Andalucia Walk

Upon arrival in Seville, transfer to our centrally located hotel. Gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception featuring the famous specialties of Andalucía.

After breakfast at our hotel, join fellow travelers for a walk along the narrow twisting streets of Seville and a visit to the extraordinary Gothic cathedral before pausing for a lunch of fried fish or Spanish ham at an open-air tapas bar. The afternoon is free for us to continue our wanderings, maybe taking in the Duchess of Medinaceli’s palace or the famous bullring and tower of gold. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

Today we take the high-speed train from Seville to Córdoba, a distance of 80 miles, which we will travel in little over half an hour. Our visit to this historic town includes the Mosque, one of the greatest works of Muslim architecture to be found on any continent, as well as the ancient Jewish quarter. We return to Seville by rail.

We begin today with a visit to Seville’s famous Moorish alcazar after which we drive from Seville to Jerez de la Frontera, home of the sherry bodegas. After lunch, visit the town’s Moorish castle and cathedral. In the afternoon, we continue to Arcos de la Frontera, where we stay for two nights in a beautiful old parador, built in typical Andalusian style centered on an open patio and located on the dramatic main square of this beautiful town. Tonight, in this most evocative of southern towns, the famous Easter processions begin.

Today we hike through the farmland of southern Spain. This is a spectacularly beautiful countryside with open pastures and arable land combined with dramatic scenery of low mountain scrub where genista, cistus and countless herbs perfume our walk. In the afternoon, return to Arcos de la Frontera for dinner and another chance to view the Holy Week processions.

Today we depart Arcos de la Frontera and head east for a walk through dramatic mountain scenery of limestone cliffs and circling eagles, stopping for a picnic lunch by an isolated whitewashed farmhouse. In the afternoon, we continue over a ridge to the most beautiful of all the whitewashed villages, Grazalema, from where we drive on to our hotel in the heart of the countryside.

Today we go on a morning walk through some of the most magnificent scenery of our trip on our way to the tiny Moorish village of Benaocaz where we have lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a short walk along an ancient Roman roadway down to the town of Ubrique before returning to Grazalema by vehicle.

Today begins with a walk through Libar on a full-day trip to the village of Benaoján. From there continue to Ronda, one of the most beautiful and dramatically situated towns in Spain. This evening, Holy Thursday, watch Easter processions as they cross the famous bridge over Ronda’s Tajo gorge.

Enjoy a free day in Ronda to explore the town or go on an optional walk across rolling farmland to a dramatic gorge. The walkers will return by train to Ronda. This evening the most famous of Ronda’s processions takes place, the Silent Procession of the Virgin, accompanied by flamenco laments.

This morning we set off for Granada, the last outpost of the Moorish Empire in Spain, which reigned from 711 to 1492. Our first visit is to the remarkable Alhambra, which ranks among the greatest works of architecture in the world. We stop for lunch before continuing our exploration of the fortress complex of the Moors, which includes visits to the Generalife gardens and the castle of the Alcazaba. Our hotel is located on the Alhambra hill within easy walking distance of the Alhambra’s wonders.

Today we explore both Christian and Moorish Granada. At the cathedral view the last resting place of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic monarchs, in a splendid royal chapel. Also explore the old Moorish town of the Albaicín on foot, working our way through tiny alleys and past the famous gypsy caves of Sacromonte to visit the most important monuments of the Christian and Moorish periods. The final processions of Semana Santa take place today, Easter Sunday, in this great city. Gather for a farewell reception before dinner this evening.

After breakfast depart for the Granada airport for outbound flights.