Payment of bespoke trip to Spain | 25th of May – 8th of June 2023 | 2 pax
–
Description and schedule of services
–
25th of May: arrival of your flight to Madrid airport and rest of the day at leisure to recover from your flight
–
7:50am: upon arrival of your flight to Madrid airport, collect your luggage and walk to the arrivals hall. Your personal driver will be waiting for you there holding a sign saying “Marilyn and Tom – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Madrid.
9:15am (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure to recover from your flight. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in the city and of places to eat too. We will also ask your hotel to have your room ready as soon as possible so you can do an early check-in.
Overnight in Madrid: preferential room with balcony and breakfast included at Gran Hotel Inglés (5*)
–
–
26th of May: Morning discovery journey of Madrid medieval quarters followed by a visit to the Prado Art Museum
–
9:30am: meet your personal guide at your hotel to go on an introductory tour of Madrid old town aimed at setting the context for your stay in the city and in the country.
Your tour will take you through the oldest quarters of the Spanish capital in order for you to understand where Madrid has its roots and from where it has evolved until becoming the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital it is today.
A first highlight of your walk will be the iconic Plaza Mayor where you will be explained about the important historical events that have happened there over the past 400 years and their importance in the history of Madrid and of Spain. Another highlight will be learning about the history of the Spanish monarchy while you stroll along the grand façades of the Royal Palace, to later enjoy a panoramic view of its gardens and of the nearby opera house.
11:30am: after this introduction to the Spanish capital, take a taxi with your guide to the Prado Museum. There your guide will take you on a private tour that will allow you to travel through Spanish history of art while you enjoy the remarkable works of Spanish master painters such as Velazquez, Goya and El Greco amongst others. This will allow you to understand how different historical periods shaped the artistic creation at each time and how much of Spain’s culture and sentiment is expressed in the works of its main artists.
1:30pm: after your tour of Madrid, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: preferential room with balcony and breakfast included at Gran Hotel Inglés (5*)
–
–
27th of May: Day trip from Madrid to the medieval city of Toledo
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Madrid and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Toledo old town.
10am: upon arrival to Toledo, meet your personal local host to start a panoramic tour of the city from your vehicle, aimed at setting the context for your exploration of the local history and architecture. This first part of the tour will take you to see some excellent panoramic views of Toledo allowing you to understand its geography and strategic location.
Then you will be driven to the old town quarters to start private walking tour of the city with a special focus on its medieval 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 allow you to learn about the presence of the Hispanic-Muslim culture in the city while you are shown some selected samples (civil, religious and defensive) of a particular crossover between Hispanic-Muslim and Christian architecture styles called Mudéjar and which you will later re-encounter in Seville.
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.
1:30pm: end of your private walking tour of Toledo and free time for lunch at leisure before your return to Madrid. We will give you recommendations of places to eat in Toledo and will book a table for you if you wish.
3:30pm: reconnect with your driver and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a dedicated driver from Toledo back to your hotel in Madrid.
4:30pm: arrival to your accommodation in Madrid and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Madrid: preferential room with balcony and breakfast included at Gran Hotel Inglés (5*)
–
–
28th of May: Morning high-speed train from Madrid to Seville and introductory flamenco and tapas tour of Seville old town in the evening
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable vehicle to Madrid train station.
9:20am: arrival to Madrid train station on time to take your high-speed train to Seville.
10am: departure of your high-speed train from Madrid to Seville. 1st class seats.
12:34pm: upon arrival to Seville train station, collect your luggage, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Marilyn and Tom – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Seville.
1:15pm (estimated): arrival to your hotel in Seville and free time to check-in, have lunch and freshen up before your introductory flamenco and tapas tour of the city. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see and of places to eat in Seville and we will book tables for you if you wish.
6:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to start a guided walk towards a selected flamenco venue in Seville old town.
This introductory walk is aimed at learning how flamenco music emerged from South West Spain as a result of a slow fusion of the ancient multicultural musical heritage of Southern Spain with the original gypsy rhythms and musical roots. 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. Your tour will take you to 2 – 3 selected tapas bars where the locals like to gather with family and friends and where you will taste a selection of 6 – 9 local dishes to share and up to 4 drinks per person (wine, beer, refreshments, water). This will make an excellent opportunity to learn about Southern Spanish gastronomy and wines, about the connection of different foods to different festivities, regions and specific periods of history and also about the dynamics of tapas bars in Southern 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 terrace and breakfast included in Hotel Casa del Poeta (4*)
–
–
29th of May: late morning walking tour of Seville World Heritage Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish Castle, the Cathedral and the medieval Jewish quarter
–
10am: be met by your personal local guide at your hotel in Seville to start a private walking tour that will take you to visit its impressive World Heritages Sites: the Alcazar or Moorish palace, the Cathedral with its Giralda tower and the medieval Jewish quarter.
