Tour Director - Becky Edwards

NOTE: The tour begins in Madrid and ends at the airport in Malaga. Your flight needs to arrive into Madrid Airport by 1 pm on October 28th. Your flight can depart at anytime from Malaga airport on November 8th.

Day 1 - Overnight Jardins de Recoletos, Madrid - D 
Welcome to Spain! Passionate, historical and mysterious, Spain is a land of contrasts. It is both a stereotype come to life and a country more diverse than you ever imagined. Upon arrival in Madrid, we will arrange for a private transfer* to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon we'll officially kick off the tour when we meet our local guide for an introductory panoramic tour to discover the highlights of Madrid. On this private tour, we will explore both the Hapsburg and Bourbon dynasties legacy, spanning the 16th to the 19th centuries. In the Madrid of the Habsburgs, you will learn about the development of the area around the Plaza Mayor, the Casa de la Villa square, and the Puerta del Sol, which marked the eastern gate of the city under their reign. The Bourbons expanded the boundary of the city beyond the Puerta del Sol to the Prado Museum and Retiro Park.  The Bourbon dynasty was inspired by the court of Versailles and you can see the French influence in the buildings they commissioned. The panoramic city tour will end up back at the hotel where we will enjoy our welcome dinner and toast to our adventures ahead.
* For early arrivals at the airport, please note that hotels do not guarantee an early check-in but if your room is not ready by the time you arrive, as the usual check-in time is 2 pm, the reception staff will do the check-in for you and will keep your luggage in their safe room. In the meantime, you could use the hotel facilities or explore Madrid a bit on your own.

Day 2 - Overnight Jardins de Recoletos, Madrid - B, L
After breakfast we’ll met our guide and discover the old town of Barcelona, Our art historian guide will take us on a short walk to the Prado Museum for a private guided tour where we will learn all about the stories and figures behind the art. The Prado Museum houses one of the finest art collections in the world. Featuring more than 8,000 works of art, the museum can be overwhelming to visit independently, but our knowledgeable guide will lead us to the most significant and admired paintings and sculptures, including works by Spanish, Dutch and Italian masters. After our tour we will enjoy a market and tapas tour. We'll start with one of the most emblematic food markets of Madrid and discover both iconic places and off the beaten path bars to taste local specialties and traditional Spanish tapas. 

Day 3 -  Overnight Casas De La Juderia Hotel, Córdoba - B, L
After breakfast and check out, we'll join our private driver and art historian guide and make our way to Toledo for a half day guided tour of this historic city. Toledo is an ancient city set on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. It is the capital of the region and is known or the many medieval Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments located within its walled "old city." Well start our tour with a short panoramic driving tour of the city, stopping along the way at the most spectacular viewpoints. This will be followed by a walking tour around the historic center, including the Jewish quarter, the synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca and the Cathedral, widely considered one of the high points of Gothic art given the great superimposition of styles in the building and a large number of renowned artists who left their mark on the church. On its main facade, the outstanding feature is the doorway, made up of three doors: Infierno (Hell), Perdón (Forgiveness) and Juicio (Judgement). The exterior is topped by the two cathedral towers, one of them in flamboyant Gothic style and the other in Gothic-Renaissance. Before leaving Toledo, we'll enjoy lunch as a group before we make our way to Córdoba, our home for the next four nights. After checking into our hotel, you'll have the evening free to spend as you'd like.

Day 4 -  Overnight Casas De La Juderia Hotel, Córdoba - B, D
After breakfast, we’ll meet our art historian guide for an introductory walking tour of the sites of Córdoba, a UNESCO listed city. We’ll visit the famed Mosque/Cathedral (La Mezquita), a monumental site which encapsulates this city’s identity like few other buildings can. You will also discover the Jewish quarter, a quaint and charming network of pretty narrow lanes and the Synagogue, one of the best preserved in Spain. After our tour you’ll have the afternoon free to explore Córdoba on your own. Later we’ll meet back up as a group to enjoy an amazing Flamenco experience with a nationally-renowned and awarded Flamenco family. They will walk us through the world of Flamenco in Córdoba including an initiation lesson to Flamenco dancing at the oldest Flamenco academy in town. You will also learn part of the history of the art of Flamenco in a remarkable setting: a traditional Cordovan patio house. The experience will be completed with a private performance and a tasting of some local tapas and drinks in a local restaurant. 

