Your Madrid gourmet tapas adventure begins in front of the Opera House, in the oldest part of the city. After setting the scene, your expert local guide will lead you towards one of the most famous chocolaterias in town to enjoy a deliciously sweet breakfast of hot chocolate and churros! Afterwards, take a stroll around the city center, as your guide shows you some key landmarks and regales you with historic tales about the Spanish monarchy and the people of Madrid over the centuries.  Your second stop will be the first ever gourmet tapas market in Spain, Mercado de San Miguel, built in 1916. Taste a few different tapas dishes as you hear about Spanish culinary culture, food traditions and the introduction of gourmet markets to the foodie shopping scene.  Next, head to Madrid’s only remaining cluster convent to buy homemade sweets, a proud tradition of Spain. After your visit to the convent, make your way to the neighbourhood of La Latina to discover hidden historical corners and heritage inns from the 18th century. The third stop will be the local grocery market of La Latina. After the tasting, walk through the biggest flea market in Spain, El Rastro. Your guide will give you the lowdown on this popular market. Next on the foodie agenda is the multi-cultural Lavapies neighborhood, home to the original born-and-raised Madrileños, a common name for the people of Madrid. This area has now transformed into an exciting and tasty fusion of world cultures. African restaurants rub shoulders with Asian shops and Indian cafés. Along the way, explore an old Inquisition prison and discover its stories.  Your gourmet tapas tour of Madrid will end in Barrio de las letras, a very bohemian and chic neighborhood in the heart of Madrid. Make a stop at the market in Anton Martin where you will enjoy a tasting of organic olive oil and wine. Spain is the orchard of Europe and its wine and olive oil industries are among the largest in the world. The agriculture is moving more towards organic production now, respecting the land and promoting high-quality products. This tasting will help you better understand this organic revolution. After the tasting, you’ll dig into dishes of delicious gourmet tapas paired with a glass of Spanish wine.