Payment of private bespoke trip to Spain. 22nd of April – 2nd of May 2022. 2 pax
–
Description and schedule of services
–
22nd of April. Day trip to Toledo from Madrid
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Toledo old town. (Alternatively you can get to and from your accommodation to Madrid train station by taxi, then take trains to and from Toledo and then taxis again to and from Toledo train station to Toledo old town).
10am: upon arrival to Toledo, meet your personal local host to start a private walking tour of the city with a special focus on its Jewish history, from its origins and maximum splendor under the Hispanic-Muslim rule until the Christian conquest of the city. Along your tour you will visit the synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, which is an extraordinary example of the Jewish-Sephardic heritage of the city.
Your tour will also take you to see some remarkable evidences of the presence of the Hispanic-Muslim culture in the city, such as the former Mosque of el Cristo de la Luz.
You will then visit the former church of San Román which is the most exquisite example of the interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures that took place in Toledo. This is especially present in the architecture and iconographic program of the church which features some impressive frescoes from the Middle ages.
Finally, to top up your tour you will visit the Cathedral of Toledo, which is one of the most important ones ever erected in Spain.
2pm: end of your private walking tour of Toledo and free time for lunch at leisure before your return to Madrid. Recommendations for lunch will be given and a table will be booked for you if you wish.
5pm: private transfer in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver from Toledo back to your hotel in Madrid stopping along the way at mirador del valle for excellent panoramic views of the city.
6:15pm: arrival to your hotel in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid. (Own arrangements).
–
–
23rd of April. From Madrid to Córdoba and introductory tour of Córdoba
–
8:45am: make your own way by taxi from your hotel in Madrid to Madrid train station.
9:05am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your train to Córdoba at 9:35am.
9:35am: departure of your high-speed train to Córdoba (1st class seats).
11:25am: upon arrival to your train to Córdoba, make your own way by taxi to your hotel in the city.
12pm: arrival to your hotel in Córdoba and free time to check-in, freshen up and have lunch before your introductory tour of the city. Recommendations for lunch will be given and a table will be booked for you if you wish.
2:30pm: be met by your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3,5h discovery journey of the historical centre of the city. A UNESCO site since 1994, Córdoba is an inspirational city, which during the Middle Ages, saw a peaceful interaction between the three great Mediterranean cultures. Jews, Muslims and Christians coexisted then in the city turning it into a unique intellectual hub that gave birth to very renowned philosophers, poets, scientists and doctors. This also resulted in the construction of unique buildings of remarkable historical significance.
During your private walking tour, you’ll learn about the period of maximum intellectual splendour of the city and you will see beautiful examples of architecture and urban planning that will allow you to recreate all the grandeur of this era, which has the Great Mosque – Cathedral, the synagogue, the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs as its most representative constructions.
The Great Mosque-Cathedral is probably the most thought-provoking building in Spain and your personal local host will uncover all its beauty and complexity for you. You will understand its origins, its different enlargements and the role that the building has played in the culture and social fabric of the city throughout the centuries.
The synagogue will allow you to understand the very important Jewish – Sephardic community that Córdoba once had and how much it embraced Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts in its places of devotion.
In the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew you will be explained about the transformations that the Jewish quarter of Córdoba suffered after the pogrom of 1391 and how it was repopulated with Christians, who were also very heavily influenced by Hispanic-Muslim decorative arts.
The Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs will be your last stop. This is a fortification treasuring Roman and Visigothic remains that became an important royal residence in the Hispanic-Muslim and Christian times. Your tour of this landmark will be a journey through the history of the city and also through probably the most beautiful gardens that one can find in Córdoba.
6pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and rest of the day at leisure. Recommendations for dinner will be given and a table will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Córdoba. Superior double room with breakfast included at Hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
–
–
24th of April. From Córdoba to Granada via the UNESCO Renaissance towns of Úbeda and Baeza.
–
9am: be met by your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the UNESCO city of Úbeda.
10:40am: upon arrival to Úbeda, meet your personal local guide and take a private walking tour aimed at discovering its splendid monumental legacy made up of churches, palaces, noble houses and a unique medieval synagogue. Ubeda’s Renaissance Monumental Ensemble has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and your tour will take you to visit the interiors of its most exquisite temple: the Chapel of El Salvador. Then you will be taken to discover the Sephardic history and heritage of Úbeda. Along this part of the tour you will visit the water synagogue (a splendid sample of the important Jewish community that lived in the city in the middle ages).
