Andalusia & Levante

 

OVERVIEW

​The tour starts from Barcelona and is an extended version of the previous one - Andalusia & Toledo, but in addition to Madrid and the cities of Andalusia - Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada, you will have the opportunity to see Valencia with its excellent beaches and wicked City of Arts.

First stop - Zaragoza - the capital of Aragon province, located approximately half-way between Barcelona and Madrid. The next destination – the splendid and majestic city of Madrid, Spain's capital and an eternal rival of the sunny and passionate city of Barcelona.

Later we'll make our way down to the southernmost region of the country. Tapas, flamenco, warm-hearted and passionate people who celebrate colorful fiestas - this is what Andalucia is famous for. You'll visit the golden Andalusian triangle - Cordoba, Sevilla and Granada - places that truly represent the spirit of the Spanish culture. With its curious mishmash of Moorish majesty and Roman relics, rustic charm and indelibly beautiful backcountry, where mountains tower above gushing rivers and canyons carve through the ground, it's hardly surprising that Andalusia remains one of the most visited regions in Spain.

The next stop is in Valencia - second (after Barcelona) largest city on the Spanish Mediterranean Coast and the true pearl of the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy its old city, beautiful architecture, endless sandy beaches and non-stop nightlife - a perfect end to your tour. The next day, you'll head back to Barcelona - city, where you started your tour.

Tour starts and ends in Barcelona.

Included in tour:

- accommodation in **** hotels
- 5 breakfasts, 3 dinners
- modern and air-conditioned bus
- multi-lingual tour escort
- sightseeing tours with local guides in Cordoba, Seville and Granada
- tickets to Mosque in Cordoba
- tickets to Alhambra in Granada
- travel insurance
- free Wi- Fi on board

Price: From €730

ITINERARY

Day 1. Barcelona - Zaragoza - Madrid (635 km ~ 395 miles)

Departure from Barcelona at 08am towards Zaragoza. Spain's fifth largest city, Zaragoza is the capital of the Aragón region. Located south of the Pyrenees, it sits right in the middle between Barcelona and Madrid, and is home to a range of fascinating sights, from Roman ruins to magnificent Islamic architecture and a striking Baroque cathedral. We will stop in the city center so you can have free time to explore the most notorious sights of Zaragoza: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar and Puente de Piedra (the Stone Bridge).

A striking Baroque Basilica, it is here that many believe that Santiago - one of Jesus’ disciples and referred to as James in the Bible – saw the Virgin Mary ascend a marble pillar. A chapel was built around that pillar and later added to and renovated, until it became the stunning cathedral it is today. If you want, you can head inside to look around at its magnificent interior, then take the elevator to the top to enjoy some of the most spectacular views of the city.

Bridge Puente de Piedra (the Stone Bridge) is the oldest of all the bridges across the Ebro River. It was built in 1401 following a Gothic style. Measuring about 225 meters in length, the entire stone structure is held by seven arches, with cutwaters that help to break the water flow. It is very close to the Plaza del Pilar, so its silhouette with the Basilica del Pilar in the background has become one of the iconic images of the city.

After some free time in Zaragoza continuation to Madrid. Arrival in early evening and accommodation.

Day 2. Madrid - Cordoba - Seville (530 km ~ 320 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 Arriving to Cordoba - one of the most beautiful old towns 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. 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.

After the bus departures to Seville. Arrival, dinner and accommodation.

Day 3. 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 4. Seville - Granada (250 km ~ 155 miles)

Breakfast, then transfer to Granada - a beautiful city right at the foot of the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains. The popular favorite of the region of Andalusia, Granada has a rich history, fantastic range of sites to see, and a bustling nightlife. With Arab influences and Spanish charm, there is plenty of culture and history to explore here. Upon arrival you’ll have a guided tour to see the famous complex of La Alhambra, its Arabian palaces Nazaries, and its green and picturesque Generalife Gardens.

Alhambra is definitely number one on the list of unmissable things to see in Granada, and the most visited sight in the whole Spain. The world-renowned Alhambra gets its name from the Arabic for ‘Red Castle’, and has been poetically described as the place where the air is clear and the fresh water from the mountains reaches. Partly a palace, partly fort, the Alhambra is now a dedicated UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts spectacular medieval architecture which captivates its thousands of visitors. It tends to get quite crowded, given its magical nature, with around 6,000 visitors a day, but its beauty can be appreciated even in the busiest of moments.

The tour to Alhambra is already quite extensive and includes a good part of walking, so it's your choice the rest of the day - to relax in the hotel or continue to explore the city of Granada on your own. Suggested places to visit on the second half of the day.

