La Alberca: a Medieval Village and the Best Ham in the World

the “Jamon Iberico de Bellota” (Acorn Iberic Ham)

Tuesday 20th (9:30 - 19:00)

In the morning, on the way to La Alberca, you will be able to marvel at the dehesa (range) countryside, with its carefully tended holm oaks that provide the acorns that are the essence of the pigs’ diet and afford their hams that unique flavour only to be found in this part of the world.

La Alberca is famous for its amazing landscape over the Sierra de Francia (the southern mountain region of Salamanca) as well for its medieval architecture and traditions: it has been declared National historical Site, since 1940. Once arrived in La Alberca, wandering through the streets with its quaint, overhanging, half-timbered houses (their system of construction with arab origin unchanged for hundreds of years), you surely will shake your head thinking that you have somehow travelled back in time. In particular we will be able to visit one of those houses: the museum house of Satur Juanela, where visitors can appreciate how the real life of the village was.

After we will be visiting a curing house where you will be invited to try its produce. In fact La Alberca is famous for its salt-cured ham from acorn-fed pigs (pata negra), probably one of the most exquisitely flavoured cured hams in the world, and indeed perhaps one of the most emblematic symbols of traditional Spanish cuisine. These ham are shown and sold in the most exclusive gourmet shops of New York, London, Tokyo, Moscow, etc… as a gourmet treasure.

After having tasted the traditional cuisine of La Alberca in one of the traditional restaurants in the medieval centre of the village, we will have time to relax and stroll on the medieval streets of the village.

Program

09:30 - 11:00       Transfer to La Alberca

11:00 - 12:30       Visit to La Alberca and museum house

12:30 - 13:30       Visit to an iberic ham curing house and tasting

13:30 - 15:30       Lunch in a traditional restaurant

15:30 - 16:30       Free time

16:30 - 17:30       Visit to Peña de Francia

17:30 - 19:00       Return to Salamanca

Salamanca: Guided Tour to the New and Old Cathedrals

 and the Art Nouveau and Art Deco  Museum at the Casa de Lis

Wednesday 21th (10:00 - 13:30)

Strolling on your own through the Salamanca’s narrow streets and centennial golden sandstone-clad buildings it is truly a magical experience as well as sitting in one of the cafés in the Main Square, almost the “living room” of the town.

But in order to appreciate the real beauty and richness of the most famous monuments we recommend you to join us and visit the two magnificent cathedrals under the guide of our expert: you will have the opportunity to almost breathe in the culture and history, and the golden sandstone, which literally covers the ensemble, affords a unique sensation of serenity, splendour and timelessness that will surely tempt you to return one day, because Salamanca -the hechicera- somehow instils in one a very special kind of devotion…

Wine Tasting Session: Encounter with Spanish Wines

Wednesday 21th (19:00 - 21:00)

Spanish wines are triumphing throughout the world. Robert Parker, the guru of “Wine Spectator”, contends that over the next 10 years “thanks to the quality and variety of its production” Spain will become one of the foremost wine-producing countries in the world.

To enter the world of Spanish wines is to catch a glimpse of the future of some of the finest wines in the world. And to become acquainted with Spanish wines, there is no better way than to do so in the confident hands of our expert. Under the guide of Nicolás, one of the best "noses" of Spain, you will have the opportunity to discover the particularities of spanish wines and to taste a sample of wines of different regions or DOs (Denomination of Origin)

«Qui sait dégoûter ne boit plus jamais du vin, mais goûte des secrets»
Salvador Dalí

Excursion to Segovia and Avila

Friday 23th (9:00 - 21:00)

Salamanca is one of the three UNESCO World Heritage cities in Castile & Leon. In this excursion we will visit the other two: Segovia and Avila.

Segovia is doubtless a city of extraordinary beauty, its history, fed by many and diverse cultures since time immemorial, is now reflected in a panoply of artistic variety to be found at any street corner; its mediaeval walls, its old Jewish quarter, its cathedral, its Romanesque churches, its convents and its palatial mansions. In our guided tour of the city we will be able to admire all these jewels. But above all, Segovia has been noted for its aqueduct, a masterpiece of Roman engineery and the most emblematic of all the city's structures. It was built in the 1st century A.D. under the reign of the Emperor Trajan and until a few years ago was still in use. For some 2,000 years, this hulking aqueduct brought potable water to the city from the Frio River, 16 km away.

But Segovia is also famous for its acclaimed roast suckling pig. A sublime experience indeed because nowhere else will you find a combination of crispiness and succulence in such a perfect and skilful blend. In Segovia, you will have the chance to try it in one of the most famous roasting houses.

Program

09:00 - 11:00       Salamanca - Segovia

11:00 - 14:00       Guided tour of Segovia

14:00 - 16:00       Lunch in a roasting house

16:00 - 17:00       Segovia - Avila

17:00 - 19:00       Guided tour of Avila

19:00 - 20:00       Return to Salamanca