Spain with Friends
A Cultural Journey
Voyage to discover Spanish art, architecture, gastronomy & wine
This deluxe voyage is curated for an intimate group of women who wish to travel tastefully, while deepening their connection to art, culture and each other.
Discover Contemporary Art & Culture in Spain! You're invited to join an intimate community of women for a culturally immersive journey through Spanish art, architecture, wine and gastronomy. From the Reina Sofia and Thyssen in Madrid, to the Centro Botín in Santander and the Guggenheim in Bilbao, we’ll explore important modern and contemporary collections across the country. In Madrid, we'll visit the Prado with an eye toward modern art, seeing the great works that inspired modern masters, including Picasso. As 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Picasso's death, we'll see his Guernica and his other works in Madrid. Then, we'll fly to the northern coast of Spain and visit the new, cutting-edge, Centro Botín in Santander, designed by Renzo Piano, as well as Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim in Bilbao. Experiencing special exhibitions and meeting with art experts, we’ll uncover some of today's leading contemporary women artists from Spain and beyond: Cristina Iglesias, Eva Fábregas, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and more!
From Bilbao, we’ll spend a day exploring the wine and architecture of the famous Rioja region. After crossing the green national park of Gorbeia in a luxury vehicle, we’ll admire the stunning Ysios winery, designed by Santiago Calatrava as well as the Marques de Riscal winery, designed by Frank Gehry. There, we’ll taste magnificent wines and enjoy the combination of avant-garde architecture and stunning scenery of the Sierra Cantabria mountains. Not to be missed, Marques de Riscal is considered "the Spanish château of the 21st century" and was recently voted the second best vineyard and winery in the world!
This voyage offers a feast for the eyes and a veritable delight for our palates! We'll dine at the finest restaurants in Madrid and on northern coast, take a cooking class, and uncover unique dishes from the unspoiled Basque and Cantabria regions. There will be plenty free time to relax, shop, explore and enjoy each other's company. Each evening, we’ll discuss all that we've seen, tasted and experienced at a Pinchos bar (Basque tapas), savoring new flavors while deepening our bonds. After all, this trip is as much about friendship as it is about art!
Savor the best art, architecture & food that Madrid has to offer with unique private tours through the capital's great museums, galleries and food scene.
Visit the jaw-dropping Marques de Riscal winery, designed by Frank Gehry, "the Spanish château of the 21st century."
Voted the second best vineyard and winery in the world!
Admire Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim in Bilbao, with a private tour of the permanent collection, and enjoy the incredible food the city boasts.
Perched on the seashore, discover the new Centro Botín, Renzo Piano's competing vision of a cutting-edge museum, along with the work of multi-media artist Eva Fábregas.
Expand your knowledge of Spanish art, culture & language directly from two licensed guides: an Art Historian & a Spanish Language Specialist
Spain with Friends
In June, 2023, we'll come together as an intimate community of women to experience the art, culture, gastronomy and wine of Spain! A balance of city and country, we'll immerse ourselves in the rich cultural happenings of Madrid, and then enjoy the beautiful seascape of the northern coast and the rugged mountains of Sierra Cantabria in Rioja. All along the way, we'll savor inventive cuisine in the capital and distinctive flavors of the Basque and Cantabria regions.
This voyage is hosted by two experts: Lauren Jimerson, an art historian, author, and licensed guide, Alison Moore, a licensed Guide, Spanish language & Culture expert. In Spain, we will guide you through an uplifting and enlightening journey that will ignite all the senses!
Here are the key places we'll visit & the artists we'll discover:
MADRID
Prado (Goya, Velazquez, plus women artists, Marcela de Valencia, Maria Blanchard, Aurelia Navarro and more).
Reina Sofia (Picasso, modern and contemporary artists, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Sonia Abián Rose and more)
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (masterpieces from the Renaissance to the present)
Sorolla Museum (Joaquín Sorolla)
Architectural and historical walking tours
Classical music concert in an historic venue
Toledo (El Greco Museum & Sephardic Museum)
Flamenco performance
BILBAO
Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry (modern & contemporary artists from the permanent collection, such as Richard Serra, Cristina Iglesias, and a special exhibition featuring Lynette Yiadom-Boakye).
GUERNICA
Guernica Peace Museum (shedding light on Picasso's masterpiece and the Spanish Civil War).
RIOJA
Delicious wine, avant-garde architecture, stunning scenery
Ysios winery, designed by Santiago Calatrava
Marques de Riscal winery, designed by Frank Gehry, the Spanish château of the 21st century!
SANTANDER
Centro Botín designed by Renzo Piano (art from the 19th century to the present, special exhibition on Eva Fábregas)
Cave of Altamira (Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain, a Unesco World Heritage Site)
SAN SEBASTIAN
Stunning landscapes and world-class cuisine
BASQUE VILLAGES
We'll take a cooking class in a small village to uncover regional flavors & Basque traditions.
You're in good hands with an exceptional team of Experts!
Lauren Jimerson, PhD
Art Historian, Author & Licensed Guide
Alison Moore, PhD
Licensed Guide, Spanish Language & Culture Expert
Alison Moore holds a Triple First-Class Honours in Spanish, French and Italian from the University of St. Andrews, a Master's in Interpreting and Translation from the University of Bath and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Trinity College Dublin. She began her professional career as a Conference and Public Service Interpreter/Translator, before moving into academia in 2014. She worked as a Lecturer of English for Academic Purposes at four leading universities in the British Isles until 2021 and completed a year-long contract as an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics & TESOL in Japan in 2022. She has also taught French, Spanish and Italian from beginner to undergraduate level. Her research draws on both the fields of Interpreting and Bilingualism, particularly on Second Language Acquisition. Before entering academia, she spent two years working as a multi-lingual tour guide in the Australian Outback, introducing guests to Aboriginal culture in general and Anangu culture at Uluru and Kata Tjuta in particular.
Luxurious Accommodation:
Villa Real in Madrid & Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao
Choose from hand-selected hotels in each location (4 or 5 star hotels).
Accommodation is kept separate to allow for the greatest flexibility, room choice or room sharing and ease of cancellation.
Connect with an intimate community of like-minded,
art & culture loving women!
Art with Friends journeys in 2022
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9 Magnificent Days of Private Tours & Experiences with two licensed guides - Lauren & Alison as well as local experts
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Internal flight from Madrid to Bilbao
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Daily Meals: a delicious lunch each day and delectable tapas each evening with a glass of wine or sangria (breakfast included with hotel booking)
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Multi-course gastronomic dining experience
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Private cooking class
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All Art Experiences, Private Museum Tours and Museum Tickets
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Private historical walking tours
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Guided hike in the Basque region (optional)
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Exclusive architecture & wine excursion in Rioja
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Round-trip transportation to airport (if arriving on designated flight with fellow art explorers)
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A combination of trains, modern, comfortable vehicles and private, luxury transportation to various sites in the Basque and Cantabria region.
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Flamenco performance and/or classical music concert
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Day trips to Toledo, Santander, Guernica, small villages in the Basque region, etc.
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Live Spanish lesson in preparation for the journey taught by Alison (with the option to enroll in more classes)
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Live art history lesson in preparation for the journey taught by Lauren
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Taxes, tips and fees on all the above
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Art with Friends Gift Box
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Memories to last a lifetime!
