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Magical Andalusia: The Heart of Art | 8 days from Thessaloniki
MALAGA – GIBRALTAR – CHERETZ DE LA FRONTERA – CÁDIZ – SEVILLE – CORDOBA – GRANADA – SETENIL DE LAS BONTEGAS – RONDA – MALAGA
Thessaloniki "Macedonia" Airport (Google Maps)
Departure from Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport bound for lively and sunny Málaga. Late-night arrival at Malaga Airport and transfer to the hotel. Check-in and overnight stay in Malaga, in the heart of Andalusia.
After breakfast, we’ll take a stroll through the historic city center, along the famous Larios pedestrian shopping street, the Plaza de la Constitución, the narrow streets, the Cathedral of "La Manquita," and the Roman theater. In your free time, you can visit the Picasso Museum, the Centre Pompidou at the stunning Muelle 1 pier, or Malagueta Beach. Free afternoon.
After breakfast, we’ll depart for Gibraltar. Once we’ve cleared border control, we’ll get off the bus and go 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.
After breakfast, we’ll take a short stroll through the historic center, visiting the wineries producing the famous “sherry” wines, the Arenal and “Asunción” squares (Old City Hall), and the iconic “Gallo Azul” café in the city’s most historic building. We’ll then depart for Cádiz, one of Spain’s sunniest cities. There we will gaze out at the Atlantic Ocean, tour the historic center with its white cathedral, and arrive at the Central Market (Mercado Central) with its historic fish market and many glimpses of everyday Andalusian life. Departure in the afternoon for the capital of Andalusia, Seville, and check-in at the hotel.
Our morning tour today will begin with a panoramic bus ride, and we’ll get off at the beautiful Plaza de América, featuring a trio of the most significant architectural styles found in Seville. Passing through Maria Luisa Park, we’ll arrive at Spain’s most beautiful square, the “Plaza de España.” Then we’ll walk through the alleys of Santa Cruz (the old Jewish quarter) and see the Royal Palace (Real Alcázar)—which we will visit—the Archivo de Indias, and the Cathedral of Seville (Catedral de Sevilla). We’ll finish the tour along the riverbank to admire the view of the famous Guadalquivir River. Your afternoon will be free, and you can use it to take a riverboat ride on the river, or to sample some of the delicacies of Andalusian cuisine in the form of tapas. For the evening, we recommend attending a Sevillian flamenco show in its birthplace, and let yourself be swept away by its intense, passionate, and varied rhythms performed by the most skilled artists.
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, known as the “Red Castle” 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 had become 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 hill to the Albaicín (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 Marbella, where we will spend the afternoon in this wonderful Mediterranean resort, thus concluding this wonderful trip to southern Spain. Late-night departure for Malaga Airport and flight to Thessaloniki.
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The reservation is finalized in accordance with the procedure set forth in the General Terms and Conditions (e.g., confirmation and payment of the amount/deposit, where required). For specific steps and deadlines applicable to this package, please contact us.
The itinerary is based on available schedules and services; however, changes or adjustments may occur before and/or during the trip for operational reasons and/or due to unforeseen circumstances. In any case, the General Terms and Conditions of Participation apply, and relevant updates will be provided.