Why Madrid?
Rich with history, culture, and life, the vibrant city of Madrid is the European capital city of culture with new adventures around every corner. Students studying in our program will have the opportunity to live in Madrid like a local in an immersive summer Spanish language experience with numerous excursions and experiences that will introduce students to the vast cultural richness of Spain.Dates
- 06/14/2024 to 07/12/2024
Inclusions
- Ground transportation
- 27 nights in homestay accommodations
- Admission fees
- 24/7 emergency support
- Embedded medical insurance
- 27 breakfasts and 27 dinners
- Guides
Information Session
Where: LRC 223 (in the Language Center, 2nd floor of the LRC)
When: September 18 2023, 10:00 am
Learn more about this program at our upcoming info session!
If you were unable to attend the first info session, The second one will be held on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023
Location: LRC 223 (in the Language Center, 2nd floor of the LRC
Time: 3:00PM-4:30PM
Madrid
Madrid Walking Tour (Guided)
During your stay in Madrid, you will expand your knowledge of Spanish history, culture, and politics. Let's begin the trip with a walking tour of Habsburg Madrid, known to Spaniards as Madrid de los Austrias, and which includes the Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza de la Villa, Plaza Mayor, and some of the city’s oldest streets. (no entrances included/ required)
Prado Art Museum (Guided
Guided tour of one of Madrid’s preeminent art museums, the Prado Museum. Expert tour guides and/or art historians introduce students to some of the masterworks of el Greco, Velázquez and Goya and the movements and periods with which they are associated. (entrance included)
The Royal Palace of Madrid (Guided)
The Royal Palace of Madrid has served as the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family and now used for state ceremonies. The palace is the largest palace in Europe with 135,000 square meters (1,450,000 sq ft) of floorspace and it contains 3,418 rooms! Your guided tour begins in the Plaza separating the neo-Classical Palacio Real and the Catedral de Santa María Real de la Almudena. Next, we proceed to visit the many ornate and dazzling rooms and halls that comprise the palace. During your tour, you may get a glimpse of painting by artists such as Velázquez and Francisco de Goya or see the world's only complete Stradivarius string quartet known as The Royal Quartet. (fees included)
Reina Sofía (Guided)
Visit Spain's national museum of 20th-century art commonly known as La Reina Sofía. Conveniently located near the Atocha Train Station, take a moment to explore the museum’s exhibitions and see collections of Spain's two greatest 20th century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. (entrance included)
Flamenco Show (Self-Guided)
Enjoy an unforgettable experience with the best dancers, singers, and guitarists in the flamenco scene. (fees included)
Cooking Class (Guided)
Learn to create Spanish favorites using regional ingredients and enjoy your creations for dinner. (fees included)
Mercado de San Miguel (Self-Guided)
Sample some of the best foods Madrid has to offer! (entrance free of charge)
Parque de El Retiro (Self-Guided)
Visit the beautiful haven in the center of Madrid! Filled with gardens and greenery covering 125 hectares, the Parque de El Retiro is a must see. (fees included)
Day Trip to Toledo
Walking Tour of Toledo (Guided) – Full Day Tour
Influenced by the Visigoths, Spanish Muslims, Catholic Christians, and Sephardic Jews, Toledo is a city that has wonderfully preserved architecture and is rich in Spanish history & culture. Begin your day trip with a panoramic bus tour and take the opportunity to appreciate Toledo’s unique hilltop situation and strategic military value. See the Gothic Cathedral and the rebuilt Moorish style Alcazar tower. Experience the 'casco histórico' (Old Quarter) as you cross the Tagus River on one of the oldest bridges, el Puente de San Martín, and make your way to the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes and Santa Maria la Blanca (a medieval synagogue). Continue your tour at Santo Tomé Church where you can admire El Greco´s masterpiece, "The Burial of Count Orgaz," and conclude your tour at the Cathedral of Santa María where
you will be introduced to Spanish late Gothic architecture. (entrances to San Juan de los Reyes, Santa Maria la Blanca, Santo Tomé Church, and Cathedral of Santa María included)
OPTIONAL: Weekend Trip to Granada – Day 1
Albaicín District (Old Arab Quarter of Granada) (Guided)
Walk the narrow streets of Granada’s Albaicín neighborhood and admire the distinctive architectural design. This old Arab Quarter of town has a modern mosque, historic public baths, and ancient canals that still flow beneath the street. Enjoy a memorable view of the city from the square of Mirador de San Nicolás and visit Aljibes (rainwater cisterns found throughout the city). (no entrances included/ required)
OPTIONAL: Weekend Trip to Granada – Day 2
Alhambra (Guided)
Take a tour of the infamous Moorish palace and fortress complex known as the
Alhambra. Appreciate the architecture and attention to detail of some of the finest Islamic buildings in Europe! (entrances included)
OPTIONAL: Weekend Trip to Granada – Day 3
Royal Chapel and Cathedral (Guided)
Walk around the historic center of Granada and visit the Royal Chapel of Granada, which serves as the burial site of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. You will also see the Cathedral of Granada from outside, which is a Roman Catholic church known for being the first Renaissance church in Spain. (Royal Chapel entry included)
Day Trip to Segovia
Walking Tour of Segovia (Guided) – Full Day Tour
Take a walking tour and visit Segovia’s Roman aqueduct and medieval castle, as well as la Casa de los Picos, the Great Synagogue, the Jewish Quarter or Judería, the Segovia Cathedral with its Plaza Mayor, and the now emblematic Moorish-style Alcázar. While on your tour of the city, stop to take in breathtaking views of the Sierra de Guadarrama Mountain range. (entrance to
Alcazar included)
Michael Harrison, Ph.D.