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 splendor 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, which is a perfectly preserved Hispanic-Muslim minaret from the period when a Mosque occupied the grounds where the Cathedral stands today. 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 the tour you will visit the quarter of Santa Cruz, with its countless quaint corners, narrow streets, cozy 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.
1:30pm: end of your tour and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: deluxe double room with terrace and breakfast included in Hotel Casa del Poeta (4*)
–
–
30th of May: Market tour and cooking lesson with a professional local chef followed by lunch in her cooking studio
–
9:30am: meet your personal cooking instructor at your accommodation to start your food and culture experience of the day.
After meeting your cooking instructor at your hotel, you will be taken to a local market to buy all the necessary fresh ingredients for today’s lunch. Along your shopping route, your cooking instructor will provide you with some important explanations about the origins and quality of different produce. This will allow you to understand how the Spanish like to carefully select the ingredients they use for their dishes. Then, your instructor will take you to her cooking studio, just outside Seville old town.
Upon arrival, you will be offered something to drink and then your culinary experience will continue with some further explanations about the origin and quality of some selected produce, this time through tastings!. Then it will be time to cook a selection of regional recipes that will make an excellent and comprehensive lunch that you will be able to enjoy in the cooking studio of your instructor. Finally and after a sweet indulgence, your culinary experience will finish leaving you with a happy belly and a happy soul!
Every trip to Spain should include at least one meal cooked by a caring and knowledgeable Spanish host in a house. Spanish home food is the best that can be found in the country, so a homemade Spanish feast is a must on every trip to Spain for any food lover. Besides, learning how to cook some Spanish recipes will allow you to travel back to Spain from your own kitchen whenever you like! All this and more is what you will get to experience and learn during this tour.
2:30pm: end of your cooking experience with your local host and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Seville: deluxe double room with terrace and breakfast included in Hotel Casa del Poeta (4*)
–
–
31st of May: Day trip from Seville to Jerez for an immersion into the world of Sherry wines including a visit to a selected sherry bodega and a homemade country lunch in a private vineyard
–
9am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Jerez old town.
10:15am: upon arrival to Jerez, meet your personal sherry host and start a private walking tour of the old town aimed at learning about the Hispanic-Muslim origins of the city and about the transformations that it experience (architecture, urban planning, social composition and overall character) in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the local wines became probably the most fashionable drinks in the world.
Your visit will also include a tour of the local market in order for you to understand not only the produce that shapes the local gastronomy but also the very important proximity service it is for the local community and the role it plays in the social fabric of the city.
11am: end of your walking tour in a selected sherry bodega and private tour with the owner aimed at learning about the aging process of the different types of sherry. This will be followed by the corresponding tastings.
12:30pm: end of the visit to the sherry bodega and private transfer to a selected vineyard in the countryside outside Jerez.
12:50pm: arrival to the vineyard, meeting with the owner and tour around the vines with him, aimed at having an introduction to sherry viticulture. Understanding of the particularities of the soil, of the climate, of the vines and of the grapes that make sherry so unique.
1:30pm: end of the walk in the private bodega of the owner, where he makes and ages Sherry only for him and his family. Tasting of his artisanal sherries accompanied by a selection of tapas.
2:30pm: homemade lunch (starters, mains and dessert) in the vineyard house of the owner cooked on site by his wife and accompanied by the corresponding sherries.
4:15pm: end of lunch and farewell sherry cocktail.
4:45pm: private transfer from the vineyard to your hotel in Jerez.
5:15pm: arrival to your hotel in Jerez and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Jerez during your free time and we will also recommend places to eat. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Jerez: Junior Suite with breakfast included in Hotel Casa Palacio María Luisa (5*)
–
–
1st of June: Culture and gastronomy day trip from Jerez to the colonial coastal city of Cadiz
–
9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Cadiz old town.
Along the journey, you will be able to enjoy the views of the natural park of the bay of Cádiz, which is formed by a series of coastal towns, marshes, estuaries and salt pans. During the ride, you will be explained about the particular activities and industries that have taken place along the bay of Cádiz throughout history.
