Most ACCENT programs include cultural activities within Madrid and excursions outside of the city. Excursions include guided visits of important museums and monuments in the context of the program. Excursion destinations and monuments vary by program and can include sites throughout the country.
Andalucía (Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada) Weekend
Explore Andalucía’s (home of flamenco and bullfighting) beautiful countryside and fabulous monuments and get to know its Moorish past. Visit Córdoba, Sevilla and Granada, where some of the most sophisticated civilizations of the Middle Ages thrived. See the spectacular: Córdoba’s Mezquita, Sevilla’s Reales Alcázares, Granada’s Alhambra fortress and palace, as well as the Cathedral, resting ground for Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand.
Toledo
Explore Toledo, following along its narrow and strolling streets, and go back to medieval times. Visit its splendid architecture, including the Puerta de Bisagra, the Alcázar, the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes and Santa María la Blanca.
Ávila
Visit Ávila’s ancient walls, built by the Romans. With a length of over two kilometers, they are the authentic emblem of the city. Admire the beautiful view of the Ambles Valley that Ávila has to offer.
Segovia
Segovia is located on a rocky overhang surrounded by the waters of the Eresma and Clamores rivers. The impressive aqueduct, which has run through the center of the city since Roman times and the 15th century Alcazar are without a doubt this city’s most striking features.
El Escorial
Visit the magnificent Monasterio del Escorial built in the 16th century by Philip II. The monastery holds 16 patios, with 15 cloisters supporting its 92 meter high dome and two smaller bell towers.
Barcelona
Barcelona, the capital city of the Catalonian region and the second largest city in Spain, has much to offer. Its gentle climate is owed to its Mediterranean port; its beauty and civic refinement are a result of thousands of years of history and architecture. In the Barcelona weekend excursion, ACCENT students come face to face with Roman, Gothic, Modernist and Post-Modernist styles all nestled between majestic mountains and the sea. Feel the spirit of this Olympic city in its vibrant cafés and broad European avenues.
Bilbao
Now famous for its grand Guggenheim Museum and a metro system of the 21st Century designed by Calatrava, Bilbao has always been an important northern port. A great deal of Spain’s wealth and industrial activity has traditionally come from this small city in the Basque region. Here the ACCENT student can also sample Spain’s finest gastronomy!
Galicia (Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña) Weekend
In the northwest of Spain, Galicia is an outstanding place for those who love the nature, filled with rivers, green fields and mysticism. Considered in ancient times as “the land of all roads’ end,” the region shows an always present combination of history, art and religious pilgrimage. Santiago attracts visitors for its beautiful and perfectly conserved architectural structures in the Romanesque, Baroque and Neo-Classical styles. ACCENT Students will also visit A Coruña, one of the most beautiful port cities in Spain.
Valencia
Valencia is the city of perfect Mediterranean light famous for its paella, its old quarter, its 21st century Calatrava architecture and its thousands of years old festival of fireworks called Las Fallas. Here the ACCENT student can stroll the wide, tree-lined avenues and enjoy the delicious, cold Horchata drink. Very near to the city center, one can visit long, fine sand beaches.
Cultural and Evening Activities
The ACCENT cultural activity series is designed to bring Madrid to the students and to encourage an in-depth cultural awareness. A wide range of events are planned to give students a broad understanding of Spanish culture, art, music and cuisine. Students visit major museums, churches and historical sites as well as lesser-known sites to help develop a more solid background in Spanish Civilization and Art History.