1:30pm: end of your private walking tour of Úbeda and free time for lunch at leisure. Your guide will point you in the right direction for lunch and will ask your driver to pick you up at the restaurant after lunch (recommendations will be given and a table will be booked for you if you wish).
3pm: reconnect with your private driver and be transferred to Baeza.
3:20pm: upon arrival to Baeza, meet your personal local guide to start a private walking tour of the old town. Declared a historic-artistic site, Baeza has also an incredible Renaissance legacy, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where the carved stone contrasts with the whitewashed farmhouses. Your tour will take you to stroll through the main medieval streets while admiring (outside only) the Plaza del Pópulo, the Puerta de Jaén, the Arco de Villalar, the Plaza de Santa Cruz, the Plaza de Santa María, the Palacio de Jabalquinto, the old University, the Cathedral and the Iglesia de Santa Cruz. This will make a delightful afternoon stroll to top up your visit to NorthEast Andalusia.
4:50pm: end of your tour of Baeza and private transfer to your hotel in Granada.
6:30pm: arrival to your hotel in Granada and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada. Superior penthouse double room with breakfast included at Hotel Villa Oniria (4*)
–
–
25th of April. Introductory tour of Granada old town including the quarters of El Realejo and el Albayzin and evening tapas tour of the city. Overnight in Granada.
–
10am: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your to go on a 3h walking tour of Granada old town that will allow you to discover, learn about the history and architecture and experience the beauty of two different quarters of the city. These are two key areas in the history of the city that also stand out for their beauty and authenticity.
You will start visiting the first quarters that developed in Granada after the Christian conquest of the city in 1492. It is in these areas where the Cathedral of Granada was erected and in one of its chapels, the so-called Royal Chapel, you will visit the tombs of the monarchs that were responsible for the conquest of the city (Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragón). Their tombs are an exquisite sample of Spanish renaissance sculpture.
Near this chapel, you will also visit the palace of la Madraza: a unique building that originally was a medieval Quran School and that later was used as a residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
From there you will be taken to the nearby quarter of El Realejo. This part of Granada was once home to the Sephardic community that lived in the city from the 8th century until 1492. Your tour of El Realejo will take you to the spot where the main synagogue was while you are explained about the origins of this Hispanic-Jewish settlement and about the events that happened in this part of the town during the centuries when it was inhabited by Jewish people. Along your tour you will also learn about important members of the Sephardic community of Granada and about their contribution to subjects such as medicine, poetry, philosophy and translation in medieval Spain.
Later, you will be taken to the iconic quarter of el Albayzín, located on top of a hill and overlooking the Alhambra. El Albayzín was the part of Granada where regular people would live: people whose social scheme inside the walls of the palatial areas of the Alhambra was rather unclear.
The quarter of Albayzín is a UNESCO site and it treasures some of the most beautiful corners and views of the Alhambra that the city of Granada has to offer. Your local host will share the most special ones with you, while you are explained about the architecture and infrastructures that the quarter had in the medieval times and of which you will see beautifully preserved evidence.
This introduction to the city of Granada will set the historical context for your tour to the Alhambra and el Generalife the next day.
1:30pm: after your tour, enjoy some free time for lunch before your evening tapas tour of the city.
7:45pm: reconnect with your local host at your accommodation to start a private tapas tour of Granada old town. Granada has one of the most vibrant tapas scenes in Southern Spain together with Seville and this will make a perfect introduction to it.
Understanding how Southern Spain works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the culture of the country. The Spanish love their excellent food and they like to make a celebration out of every meal, together with family and friends. Food, conversation, wine, laughter and a magical common feeling of thankfulness combine in perfect harmony around Spanish tables to make meals memorable.
Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the country has to offer gastronomy-wise. They are small portions of food that people usually have as an appetizer before a meal. However, especially when eating out, a meal can consist of several different tapas and this is exactly what this tour is about.
Your local Spanish foodie host will take you on a tapas journey through 2 – 3 selected tapas bars of the city, during which you’ll be able to taste a selection of 6 – 9 different local tapas dishes, combined with the corresponding drinks. Along the tour, you’ll be explained about the hectic social life that Granadinos have and how most of it takes place around food in tapas bars.
Granada can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing a tapas bar so this tour will allow you to relax and to enjoy the magnificent culinary scene of the city, while you also learn about its particular character and identity, together with your local host.
10:30pm: end of your tapas tour back at your hotel.