10:15am: upon arrival to Cadiz, you will first be taken on a panoramic tour of the perimeter of the city in order to understand its particular geography and to learn about its colonial defensive architecture.
After your panoramic tour, you will start a private walking tour of the old town with a special focus on the foundation of the city by Phoenicians 3000 years ago and on the period when it held the monopoly of all trade with America, formerly established in Seville.
You will start this tour seeing incredibly well preserved evidence of the Phoenician past of the city. This will allow you to understand who the Phoenicians were, where they came from, why they based themselves in Cadiz 3000 years ago and the impact that their arrival had in the present history, culture, gastronomy and wines of Southern Spain.
Later, you will travel forward in time to the 18th century, when the city held the monopoly of all trade with the Americas, formerly established in Seville. The bourgeoisie that settled down in Cádiz in this period transformed the city completely into a refined and cosmopolitan colonial hub. These new inhabitants of the city erected some impressive colonial mansions and brought to Cádiz not only gold, silver, mahogany and other precious materials but also new ideas that transformed the mentality of the city and later of the whole of Spain.
Along this second part of the tour you will visit some selected buildings that will reveal the wealth, refinement and change of mentality that the city enjoyed in this colonial period.
12:30pm: end of your introductory walking tour in the local market of Cádiz. At the market, you will be taken to selected stalls to do some tastings of selected local produce. You will also be given explanations about the similarities and differences between the markets in Jerez and Cadiz and between the gastronomy of both cities.
1pm: end of your tour of the market and small walk to a selected local tavern. Once at the tavern, you will enjoy a wine tasting aimed to learn about the wines that traveled from Cadiz to the new world.
1:30pm: end of the wine tasting and small walk to a family-owned and family-run tapas bar. There you will enjoy a tapas and wines lunch based on local specialties and including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share and up to 3 drinks per person.
3pm: after lunch, enjoy a coffee with a special local dessert in a historic grand café where the local bourgeoisie used to gather in the times of thriving Transatlantic trade.
3:45pm: end of the tour and private transfer back to Jerez.
4:20pm: arrival to Jerez and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Jerez: Junior Suite with breakfast included in Hotel Casa Palacio María Luisa (5*)
–
–
2nd of June: From Jerez to Ronda via the whitewashed medieval hilltop towns of Arcos de la Frontera and Zahara de la Sierra including a private visit to an olive oil mill and lunch there
–
9am: meet your personal local host at your accommodation and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to the medieval whitewashed hilltop town of Arcos de la Frontera, or simply Arcos.
9:45am: arrival to Arcos de la Frontera and private walking tour of the medieval quarters with a special focus on their combination of grand historic constructions and houses of traditional architecture, on their impressive views over the surrounding valleys, on their traditions and on their colorful history. Tasting of some selected local delicacies along the way.
11:30am: end of your tour of Arcos de la Frontera and private transfer to a selected olive oil mill specialized in premium extra virgin olive oil.
12:15pm: arrival to the olive oil mill and private visit aimed at learning about the production of extra virgin olive oil from the harvest of the olives to the final product. This will be followed by the corresponding tastings of different types of extra virgin olive oil and by a country lunch prepared with produce from the surrounding farms.
3:15pm: private transfer from the olive oil mill to the medieval town of Zahara de la Sierra.
3:30pm: arrival to Zahara de la Sierra and private walking tour of the old town aimed at enjoying its traditional Southern Spanish charm and to learn about its history and evolution from a fortified settlement on top of a rock to a more spread-out rural village. During the tour you may also want to walk to the top of its Moorish castle, which offers not only very representative evidence of the Hispanic-Muslim medieval configuration of the town, but also beautiful views of the nearby lake of Zahara – El Gastor.
3:45pm: end of your visit to Zahara de la Sierra and private transfer to your accommodation in Ronda.
4:30pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Ronda during your free time and we will also recommend places to eat. Tables will be booked for you if you wish.
Overnight in Ronda: superior double room with breakfast included in Hotel Parador de Ronda (4*)
–
–
3rd of June: Day trip from Ronda to the Genal Valley nature reserve for a small hike there and an immersion into the life of one of its rural villages including a visit to a winery and a homemade pairing lunch there
–
9am: meet your personal nature guide at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable vehicle with a dedicated driver to the village of Benadalid, in the heart of the valley of the Genal river, a magical unspoilt reserve south of Ronda.
