This is a short, three-day tour to visit Cordoba and Sevilla - cities that form the ''heart'' of Andalusia - the Spanish south, where you will get the best examples e of a typical Andalusian lifestyle. Tapas, flamenco, warm-hearted and passionate people that celebrate colorful fiestas – that's what this area is famous for.
Main highlight of the trip - Seville, where you will spend almost two days. It is likely to be one of the most romantic and attractive cities you'll ever experience. Named by Lonely Planet as the best city to visit in 2018, the Andalusian capital is made up of some of the most enchanting neighbourhoods in Spain, such as the old Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz and the former gypsy barrio of Triana. Historic monuments include the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, an elegant bullring and a Moorish palace that starred in ''Game of Thrones''.
To save your time and make the trip comfortable and relaxed, you travel back to Madrid using the high-speed AVE train that sees you back in the capital within three hours for your last day.
Included in tour:
- accommodation in **** hotels
- 2 breakfasts, 2
dinners
- modern and air-conditioned bus
- multi-lingual tour escort
- sightseeing tour with local guide in Cordoba and Sevilla
-
tickets to Cordoba's Mosque
- travel insurance
- free Wi- Fi on
board
Price: From €400
ITINERARY
Day 1. Madrid - Cordoba - Sevilla (530 km ~ 329 miles)
Departure from the bus terminal at 08.00 in the morning towards Cordoba, passing thru the region of Castilla La Mancha, known for being the setting of Miguel de Cervantes' 17th century novel Don Quixote de la Mancha – probably, one of the most famous books ever to have come out of Spain.
Arriving to Cordoba - beautiful ancient town in Andalusia as well as one of Spain's most famous historical monuments. You will take a proper tour through its historic center - a very charming place, with its patios and courtyards, decorated with pots of aromatic jasmine and geraniums and walk narrow, winding streets, lined with what must be some of the prettiest and most colorful houses in southern Spain. And of course you will enter the Mosque-Cathedral - the greatest dual-identity monument in Spain
Mosque-Cathedral.
Originally there was a Roman temple on this site, but it was replaced by a
Christian church during the Visigoth era. After the Moors captured Córdoba
in 711, the church was split in two and used by both Christians and
Muslims as a place of worship. But the reign of religious pluralism in
Córdoba didn’t last long: in 784, on the orders of the Emir Abd al-Rahman,
the church was destroyed and work on a great mosque began. Construction
lasted for over two centuries and, when the building was completed in 987,
Córdoba’s mosque was the largest in the Islamic kingdom, save only for
that of Kaaba in Arabia. When the city was reclaimed by Christians in
1236, the mosque was converted into a church and in the 16th century
Charles V added a great Renaissance nave right on top of the original
Moorish structure. The mosque’s most-photographed aspect is its vast main
hall, which is supported by over 850 double-arched columns. Sunlight and
shadows create unusual effects as you wander among them, contemplating the
multifaceted history of this great building.
Extending in a tangle of cobbled streets and squares to the north of the Mosque-Cathedral is Juderia - the city's former Jewish quarter. This is a great area to stop for lunch, packed as it is with smart restaurants as well as superb no-frills tapas bars. Free time to have lunch and buy some souvenirs.
Later the bus departures to Seville. Two-hour drive, arrival, dinner and accommodation.
Day 2. Seville
Breakfast in the hotel, followed by a proper city tour throughout Seville with a local guide, to admire this beautiful and also the largest city of Southern Spain. With numerous sights and attractions, this city will never leave visitors stuck for choice. Main highlights of the tour:
Plaza de España was
built as a centerpiece for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. Described
as one of Seville’s most impressive sights, this plaza (square) measures
at 50,000 sq. meters. Only a twenty-minute walk from Seville Cathedral,
this is one of Seville’s more popular locations and with a canal measuring
500 meters, the plaza is known as ''the Venice of Seville’’. It is a
magnificent sight and a must see, with its colored ceramics and 48 tiled
alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain. This place is
not only popular with tourists and visitors as it has been used for the
location of a number of films including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.
Maria Luisa Park acted
as the site of the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929. Filled with orange
trees, palm trees and flower beds, it is the perfect place to unwind. With
a number of colorfully tiled benches and fountains erected in a Moorish
style, this park brings a touch of the exotic to the city. It is
surrounded by a number of historic sites and wonderful architectural
buildings which allows visitors to indirectly appreciate the beauty of
Seville.
Seville’s Cathedral is
one of the largest in the world. It stands at an enormous 126 meters long
and 83 meters wide with a ceiling height of 37 meters. The classical
exterior draws visitors into an equally impressive interior. For example,
the main altarpiece, consists of 36 gilded panels, gently glimmering
through the space. Globe-trotters can also pay their own homage to one of
the world’s greatest travelers - this monumental building holds the
sarcophagus of Christopher Columbus. During the tour we will see the
Cathedral from outside.
Barrio Santa Cruz -
Seville’s most famous area and a former Jewish Quarter. Its unfeasibly
narrow streets, white houses, secret squares and small churches creates an
unforgettable atmosphere, just enjoy it.
After the city tour you will have the afternoon off to rest or explore more on your own.
You can check out the
inside of the Cathedral, or visit the famous Giralda Bell Tower , attached
to it. This is most iconic representation of the Islam and Christian
traditions that define Seville’s history. You can walk to the very top,
and, except for the final section, which features stairs, the route almost
all the way up (for stunning views!) is via ramps.
Go to Metropol Parasol
, also known as the ''Mushrooms of the Incarnation'', built just a few
years ago - and now is one of Seville’s newest architectural ventures. It
is the largest wooden structure in the world, and from the top of it you
can have a truly spectacular view. The structure also hosts a museum,
which houses Roman remains found during the beginning of construction.
Another suggestion for
your free time - to explore district of Triana - Seville’s former Gypsy
quarter and one of the city’s most distinctive attractions. Its colourful,
quaint streets are lined with old-style tapas bars, the walls of which are
often plastered with faded bullfighting posters, photos of flamenco
artists and weeping Virgin Marys. It is also known for its locally made
ceramics, which adorn the walls of its old, whitewashed houses, and one of
Seville’s best and most lively markets - the Mercado de Triana.
Dinner and a night in Seville.
Day 3. Sevilla - Madrid (AVE high-speed train: 530 km ~ 329 miles)
Breakfast. The day is at your disposal to do as you please. Enjoy an excellent Andalusian tapas, stroll through Seville's narrow streets or visit the beautiful Alcazar Gardens.
The Alcázar or
''Reales Alcázares de Sevilla'' as it is known is Spanish is a royal
palace which was built by the Moorish rulers who occupied the peninsula
from the 8th century onwards. It is by and large considered to be one of
the most outstanding examples of mudéjar art to exist today.
In the early evening, you will take a high-speed AVE train and head back to Madrid. Arrival and the end of the tour.
Contact us for customize tour.