Madrid: Spanish Art and Food Culinaria

November 10-17, 2013

Spend a glorious week in and around elegant and interesting Madrid, with excursions to El Escorial and Toledo, led by Oldways and Ronni Baer, Senior Curator of European Art at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.

The day-by-day schedule includes:

► Sunday, November 10 - Bienvenido a Madrid!

All day Hotel Wellington Check In
Late afternoon Welcome session at the Wellington Hotel
Early evening Introduction to Spanish Wines, with a Guided Tasting. Welcome Dinner:  An Introduction to the Foods of Spain

► Monday, November 11 - Madrid Classics

Morning Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington. Walking orientation of Old Madrid and a guided visit to Reale Academia de Belles Artes (Royal Academy of Fine Art).  A favorite of Ronni’s and Oldways, this palace and school in the heart of Madrid includes many important works of art.

Noon Food Tour of the Mercado de San Miguel, the last iron covered market in Madrid. Founded in 1916, and restored and reopened in 2009, this market will be the start of our Tapas Hopping Lunch.

Afternoon Siesta or shopping and strolling.
Evening Flamenco and Dinner

► Tuesday, November 12 - Treasures

Morning Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington. Treasures of the Prado: A private guided tour of the museum with MFA Curator Ronni Baer.
Noon/Afternoon Cooking Class and Lunch:  Learn to prepare several classic Spanish dishes.  After class our creations will be served for lunch, followed by a visit to one of Madrid’s finest kitchen stores.
Evening Dinner at one of Madrid’s treasured restaurants.

►Wednesday, November 13 - Travel to Toledo

Morning/All day Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington. Depart for Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city just 43 miles south of Madrid for a day of history, architecture and art. We’ll visit Alcázar, an ancient castle and emblem of Toledo, the Cathedral and other important sites. Ronni will guide us through the former home of the painter El Greco. Now a museum, the house has an impressive collection of his paintings, as well as exhibits of other artists. We’ll also have an opportunity to sample local products, including a tasting of cheeses, and a lunch focused on the cuisine of Castilla La Mancha.  
Evening Free evening

► Thursday, November 14 - Food in Art – Art in Food

Morning Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington. Ronni Baer will guide us through our second visit to the Prado Museum, with an emphasis on the food-focused art, and the stories behind the works.
Noon/Afternoon A chef lecture and demonstration about new Spanish cuisine, followed by lunch featuring the dishes of the moment.
Evening Guided tasting of Spanish Sherry from Jerez, followed by dinner

► Friday, November 15 - Manuscripts and Crafts

Morning Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington. A visit to El Escorial, a second UNESCO World Heritage site, which is a monastery, museum and a royal palace and known for its priceless manuscripts and great works of art.
Late afternoon Tutorial on Spanish ceramics
Evening Free for a restaurant of your choice

 

 

► Saturday, November 16 - Food and Cooking
Morning Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington. Session and Tasting of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Spain
Noon Choice of: Hands on Cooking class and lunch or a cultural visit with lunch
Afternoon Free time for shopping, packing or resting
Evening Gala Farewell Dinner

► Sunday, November 17 - Adios
Morning Breakfast at the Hotel Wellington
Departure

 

Oldways trips usually sell out. Please contact Abby Sloane at 617-896-4875 or asloane@oldwayspt.org if you want to be on our Madrid Trip List to receive final pricing and details as soon as they're available. Those on our Trip List will get first claim on the limited number of spaces on this trip.