ABOUT THE TOUR
The Moors, who introduced astronomy, architecture, mathematics and other sciences to Europe, controlled the southern peninsula for 800 years. Seville later became one of the principal ports for expeditions to and from the New World and by the 1600s Seville was the richest city in Europe. Tour the Cathedral, the third largest in Europe which dominates the city and houses the superb tomb of Christopher Columbus. Next to it is the Giralda, now the cathedral’s bell tower but originally a minaret attached to the great mosque which stood on this site. Also visit the Alcazar, the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use. The glittering palace was originally founded by the Moors in the 10th century and then embellished by successive Catholic monarchs. It still retains ornate Moorish features, including exquisite plasterwork and tiles in the impressive state rooms. The palace is surrounded by its famed exotic ‘outdoor rooms’ filled with citrus fruit, olive trees, water gardens and fountains. Other highlights include the 17th century baroque Hospital de los Venerables, the 15th century Mudéjar mansion of Casa de Pilatos and the Museum of Fine Arts with its extensive art collection including works by Murillo, Zurbarán Herrera the younger and Valdés Leal.
Enjoy a day tour to Southern Andalusia’s Moorish capital Cordoba to visit one of the architectural wonders of the world, the Great Mosque, the ‘Mezquita’. The mosque dates from the 8th century and its interior dazzles with a forest of ancient columns mostly reused from earlier Roman ruins. After the Reconquest in 1523, on the orders Charles V, a large cathedral was built right in the centre of the mosque. Also explore the attractive old quarter of the city where orange trees provide shade in between the white-washed houses decked with bright flowers.
Option to attend a performance at the Teatro de la Maestranza, Seville’s opera house built in 1991 and one of the main cultural venues of Expo 1992 (subject to performance schedule).
TOUR LEADER
Tania Illingworth
TOUR DATE: 16 MARCH 2025 – 20 MARCH 2025
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: £325
Price Includes
- Accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary
- Breakfast daily; 3 lunches; 2 dinners
- Group transfers and transportation as per the itinerary
- All entrance fees, visits, excursions
- Gratuities in restaurants for included meals; gratuities to guides/s; gratuities to driver/s; porterage
- Local English-speaking guide/s
- The services of your tour leader throughout
Price Excludes
- International flights
- Meals ‘under own arrangements’
- Travel insurance
- Items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.)
- Government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 01/05/2024.
London / Seville
Suggested flight (not included in the cost of the tour) British Airways BA 2650 departing London Gatwick at 12.30 hrs arriving Seville at 16.15 hrs.
Upon arrival, group transfer into Seville to the Hotel Inglaterra, located in the heart of the historic city centre, where four nights are spent. Walk to dinner at nearby restaurant Taberna del Alabadero.
Seville
Leave, on foot, to visit the vast Gothic Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site), burial site of Christopher Columbus, with its Moorish bell tower ‘La Giralda’. Continue to the Alcázar (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the palace of the Spanish kings, the successor of the original Moorish palace, with its intricate Moorish decoration. Fragments of the Moorish palace were incorporated into the present structure, most of which dates from the 14th century. Explore the Royal Apartments and the lush gardens of citrus, olive and almond trees. Also see the recently discovered sunken gardens.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue on foot to the Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes, a museum originally built in the 17th century as a hospice for priests, to view its impressive collection of Murillo and Velasquez paintings. Walk through the Santa Cruz quarter of Seville with its winding cobbled streets and patios profuse with geraniums and jasmine. Option to take a horse-drawn carriage from Plaza de Santa Cruz through the Maria Luisa Park and the Plaza de España, with its tile decoration representing the different regions in Spain. Walk back to the hotel. Dinner under own arrangements.
Seville
Depart, by coach, to visit the Basilica de La Macarena, home to the highly revered beautiful 17th century statue of La Macarena ‘The Virgin of Hope’ and patron saint of matadors. Continue to the Museum de Bella Artes housed in a 17th century convent with its collection of paintings from Seville’s ‘Golden Age’ including works by Pacheco, Murillo and Zurbarán. En route, see the River Guadilquivir and the original port of Seville.
Lunch under own arrangements and afternoon at leisure. Depart on foot for an evening Flamenco performance. Continue on foot to dinner at a local restaurant.
Seville / Cordoba
Depart Seville by coach and drive to Cordoba (city proud to have 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites). Walk over the Roman bridge to visit the Great Mezquita (Mosque). Originally a Visigothic church, it was commandeered by the Moors and then reappropriated by the Christians as a Cathedral.
It is now one of the largest and most sumptuous of Spain’s Muslim shrines while still a Cathedral. Also visit the old Jewish Quarter including the Chapel of San Bartolome, richly decorated in Mudejar style, and see the exquisite Medieval Synagogue.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the 14th century Palace of the Marquis de Viana which has a furnished interiors and magnificent tapestries, as well as 12 stunning Cordoban patio gardens. Return to Seville and dinner under own arrangements.
Seville / London
Check out and depart by coach to the to the beautifully preserved Palacio de las Dueñas, belonging to the house of Alba, built in the 15th century in the Renaissance style with Gothic and Moorish decorations. Continue to the still privately-owned Casa de Pilatos, a 15th century Mudéjar mansion with striking tiles and inlaid ceilings.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Hospital de La Caridad to see its marvellous collection of paintings by Murillo, Valdés Leal and Roldán. Group transfer to Seville Airport. Suggested flight (not included in the cost of the tour) British Airways BA 2651 departing Seville at 20.05 hrs arriving London Gatwick at 21.50 hrs.
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