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May 2023

Spain & Portugal

Office of the President

Mark your calendars and reserve your spot to join Concordia University Irvine President Dr. Michael Thomas on a choir companion tour through Spain & Portugal in May 2023.

Spain & Portugal: 2023

Concordia University Irvine Choir Companion Tour

12 Days: May 9-20, 2023

Touring Seville, Granada, Algarve Coast & Lisbon

Hosted by
Dr. Michael and Mrs. Kimberly Thomas
President, Concordia University Irvine

Dr. Michael and Mrs. Kimberly Thomas

Register Now

Dear Friends,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I invite you, as the President of Concordia University Irvine, to join Kim and me on a 12-day Concordia Choir “Companions Tour” of southern Spain and Portugal from May 9-20, 2023.

Enjoy three performances of the Concordia Choir in Seville (Spain) and Faro and Lisbon (Portugal). Additionally, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a meal with the Concordia singers at a small local restaurant during your free night in Granada.

During this tour of one of the most beautiful regions of Europe, we’ll explore Seville, the jewel of Spain, including visits to Plaza de España, the Giralda bell tower of the Seville Cathedral, Torre del Oro, and the breathtaking Royal Alcazar. In Granada, we’ll visit Alhambra, built in 889 AD and still standing as one of the finest monuments of Islamic architecture. We’ll cross into Portugal by traversing the Algarve Coast, featuring enchanting fishing villages, before entering Faro for a walking tour of the old city dating to the 13th century. We’ll finish the tour with a three-day visit to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Lisbon features world heritage sites such as St. George’s Castle, Jerónimos Monastery, and the Sanctuary of Fátima, a Catholic shrine where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.

Kim and I are excited to offer this companion tour which provides a balance between traveling with the Concordia choir and free time to explore and experience the delights of Spanish and Portuguese culture. We’ll travel in our own motor coach and stay in first class/select hotels (4-4.5 star) hotels. Also included are: roundtrip economy airline tickets from Los Angeles; daily breakfast; seven dinners; three Concordia Choir concerts; all scheduled sightseeing entrance fees; tips for Tour Manager, Bus Driver and Local Guides.

We look forward to having you join us on this amazing trip to southern Spain and Portugal. It promises to be a wonderful experience for all with time to enjoy the fellowship of old friends and new. Travel arrangements are provided by KI Concerts, a partner of the Concordia Music department.

NOW is the time to make plans and reserve your place on this tour, as space is limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience the history, culture, and remarkable scenery of the Iberian Peninsula!

We’re so excited for you to join us on this tour.

Pax Domini,

Dr. Michael & Mrs. Kimberly Thomas
President, Concordia University Irvine

Tour Features

  • Round-trip airfare from Los Angeles, economy class
  • Air taxes and surcharges at the time of booking
  • Professional tour manager throughout tour
  • Local guides with extensive knowledge of the history and culture of the cities visited
  • Bus transport for activities listed in the itinerary
  • 4 - 4.5 star accommodations, based on double occupancy
  • Breakfast daily and 7 dinners
  • All scheduled sightseeing and entrance fees
  • Concert organization and promotion listed in itineraries
  • Tips for Tour Manager, Bus Driver and Local Guides

Learn More »

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  • Beautiful buildings over looking the water
  • Santarem, Lisbon
  • Scenery from Lisbon

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Los Angeles / Across the Atlantic

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Depart from Los Angeles.

Arrive in Spain

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

  • Meet your KI Concerts Tour Manager.
  • Transfer to Seville.
  • Seville was founded by the Romans and then controlled by the Visigoths, Moors, and Spanish Castilians, giving the city a distinct blend of cultures and architectural styles.
  • Check into hotel.
  • Welcome dinner.
  • Overnight Seville.

Seville

Thursday, May 11, 2023

  • Breakfast daily.
  • Enjoy a guided city tour of Seville, the jewel of southern Spain. A feast of sights await you here including the Plaza de España, the Giralda bell tower of the Seville Cathedral, and the Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold), a site whose name is at odds with its past as a medieval military watchtower and prison.
  • Visit the breathtaking Royal Alcazar, the residential palace of Spain’s royal family when in the region.
  • Dinner.
  • Attend the first Concordia University Choir Concert.
  • Overnight Seville.