Overnight in Granada. Superior penthouse double room with breakfast included at Hotel Villa Oniria (4*)
–
–
26th of April. The Alhambra and el Generalife.
–
9:30am: be met by your personal local host and be transferred by taxi to the top of the hill of la Sabika, where the Alhambra and el Generalife are located.
9:45am: upon arrival to the Alhambra, be taken on a private walking tour of this palatial city which is the most exquisite example of the Hispanic-Muslim architecture. The Alhambra was the city where the Hispanic-Muslim sultans used to live with their army, their court and some selected artisans. Because of this, it has several parts, all of which you will get to visit during your tour while you understand the role that each of them had. Later you will visit the summer palace or Generalife. This is the place where the sultans would go to escape from the hustle and bustle of the Alhambra. It was a place designed for relaxation and contemplation and because of this, it has the most beautiful gardens and some of the nicest views that the city of Granada has to offer.
1pm: after your tour of the Alhambra enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada. Superior penthouse double room with breakfast included at Hotel Villa Oniria (4*)
–
–
27th of April. From Granada to Tarifa via Ronda for a tour of the town and lunch there.
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Ronda old town.
11:15am: upon arrival to Ronda, meet your personal local host and enjoy a private guided tour of its bullring (the oldest in Spain). This tour will allow you to learn about the origins and evolution of bullfighting in Spain, while you see the different sections of the bullring, from the pens where the bulls are kept before the fight, to the arena where the actual fight takes place, from the chapel where the matadors say their prayers before the fight, to the areas where the audience and the bullring authorities sit. You will also be explained about brave bull breeding and about how different bullrings choose different bulls with different characteristics for their fights.
After your tour of the bullring, enjoy a private walking tour of Ronda old town with a special focus on its history, most representative landmarks, viewpoints and picturesque locations.
This private walking tour of Ronda old town will give you an excellent overview of the Hispanic-Muslim origins of the city and of the transformations that it started to experience in 1485 when it was conquered by Christians. It was then when many wealthy military orders settled down in Ronda in order to defend its strategic location near the straits of Gibraltar and very well connected to the main Southern Spanish cities.
These new inhabitants erected many noble residences and funded the construction of impressive religious constructions too. In the 18th century Ronda experienced a time of maximum splendour and its main landmark was built: the majestic New Bridge, which you will visit during your tour.
Ronda has also stunning nature in its surroundings and your tour will take you to the best viewpoints. This will allow you to understand why this whitewashed gem attracted so many romantic travellers in the 19th century during their Grand Tour and the impact that their written, drawn and painted portraits of Andalusia had in the international perception of Spain in the following decades until today.
1:45pm: end of your tour of Ronda and free time for lunch at leisure and to maybe explore the town a little bit further on your own.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred from Ronda to Tarifa.
5:30pm: arrival to your accommodation in Tarifa and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Tarifa. Superior double room with breakfast included at Hotel Posada la Sacristía (3*)
–
–
28th of April. Day at leisure in Tarifa
–
All day: enjoy your day at leisure in Tarifa. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most in the area.
Overnight in Tarifa. Superior double room with breakfast included at Hotel Posada la Sacristía (3*)
–
–
29th of April. Day at leisure in Tarifa
–
All day: enjoy your day at leisure in Tarifa. Recommendations will be given for you to make the most in the area.
Overnight in Tarifa. Superior double room with breakfast included at Hotel Posada la Sacristía (3*)
–
–
30th of April. From Tarifa to Seville and introductory flamenco and tapas tour of the city.
–
11am: be met by your personal driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle from your hotel in Tarifa to your hotel in Seville.
1:15pm: upon arrival to your hotel in Seville, enjoy some free time to check-in, to freshen up and to have lunch at leisure before your introductory flamenco and tapas tour of the city.
6:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards a selected flamenco venue. This introductory walk is aimed at learning about the origins of flamenco music in Southern Spain and also about its evolution throughout the centuries. This will set the context for (and enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of) the flamenco performance in a small and intimate venue that will follow, with 4 people on stage (one singer, one guitarist and two dancers).
7:30pm: start of the flamenco performance.
8:30pm: after your flamenco performance, enjoy a tapas tasting tour through Seville old town. Along the journey, you will be taken to 2 – 3 different bars where Sevillanos like to gather with relatives and friends and where you will be immersed into the local culture through its gastronomy and wine. Along the tour you will taste a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This tour will also make an excellent opportunity to learn about the iconic wines from SouthWest Spain.
