Spain 8 Day Basketball Tour

Upon our arrival we are welcomed by our Spanish tour guide and take part in a driving orientation tour of Madrid, Spain’s largest city and capital. Recognized as one of the major cities in the world, Madrid is known for its international influences and one of Spain’s most famous basketball clubs, Real Madrid. Our tour will include visits to the Royal Palace, the official home of Spain’s royal family, the Puerta de Alcala, Retiro Park, and the Puente de Toledo. Later this afternoon our team will take part in a training session as we prepare for our upcoming friendly games.

This morning we travel to Alcobendas to visit the FIBA Hall of Fame and learn about the individuals who have influenced international competitive basketball. We’ll enjoy a visit to the Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s busiest spots in the city, and then return to our hotel for a pre-game meal. Following our meal enjoy a time to rest before heading out to our scheduled friendly basketball game. After our game we will have a post game party with time to interact and become better friends with the team we just played.

Game One vs. TBD

Following breakfast we depart Madrid and travel to Toledo, known as the city of three cultures, where Christians, Jews and Arabs live together in harmony. Our guide will show us the medieval castle, with its storybook fortified towers and the stunning Moorish architectures of Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue which is Europe’s oldest synagogue. We’ll take time to visit the Church of St. Tome which houses famous El Greco paintings and then the 13th Century Cathedral of Toledo, declared a World Heritage Site and Spain’s finest example of Spanish Gothic architecture. We’ll enjoy a pre-game lunch before some free time to rest and explore Toledo on your own. Late this afternoon we take part in our scheduled friendly basketball game. After our game we will have a post game party with time to interact and become better friends with the team we just played. We return to Madrid.

Game Two vs. TBD

This morning we begin at the Plaza of Las Ventas which is the home for bullfighting in Spain. Built in 1929, Las Ventas seats 25,000 spectators as they watch some of the greatest bullfighters in the world. Next we visit Real Madrid’s Basketball Stadium, Palacio de Deportes. Originally founded in 1902 as the Madrid Futbol Club, Real Madrid’s basketball team originated in 1931 and is the most successful basketball club in Spain and Europe. This afternoon we enjoy some leisure time to enjoy our hotel or explore Madrid on your own. This evening we take part in a training session led by a local professional Spanish coach giving both the players and coaches a chance to learn how training is done in Spain.

After an early breakfast we travel by high-speed train and arrive in Barcelona by late morning. Enjoy a city tour of Spain’s second largest city with visits to the Old City and the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia which is one of the most famous landmarks in Barcelona and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoy a pre-game meal and then transfer to our scheduled friendly basketball game. Following our game we will have a post game party with time to interact and become better friends with the team we just played.

Game Three vs. TBD

This morning we visit the home of the FC Barcelona Bàsquet. Started in 1899, Barcelona FC was founded by a group of English, Swiss and Catalan futbol players and later added their basketball program in 1926. Today they are one of the most successful Spanish basketball clubs, second only to Real Madrid. This afternoon we enjoy sightseeing at the Magic Fountain and the Placa de Catalunya, Barcelona’s center square, with some free time to pick up some souvenirs.

This morning we say “Adios” to Spain and transfer to the Barcelona airport to begin our journey home.