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Experience the
Culture of
Spain
a truly unique tour
Winter in Southern
Spain
Day 1 - Depart USA
We depart on our overnight flight to Malaga.
Day 2 - Arrive Malaga/Priego
We arrive in Malaga and transfer northward
to our lodging for the next six nights in Priego. Our hotel, the
charming tourist class Villa Turistica de Priego, is a unique residence situated in the Subbética
Mountain Range of Cordoba. This rural style complex contains 52 villas
of different shapes and sizes. Villa Turistica de Priego achieves the
look of a typical white-walled Andalusian village by building the villas
into the hillside and arranging them in 7 blocks composed of streets and
squares. The location and design of this hotel blend it perfectly into
the habitat and atmosphere of the surrounding area. This blending of
elements creates the feeling that you are living in amongst the citizens
of Spain, not just touring! The hotel’s large swimming pool offers
spectacular views of the surrounding olive tree lined hills and craggy
mountains. Water is channeled throughout the streets of the property,
including several fountains and fish ponds, and every room has a balcony
or patio to enjoy the extensive gardens and flower-lined terraces.
Day 3 - Ronda, Malaga
After our buffet breakfast we depart for Ronda, famous throughout Spain
for its gorge, El Tajo, which separates the two parts of the town. El
Tajo is spanned by a stone bridge, Puente Nuevo, which used to house a
prison. Ronda is also home to Spain's oldest and largest bullring. Be
sure to check out the recently built Parador, a walkway along the river
gorge which leads to Mirador, full of colorful flower beds. Lunch today
will be on your own. We will move on to Malaga this afternoon,
Andalucia's major coastal city and home of Pablo Picasso and Antonio
Banderas. Highlights include La Alcazaba, a fortress which dates back to
1065, and the Museum of Fine Arts, which contains some of Picasso's
works. We will transfer back to the hotel for dinner.
Day 4 - Free Time, Cordoba
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and the morning is free to spend as you
please. We will depart for Cordoba this afternoon. Cordoba was founded
by the Romans and became a major port city due to it's location on the
Guadalquivir River. El Puente Romano is the bridge the Romans built to
cross the river. Highlights include El Mezquita, the church-mosque which
contains a cathedral inside its rows and columns, and the Calahorra Fort
which guards the Roman bridge. El Mezquita is particularly breathtaking,
designated a World Heritage Site and truly one of the most impressive
works of art in the world. Dinner at a local restaurant before transfer
back to the hotel.
Day 5 - Granada
After our buffet breakfast, today's full day excursion takes us to
Granada, the last Muslim city to fall the Christians in 1492. Named by
the Arabs, Granada is home to Alhambra, a spectacular series of palaces
and gardens built in the 14th Century. Alhambra includes Generalife, the
summer palace, with it's many fountains and gardens. Lunch will be on
your own, and we will return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 6 - Free Time
Enjoy your buffet breakfast this morning, and then spend the rest of the
day as you choose. You may choose to visit the town of Priego De
Cordoba, just southeast of the hotel. Priego De Cordoba lies at the foot
of the highest mountain in the province. The town is famous for its
baroque churches, including the Iglesia de la Aurora, from which the
procession of a cloaked brotherhood can be seen every Saturday night,
singing and collecting alms. Priego De Cordoba is currently a prosperous
olive-farming town, but experienced a boom in silk production in the
18th Century. The main monument from this era is the magnificent Fuente
del Rey fountain. Be sure to visit Barrio de la Villa, the town's oldest
residential area, with its whitewashed houses and narrow cobbled lanes.
Take a walk on the Balcon de Aldarve or the Paseo de Colon for
magnificent views across the rolling countryside. Noteworthy items that
may tempt your palate include: the local chorizo or morcilla (types of
sausage), fresh goat cheese, and artisan dark chocolate with almonds. No
tour would be complete without the opportunity to taste extra virgin
olive oil, with its own Denomination of Origin, at its finest! Or spend
some time marvelling at the Subbetica Mountains, home to one of Spain's
largest breeding colonies of griffon vultures, as well as around 70
other species of birds, including several types of eagles and the
peregrine falcon. Dinner this evening will be at the hotel.
Day 7 - Free Time, Sevilla
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and the morning is yours to spend as you
choose. This afternoon we depart for Sevilla, one of the largest
historical centers in Europe and home to the Archive of the Indies
(where the historical records of the American continent are kept). Other
highlights include the Fine Arts Museum, which is the second largest
picture gallery in Spain, and La Giralda tower which offers spectacular
views. We will enjoy dinner and a Flamenco show in a local restaurant.
After the show we will transfer back to Priego de Cordoba.
Day 8 - Departure
Transfer from the hotel to Malaga Airport for the return flight home.
All prices subject to availability at time
of booking. |
WINTER PRICES
November, 2007 -
March, 2008 |
NYC |
East
Coast |
Central
USA |
West
Coast |
25 person
minimum |
$1483 |
$1512 |
$1588 |
$1678 |
40 person
minimum |
$1393 |
$1422 |
$1498 |
$1588 |
Discount
add-on air available from anywhere in the U.S. |
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Ask
About Special FAM Rates for Alumni Department Personnel
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Single
Supplement - $195
Price Includes:
Round trip airfare, 6 nights accommodations at Villa Turistica de Priego
(buffet breakfast included), 4 dinners at the hotel, 1 dinner at a local
restaurant in Sevilla, 1 lunch at a local restaurant in Cordoba,
Flamenco show in Sevilla, deluxe motorcoach as described in itinerary
with driver expenses included, English tour escort from arrival to
departure, English local guides for half days in the following cities:
Ronda, Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, and Sevilla, entrances to the following
monuments: Mezquita, Alhambra, Generalife, Alcazar, Catedral, Giralda.
Not Included:
5 lunches, 1 dinner, air taxes, security and fuel charges, gratuities to
guides, optional travel insurance.
Insurance Rates
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