Arrangements by Classical Excursions Post-conference travel program in collaboration with Around Art
Itinerary
The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association invites you to join us on an exclusive trip to Madrid to attend Spain and the Global Struggle for U.S. Independence, an academic conference examining the history of this important international relationship with a focus on the American Revolutionary and Founding eras, followed by curated tours of Madrid and surrounding environs. Wednesday, September 21 Participants arrive in Madrid and check in to the Mandarin Oriental Ritz hotel. Opening Gala dinner at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, including a private viewing of works by Francisco Goya, and Giuseppe Perovani's portrait of George Washington. Attire: Suit and tie, cocktail dress Thursday, September 22 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. Participants are transferred to Palacio de Santoña for conference sessions. Lunch at Palacio de Santoña. Afternoon conference sessions. Cocktail reception at the Palacio de Santoña, hosted by Fundación Consejo España– EE. UU. Rest and refresh at your hotel. Evening event hosted by the Honorable Julissa Reynoso, U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. Attire: Daytime, business casual Evening, suit and tie, cocktail dress Friday, September 23 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. Participants are transferred to Palacio Santoña for the second and final day of conference sessions. Lunch at Lhardy, a classic Madrid restaurant since 1839. Afternoon conference sessions. Return to hotel to freshen up. Gala Dinner at the Real Casino to celebrate the conclusion of the conference. Attire: Daytime, business casual Evening, suit and tie, cocktail dress TRAVEL PROGRAM Saturday, September 24 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid Today, we will travel by private motorcoach to Felipe II’s imposing palace of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, located about one hour from Madrid. The expansive structure stands out against the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama northwest of the city. Built between 1563 and 1584 in honor of St. Lawrence, its unadorned severity set new architectural standards. The collections boast some of the most important works of art from the imperial Habsburg collections. The visit includes the library, church, pantheon, and the royal apartments of this grand complex. Exclusive lunch at la Grajilla de la Fresneda, the private satellite 16th-century monastery and country home of Santiago Aguirre Gil de Biedma and his charming wife, Maria, with magnificent views of the monastery. Return to hotel to freshen up. Dinner on the terrace of the Ritz. Attire: Daytime, business casual Evening, jacket, dress or pantsuit Sunday, September 25 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. We will start the day with a private before-hours guided tour through the Prado Museum by an art historian. The Prado contains the world’s greatest collection of Spanish art, works by Velasquez and Goya, among others. Housed in a Neo-classical building from 1785 and designed by Juan de Villanueva, it was opened as a museum in 1819. Lunch at La Máquina Original. Free time, with time to freshen up at the hotel. To end the day, we will have a private tour of Liria Palace, the current residence of Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, 19th Duke of Alba. The lavish palace was completed by Ventura Rodriguez in 1780 as the Madrid residence for the House of Alba. The palace has an outstanding collection of art and Flemish tapestries along with paintings by Rubens, Titian and Rembrandt, and Spanish artists such as Goya, El Greco and Velasquez. Welcome by head-curator Alvaro Romero. Drinks in the Liria Palace gardens. Departure by foot for a cocktail-dinatoire at the Palacio San Bernadino, hosted by the owner, Álvaro Fernández-Villaverde y Silva, 15th Marquess of Santa Cruz. Attire: Daytime, business casual Evening, jacket, dress or pantsuit Monday, September 26 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. Our day begins with a private tour of Madrid’s vast and lavish royal palace, Palacio Real. Our tour includes an exclusive visit to the private apartments, not normally open to the general public. The palace was commissioned by Felipe V in 1734 after a fire destroyed the previous palace. Construction took more than 26 years and spanned the reigns of two Bourbon monarchs. Many of the palace interiors reflect the tastes of later kings, Carlos III and Carlos IV. The palace is still used for state visits and receptions, though the current king resides in a more modest residence on the outskirts of Madrid. Visit to the Archivo General e Histórico de Defensa, Madrid (General and Historical Archive of Defense). Lunch at La Posada de la Villa, one of the oldest restaurants in the world, established in 1642. Private after-hours visit to the Naval Museum of Madrid to view the map of Juan de la Cosa, map of the siege of Pensacola and 18th-century model ships. Return to hotel to freshen up. Dinner at the Nuevo Club, Madrid. Attire: Daytime, business casual Evening, jacket and tie required for men, dress or pantsuit for women Tuesday, September 27 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. Today, we travel to Toledo, one of Spain’s most visited cities. It is picturesquely sited on a hill overlooking the Tagus River and still retains much of its historic character. Visit to the Museo del Ejercito (Museum of the Army) in Toledo to view the collection, including a spectacular painting of Galvez in Pensacola, among other important period items. Lunch at the Hacienda del Cardinal. A visit to the Cathedral of Toledo. Built between 1226 and 1493, the cathedral displays pure French Gothic design on the exterior and Spanish decorative embellishments on the interior. A visit to the synagogues of Santa María la Blanca and El Transito. Santa Maria de la Blanca was erected in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century, and is thought to be the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing. A visit to Iglesia de Santo Tomé to view El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz, painted in 1586. An early dinner at the private Palace of Galiana on the riverbank of the Tagus, hosted by the Araoz-Marañon family. Welcome by the Duchess of Huéscar. Attire: Entire day and evening, business casual Wednesday, September 28 Breakfast at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid The day will be spent visiting the sumptuous Royal Summer Palace at Aranjuez outside Madrid, which was built during the 18th century by the Habsburgs and redecorated by the Bourbons. Highlights will be the numerous Baroque and Rococo interiors, including the famed Chinese Porcelain Room, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Smoking Room modeled on the Moorish style of the Alhambra in Granada. After our tour of the palace, we will continue on to the extensive gardens on our way to the Casa del Labrador, built by King Carlos IV as a lavish Neo-classical pavilion. We will stay in Aranjuez for lunch at the Regedal Country Wine Estate, after which we will return to Madrid for free time in the afternoon. Celebratory dinner at the Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro. Attire: Daytime, business casual Evening, jacket and tie required for men, dress or pantsuit for women Thursday, September 29 Independent departures.
Portions of the academic conference have been generously supported by our sponsors.
This trip is organized by George Washington's Mount Vernon and the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Photos, registration and further information at www.mountvernon.org/spain
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