Small Group Cultural Tours in Andalucia

Itinerary

Day 1: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Mijas Pueblo

Stop At: Picos de Mijas, Sierra de Mijas, Mijas Spain
We will collect you at Malaga airport on your arrival and will start your Andalucian experience with a visit to the mountain town of Mijas, one of the most famous Pueblos Blancos, (white towns), in Andalucia. Later we will transport you to your chosen accommodation, aiming to arrive there for around 6pm.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at private villa accommodation

Day 2: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Cordoba

Stop At: Historic Centre of Cordoba, Cordoba Spain
We will collect you after breakfast at 9.00am and head off to visit the romantic city of Cordoba, the centre of the Moorish empire of Al-Andalus for more than 300 years. A city that was a beacon of light during the troubled medieval times and where peoples of all faiths and backgrounds lived in harmony. We will park the vehicle fifty metres from the medieval walls of the city and enter into the historic part through the ancient Seville Gate. The jewel in the crown of Cordoba is of course the incredible World Heritage site of the Mezquita, but during our morning walking tour you will have the opportunity to visit other impressive sites such as the 14th century Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs, (infamously used as the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition from 1482), the Royal Stables, (now the home of the famous Passion and Spirit Andalucian Equestrian Stable), the 14th century Synagogue, (one of only three medieval Synagogues left in Spain) and the early 15th Century Chapel of Saint Bartholomew, built in the Mudejar style. We will arrive at the steps of the Mezquita around 1pm, in time for lunch at one of the many quality and reasonable priced restaurants in the area. After lunch you will have free time to enter into the Mezquita and continue exploring the other highlights of the historic city, such as the Roman Bridge. At around 5.30pm we will meet at the pre-arranged point and you will be driven back to your villa accommodation.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: A full continental buffet breakfast will be available
Accommodation included: Overnight at private villa accommodation

Day 3: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Cordoba

Stop At: Malaga Plaza, Calle Armengual de La Mota 12, 29007 Malaga Spain
We will collect you after breakfast at 9.00am. We will the drive into the El Torcal natural park in the mountains above Antequera one of the natural beauty spots of central Andalusia. We will drive up to the visitors centre at around 4400 feet above sea level where we can take a short 45 minutes walk amongst the natural stone sculptures formed after millions of years of wind and rain erosion. There you will be able to soak up the tranquility of the area and may well catch a glimpse of the mountain goats and griffin vultures that are often visible during our visits. After our walk we will drive to sea level to have lunch in a traditional Malaga seafront restaurant, specialising in local produce from the Mediterranean Sea of course. After Lunch we will take the 10 minute drive back to the Historic Centre of Malaga city where you will have a few hours to visit The Picasso Gallery or The Cathedral and enjoy the cafe culture of this magnificent city before heading back to your accommodation.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: A full continental buffet breakfast will be available
Accommodation included: Overnight at private villa accommodation

Day 4: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Sevilla

Stop At: Catedral de Sevilla, Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
We will collect you after breakfast at 8.30am and head off to visit the Andalusian Capital of Seville where our guide will walk you through the historic centre of the city, explaining the background to the important World Heritage sites such as the 15th century Cathedral, the Royal Alcazar and the General Archive of the Indies, as well as many other iconic sites of this magnificent city. We will aim to finish the walk around 1.00pm, in time for you to have lunch in one of the many wonderful restaurants in the area and after lunch you will have time to enter into the Cathedral and the Royal Alcazar or perhaps take a boat trip on the famous river Guadalquivir. We will meet up again at the pre-arranged time and place and head back to your accommodation.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: A full continental buffet breakfast will be available
Accommodation included: Overnight at private villa accommodation

Day 5: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Ronda

Stop At: Regio Andalusie, 29400 Ronda Spain
We will collect you after breakfast at 9.00am and head off to visit the iconic town of Ronda, spectacularly set high above the Guadalevin gorge with the hills of the Serrania de Ronda as its backdrop. Ronda is more than a picture postcard town, it is a place steeped in history, its very name being an adaptation of the name given to the site by the ancient Celts,(Arunda), who settled there in the 6th century BC. Ronda is also the birthplace of modern day bull fighting and has beguiled many a famous traveler, including Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway, as well as the famous 20th century German poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, who were all seduced by the beauty and history of this town. Hemingway is said to have been inspired by the famous Puente Nuevo, (New Bridge), in Ronda when writing his account of the Spanish Civil War atrocities in his book, 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'. Ronda is the perfect Andaluian town to explore at your own pace and after arriving we will take the short walk to the historic centre of the town where you will then be free to visit the museums and sights and choose one of the many quality restaurants to have lunch. We will arrange to meet up again in front off the historic bull ring at a pre-arranged time in the afternoon before heading back to your accommodation.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: A full continental buffet breakfast will be available
Accommodation included: Overnight at private villa accommodation

Day 6: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Granada

Stop At: The Alhambra, Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n Palacio de Carlos V, 18009 Granada Spain
We will collect you after breakfast at 8.30am and head off to visit the city of Granada and the mystical Alhambra, (another World Heritage site), which was the centre of the ancient Moorish Kingdom of Granada and the last Moorish stronghold in Spain until its surrender in 1492. We will park in the historical centre of the city and we will visit a famous Granada Churreria so that you can try the local delicacy of Chorros and hot dipping chocolate. We will then begin the walking tour after which you will have the opportunity to visit the 16th century Cathedral and the Royal Chapel and Mausoleum of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand, Los Reyes Catolicos, who completed the Christian re-conquest of Spain when they accepted the surrender of Granada in 1492. Other notable sites include the Basilica of San Juan de Dios, the Bib-Rambla and the Plaza Nueva. We will completed the city centre tour around 12.30pm, in time for lunch, and at 2pm head off to The Alhambra Palaces Complex where you will have a full four hours to soak in the wonders of the fantastic site comprising of palaces, gardens and fortresses. You will be met by our guide at around 6pm at the exit from the Alhambra and taken back to your accommodation.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: A full continental buffet breakfast will be available
Accommodation included: Overnight at private villa accommodation

Day 7: Andalucia - Small Group Cultural Tour - Departure Day

Stop At: Archaeological Dolmens of Antequera, Carr. de Málaga, 5, 29200 Antequera, Málaga, Spain
On departure day, depending on the timing of your flight, we will stop off at Antequera on our way to Malaga airport. Antequera is a mid size market town with over two dozen religious buildings. We however will take time out to visit the three Dolmens located in the town, (intact Neolithic structures dating from around 5,000 years ago), after which we will continue on our journey to Malaga Airport.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast: A full continental buffet breakfast will be available
No accommodation included on this day.