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Cultural Tour in Southern Spain 8 Day Small Group Tour
This trip is a pure delight for those who find history, architecture and art fascinating.
A magical journey around Andalusia which will allow you to discover some of Spain’s main World Heritage Sites as well as our interesting culture.
The cultural influences that have washed over Andalusia since the first paintings were etched on cave walls are numerous: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, and Vandals. But the most influential of all were unarguably that of the Moors, who named the region “Al-Andalus” and whose eighth-century rule left an indelible imprint on the region’s culture and customs. On these cultural excursions in Spain you will visit many sites which represent the Arte Mudejar, a Hispanic-Muslim art only present in Andalusia and admired worldwide for its beauty and delicacy, but also stunning historic buildings from the Gothic and Renaissance times.
Accompanied by a local tour directors and guided by art historian experts, you will explore and learn more about the history of extraordinary places in the region such as Granada’s legendary Alhambra Palace, Cordoba’s distinctive Mosque, and Sevilla’s majestic Cathedral, but also about hidden gems that aren’t so well-known, yet are truly master pieces.
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A first taste of Granada
Early afternoon: Arrive in Malaga, meet & greet at the train station & transfer to Granada Upon arrival in Malaga, meet with your tour leader with whom you will spend the next 7 days exploring Southern Spain and the rest of your group. Your private driver will then transfer you all to your hotel in Granada's historic centre (approx. 1.5h drive along the scenic coastal road).
Evening: Orientation walk & tapas experience After check-in, you will be taken on a short orientation walking tour of approx. 1.5h to get acquainted to the city and especially the Albaycin Moorish quarter, constructed on a medieval town plan with cobbled streets and small squares, which will lead you to the San Nicolas viewpoint, offering magnificent views of the Alhambra, Granada and the Sierra Nevada. Your tour guide will then take you to some of the most authentic tapas bars in town to sample traditional dishes and get you immersed in the “granadino tapas” culture and traditions.
Meals included: Evening tapas tour
The wonders of the Alhambra
Morning: Alhambra guided tour Enjoy a 2.5h tour of the Alhambra Palace & the beautiful Generalife gardens with your local fluent English-Speaking art historian guide. This tour includes entrance tickets and 'skip the line' access. The Alhambra is Granada’s – and Europe’s – love letter to Moorish culture, a place where fountains trickle, leaves rustle, and ancient spirits seem to mysteriously linger. Lunch will be at a nearby restaurant with beautiful views.
Free Afternoon Free time to simply relax, explore the city alone or maybe do some shopping? For those looking for something a little different we can also arrange a nice session at the famous Arabian Baths or a Flamenco show as an optional extra.
Free evening We will provide you with maps, tips, and recommendations for local bars & restaurants.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
A taste of the countryside
Morning: Montilla olive oil & wine region On this exciting tour, we will venture out into the countryside to explore the beautiful hills of Montilla. Here you will visit two family-run boutique establishments: an olive oil mill and a winery. You will learn about the production process and will enjoy tastings of their award winning products along with a delicious traditional tapas lunch showcasing this region’s products.
Afternoon: Transfer to Cordoba & orientation walk Get acquainted with this beautiful and historical city with a 2h orientation walk focused on the city centre and the San Basilio district, famous for featuring some of the most hidden treasures and private courtyards in Cordoba.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
The ancient city of Córdoba
Morning: Cordoba guided tour Walking tour with historian guide of approx. 3h to discover the main sites of this UNESCO listed city. Includes: the Mosque and Cathedral, the Jewish quarter and the Royal Alcazar/Palace. The tour will end at the Julio Romero Museum (the Old Charity Hospital from XVIc), where you will have some free time to visit the museum alone. Lunch will be at the famous “Bodegas Campos”, a traditional Córdoba house with stunning courtyards and a private wine cellar.