Professor of Spanish, Assistant Chair – Department of Languages
mharriso@sdccd.eduDr. Michael Harrison is a professor of Spanish at San Diego Mesa College. After discovering the kaleidoscope of cultures and traditions that became accessible to him after beginning to study Spanish, he knew that he not only wanted to learn as much as he could, but that he wanted to dedicate his career to sharing that richness with future students. A study abroad experience in Madrid at the Universidad Antonio de Nebrija while an undergrad at Furman University solidified that interest and made him especially excited about the study of Peninsular Spanish literature, history, and culture. That interest in Peninsular cultural expression was the inspiration for his doctoral work in that field at the University of California, Irvine, and for numerous trips to Spain since then, most with students to support them in their own study abroad experiences. Introducing students to the rich cultural and linguistic history of Spain, and especially in Madrid, the city he considers his second home, is an incredible joy!
Hannah Padilla Barajas
Professor of Spanish, Chair - Department of Languages
hpadilla@sdccd.eduHannah Padilla Barajas is a full-time professor at San Diego Mesa College where she has been teaching beginning and intermediate level Spanish courses for over 20 years. Padilla Barajas’ academic trajectory was significantly altered as an undergrad after studying for a semester in Seville, Spain. She returned from this experience with strengthened communication skills, a stronger sense of independence, increased self confidence, a larger view of the world, a deepened passion for art and culture, and so much more. As a result, Padilla Barajas then completed her BA with a double major in Spanish and Studio Art. Shortly afterwards Hannah Padilla Barajas decided to continue her studies in Spanish and went on to earn a MA in Hispanic Literature and Language. As a college professor, Padilla Barajas loves to share her passion for learning language and culture with her students and she understands first hand how much a study abroad experience can positively impact her students lives. As a faculty member of this program, she is so proud to make this dream come true for her students.
Funding Your Program
- Scholarship Options: WorldStrides offers a variety of scholarships to help make study abroad possible for all students. There are three scholarship opportunities available: Higher Ed Traveler, Diversity & Inclusion, and the Natalie Shea Memorial Scholarships. You can learn more and apply here.
- Financial Assistance: WorldStrides makes more than $2 million in funding available each year to students in financial need seeking educational travel opportunities. To find out if you qualify and apply, click here.
- Gift of Education: When you enroll in a WorldStrides program, a personal fundraising page will be created on your behalf. You can customize your page and share it with family or on social media to help raise funds for your program. To learn more, click here.
Why travel with WorldStrides?
Transformative Experiences
Experiential learning is a the heart of what we do. Thoughtful immersions enhance each and every program by providing cultural context to push you outside your comfort zone and develop true global perspective.
Included Insurance
With medical insurance included for each participant on our programs, parents and students can rest assured that we've got you covered! Our comprehensive plan boasts $100K in medical insurance, including 100% mental wellness coverage, security evacuation, and bedside visitor benefit for most hospitalizations.
In the heart of the action
Centrally located hotels in our international destinations free up extra hours for spontaneous exploration and fun.
Travel with your taste buds.
We carefully select where our travelers dine, making sure it's authentic local cuisine, served in local restaurants.
Comprehensive risk management
Proactivity and agility are hallmarks of our service. Our crisis team has decades of experience meeting challenges of all scopes, from lost passports to complex, unplanned emergencies. Our priority on preparedness is designed to ensure your group gets an optimum experience—on every program!
Rockstar tour guides
Our certified on-tour leaders speak the local language, have encyclopedic knowledge, and thrive on making the journey fun. They're also pros at tuning their content to the group.
Strength in numbers
With 50 years of experience, we've taken over 9 million students on educational programs - over 530,000 students traveled with us last year alone! We partner with more than 50,000 educators and 500 colleges and universities.
A world of possibility
Our programs have spanned more than 100 countries on 6 continents, and we're always opening new markets for adventurous groups who want to experience new parts of the world. We believe this kind of global reach makes our capabilities as agile as your imagination!