Travel to Barcelona and throughout Southern Spain on a rich two-week travel experience, and then continue on for two more glorious weeks discovering beautiful Italy and embracing your adventurous spirit in the highlands of Slovenia.
Mediterranean Discovery
Travel to Barcelona and throughout Southern Spain on a rich two-week travel experience, and then continue on for two more glorious weeks discovering beautiful Italy and embracing your adventurous spirit in the highlands of Slovenia.
At a Glance
28 Days | Current Grades: 9-12
Community Service: N/A
Location: Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, & Slovenia
Dates & Costs
- Wait-list
Land Cost: $7,100
Supervised Flight: ~$1,700
Included:
- Accommodations (hotels)
- All meals
- All programming
- Deluxe motorcoach
- Medical insurance
- Laundry service
- Gratuity for program staff
Learn More:
The journey begins on Spain Discovery where you’ll explore world heritage sites in the cities of Madrid, Seville, Toledo, Cordoba, Barcelona, and Granada. View the art of Picasso, climb the Rock of Gibraltar, and wander through Alhambra Palace. You’ll experience what it feels like to luxuriate in a traditional hammam (bath), get wowed at a Spanish Flamenco show and discover why many consider Spain to be the culinary capital of the world!
Then keep traveling on Italy Discovery for a well-balanced combination of must-see touring, outdoor adventure, and a unique opportunity to forge friendships with fellow Jewish teens in a beautiful setting. You’ll journey back in time and explore the origins of our Western Civilization in the Italian cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, Milan, Bologna, and Verona. And then for a change of pace (and climate), travel deep into the mountainous reaches of Slovenia where you’ll canoe on a glacial lake, raft down a roaring river, explore a massive network of underground caves and enjoy the crisp alpine air hiking in the Slovenian highlands.
Mediterranean Discovery is also about connecting with the colorful history of the Jewish People iin Spain and Italy. We visit centuries-old synagogues, celebrate the Jewish contributions to the Golden Age of Spain, explore the world’s first ghetto in Venice, confront the devastating effects of the Inquisition and Holocaust, and celebrate Shabbat with the contemporary Jewish communities of Barcelona, Cordoba, Venice and Rome.
Itinerary Snapshot
A complete sample itinerary is available for an even fuller sense of the experience.
WEEK #1 | Barcelona, Toledo, & Madrid
Arrive to Barcelona and continue along the Mediterranean shore. Discover Gaudí’s fantastical architecture, explore ancient Toledo, and enjoy the trendy and art-filled city of Madrid, Spain’s modern capital.
WEEK #2 | Seville, Cordoba & Granada
Travel through Spain’s beautiful Andalusia Region, continuing the journey to the stunning city of Seville. Tour the world famous Alhambra Palace in Granada and scale the Rock of Gilbratar.
WEEK #3 | Slovenia, Florence, & Pisa
Our third week begins in the alpine mountains of Slovenia where you’ll raft, canoe, hike and go caving in the back country. Return to Italy and travel through the Tuscan countryside and on to Florence and Pisa. Soak up the best of Italian culture — everything from viewing Michelangelo’s David to learning how pasta and gelato are made.
WEEK #4 | Rome & Pompeii
We conclude our experience in Rome, a city that is both ancient and stunningly modern, with visits to the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican and a day trip to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius — Europe’s only active volcano.