Seville & Granada

Friday, May 12, 2023

  • Free time to explore Seville.
  • Transfer to Granada.
  • Check into hotel.
  • Dinner on own.
  • Overnight Granada.

Granada

Saturday, May 13, 2023

  • Enjoy a guided city tour of Granada, passing the Catedral de Granada, the Royal Chapel of Granada (Capilla Real), the Real Chancilleria, Lonja de Mercaderes, the Albaicín, and the Carrera del Darro.
  • Visit the famous Alhambra. The beautiful Calat Alhambra (Red Castle) is one of the most remarkable fortresses ever constructed. It was built in 889 AD and stands at the top of a wooded hill commanding views of the town, the Sacromonte Heights, and nearby hillsides gardens of the Generalife.
  • Free night for companions to dine with singers.
  • Overnight Granada.

Granada

Sunday, May 14, 2023

  • Attend Sunday morning service.
  • Free time to explore Granada.
  • Dinner on own.
  • Overnight Granada.

Algarve Coast

Monday, May 15, 2023

  • Travel to Portugal via the Algarve Coast, an enchanting route featuring golden beaches, limestone cliffs, and charming fishing villages.
  • En route to Lisbon, visit Huelva, a city known for its historical sites related to Christopher Columbus's voyages, including the Moguer, Palos de la Frontera, and the Rábida Monastery.
  • Check into hotel.
  • Dinner.
  • Overnight Algarve Coast.

Algarve Coast

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

  • Enjoy a guided walking tour of Faro, the capital of southern Portugal’s Algarve region. Witness the city’s neoclassical Arco da Vila which was built on part of the original Moorish wall. This monumental archway leads to the cobbled streets of old town and the 13th century Faro Cathedral.
  • Dinner.
  • Attend the second Concordia University Choir Concert.
  • Overnight Algarve Coast.

Santarem & Lisbon

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

  • Travel to Lisbon.
  • On the way stop in Santarém, one of the oldest cities in the world.
  • Enjoy an orientation tour of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
  • Check into hotel.
  • Dinner.
  • Overnight Lisbon.

Lisbon

Thursday, May 18, 2023

  • Enjoy a guided tour of Lisbon including a visit to Belém Tower, a 16th-century fortification that served as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon and a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers. Walk through the Alfama district, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon with its delightful maze of narrow cobblestone streets and ancient houses.
  • Visit St. George's Castle, perched atop Lisbon's highest hill, and enjoy spectacular views of the entire city.
  • Visit the Jerónimos Monastery, one of the best examples of Portuguese late Gothic architecture from the 1500s.
  • Dinner.
  • Attend the final Concordia University Choir Concert.
  • Overnight Lisbon.

Fatima, Sintra, & Lisbon

Friday, May 19, 2023

  • Visit the Sanctuary of Fátima, a Catholic shrine, and tour the Chapel of the Apparitions, which marks the spot where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared.
  • Transfer to Sintra, a resort town in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains and home to many exquisite palaces, extravagant mansions, and decorative gardens. Enjoy free time to explore the village and the National Palace, once the home of Portugal’s kings. Continue onto Pena Palace, where you can explore the palace and gardens which offer a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and Sintra National Park.
  • Return to Lisbon.
  • Farewell dinner.
  • Overnight Lisbon.

Depart

Friday, May 20, 2023

Transfer to the airport and begin your journey home.

Register Now

View the tour details on the KI Concerts site »

Traveling with Dr. Thomas

Algrave coast

Payment Schedule

Reservations may be secured upon payment of a deposit of $900. Additional monthly payments of $900 are due on the 15th of each month (August, September, October and November). Travelers registering after September 15 will need to make up the monthly payments at the time of registration. The Final Balance is due January 15, 2023.

Cost: $5,445 per person
includes tax, service charges, and airline fees

Make a payment

Contact Us

If at any point if you have questions, please contact us directly.

Michael Bergler

Mike Bergler
University Advancement
(949) 214-3187
[email protected]

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