Tour Director - Becky Edwards

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NOTE: The tour begins in Barcelona and ends in Malaga. Your flight should arrive into Barcelona Airport by 2 pm on October 24th. Keep in mind, due to the time change, you will need to leave the US on October 23rd in order to arrive in Barcelona on the 24th. Your outbound flight should leave out of Malaga Airport on November 3rd. 

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Day 1 - Overnight H10 Montcada Hotel, Barcelona - D 

Upon arrival into the Barcelona Airport a driver will be waiting to take you to the hotel.  In the afternoon we’ll enjoy an introductory panoramic tour to discover the highlights of Barcelona.  The tour will end up back at the hotel where you’ll have some free time before we meet up for our welcome dinner. 

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Day 2 - Overnight H10 Montcada Hotel, Barcelona - B

After breakfast we’ll meet our art historian guide for an introductory tour to discover the most exceptional works of Gaudi. This artistic tour of Barcelona starts with a guided visit of the exterior and the interior of the Sagrada Familia church, Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, and Barcelona’s most famous landmark. Next, you’ll discover Gaudi’s unusual Park Güell, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and an exceptional piece that unites nature and architecture like no other. The tour will end at Passeig de Gràcia where you will get an introduction to the distinct façades of Gaudi’s famous houses, Casa Batlló, and Casa Mila “La Pedrera.” After our tour you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore Barcelona as you’d like.  

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Day 3 - Overnight H10 Montcada Hotel, Barcelona - B, L

After breakfast we’ll met our guide and discover the old town of Barcelona, known as “Barrio Gotico” (Gothic Quarter), the oldest part of Barcelona with the ruins of an ancient Roman wall and the medieval Jewish quarter. Starting from the famous Ramblas of Barcelona, you will be lead to the Plaza Reial and the square of Sant Jaume, seat to the local government since medieval times. We’ll visit the Cathedral of Barcelona and the 14th-century church of Santa Maria del Mar in the neighborhood known as “El Born” (La Ribera). Hidden among its alleys, we’ll visit the Picasso Museum, home to the most important collection of works from his early life when he was studying art in the city. To finish the tour, we’ll visit the Boqueria market and learn about some of the local delicacies. We’ll begin our tapas tour in the market and then make our way to other great spots in the Old town, enjoying lunch the local way. 

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Day 4 -  Overnight Casas De La Juderia Hotel, Córdoba - B, D

After checking out of the hotel, we’ll tranfer to the train station and take the high speed train to Cordoba. We’ll check into our hotel and have some free time to relax before meeting back up for a special evening as we experience the famous Córdoba patios, recently named a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. We’ll explore one of the most popular areas of Cordoba, San Basilio quarter, to admire the architecture and unique decoration of some of the city’s most representative courtyards (“Patios”). Our evening walk will end at a wonderful private terrace within the Jewish quarter where we will enjoy the most spectacular views of the Mosque & Cathedral at sunset. On this welcoming private terrace, we will relax and enjoy some local tapas and of course, a nice bottle of wine. This is sure to be one of the highlights of the entire trip and will probably be the most magical moment of your time in Andalucia.

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Day 5 -  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 Cordoba, 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. 

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Day 6 -  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.

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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. 

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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 the spectacular Parador and enjoy its unbeatable setting inside the Alhambra overlooking the Generalife gardens. After our time in Grenada we’ll drive to Ronda and check into our hotel, our home for the remainder of the trip.

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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. 

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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. 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.

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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. 

 

©TwoDogTravel2021

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