9:30am: arrival to the village of Benadalid to start an easy 5km guided hike towards the village of Benalauría. You will first be explained about the Berber origins of Benadalid, which still keeps its Moorish castle. Later you will take the old paths that the cork workers used to use in the past to transport the cork that they would harvest every 9 years and that are actually still in use today. You will cross a vast extension of Mediterranean forest filled with old olive trees, chestnut trees, holm oaks and cork oaks while you are explained about the many species of flora that you will see and how they have been used by the people of the area throughout the centuries.
11:30am: upon arrival to Benalauría, you will have an immersion into its present culture and lifestyle through visits to some selected local spots and meeting the local community along the way.
Your first stop will take you to the old local mill (not in use anymore), where you will understand how the local chestnut wood and stone allowed for the construction of very robust houses and local infrastructures until the late 20th century. The old mill is in an excellent state of conservation and the local population has donated several old artifacts to create a little exhibition space representing its roots and ancient industries.
Your second stop will be the local bakery, founded in the 19th century by the same family who owns it today and where bread and cakes are still made following traditional recipes. At the bakery, you will meet the owners, learn about their business and about the important proximity service they operate for the local population as well as for the surrounding towns.
Your third stop will take you to the winery of a small local winemaker. There you will learn how the Genal Valley had a thriving wine industry until a devastating pest arrived in the late 19th century. Slowly, more than 100 years later, this wine scene is having a comeback and this winemaker is one of the pioneers in the recovery. At the winery you will enjoy a tasting of his red and white wines as well as a local pairing lunch cooked by his wife. This will be the icing on the cake for your immersion into the life of a remote mountain village in South West Spain.
3pm: end of lunch and private transfer from Benalauría back to Ronda.
3:45pm: arrival to your accommodation in Ronda and end of services for the day.
Overnight in Ronda: superior double room with breakfast included in Hotel Parador de Ronda (4*)
–
–
4th of June: From Ronda to Granada and introductory walking tour of Granada old town followed by an evening tapas and wines dinner
–
10am: meet your personal driver at your accommodation in Ronda and be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to your hotel in Granada.
12:15pm: upon arrival to your accommodation in Granada, enjoy some free time to check-in (subject to your room being ready upon arrival), to have lunch, relax and freshen up before your introductory walking tour of the city. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Granada as well as of places to eat. Tables will also be booked for you if you wish.
5:30pm: meet your personal local host by the reception desk of your hotel to go on a 3h introductory 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 in the city.
These are two key areas in the history of Granada 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 this conquest (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 private residence. During your visit, you will see beautiful evidence of its original use and of the one that followed.
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 stay in Southern Spain and also for your tour to the Alhambra and el Generalife the next day.
8pm: after your introductory tour, enjoy a tapas and wines journey through the city.
Understanding how Granada works when it comes to celebrating food can be one of the most revealing experiences of the local culture. Tapas play a key role in the wide variety of options that the city 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.
This second tapas tour of your trip will make a perfect continuation after your introduction in Seville to this genuinely Southern Spanish eating habit. Besides, it will allow you to understand the differences between the gastronomy and wines of the Western and Easter regions of Southern Spain.
10:30pm: end of your tapas tour back at your hotel.
Overnight in Granada: deluxe premium room with terrace and Alhambra views with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 Granada (3* superior)
–
–
5th of June: Late morning walking tour of the UNESCO sites of the Alhambra and El Generalife. Rest of the day at leisure.
–
10am: 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.
10:15am: 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.
1:30pm: after your tour of the Alhambra and El Generalife, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Granada: deluxe premium room with terrace and Alhambra views with breakfast included at hotel Casa 1800 Granada (3* superior)
–
–
6th of June: From Granada to Cordoba via the Renaissance towns of Ubeda and Baeza (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
–
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 and noble houses.
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, while you learn about 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.
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 Córdoba.
6:20pm: arrival to your hotel in Cordoba and end of services for the day. We will give you recommendations of things to do and see in Cordoba and of places to eat. Tables will be booked for you also if you wish.
Overnight in Cordoba: junior suite with terrace and breakfast included at hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
–
–
7th of June: walking tour of Cordoba old town including the Great Mosque Cathedral, the synagogue, the chapel of Saint Bartholomew and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs
–
10am: 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.