Program Highlights
For a more detailed view of the program, check out the Program Itinerary
Explore Cordoba, Granada, Barcelona, Seville, Gibraltar, Toledo and Madrid
Wander the majestic Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens
Learn about Spain’s rich Sephardic Jewish heritage and the story of the Inquisition
Hike in the snow-capped Sierra-Nevada Mountains and discover the mysterious “gypsy caves” of Sacramonte
Spend a memorable Shabbat on the Rock of Gibraltar
Enjoy an authentic flamenco show, sample delicious local cuisine and view the art of Picasso
Tour Seville’s old bull-fighting ring and the Real Madrid’s stadium in Madrid
Soak in the sun on Spain’s Costa Del Sol
Navigate the canals and waterways of old Venice by gondola
Marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Explore the Tuscan countryside and the beauty of the Italian Alps
Take in the high art of Florence, home to Michelangelo, Da Vinci & Dante
Explore the treasures of the Vatican and the Jewish Quarter in Rome
Pay homage to the Roman Empire, visiting the Colosseum, Pantheon and Forum Romanum
Raft the Soca River, trek in Postojna Cave and enjoy Slovenia’s glacial Lake Bled
Test out your problem solving skills as you decipher codes in the Escape Room
Channel your inner warrior while taking part in a gladiator-for-a-day class
Learn how traditional Italian pastas, gelato and glass are made
Scale Mt. Vesuvius, and visit the lost city of Pompeii
Connect with Italy’s fascinating Jewish history and enduring Jewish communities
How the Connection Works
As a connected experience, this program combines Spain Discovery + Italy Discovery. At the end of our travels in Spain participants on Mediterranean Discovery will fly from Spain to Italy, generally arriving around the same time as the remainder of the Italy Discovery group. Trip connections are always supervised and all-inclusive. The cost of the connecting travel from Madrid to Milan is included as part of our optional group flight.
We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience, including the types of accommodations we use. The actual program may vary slightly. An updated itinerary is distributed 3-4 weeks prior to the start of the program.
DAY #1 | Tuesday | Take Off!
- Depart from New York
- Spend the night in the sky en route to Europe
DAY #2 | Wednesday | Hola Espana!
- Arrive to Barcelona in the morning
- Meet local staff – ice breakers and orientation at Gaudí’s famous Parc Güell
- Visit Sagrada Família – the famous Church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Evening: Ascend “Jew Mountain” via funicular for a walking tour
- Overnight: Barcelona, Spain
DAY #3 | Thursday | Barcelona
- Depart to Montserrat – the Benedictine monk mountain retreat
- Hike in Montserrat Natural Park and visit the Benedictine Monastery
- Relax with beach time along the Mediterranean shore
- Evening: Spend a memorable Kabbalat Shabbat with the Jewish community of Barcelona
- Overnight: Barcelona, Spain
DAY #4 | Friday | Barcelona & Montserrat
- Depart to Montserrat – the Benedictine monk mountain retreat
- Hike in Montserrat Natural Park and visit the Benedictine Monastery
- Relax with beach time along the Mediterranean shore
- Train to Madrid for Shabbat
- Evening: Spend a memorable Kabbalat Shabbat with the Jewish community of Madrid
- Overnight: Madrid, Spain
DAY #5 | Saturday | Shabbat in Madrid
- Shabbat morning program and lunch
- Tour the Madrid Jewish Quarter
- Tour Madrid Synagogues
- Havdalah service and dinner at an authentic Madrid restaurant
- Evening: Night out on in Madrid
- Overnight: Madrid, Spain
DAY #6 | Sunday | Toledo
- Depart to Castilla – the center of Spain
- Stop on the way to view the Don Quixote windmills
- Enjoy a walking tour of Toledo – panoramic view of the city from Alcazar Fortress
- Retrace the lost history of Jewish Spain at the now transformed Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca and the Taller del Moro
- Arrive to Madrid in the evening
- Overnight: Madrid, Spain
DAY #7 | Monday | Madrid
- Experience the unique spirit of Spain in Madrid’s Central Plaza Espana and Plaza Mayor
- View the masterpieces at the Prado Museum of Art
- Tour of Real Madrid’s football stadium – Home of Spain’s most famous soccer team
- Depart for Seville
- Overnight: Seville, Spain
DAY #8 | Tuesday | Sevilla
- Travel to Seville – the center of Andalusian Spain
- Horse show at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de La Fontera
- Visit the Alcázar of Seville royal palace and navigate its natural hedge maze
- Evening: Cruise down the Guadalquivir River through Seville
- Overnight: Seville, Spain
DAY #9 | Wednesday | The Rock of Gibraltar
- Cool off with a morning of aquatic fun!
- Arrive to Gibraltar in the United Kingdom!
