A Week in Andalucia

Day 1: UK/Malaga
Depart on your flight to Malaga. On arrival, you’ll transfer to your hotel in Antequera, where you will stay for seven nights. Relax and unwind before dinner this evening.

Day 2: Antequera
Antequera is authentic Andalucia at its best – a medieval market town whose landscape is punctuated with church spires and Moorish fortress towers and where fields are blanketed by bright yellow sunflowers during the summer months.

Today we offer an optional half-day tour to help you discover its highlights including the excavated Roman Baths, the Renaissance Church of Santa Maria la Mayor and the impressive 16th century Arch of the Giants. You’ll also explore the beautiful limestone landscape of El Torcal National Park and the Dolmens – megalithic mass tombs made from slabs of rock which were positioned and covered with earth more than 4,500 years ago. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace.

Day 3: Granada
After breakfast today join our included full-day tour of Granada and the Alhambra Palace – a sight that no photograph can do justice. Standing high on a hill overlooking the city, the Alhambra Palace was built by the Moors in the 13th and 14th centuries and has been added to over time to become a magnificent complex of pink stone courtyards, pools, fountains, grand halls and cool patios. Meander through the Puerta del Vino to the ancient fortifications of the Alcazaba – the views from the watchtowers are incomparable. Then find a shady corner in the calming Generalife gardens to further appreciate your surroundings. As you explore Granada itself you’ll discover a mix of Moorish and Spanish Gothic architecture along its narrow, winding streets lined with whitewashed houses and enticing tapas bars.

Day 4: Malaga
Enjoy today at leisure either taking advantage of your hotel’s excellent facilities or discovering more of Antequera’s charms.

Alternatively, why not join us on our optional full-day excursion to Malaga, a cosmopolitan city set on a beautiful bay of the Mediterranean. Take in the wonderful views from the two Moorish citadels, the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, before admiring the work of Malaga’s favourite son, Pablo Picasso, in the museum dedicated to him in the beautifully restored Palacio de Buenavista (cost of museum not included).

Day 5: Cordoba
Today we include a full-day tour of Cordoba, which enjoys a beautiful position on a bend of the Guadalquivir River and has to be one of Europe’s most fascinating cities. A highlight of your time here will be a visit to the dazzling Mezquita, or Great Mosque, whose origins date back to the 8th century. Its interior boasts more than 850 columns of jasper, marble and granite – quite an incredible sight. You’ll discover more as you stroll around the picturesque Jewish quarter, a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, flower-filled courtyards and attractive squares.

Day 6: Seville
Today’s included full-day tour of Seville commences after breakfast and introduces you to all the highlights of Andalucia’s regional capital. Think of Seville and figures such as Carmen and Figaro may spring to mind – both Bizet’s essentially Spanish tale and Mozart’s much-loved work were set in this atmospheric city which boasts a beautiful blend of Art Deco and Moorish architecture.

Admire the Plaza de España – a semi-circular complex which is home to monumental staircases, fountains and a beautifully tiled alcove for each of Spain’s provinces. You’ll also see the Alcazar, the royal palace, built on the site of a Moorish fort, and the city’s enormous Gothic cathedral. Wander through the city’s warren-like Barrio Santa Cruz area – its whitewashed houses and flower-bedecked balconies are the epitome of Andalucian style – and stop off in one of the city’s many tapas bars. Seville is the place credited with its invention, after all.

Day 7: Ronda
You may choose to spend today at leisure or you can join our optional full-day excursion to the picturesque cliff-top town of Ronda. The town is divided in two by a 600ft deep gorge known as El Tajo which is spanned by an 18th century stone bridge, the Puente Nuevo, from where you can peer down to the waters of the River Guadalevin. The older southern side of Ronda is a typical pueblo blanco (white village) so why not enjoy a stroll and admire its many cobbled alleyways lined with traditional whitewashed houses. Make the most of your final evening in Antequera before you head home tomorrow.

Day 8: Malaga/UK
Your holiday comes to an end today as you transfer to the airport in Malaga for your flight back to the UK.

Please note
To maximise your enjoyment of this holiday a certain amount of walking is essential.

Accommodation throughout is in a hotel of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotel you will stay in is:

4-star Hotel Antequera Golf
This hotel is a 20-minute walk from the centre of Antequera, in the heart of Andalucia. Facilities include a bar, lounge and restaurant where a buffet meal is served each evening. Indulge in a little pampering in the beauty salon and hairdressers, or enjoy a massage, Jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish baths. All guest rooms have satellite TV, telephone, hairdryer and en suite facilities. Spend time in the outdoor pool with sun terrace, the health suite with indoor pool and gymnasium, or treat yourself to 18 holes on the golf course set in the beautiful El Torcal National Park nearby.

Please note: Some facilities, including golf, are at extra cost. Outdoor swimming pools are typically open between May and September, but this is dependent on weather conditions.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Granada tour & visit to the Alhambra Palace (full day)
Cordoba tour (full day)
Seville tour (full day)

Optional excursions

Antequera, El Torcal and the Dolmens (half day)
Ronda tour (full day)
Malaga tour & visit to the Picasso Museum (full day)

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
7 nights’ accommodation
Half-board basis
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guides
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”