Palaces, Olive Groves and Majestic Mosques: A Cultural Road Trip in Andalucia

Today you’ll be bidding farewell to Seville (don’t worry, you’ll be back here for more exploring in a week’s time) and heading to Cordoba, a beautiful city steeped in Roman and Islamic heritage, a two-hour drive away. On arrival, check in for one night in a charming hotel that’s well-situated for exploring the city on foot. The rest of today is yours to spend soaking in the cultural delights of the city. La Mezquita is Cordoba’s most emblematic site and certainly one of its most fascinating. This ancient Roman temple is steeped in religious history: it was a church, then a mosque and later a cathedral after the Christian reconquest in the 16th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of Europe’s most important monuments of Islamic architecture and pays homage to the historic Muslim presence in southern Spain. You can visit La Mezquita at your own leisure or we can arrange for you to explore the site in the company of a knowledgeable private guide followed by a tour of the Juderia, the beautiful Jewish Quarter.

It’s time to hit the road again. After a delicious breakfast at the hotel this morning, hop back into your hire car and travel an hour and a half east to Baeza, a small town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We recommend making a slight detour at the end of the journey to Ubeda, another UNESCO-listed town and the capital of the Andalusian Renaissance. The beautiful cobbled streets that make up the centre overlook a wide surrounding valley, planted with olive groves. If you’re keen to learn a little more about the region’s olive-producing history then don’t miss the Olive Culture Museum with its authentic presses, decanting room and vast cellar filled with cisterns. On arrival in Baeza, check in for one night in an intimate guesthouse full of charm and character. The rest of today is yours to spend discovering the delights of Baeza, a town that boasts the production of some of the world’s finest olive oil, as well as some of Europe’s best-conserved Renaissance buildings.

Today you’ll be continuing on to your next destination: the beautiful city of Granada, an hour-and-a-half drive away. The journey there is very scenic, passing through the mountainous landscapes of Sierra de Cazorla. We recommend making a stop along the way at Cazorla, a dazzling white-washed village home to a maze of winding narrow streets leading up to a hilltop castle where you can enjoy panoramic views across the surrounding olive groves. On arrival in Granada, check into your next accommodation: a grand hotel full of Mudéjar charms in the heart of town, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. The rest of today is yours to spend discovering your new surroundings. We recommend simply going for a stroll around the old town before heading back to the hotel for a delicious evening meal.

Today is dedicated to exploring two of Granada’s most emblematic sites, the Alhambra and the Generalife gardens, in the company of a friendly local guide, who knows everything there is to know about the fascinating Arab heritage of this historic wonder. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, the fortress is home to a military area that served as barracks for the royal guard, known as the ‘Alcazaba’, and the Medina, where the noblemen resided. In the centre of the complex are the Nasrid palaces, where the kings lived and which acted as the political and religious heart of the city until the 16th century. Round off your visit to the fortress with a private tour of the beautiful Generalife gardens, which pay homage to the elements of tranquillity and contemplation valued in Islamic gardens. The rest of this afternoon and evening is yours to play with. You can continue exploring at your own leisure or our team can arrange for you to head out on a private walking tour of Albaicín, the medieval Moorish quarter and oldest neighbourhood in Granada.

Your journey though Andalucia continues today. After a hearty breakfast this morning, hop back into your hire car and travel to Ronda, a striking mountaintop city overlooking a deep gorge that separates its old Moorish town to the 15th-century ‘new’ town. Along the way you can make a stop at several beautiful whitewashed villages steeped in tradition, such as Loja, Archidona and Antiquera. On arrival in Ronda, settle in for two nights in a comfortable contemporary hotel near the Plaza de Toros (old bullfighting ring). The rest of today is yours to play with. After a busy day travelling and exploring, we recommend simply kicking back and enjoying a leisurely afternoon at the hotel followed by a delicious meal based on Andalusian specialities this evening.

Today is yours to spend discovering the cultural delights of magical Ronda. The city is tied together by three bridges (Pont Neuf is particularly splendid), making it possible to easily explore both the old and new town on foot. Make sure to dedicate plenty of time to exploring the many churches and palaces of the fortified old town on the south bank, which were built over the course of the Arab conquests and the Christian reconquest. You can spend the day discovering the city at your own leisure or we can arrange for you to head out with a clued-up local guide.

The time has come to travel back through the countryside to complete your epic Andalusian loop in Seville. The direct journey takes just two hours travelling directly, however there is plenty to see and do along the way. Make your first stop at Arcos de la Frontera, a superb Andalusian village perched above the Guadalete river. Then make a slight detour down to Cadiz to spend an hour or two strolling through the network of narrow streets and sunny squares that call the old town home. Then head up to Jerez de la Frontera, a charming city known for its vineyards, bodegas (wine bars) and flamenco tradition, before continuing on to Seville. On arrival, drop off your hire car and head to your final accommodation: a beautiful hotel nestled in the Barrio del Arenal. Enjoy an afternoon of rest and relaxation at the hotel before tucking into a hearty meal at the in-house restaurant this evening.

Your final two days in southern Spain are dedicated to soaking in the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Seville. You’ll be armed with skip-the-queue tickets to three of Seville’s most important sites: the Royal Alcazar of Seville, the Cathedral and the Church of the Divine Savior. We recommend starting your first day bright and early at the Alcazar Palace to beat the crowds of visitors that come to marvel at this picturesque oasis. Built on the foundations of an Arab fortress, this sprawling palace harbours a rich architectural heritage: golden domes, tiled walls, elegant courtyards and magnificent manicured gardens. Continue on to the Cathedral of Seville. This Roman Catholic church is one of the largest in the world and has a claim to fame as the resting place of Christopher Columbus. Round off your day with a visit to Basilica of the Divine Saviour. Built on the site of the grand old Umayyad Mosque, this architectural jewel displays a majestic brick facade with carved stone reliefs. You’ll also have the opportunity to watch a traditional flamenco show in one of the best stages in the city: the Flamenco Dance Museum.