- Afternoon walking tour of Gibraltar’s Old Town district
- Evening: Meet with a former Jewish mayor and enjoy a kosher dinner
- Overnight: Gibraltar, United Kingdom
DAY #10 | Thursday | Top of the Rock!
- Ascend the Rock of Gibraltar via the cable car
- Explore St. Michael’s Cave and get close to Gibraltar’s famous wild monkeys
- Hike up to O’Hara’s Battery at the Top of the Rock!
- Follow the Mediterranean Steps path down to Jew’s Gate
- View the African Continent from Point Europa – Southernmost tip of Europe
- Tour of the World War II Tunnels (time permitting)
- Evening: British-style fish & chips dinner
- Overnight: Gibraltar, United Kingdom
DAY #11 | Friday | Seville & Cordoba
- Explore Seville’s famous bull-fighting ring
- View the tomb of Christopher Columbus and climb the Giralda Bell Tower
- Continue northward to Cordoba!
- Evening: Kabbalat Shabbat service at the Jewish Museum
- Overnight: Cordoba, Spain
DAY #12 | Saturday | Shabbat in Cordoba
- Shabbat morning program and lunch
- Trace the history of Spain’s Golden Age at the architecturally stunning Mezquita
- Explore the Casa de Sefarad Museum and the monument to Maimonides
- Walk along the streets of Juderia – The Jewish Quarter
- Evening: Relax at the exquisite Old Moorish Hammam “baths
- Overnight: Cordoba, Spain
DAY #13 | Sunday | On to Granada!
- Wake up early to depart for Granada in the Sierra Nevada highlands
- Explore the world famous Alhambra Palace
- Stroll through the Generalife Gardens, the oldest surviving Moorish gardens
- Enjoy tea in the Moorish quarter El Albayzín
- Evening: Take-in a sunset view of Granada from the Mirador de San Nicolás overlook
- Overnight: Granada, Spain
DAY #14 | Monday | Sierra Nevada Mountains
- Full-day hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains – Ride a cable car to the summit
- Discover the Roma “Gypsy” caves of Sacromonte
- Evening: Enjoy an authentic and traditional Flamenco show
- Overnight: Granada, Spain
DAY #15 | Tuesday | Adios!
- Depart for a morning flight
- Arrive back to New York in the afternoon
You have questions? We’ve got answers! Our most frequently asked questions for this program are answered below. Additional program-wide FAQs are also available. Contact us to learn more.
How will my teen travel to the program?
An optional group flight is offered – typically from New York City. In some cases a group flight may also depart from Newark, Atlanta, Boston, or Miami. You are responsible for your transportation to the group flight departure city. Flight arrangements will be released in the spring. Families are also able to book their own tickets that mimic the group flight itinerary or book separate flight itineraries entirely and make arrangements to meet our staff in Europe. Learn more about our group flights.
Where will my teen be sleeping?
We stay in a variety of 3-star hotels, and each teen will have their own sleeping accommodations.
How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors), a local European tour leader, and a bus driver. Staff names are posted approximately 3-4 weeks prior to your departure, and you can expect a staff welcome call in the lead up to summer. Learn more about our staff team.
What’s the summer weather like?
The weather throughout Spain, Italy and Slovenia is a typical Mediterranean climate – dry heat, cool evenings, and little to no rain. Temperatures will typically be in the 80s and 90s. Because of the dry nature of the heat in the Mediterranean, the sun is deceptively strong, and you should plan to bring plenty of sunscreen and a good hat for outdoor touring.
How do you approach security?
The safety of the teens under our care is our guiding consideration. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety & security.
What’s the typical group size?
Although it varies from year to year, our average group size in Europe is 30 teens.
What’s the food like?
Meals will be either kosher or vegetarian. Some meals will be provided according to the “pizur” system – an allowance for purchasing your own meal at a local eatery. Participants can buy whatever food they wish with pizur funds. Europe draws travelers from all over the world, so there is a wide range of cuisine available.
Will I need a visa?
If you travel with an American, Canadian, or EU passport – good news! – you don’t need a visa to enter any of the European countries we visit.
For more information, check out our general FAQs.
No connections or extensions are available for this program. View all connected program options here.
