Treasures of Andalucia

To Antequera

You begin your Andalucían adventure on a flight to Malaga. From here, you transfer to your hotel in Antequera, your home for the next seven nights. Tonight, enjoy dinner in the hotel. Antequera is a lovely sun-swept city displaying its history in no uncertain terms. You can see plenty of Spanish Baroque architecture, which has been restored and conserved diligently in previous years to give the city its traditional façade. Moorish and Roman influences can be seen throughout the city and the wider region.

Antequera is also home to an abundance of churches, and many have beautifully ornate interiors, so be sure to take a look. Because of the abundance of churches here Antequera is sometimes referred to as the 'Florence of Andalucía'. Day 2 is spent at leisure, Antequera offers plenty for the discerning tourist, the range and variety of tapas bars here is something to get excited about, and an excellent choice if you fancy a traditional Spanish lunch.

Seville

After breakfast you enjoy a guided tour of Seville's beautiful centre. Your first stop is the Plaza España, where you have time to admire the beautiful buildings, fountains and tiled alcoves, created for the 1929 'Fair of the Americas'. You finish your tour in front of the amazing cathedral, the largest Gothic building in Europe. The cathedral, built on the site of a mosque, is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus, and is lavishly decorated in gold. Its bell tower, La Giralda, was the minaret of the original mosque and dominates the city skyline. The afternoon is free to explore - Seville is reputedly the city with the largest number of tapas bars in the world, so why not take a well-earned rest in a pavement café with a few plates of local specialities?

Alternatively, those feeling more energetic can climb the incredible Giralda for amazing views over the buildings below. Seville really does have a history to be proud of, it's fabled that it was founded 3000 years ago by the Greek god Hercules. Though with roots more firmly in the more 'recent' past with Roman ruins and plenty of Moorish influence. Whichever part of Seville you choose to enjoy there certainly is no shortage of sights and flavour to taste throughout your time here, as one of Spain's most popular cities.

Cordoba

Enjoy an excursion to Cordoba, a famous ancient city that was once the largest metropolis in Western Europe. On arrival, take a guided tour of the city's main attractions, including the famous 8th century Mezquita or mosque of Cordoba, considered to be one of the greatest remaining works of Islamic architecture in the world. You also see the sprawling Juderia, Cordoba's historic Jewish Quarter.

At leisure in Antequera

Today is spent at leisure in Antequera. Perhaps soak up the city's incredible architecture on a gentle stroll, or climb to the top of the Alcazaba for panoramic views of the town. You could visit the nearby El Torcal Natural Park, with its unusual limestone rock formations, the park spans 17 square kilometres and was entirely underwater until one hundred million years ago. Another option would be to visit Lobo Park, a nature reserve which is home to two different species of wolves, here you can take a guided tour of the landscape with a guide who explains the importance of these animals.

Antequera

Today is at leisure for you to explore the surrounding area. Perhaps you could visit nearby Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and home to a wonderful collection of his work. Malaga is one of the oldest cities in the world and boasts a wealth of ancient architecture, including the remains of a Phoenician fort and a Roman theatre dating back to 1BC.

Granada

Your excursion by coach to Granada begins with a visit to the stunning Alhambra palace. Boasting UNESCO World Heritage status, the Alhambra was once described by Moorish poets as 'a pearl set in emeralds', referencing its whitewashed walls, set amidst dense green Andalucían forest. While here you see the beautiful Generalife Gardens, begun in 1931 and finished in 1951 by Francisco Prieto Moreno. The garden's walkways are tiled in the typical Granadian style with pebble mosaics. The garden features pools framed by flowerbeds, fountains, colonnades and pavilions.

Return Home

Today you bid a fond farewell to Spain. You transfer to Malaga Airport, to take your scheduled return flight back to the UK, where your holiday concludes

Departure Times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.