Alcaicería - best known as ''mini Morocco'', the Alcaicería is the home of the Great Bazaar of Granada. Consisting of a series of streets that are very much reminiscent of a Moroccan souk, this is not only another example of the rich Arab history of the city, but also very similar to Morocco itself. Selling everything from spices to henna, there are many little treasures to be found in these streets. Look out for traditional Arabic handicrafts such as fajalauza – traditional, beautifully painted ceramics – or the gorgeous granadino farolas – rounded lamps made from intricate stained glass.

Albaicín - another UNESCO World Heritage site in the heart of the city of Granada, Albaicín is a district of the city boasting narrow winding streets that have stood here since its medieval Moorish era. Often described as a different world inside Granada, the strong Muslim influence makes Albaicín somewhat of an open-air museum. After touring the narrow and characterful streets to experience the charm of the past, you can relax in one of its many bars and terraces and enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Alhambra.

Granada’s Cathedral , located near the Plaza Nueva, was built on the site of a former mosque by Queen Isabella as a symbol of the Christian victory over the Moors. With parts of it decorated with beautiful intricate sculptures, there is much beauty and architecture to be admired. Complete with numerous chapels, each with their own character and artistic style, this iconic and historical building is definitely worth a visit.

Try free tapas ''culture''. Tapas (an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine) is certainly one of the first things that comes to mind whenever Spain is mentioned, and Granada is probably the city most renowned for its popular tradition of free tapas. With the fantastic ''buy a drink, get free tapas'' phenomenon, this timely Spanish tradition is even more popular here. With countless numbers of bars and tapas restaurants, you’ll certainly be left with plenty of choice of where to get these tempting little snacks. Offering everything from gourmet and international tapas like sushi and caviar, to traditional Spanish jamón (dry-cured ham), you can’t leave Granada without experiencing this culinary delight.

Dinner and night in Granada.

Day 5. Granada - Valencia (498 km ~ 309 miles)

Breakfast. Departure towards Valencia. On the way you will pass by the beautiful, small towns of Guadix, Baza and Puerto Lumbreras. Arrival in Valencia in the early evening, accommodation in the hotel.

Valencia is a third-largest city in Spain, and has a lot to offer: from world-class restaurants to stunning beaches, and from museums to buzzing nightlife. Here’s our list of suggestions for your free time:

City of Arts and Sciences - if modern architecture is more your thing, Valencia is also home to this famous complex of futuristic buildings, mostly the work of famous architect Santiago Calatrava. The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is a must-see during any visit to Valencia. Relax in the green gardens and serene outdoor spaces of the complex, take some photos and choose your favorite of the buildings.

Torres de Serranos - where Valencia’s Old City gives way to the Turia Gardens, that’s where you’ll find the impressive Torres de Serranos. A former gateway through the long-demolished ancient city wall - la Muralla Cristiana (‘’the Christian wall’) - these historic towers can be explored and make a great vantage point for photos.

La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Market) - Valencia’s medieval silk market was built to show off Valencia’s wealth at the time of the booming silk trade. Today it is one of the city’s main historical attractions, and is famously one of very few non-religious examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. You can explore the lavishly decorated rooms, including the main hall, with its soaring columns that represent palms reaching for the sky in paradise. Silk Market is deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Valencia Cathedral - another of the city’s most famous sights, the Cathedral de Santa Maria de Valencia tops the list for most visitors, along with the pretty Plaza de la Virgen square outside. Check out the incredible Gothic architecture inside and out, and don’t forget to go hunting for the Holy Grail, rumored by some to be located here.

Night in Valencia.

Day 6. Valencia - Barcelona (355 km ~ 220 miles)

After breakfast you'll have some hours to scroll thru Valencia on your own. List of our recommendations:

Head for the beach - it’s no secret that Valencia is home to miles and miles of pristine golden sands. There’s plenty of space to soak up the sun at one of the two (connected) Blue Flag beaches, Playa de la Malvarrosa and Playa de las Arenas. In summer, many beach bars open up alongside, creating a fun atmosphere.

The Central Market - whether you’re a foodie or not, this art nouveau building in the city’s Old Town never fails to impress. Wander through hundreds of fresh food stalls beneath the market’s ceramic tiles and its stunning high-dome centerpiece to get a real taste of local life. Every day from Monday to Saturday the market is packed with local shoppers navigating the colorful displays of Mediterranean fruit and vegetables and choosing from the countless legs of jamon (Spanish ham) and bottles of locally-produced wine.

El Carmen Street Art - it’s completely free to explore the stunning Old Town of Valencia, and after checking out the architecture, head to the bohemian northern barrio of El Carmen to see the incredible art murals lining its walls. Local and international artists have turned the area’s crumbling buildings into their own outdoor canvas, often making statements about politics or local life. See huge murals around main square Plaça del Tossal and around Carrer d’En Gordo, with its abandoned, crumbling buildings.

On the second half of the day, completing the full circle, we'll get back to the place where we started from - Barcelona.

Contact us for customize tour.