The group spends four days/three nights traveling across the south of Spain, including guided visits to the Cathedral and Giralda in Sevilla and the Cathedral and Alhambra in Granada. Travel will be by bus and train. Students have the option to extend their return transportation by two days in order to explore more of Andalucia at their own expense. Most students choose to stay and explore surrounding cities such as Córdoba and Cádiz.

STUDENT VOICES - Andalucía Excursion

Granada: I’m going to crib a public service announcement from Blanca Muro [instructor for Duke in Madrid art history course]. La Alhambra is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, and for good reason - it’s a beautiful place. When you come here, though, please don’t be loud and touristy. Stop and listen and try to imagine the place as it was to the Moors who stayed here in the 1300s and 1400s as their country was crumbling around them. Look for the subtle beauty that so captivated Washington Irving when he stayed here. Listen for the sound of running water. (A no-talking policy, though draconian, would suit the Alhambra well.) Some of my friends thought this was a boring place, but that’s because they weren’t looking or listening or imagining like so. It’s their loss. Granada is the last city of the Moors, and for this reason it’s extremely romantic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I also recommend standing downwind from the Street of Spices for some olfactory awesomeness.

-James Smyth, Trinity '08

Sevilla: There are so many small and winding streets that using a map is a real chore here. Instead, orient yourself to the two major landmarks: the Cathedral and the river. If you always know where they are and how to get back to your hostel from there, you’ll be fine. May you arrive when the oranges are in bloom. I visited this city twice, in June and September, and when I came back here the second time it was like reuniting with an old friend. I felt comfortable here immediately.

-James Smyth, Trinity '08

See our Student Travel Reports for information about other locations and side trips possible in Andalucía.

The group spends three days/two nights in Galicia visiting rural areas and the cities of A Coruña, Pontevedra, and Santiago de Compostela. Transportation to Galicia will be by plane and local transportation by bus. You will be given the option of extending your flight reservations for two extra days before the start of the program. (Extra days will be at your own expense - only the flight will be covered.)

STUDENT VOICES - Galicia Excursion

My favorite program trip was our weekend in Galicia. This was the first trip we took together, and was a great bonding experience. The scenery was beautiful, the food was amazing, and everyone really got to know each other.

-Mhoire Murphy, Trinity '09

¡Galicia fue increíble y ya estoy experimentando “moriña” por esa tierra! Galicia was incredible and I'm already experiencing “moriña” (gallego for a longing to return to Galicia) for that land. This past weekend in Galicia with the program was truly amazing as I got to explore a region of Spain completely different from the culture here in Spain. From climbing the roof of the catedral in Santiago de Compostela to the mercado (market) to eating lots of mariscos (seafood) to a queimada complete with una bruja (a witch) to wandering around the city to visiting a quaint coastal village to hitting up the beach to building castillos de arena (sand castles) to learning el baile gallego (Galician dance) to gaitas y tambores (bagpipes and drums) to picking manzanas y uvas (apples and grapes) right off the tree to soaking in the beautiful scenery of una casa rural (rural house) as the sun was coming up over the hills to trying pulpo (octopus) to exploring a medieval town to getting lost in a huge market to climbing the steps of el Torre de Hércules (the oldest lighthouse in the world that was built by the Romans over 2000 years ago) to checking out A Coruña to enjoying an exquisite chocomerienda at a chocolatería to finally making the return to Madrid, it was a weekend that I'll never forget. [Read more about David's visit to Galicia in our facebook group!]

-David Noyd, Trinity '09

See Student Voices box below for videos from the Fall 2007 Galicia excursion!

The field trip to Barcelona consists of 2 days/1 night and includes guided tours of various monuments and museums, such as, Museo Picasso, the Gothic Neighborhood (El Barrio Gótico) , the Casal Mila (Gaudí) and the interior of La Sagrada Familia (Gaudí). Students have the option of extending the program-paid return flight by one day to spend extra time in Barcelona at their own expense. Most students choose to extend their stay to explore not only Barcelona, but the surrounding area.

STUDENT VOICES - Barcelona Excursion

Barcelona is amazing! The city is really one of a kind. It is a MUST to see Gaudi's works - as many as you can cram in. Their revolutionary design can be appreciated by everyone, regardless of whether you know anything about architecture. I would also highly recommend checking out Barcelona's modern art museums.

-Sarah Schnee, Trinity '07

It goes without saying that you're doing the extra day here. It's probably the hippest city in Europe. It seems like no one ever makes it to the outlying Catalan towns because they're enjoying themselves so much in the city proper, but if you're already a Barcelona vet and you'd like to try it, I recommend researching routes on the Internet beforehand because everything happens so fast once you arrive. If you're in Spain for the summer, come here or to Valencia for the Noche de San Juan during the June summer solstice. And if you're here in the summer, remember, Barcelona also has a beach.

-James Smyth, Trinity '08

See our Student Travel Reports for more information from students about the Barcelona area.