Free Afternoon to relax or explore the city on your own. Evening Equestrian Show (optional extra 25 euros per person) Marvellous equestrian exhibition in which pure bred Spanish horses are the main protagonists. The stage, an emblematic and magical historical building, once the birthplace of the Andalusian Horse and now an unparalleled setting for this enchanting equestrian show.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Medina Azahara & Sevilla
Morning: Guided tour of Medina Azahara After having breakfast and checking out, your driver and art historian guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to take you to explore the archaeological site of Medina Azahara (aprx. 20 min North of Cordoba). Here you will have a guided tour of 3 hrs including: a presentation video, a tour of the archaeological museum and a visit to the site itself. The medieval palace city of Medina Azahara, once the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba that existed in the 10th and 11th centuries, has been added to the UNESCO heritage list in June 2018. It is the 47th World Heritage List site to be inscribed in Spain, which already has forty cultural, four natural, and two mixed sites listed.
Lunch: Transfer to the picturesque town of Carmona (approx. 1h 15min, on the way to Sevilla) where you will enjoy a delicious lunch at the Parador Hotel. The restaurant here offers the most spectacular views over the Guadalquivir valley and crops.
After lunch, it’s off to Sevilla, which is at only a 30 min drive on the motorway. Evening Orientation walk of Sevilla: Approx. 1.5hrs to get acquainted with this charming city. Highlights: Murillo gardens, Plaza de Espana, Maria Luisa Park & the Torre del Oro.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Sevilla, the beauty
Morning: Guided tour of Sevilla Walking tour of approx. 3h with your art historian guide to discover the main historic sites of Sevilla. Includes: The Cathedral, Royal Alcazar /Palace & the Santa Cruz Jewish quarter. This tour includes “skip-the-line” access to all the main sites.
Lunch Tapas tour with your guide in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood to taste some of the local specialties.
Evening Flamenco Show & Dinner An evening of art & emotion at one of the most emblematic ’tablaos’ in Sevilla. Witness the excitement and ‘duende’ of Flamenco first hand, and enjoy a delectable à la carte dinner with dishes of high Andalusian cuisine.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Picturesque Ronda
Today you will spend a wonderful day outdoors exploring the most spectacular Andalusian countryside and mountains. You will enjoy a very scenic drive through the Grazalema Natural Park and have the opportunity to take great picture shots and admire the most breath-taking view points at the charming white village of Zahara de la Sierra. We leave the best for the last on this superb day trip by taking a guided tour of the picturesque town of Ronda.
Morning: White villages & Ronda After a quick early morning coffee at your hotel in Sevilla, your private driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and will take you on a very scenic drive through the spectacular Grazalema natural park to the charming town of Zahara de la Sierra where you will enjoy a lovely Spanish breakfast at a very cosy restaurant with a terrace offering breath-taking views to the lake of Zahara. After a short visit of the town, you will be driven to the picturesque town of Ronda where you will have an introductory walking tour of approx. 2.5hrs including the old town, the cliffs, the New bridge and the famous bullring in the city centre. After the guided tour and before heading to your next destination, you will have some lunch at the Reina Victoria Hotel in Ronda which offers spectacular views of Ronda’s gorge and cliffs.
Afternoon: Transfer to Malaga Private transfer to your hotel in Malaga’s city centre (aprx. 1.5h) where you will check-in at the hotel and have the rest of the evening free to explore the city at your leisure. We will provide you with maps, tips, and recommendations for local bars & restaurants.
Breakfast & Lunch
Malaga, window to the Mediterranean
Morning: Malaga Old town & Picasso museum Your art historian guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel for a 2.5hrs guided tour in Malaga. The tour will include an orientation walk through the historic old town to help you get your bearings around this beautiful Mediterranean city and understand the past and the present of its history and traditions. You will also enjoy a guided visit of the famed Picasso Museum and get to learn all about this Spanish artist’s relationship with his birthplace.
Along the tour, you will get architectural and historical explanations of the most important sites of the city and their role in the shaping of modern-day Malaga: - The Renaissance Cathedral - The Roman theatre - The Alcazaba or Moorish fortress - The Thyssen Museum - The main squares such as Plaza de la Merced o Plaza de la Constitucion. You will also go off the beaten track to get a feel for Malaga's authentic essence. This tour will be completed with a farewell lunch at one of the most authentic restaurants in Malaga.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Tours marked with are special prices.
| Start | End | Max. No. Guests | Accommodation | Price p.p. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 06 2024 | Oct 13 2024 | 12 | Single rooms | 4,440€ | ||
| Double rooms | 3,700€ |
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