1:30pm: end of your tour at the impressive Roman Bridge of the city and rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Cordoba: junior suite with terrace and breakfast included at hotel El Balcón de Córdoba (4*)
–
–
8th of June: Early morning high-speed train from Cordoba to Madrid and departure from Madrid
–
6:40am: meet your personal driver at your hotel in Cordoba and be transferred to Cordoba train station.
7am: arrival to Cordoba train station on time to take your high-speed train to Madrid.
7:22am: departure of your high-speed train from Cordoba to Madrid.
9:10am: upon arrival of your high-speed train to Madrid train station, walk to the arrivals hall and meet your personal driver there. He will be holding a sign saying “Marilyn and Tom – Genuine Andalusia”. Then be transferred in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle to Madrid airport.
9:50 (estimated): arrival to Madrid airport and end of trip.
–
–
Pricing
–
–
The cost of this bespoke trip to Spain for a private group of 2 people is 18390 Euros
–
This price includes
– 14 nights accommodation with breakfast included as per mentioned above.
– All private transportation services mentioned above in a modern and comfortable Mercedes vehicle with a professional driver.
– All private tours and travel experiences mentioned above with a knowledgeable, personable, kind, flexible and interactive fully licensed guide.
– All entrance tickets and admissions during the tours.
– Taxi ride during your walking tour of Madrid, to get to the Prado Museum.
– High-speed train tickets (1st class seats) to travel from Madrid to Seville on the 28th of May and from Cordoba to Madrid on the 8th of June.
– Admission to a selected flamenco performance in Seville with 4 people onstage (2 dancers, 1 singer and 1 guitarist).
– A tapas and wines dinner in Seville including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– A private market tour and cooking lesson with a professional local chef in Seville including all ingredients and drinks to prepare and enjoy a 3 course lunch. A menu will be set to you in advance for approval.
– A private visit to a selected sherry bodega with the corresponding sherry tastings there.
– A private visit to a private sherry vineyard with the corresponding tastings and tapas there followed by a homemade lunch including starters, mains, desserts and a farewell sherry cocktail.
– Food tastings in selected local stalls at the food market in Cadiz.
– A wine tasting in a selected local tavern in Cadiz.
– A tapas and wines lunch in Cadiz including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share, and up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water).
– A coffee and a sweet local specialty in a historic grand café in Cadiz.
– A private visit to a selected olive oil mill in the sierras of Cadiz including a tasting of different extra virgin olive oils and a country lunch there with produce from the surrounding farms.
– A guided hike in the Genal Valley followed by a visit to the village of Benalauría including the local mill, the local bakery and a private winery with the corresponding tastings there and a homemade pairing lunch with a starter, a main and a dessert per person.
– A tapas and wines dinner in Granada including a selection of 6 – 9 dishes to share, up to 4 drinks per person (beer, wine, refreshments or water) and a sweet local treat to finish.
– Taxi ride to get from your accommodation to the Alhambra.
– A list of recommended things to do and see and of places to eat in each of the places you will visit. – Tables will also be booked for you if you wish.
– 24h assistance throughout your trip.
– Petrol, parkings and tolls.
– All taxes.
–
This price excludes
– Your international flights.
– Any meals not mentioned right above.
– Anything else not mentioned right above.
–
Confirmation and payments
In order to confirm this trip at this price, we require a 25% of the grand total no later than the 28th of October 2022 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) via credit/debit card. The final 75% must be paid via the same method no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip.
–
Grand total of this trip: 18390 Euros
–
25% deposit needed no later than the 28th of October 2022 at 11:59pm (Madrid time) to confirm the trip: 4597,5 Euros
–
–
Final 75% needed no later than 30 days prior to the start of the trip: 13729,5 Euros
–
Cancellation policy
– If you cancel your trip more than 30 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge the 25% deposit only.
– If you cancel your trip between 30 and 7 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 50% of the full cost of your trip and we will refund the remaining 50%.
– If you cancel your trip between 6 and 2 days prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 65% of the full cost of your trip and we will refund the remaining 35%.
– If you cancel your trip 2 days or less prior to scheduled departure, we will charge 100% of the full cost of your trip.
(*) If Spain closes its border due to a national or global emergency and you are not able to enter the country to take this trip, we will give you a full refund.
(**) Genuine Andalusia strongly recommends buying travel insurance for any international trip. Most of our US guests buy their travel insurance via MedJet.
