Barcelona & The Treasures of Southern Spain

We meet at our Departure Office in London St Pancras today, boarding the Eurostar to Paris. We continue by rail to Barcelona. This evening we sit down to a Spanish dinner at the renowned El 4 Gats restaurant.

• Dinner

We explore beautiful Barcelona on a guided tour. One of the great European ports, the city boasts a skyline made up of intricate church spires, the whimsical architecture of Antoni Gaudí, and elegant townhouses. Our tour includes sights as the Gothic Quarter, the decorative Casa Milà, and the as yet unfinished Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudí. On entering the building, we are met by a tapestry of shimmering light cast on the cathedral's floor by magnificent stainedglass windows. Our tour finishes in an antique café, deep in the Gothic Quarter, where we sit down for churros and chocolate.

• Breakfast

We leave Barcelona this morning, travelling by rail to Andalucía in southern Spain. We arrive in Seville, a golden city of historic buildings transferring to our hotel before setting out on a horse-drawn carriage ride around Plaza de España and Maria Luisa Park. With a helpful local guide showing us the points of interest, our time in the carriage is revealing and memorable. Afterwards, we visit a local restaurant to sample some classic Spanish foods. With rest of the evening at leisure, you may wish to experience Seville at nighttime.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free day; you may wish to visit the Triana Quarter, to the west of the city. Lying on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, this area is so distinct its residents are known as 'Trianeros'. Boasting an exciting Flamenco heritage, characterful market and colourful history, there is much to do and see here, including the decorative Chapel of El Carmen and lively Plaza del Altozano.

• Breakfast

Today includes a guided tour of the Santa Cruz district. A smorgasbord of history and culture unfolds as we wander through the ever-changing streets. Spain's fourth largest city, and the Andalucían capital, this part of Seville has been home to Moorish kings, Roman invaders, Phoenician traders and Castilian rulers, with each civilisation leaving its mark. We visit a synagogue, the Plaza de Santa Cruz, and the UNESCO-listed cathedral - converted from a mosque that dated back to the days of the Moorish conquistadors. We also enjoy a tapas tasting tour with our local guide.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We make the journey to Granada today. On the way, we stop at ancient Cordoba, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Supposedly founded by Greek God Heracles, Cordoba is a glorious mixture of Spain's dizzying past, crowned by its magnificent Mezquita. The Mezquita is one of the best example of Islamic architecture in Europe, its tower rising high over the city. Our tour grants us entrance and we are greeted by halls of decorative arches and gilded gateways. We also head out into the Juderia, the old Jewish Quarter. Later, we continue to elegant Granada, home to the Alhambra Palace.

• Breakfast

Today, we visit the Alhambra itself for a guided tour. With humble beginnings as a Roman hill fortress, the Alhambra was rebuilt in the 13th century by the Moorish Emirate of Granada. After various additions by numerous kings, the Alhambra is now a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its beautiful interiors, complex Mudéjar carvings, and indomitable fortifications. The Generalife, the summer palace section, is a serene oasis, complete with gentle fountains and a colourful variety of flowers and trees.

We continue to a local restaurant in the pretty Albaycin, the old Moorish Quarter of Granada, where we enjoy excellent food against the stunning backdrop of the Alhambra. Next, we experience a passionate Flamenco show in one of the caves of the Sacromonte District. The caves- or troglodyte houses - were carved out around the 16th- Century and were originally used as dwellings by the marginalised sections, especially the Roma Gypsies.

Our tour ends on Day 8, as we transfer to Malaga for our flight* back to the UK.

*Please note: You will need to take your luggage back to the UK with you on your flight, rather than it travelling via our luggage transfer service.

• Day 7 - Breakfast, Dinner
• Day 8 - Breakfast