Magical Andalusia from Thessaloniki

After breakfast, we depart for Córdoba, the distant and solitary city of Lorca, the former capital of the great Caliphate of the West. Upon arrival, we will visit the Mosque-Cathedral (Mezquita-Catedral), a structure of unparalleled beauty—a blend of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance—and the second most important mosque of its time after that of Mecca. Next, we will wander through the picturesque narrow streets of the old Jewish (Judería) and Muslim quarters, with their magnificent courtyards (patios), and you will have free time before departing for Granada. Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll head to the Alhambra hill, the “red castle” as it is known in Arabic. Built on a rocky hill, protected by the mountains and surrounded by forest, the Alhambra was originally designed as a military complex, but by the mid-13th century it became the residence of kings—Sultans. A masterpiece of 14th-century Islamic architecture with unimaginable detail in its decoration, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the adjacent hill lie the magnificent Generalife Gardens, dominated by the summer palace of the kings and sultans. We will then have free time in the historic city center after walking through it, passing, among other sights, the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel, the small “Souk,” Plaza Nueva, and the small Darro River. For those who wish (OPTIONAL), an evening stroll up the Albaicín hill (Albaicín), the old Moorish Granada, where we’ll have a panoramic view of the illuminated Alhambra as well as the entire city. Next, we’ll head to the city’s other hill, Sacromonte, the Gypsy quarter, to watch Gypsy flamenco in the cave-like houses, accompanied by drinks.

After breakfast, we will depart for the famous White Villages (Pueblos Blancos), stopping first at the unique village of Setenil de las Bodegas, carved into the rock. Then we will head to Ronda, a small town in the province of Málaga, with its impressive fortified position on a steep hill in the mountain range that separates Upper and Lower Andalusia. The unique trails that crisscrossed the area and facilitated road travel, combined with its fertile surroundings, contributed to its importance during the Roman, Visigothic, and Arab periods. Tour and free time to admire monuments, such as the New Bridge (Puente Nuevo) spanning the 100-meter-deep gorge of the Guadalevín River that runs through the historic center, as well as Spain’s oldest bullring (Plaza de Toros) in Spain. We then depart for Málaga and check in at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will walk through the historic city center, passing by the famous Larios pedestrian shopping street , the "La Manquita" Cathedral, and the Roman Theater. During your free time, you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the city’s museums, such as the Picasso Museum and the Pompidou Cultural Center at the stunning Muelle 1 pier. We then depart for Gibraltar. Once we clear border control—after leaving the bus and passing through security (passport or ID required), we will head to the English-style city center, preferably by the bus that connects it to the border, and in your free time, you can do some shopping or, for an optional €65, climb the Rock if you wish. We’ll take licensed taxis up to the spot where, according to mythology, one of the two Pillars of Hercules stood, The tour also includes admission to St. Michael’s Cave with its amazing stalactites, which we’ll visit next, and then we ascend to the highest point with the breathtaking view of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and Africa, where the famous monkeys of Gibraltar live in a semi-wild state. Departure and transfer to the hotel in Jerez.