DAY 1
D included
After meeting at Malaga airport in the early afternoon, we have a two-hour transfer by road to the World Heritage city of Cordoba. We enter the city crossing the great Roman bridge built over the Guadalquivir river by the emperor Augustus. An orientation walk reveals the architectural integrity of this city, once the most splendid of the civilised world. Our hotel is an elegant 4-star conversion of an 18th century palacio in the historic Jewish Quarter and a glass of chilled Fino is de rigueur before dinner in an excellent traditional restaurant.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
We set off on foot, starting the day with a visit to the 14th century Castle and Gardens of Alcázar. We enter the Mezquita, a monumental religious complex comprising an 8th century mosque, encapsulating a cathedral commenced in 1236, built on top of a Roman temple and a Visigothic church. After lunch, we traverse narrow lanes with whitewashed houses and flower-filled patios looking out for some of the twelve 13th century Fernandine churches, built immediately after the reconquest of Cordoba by Ferdinand III.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
Departing from Cordoba, we drive into the hills of the Montilla-Moriles wine region to visit a family owned olive oil mill and museum, learn about the importance of olives in the Andalusian economy and taste their award-winning extra virgin olive oil. In a nearby winery, surrounded by vineyards, we taste local wines accompanying a delicious home-made tapas lunch, before driving on for half an hour to commence our walk (1 hr) on the Via Verde (Green Way), a former railway track built to transport olive oil. Arriving at our rural hotel, a 4-star Hacienda set in olive groves, we have time for a swim before dinner in their charming dining room.
DAY 4
B, L, D included
We set off on foot into the Subbética Natural Park for a morning’s walk (3.5 hrs) through the verdant Bailon river gorge with its unusual limestone rock formations, freshwater springs and abandoned farms. We finish in Zuheros, one of the most picturesque ‘white villages’ in all of Andalusia, where we have lunch in a simple rural tavern. We continue downhill and along the Green Way (30 mins) to our hacienda with free time to relax and enjoy the hotel library, gardens, Moorish baths and pool.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
From nearby Luque, with its dramatic rock-top castle which played a significant role in the history of 9th century al-Andalus, we take a circular walk (2 hrs) with fine views of the Subbéticas and the extensive olive groves below. We taste locally produced goat and sheep cheeses at lunch, before we continue by road to Granada. We start our exploration of the city with the stunning Catedral de la Anunciación, begun in the 16th century after the Moors had been displaced and originally intended as a royal mausoleum. Once settled into our charming boutique hotel, a carefully converted 17th century mansion, we have a short walk through the narrow lanes of the historic quarter of Albaicin to dine in the stylish courtyard setting of a restaurant known for its innovative take on traditional Andalusian cuisine.
DAY 6
B, L, D included
Granada epitomises the splendours of al-Andalus and formed the nucleus of the Moorish Nasrid Kingdom for 200 years. After breakfast, we set off in the footsteps of famed 19th century American author and traveller, Washington Irving, to the site from which this Kingdom was ruled: the magnificent Alhambra. Dedicating the morning to this remarkable architectural complex, we have reserved entrances to both the Alhambra and the Generalife. The Alhambra, arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, is formed of a myriad of towers, gardens, palaces and residences, of which our focus is the most splendid: the 13th century Nasrid Palace. We continue to the Generalife, The Garden of the Builder, to see the famous Patio de la Acequias, the Regal Hall, the gardens and the original Escalera del Agua.
DAY 7
B, L, D included
Today we head into the Alpujarras region on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the stronghold of the Muslim resistance, which lasted until the final defeat of the Rebellion in 1571 (1 hr driving). From the market town of Orgiva, we follow a circular, river valley walk for 3 hrs, passing two white villages and enjoying views of the surrounding mountains. Back in Granada, we see an authentic Flamenco show before our farewell dinner in an excellent restaurant.
DAY 8
B included
After free time for further exploring, our visit to Andalusia concludes with an airport transfer to Malaga for early afternoon flights home.