Day 1: Depart USA
We depart Chicago this afternoon for an overnight flight to
beautiful southern Spain. We will enjoy various meals and service
while in flight.
Day 2: Arrive in
Seville
After checking into our hotel we will enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure with time to rest and get acquainted. We will enjoy an orientation tour of Seville on the way to
our hotel. After checking into our hotel we will enjoy the
remainder of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 3: Seville Touring
For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Seville is
universally famous for being a joyous town. While the Sevillians are
known for their wit and sparkle, the city itself is striking for its
vitality. It is the largest town in Southern Spain and the home of
Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro. In Seville our tour guide will walk us
through the old city as we enjoy a guided entrance to the Cathedral
and the Giralda tower. We will also not want to miss the Santa Cruz
quarter for time to explore the cramped streets, flowered balconies,
and richly decorated facades which all reflect the true character of
this city. This afternoon will conclude with some time to explore
some parks and shops in Seville.
Day 4: Seville and
Carmona Touring
After breakfast we enjoy additional touring of Seville to include
the El Alcazar, La Plaza de Espana, La Universidad, La Macarena and
its Roman aquaduct, the ruins of Italica, and El Patio De Los
Naranjos. This afternoon we travel to Carmona and enjoy this
picturesque Andaluisan town perched atop a huge hill that commands
the surrounding flatland. Carmona was a military stronghold and
offers a fantastic mirador inside the Old Fortress Walls. Don’t
miss the opportunity to grab a snack and coffee while enjoying the
spectacular views. We return to Seville for the remainder of the
day at leisure.
Day 5: Gibraltar Tour
This morning we check out of our hotel and travel to Gibraltar. Throughout time Gibraltar has stood guard over the western
Mediterranean, its unique position making it the focus of a
continuous struggle for power. This spectacular rock monolith is
situated at the southern tip of Spain overlooking the strait to
Africa and is known as the Meeting Place of Continents. We will
enjoy a guided tour of St. Michaels Cave, Galleries, Gibraltar’s
legendary Barbary Apes, and the Great Siege Tunnels which make up
some of the 33 miles of passages found underneath the rock. This
afternoon we travel to Malaga where we will check into our
hotel.
Day 6: Malaga Morning
Tour and Free Afternoon
We will enjoy a morning tour of Malaga, known as the “City of the
Mediterranean Sun.” Malaga is famous for the great beaches of
nearby Costa del Sol as well as the birthplace of Picasso. We will
enjoy a walking tour and visit to the Picasso museum, the Malaga
Cathedral and market place before enjoying the rest of the day free
to shop or visit the beach.
Day 7: Ronda & Mijas
Tour
After breakfast we depart our hotel and travel to the town of Ronda,
one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Spain. Ronda stands on a towering plateau and is divided in two by a
plunging river gorge known as El Tajo. Ronda is the home to modern
bullfighting, and it is here that we will enjoy a guided tour of the
Spanish Bullfighting Museum. We will also take time in Ronda to
visit the Arab Baths considered one of the best preserved baths in
Europe. Our last stop on today’s excursion is the quaint typical Andalusian village of Mijas. We will enjoy a walking tour of Mijas
as we take time to view the beautiful coastal plains. Mijas is also
known for its artisans who make baskets and plates with “esparto”
and miniature figurines made out with matches. We will return to
Malaga for an evening at leisure.
Day 8: Cordoba Tour
We visit Cordoba today offering an impressive and surprisingly rich history. Not many know that during the 11th century,
Cordoba was one of the most important capitals in Europe. People of various cultures and religions – Jews, Muslims and
Christians – were living peacefully together, and important philosophers, scientists, and artists emerged from here.
Knowing some of Cordoba’s rich cultural background will certainly enhance your tour as we visit some of its great monuments.
The highlight of Cordoba is the Mezquita which is the third largest Arabian Mosque in the world and described by some as the most
beautiful and original building in all of Spain. We finish our afternoon with a transfer to Granada which will be our home for the
next two nights.
Day 9: Granada Tour
No place can serve as greater testament
to the glories of Andalusia than the hills of Granada—especially
that legendary hill known as the Alhambra. Granada was, for
centuries, the last stronghold of the Moors before their final
defeat in 1492 to the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. The
fort, palace and gardens of Alhambra, whose beauty were legendary
even in their own days, were the heart and soul of the Moors. The
beauty of the Alhambra palace and the Generalife gardens, is not
only that the Moors were brilliant architects of bricks and mortar,
of precious marble and delicately carved wood, but also of trees and
flowers, of cascading fountains and tranquil pools. You can stay in
the shadows of the Alhambra either in the 1908 Alhambra Palace—a
gracious, old-world hotel with spectacular views or in the small
parador of the 15th
century convent of San Francisco. This evening we will meet
in our hotel lobby and go to a local restaurant where we will enjoy
a special farewell dinner together.
Day 10: Return to USA
We say goodbye to beautiful southern Spain and take a very early
morning transfer to the Malaga airport for our return flights to the
USA.