10:30pm: after your tapas and wines adventure, be escorted back to your hotel stopping along the way for a sweet local treat.
11pm: arrival to your hotel and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Seville. Deluxe double room with breakfast included at Hotel Casa Romana (4*)
–
–
1st of May: Morning Covid test and afternoon Seville world Heritage Sites walking tour. Overnight in Seville.
–
Morning: take your covid tests in a selected clinic in Seville. Appointments will be booked for you.
2pm: be met by your personal local guide at your accommodation in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to the most impressive World Heritages Sites of the city (the Alcazar and the Cathedral with its Giralda tower) and to the quarter of Santa Cruz.
You will start your discovery journey by visiting the Alcazar, which is a massive complex of palaces erected in different periods and of breath-taking gardens of different styles. The Alcazar has stunning historical constructions featuring a very particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles, called Mudejar. This style became very fashionable in Spain in the 14th and 15th centuries amongst the Christian nobility and it reached its maximum splendour in Seville. Another essential part of the Alcazar is the famous house of Trade, which once hosted the offices from where all the commerce with the new world was managed. After enjoying these inner areas, you will be taken to the gardens, which are an exquisite sample of European landscaping from the 16th until the 20th centuries.
Then you will be taken to visit the Cathedral, which is the largest gothic temple in the World and where Christopher Columbus is buried. The Cathedral of Seville was built on a vast extension of land where previously a Mosque had been erected. An important part of the Mosque was preserved and it is now a part of the Cathedral. This makes it a unique construction featuring styles as diverse as Hispanic-Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical and Baroque. A most important part of the Cathedral is its bell tower known as la Giralda. During your tour you will be taken to the top in order to enjoy the wonderful views of Seville that one can admire from there.
To finish you will visit the quarter of Santa Cruz, with its countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cosy squares, houses of traditional Southern Spanish architecture and Moorish urban planning. It is in this quarter where an important part of the Jewish Sephardic community of Seville lived in the medieval times and you will learn about what life in the quarter was like then and how it has evolved until becoming what it is today.
5:30pm: after your tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville. Deluxe double room with breakfast included at Hotel Casa Romana (4*)
–
–
2nd of May: Private transfer from Seville to Jerez airport.
–
6:50am: meet your personal driver at your hotel and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Jerez airport.
8:05am: arrival to Jerez airport and end of services.
–
–
Pricing
–
The price of this bespoke tour program for a private group of 2 people is 7195 Euros.
–
This price includes
– 9 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver.
– All private tours and experiences mentioned above with a personal local host from Genuine Andalusia (a fully licensed, knowledgeable, personable, flexible and interactive guide).
– All entrance tickets and admissions to all the sites included in the guided tours.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Córdoba.
– A tapas dinner in Granada including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water).
– A tapas dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water).
– Entrance tickets to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 guitarist, 1 singer).
– Taxi ride to get from your hotel in Granada to the Alhambra.
– Management of appointments for your Covid Test in Seville.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the cities where you will be staying.
– 24h support throughout your trip.
– All taxes.
–
This price excludes
– Your accommodation in Madrid.
– Any meals not mentioned in the section “this price includes”.
– The cost of your Covid tests should you need to take them before departure from Spain.
– Anything else not mentioned in the section “this price includes”.
–
Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this bespoke trip we require a 25% deposit of the grand total no later than the 10th of February at 6am (Madrid time) via credit/debit card. The final 75% must be paid no later than 20 days prior to the start of the tour program via the same method.
–
Grand total of this bespoke trip: 7195 Euros.
–
25% deposit needed no later than the 10th of February to confirm the program: 1798,75 Euros.
–
Final 75% needed no later than 20 days prior to the star of the program: 5396,25 Euros.
–
Cancellation policy
– If you cancel this tour program more than 20 days prior to its start, we’ll charge the 25% deposit only.
– If you cancel this tour program between 20 and 7 days prior to its start, we’ll charge 50% of the full cost of the trip.
– If you cancel this tour program between 6 and 3 days prior to its start, we’ll charge 75% of the full cost of the trip.
– If you cancel this tour program 2 days or less prior to its start, we’ll charge 100% of the full cost of the trip.
(*)If the travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic didn’t allow for this trip to happen we would give you a full refund. Please note that the travel restrictions we will take as official will be the ones imposed by the corresponding government/s on the general vaccinated traveller coming to Spain from the Canada and not your specific personal circumstances.
