUGAL
Bay of Biscay
SPAIN
Seville
Portimão Granada
Motril
Gibraltar
Almeria
Valencia
Barcelona
Palma de
Mallorca
Balearic
Islands
Mediterranean Sea
Smithsonian Journeys Expert
Brian Catlos–historian with expertise in medieval
studies.
Evocative gardens at the Alhambra, Granada
Plaza de España, Seville
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