DAY 1
D included
After meeting at Malaga airport around midday, 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 diversity 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. A glass of chilled Fino is possibly de rigueur before dinner in an excellent traditional restaurant. We may sample salmorejo soup and aubergines with cane honey amongst other specialities.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
We set off on foot, starting the day with a private guided visit to 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. Later, we wander through the 14th century Castle and Gardens of Alcázar. After lunch, we visit some of the enchanting patios - courtyard gardens - for which Cordoba is so famous. We may meet some of the homeowners, who lovingly create and maintain them in style dating back to the Roman and Moorish times.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
Departing after an early breakfast in Cordoba, we drive east, crossing the border into the Jaén province. This is olive oil country par excellence. Our destination today is the white washed town, pueblo blanco, of Cazorla, the gateway to the Sierras de Cazorla Natural Park. This small town is based around three small squares, a very unusual church with a fascinating history and an old Moorish castle. After a tapas lunch in the old square, we have a guided visit to the church, discovering what makes it one of a kind in all of Europe. We enjoy the views from the imposing bell tower and for those who wish, stroll back up the serpentine white streets to our hotel.
DAY 4
B, L included
Today is spent in the Sierras de Cazorla Natural Park. The park is part of the largest protected area in Spain and has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Private transport collects Kudus after breakfast and we climb for views of the valleys below and past the source of the Guadalquivir, through forests where deer are a common sight. After an introduction to the park in a ranger visitor centre, we begin our walk along the Rio Borosa, known as the Ruta del Agua. Lunch today is in a country restaurant in the heart of the Natural Park, after which we are returned to Cazorla for a relaxing evening.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
We reach the edge of Cazorla and the trailhead of an undulating roughly 6 km circular walk crossing ‘Hobbit’ bridges, streams and passing underneath a waterfall. One cannot come to Jaén without learning a little about the liquid gold produced here: the olive oil. Before leaving, we visit a somewhat different olive oil mill where we are educated and served a light lunch with plenty of samples. A 2-hour road transfer takes us 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 follow in the footsteps of Gerald Brenan, the British writer and hispanist, heading south from Granada, down the old road towards the Costa Tropical. The destination for today’s outing is a small white washed village in Los Guajares, the home of our guide. This is an opportunity to experience authentic rural village life. We have coffee in a traditional bar followed by a guided stroll through the pueblo. We then set off on a circular forest walk, first climbing before dipping down through olive groves to our lunch in a local restaurant. Back in Granada, we immerse ourselves in a Flamenco Tablao (Stage) before a farewell dinner in an excellent restaurant.
DAY 8
B included
Our visit to Andalusia concludes with an airport transfer to Malaga for early afternoon flights home.