Day 5 -  Overnight Casas De La Juderia Hotel, Córdoba - B, L
Today we venture out into the countryside to explore the beautiful hills of Montilla, still a very unspoiled wine region south of Córdoba. Olive oil, gastronomy, and wine are part of Andalucia’s history and today we’ll delve into this history. Our first stop is a family-run olive oil mill to discover the full process of olive oil making. We’ll enjoy a tour of the family groves and learn about the different characteristics, culinary uses and health benefits of olive oil. After a visit to the mill and the on-site museum, we’ll taste two of their delicious varieties along with freshly baked bread. Next stop is a visit to a local family-run winery. We’ll learn about their wine making and get to taste some of the unique wines of this region followed by an authentic hands-on cooking class and learn how to prepare a regional specialty called “Salmorejo” (a cold tomato cream) and a national specialty “the Paella.”  Of course, we’ll end by enjoying our labors along with wine. After lunch the rest of the day will be free to enjoy Córdoba as you’d like. 
Optional event for the evening: Equestrian show.  You may choose to enjoy a marvelous equestrian exhibition in which purebred Spanish horses are the main protagonists. The stage, an emblematic and magical historical building, was once the birthplace of the Andalusian Horse and is now an unparalleled setting for this enchanting equestrian show. After the show, you may choose to have dinner at one of the local restaurants in the nearby and authentic “San Basilio” district (i.e. Posada del Caballo Andaluz, Taberna la Viuda o restaurant Puerta de Sevilla) or close to our hotel in the Jewish quarter.

 

Day 6 -  Overnight Casas De La Juderia Hotel, Córdoba - B, D Today you'll have free time to explore Córdoba on your own before we meet up later for a unique sunset experience exploring Cordoba's private courtyards. This wonderful and unique evening will begin with an exploration of one of the most popular areas of Cordoba, San Basilio quarter, where you will admire the architecture and unique decoration of some of the city's most representative courtyards (“Patios”) recently named Unesco intangible cultural heritage. You will also stroll the Guadalquivir river bank and will go through some of the most iconic little plazas and streets of the city center.  This evening walk will end at a wonderful private terrace within the Jewish quarter where you will enjoy the most spectacular views of the Mosque & Cathedral at sunset. On this welcoming private terrace, you can relax and enjoy the sunset light and magic while tasting some ham, cheese, olives and of course, a nice bottle of wine. This is sure to be one of the highlights of your entire trip and will probably be the most magical moment of your time in Andalucia.

Day 7 -  Overnight Casas De La Juderia Hotel, Córdoba - B
Today we’ll visit the beautiful town of Sevilla and discover iconic spots such as Plaza de España, the Torre del Oro or the Guadalquivir river side. We’ll then continue by foot and discover the main historic sites in Sevilla and its UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We’ll visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Sevilla, the world’s largest Gothic Church, the Royal Alcazar/Palace, a beautiful example of Mudéjar architecture and the city’s Santa Cruz Jewish quarter, with a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys designed to provide protection from the oppressive sun of the Sevillian summer. You’ll then have some free time to explore Sevilla on your own, grab some lunch and do some shopping before we drive back to Córdoba. 

Day 8 -  Overnight Catalonia Reina Victoria Hotel, Ronda - B, L
After checking out of the hotel we’ll make our way to Granada to discover one of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture: the magnificent Moorish Alhambra Palace and its beautiful Generalife gardens. The Alhambra is a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings stands at the foot of Spain’s highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. After our tour we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After our time in Grenada we’ll drive to Ronda and check into our hotel, our home for the remainder of the trip.

Day 9 - Overnight Catalonia Reina Victoria Hotel, Ronda - B, L
After breakfast we’ll enjoy an introductory tour of Ronda including the old town, the cliffs and the New Bridge. Ronda is a mountaintop city that sits in the heart of the Serrania de Ronda. Set dramatically above a deep gorge and surrounded by lush river valleys.  We’ll then take a short walk to the winery Descalzos Viejos housed in a very special building: a recently restored Trinitary Convent from the XVIc. The barrel room boasts a restored fresco on the wall and is indeed one of Ronda's most beautiful wineries in the area thanks to its spectacular location and stunning views over the Tajo gorge. We’ll visit the cellar and gardens and taste three wines paired with some traditional tapas. After our visit, you’ll have rest of the day free to explore as you’d like. 

Day 10-Overnight Catalonia Reina Victoria Hotel, Ronda - B, L
Today we’ll enjoy a unique experience as we immerse ourselves into the lifestyle and customs of a white village. We’ll spend the day in Benalauria, located in the heart of the Genal Valley. With only 400 inhabitants, this whitewashed hilltop village is off the beaten path and preserves the essence of rural life in Andalucia. Our host for today will be Pepe, a friendly local guide, entrepreneur, cook and wine producer.  We’ll explore viewpoints to admire the spectacular surroundings of this charming town, wander the narrow streets of the village and visit a family-run bakery where you will have the chance to bake your own bread. While the bread is baking Pepe will take us to visit his small winery for a delicious homemade lunch accompanied by his very own wines and, of course, the fresh bread we just made. It will no doubt be one of the highlight of your time in Spain. After our great experience, you’ll have the afternoon free to explore Ronda and perhaps do some last minute shopping before meeting back up in the evening to enjoy our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 11 - B
Unfortunately our time in Spain must come to an end. After breakfast, you’ll check out of the hotel and be transferred to the Malaga airport for your flight home.
 
 
Itinerary specifics and hotels are subject to change depending on availability, weather, guide availability, opening times, etc. 
 
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