The Gardens and Architecture of Andalucia, 15 September 2009 6 Nights from £800.00

The view from the top of the Albaicin in Granada looking down on to the Alhambra Palace and the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains beyond, is a memory that will stay with you forever.

Prices £725 per person based on two sharing twin room, with scheduled flights.

Return scheduled flights from either Luton, Gatwick, Manchester or Glasgow to Malaga.

6 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at 3 and 4 star hotels in Granada and the Seville and Marbella areas.

Visits to Alhambra Palace (Granada), Great Mosque and Royal Palaces (Cordoba), Cathedral, Alcazar, Maria Luisa Park and Gardens of Murillo (Seville), Alamedo del Tajo Gardens (Ronda).

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Depart on an early morning flight from the UK (departs from Luton 0815hrs, Gatwick at 0715 hrs, from Manchester at 0745hrs and Glasgow at 0700 hrs approximately) - other regional flight connections and/or overnight accommodation before or after the tour available on request. On arrival in Malaga we transfer to your hotel in Granada. There will be time to explore the city at leisure.

Day 2

This morning following breakfast we visit the famous Alhambra Palace with its Generalife Gardens. The Alhambra has one of the most spectacular sites in the world. Alhambra means “red castle”, and the buildings are of a seductive pink stone and were built in the 14th Century. We will also visit the gardens of The Generalife which was the summer palace of the Sultans of Granada in the 14th Century. In the afternoon, after lunch, your guide will accompany you as you wander through the medieval streets of the Albaicín, glimpsing several “Carmens”, which are the enclosed gardens typical of the Moorish era of Granada, of which many well maintained examples remain today. We return to the hotel late afternoon and there will be free time for the remainder of the day.

Day 3

After breakfast we depart for Córdoba, passing through a landscape with millions of olive trees. We will visit the Great Mosque with its Orange Grove, which was first laid out in the late 8th Century to become one of the true wonders of the world. Outside is a huge patio covered in orange trees - Patio de los Naranjos - which was originally covered with fountains used for bathing before entering the mosque. On entering you are struck by the vast number of pillars supporting the arches with their distinctive red and white tiles which are so much a symbol of the whole design. The mosque is now a mixture of Moorish and Christian with chapels incorporated into the building and it is stunning in both its appearance and atmosphere. The gardens of The Royal Palaces of the Alcázar are Moorish in style, laid out in rows around long pools with numerous fountains. The sound of the water and the smells of the garden make it an experience for all the senses. At the end of one of these long pools are statues of Columbus together with Ferdinand and Isabel symbolising their meeting in Córdoba. Following our visit we will have some free time to discover the charms of this most Spanish of towns. Late afternoon we continue to our comfortable hotel in the Seville area.

Day 4

After breakfast the whole day is spent in Seville. We begin by visiting the Maria-Luisa Park and also the Plaza de España, laid out in 1929 for a “Fair of the Americas” which never took place. This is among the most impressive public spaces in Spain. Nearby is the Tobacco Factory where Carmen - in Bizet’s opera - worked as a cigar maker. Now part of the university, this is the second largest building in Spain. Later you will see the Gardens of Murillo, planted in honour of the famous painter from Seville, and Seville’s majestic Cathedral.

In the afternoon we will visit Seville’s Orange Tree Courtyard which belonged to the old mosque, and the gardens of the Royal Palaces of the Alcázar. The Alcázar is a magnificent palace which mixes Christian and Moorish styles and has several patios and ,all of which are grand and very highly decorated. The ceilings, in particular, are incredibly intricate in design, one with a wooden dome decorated with red, green and gold cells inscribed with Arabic. After the wonder of the palace it is refreshing to walk through the beautiful gardens made up of a mixture of several eras. There is an “English Garden” unlike any garden in this country as the trees and plants are much larger! There is also a huge 500 year old magnolia tree brought by Columbus from the New World. The gardens are rambling and a leisurely walk here shows orange trees, eucalyptus, palms and many others. You may also see the “Flower of Spain”, so-called because of its colours of the Spanish flag. The gardens are like those of the Alhambra but not so large. There are many fountains and places to sit and admire the great variety of trees and palms. We return to the hotel.

Day 5

Today is free to explore Seville at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6

Late morning we head for Ronda, a spectacular town rising dramatically amid a ring of dark, angular mountains set above the gorges of the River Tajo. We will see the Alameda del Tajo gardens set on the edge of the spectacular gorge offering fantastic views. These were completed in the early 19th century and give fine views over the plains. We have also included a visit to the gardens of the old Palace of the Moorish King of Ronda with its narrow terrace over-hanging the gorge. There will be free time to explore the town before we continue to our hotel.

Day 7

This morning after breakfast we will transfer to the airport in time for our return flights (due to arrive back into Manchester at 14.40 hrs, Luton at 14.45 hrs, Gatwick at 13.40 hrs and Glasgow at 13.45 hrs approximately