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June 20
- 27, 2010 |
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$3,295 (8
days, 7 nights) |
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Sevilla
(tour days 1-2)
"Quien no ha visto Sevilla, no ha visto maravilla"
These famous words speak an eternal truth: "He who has not seen Sevilla, has not seen a marvel." We begin our tour here, in the city of unlimited spirit and passion, a place where echoes of the colorful past flow seamlessly into the vibrant present. We will explore the hidden corners of this endlessly romantic city, bringing back to life the fascinating people, both fictional and real, who left behind their indelible mark: Hercules, Fernando the Saint, and the racy Don Juan Tenorio, among others, all called Sevilla their home. The influence of the powerful Moorish Almohad dynasty during the 12th and 13th century can still be felt and seen throughout Sevilla, from the soaring height and grace of the Giralda tower to the expansive gardens and pools of the Alcázar Palace. The exquisite food, the breathtaking beauty, and the relentless charm of both Sevilla and her people will provide the perfect welcome to Andalusian Spain.
| Accommodations & Meal Highlights |
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Every room of our hotel in Sevilla is unique, and hallways open up onto
quiet patios, whispering fountains, orange trees and gardens. Guests
are welcomed our first night over a festive, five course meal in the
heart of the old Jewish quarter in one of Seville's oldest and finest
restaurants. On the second night of our tour, you'll be treated to
a "tapas tour," sampling a wide variety of local delicacies
as we walk bar to bar!
| Day 1 |
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We meet in the morning and begin our adventure along the cooling banks of the Guadalquivir river. Here we will learn about the key figures and events that make up Sevilla's illustrious history. Once properly oriented, we will begin in earnest with a relaxed walk through the heart of old Sevilla.
Our path will cross many important monuments including la Torre de Oro (the gold tower), once the guardian of all gold and jewels from the newly discovered Americas, la Puerta de Jerez (the Gate of Jerez), with its famous inscription linking Sevilla to her legendary founder Hercules, and la Catedral de Sevilla, the fourth largest cathedral in the world and the final resting place for Fernando the Saint and Christopher Columbus. According to legend, when the officials met to plan the cathedral's construction one of them exclaimed, "Let us build a cathedral of such immense proportions that the rest of the world will think us mad!" Connected to the cathedral is the majestic Giralda tower, said to have been designed by the man who invented algebra. We will climb the dizzying heights of this sole surviving great minaret and take in a fantastic panoramic view of Sevilla in all her glory!
After savoring a wide variety of the local cuisine in our favorite local tapas restaurant (including garlic shrimp, roasted rosemary chicken, hardy seafood stew and, of course, gazpacho) we will continue into the Santa Cruz neighborhood. Once the center of the Jewish community, the barrio Santa Cruz is a maze of shady narrow streets filled with legends and lore, workshops, tiny stores, patios, wrought iron grilles, orange trees, palms and flowers. During the later afternoon, you might opt for a well-deserved Spanish siesta, or perhaps you will join us for an excursion to the Calle Sierpes, where quaint shops and charming cafes await!
| Day 2 |
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We start today with a walk through the Alcázar palace, where to this day the king and queen of Spain stay when they come to Sevilla. The palace dates back to the Almohad rulers, but was vastly expanded and modified by Peter the Cruel during the 14th Century. Here we can see a pure example of the Mudéjar style so typical of southern Spain - the stunning mixture of both the Moorish and Christian artistic and architectural aesthetic. After wandering through the palace gardens, we will continue on to the western part of the city. Passing the world-renown university, and contemplating what it must have looked like in its previous incarnation as a tobacco factory, we come at last to the María Luisa Park. Site of the 1929 Ibero-American Expo, this breathtaking oasis of shady trees, hidden paths and gurgling pools was landscaped in the French, Anglo-Saxon and Arabic style. Here we will wander peacefully to our heart's content, exploring the restored pavilions that now serve as art and archeology museums, and then we will join up for a paella lunch. You may choose to participate on one of our optional late afternoon excursions, or perhaps you will seek some rest anticipating an exciting evening of passionate flamenco music and dance at a local tablao! 
Click on a link to get the detailed itinerary for each place that we visit:
Sevilla (days 1-2) | Granada (days 3-4) | Las Alpujarras (days 5-6) |
Córdoba (days 7-8)
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