OCTOBER 18-25, 2026

Madrid

Madrid is an exciting, ever-changing city with vibrant neighborhoods, beautiful architecture and an interesting food scene. We explored the city through the lens of food and wine, and also art. Art curator and European painting expert Ronni Baer, currently Distinguished Curator at Princeton University Art Museum, guided us in the Prado, explaining the works of Goya, Velasquez and El Greco, as well as still-life painter Luis Melendez.

We learned about Spanish food and cooking from experts – including the daughters of Clara Maria de Amezua, an ambassador of Spanish cuisine who was sometimes called the Julia Child of Spain. We were introduced to the wide range of wonderful Spanish wines by Vinology. As with all Oldways Culinarias, we visited interesting restaurants and markets.

We visited Toledo, a historic hilltop city south of Madrid. It’s famous as the former capital of the Spanish Empire, and as a city where Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities co-existed. The city’s cultural traditions and architecture reflects this, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Trip Highlights:

Trip Highlights:

Introduction to the wines of Spain and tasting of six wonderful wines at Vinology
Ronni Baer’s special tour of the Prado – El Greco, Velasquez, Goya and the still life paintings of Melendez
A cooking demonstration and lunch by Gabriela Llamas
A sherry tasting and olive oil tasting
A special visit to the Academia Bellas de Artes de San Fernando, led by its former curator
A day in Toledo, with visits to the cathedral, synagogue and El Greco painting
A morning at the Reina Sofia Museum, including Picasso’s Guernica
Tour of Old Madrid, including churros and chocolate
An evening of Tapas Hopping
A hands-on cooking class at Alambique and a food walking tour
An evening of Flamenco with a spectacular dinner
A special paella dinner
Great camaraderie and much, much more