HISTORIC ANDALUCIA

Day 1
One and a half hour drive from Malaga airport.

Day 2
Take a half day guided walk on the trails and paths around the Cortijo, through the local hills, olive groves and paths of Penon Hill. The route is very flexible and can be tailored to suit changes in the weather. Alternatively, you can relax by the pool.

Day 3
A morning visit to Olvera, one of the most scenic of the 'pueblos blancos' or white villages. These villages were built during Moorish times as a border between what was then 'Al Andalus' and Christian Spain and Olvera's Arab castle dates back to AD 700. From here we head to Setenil. Built under the overhanging ledge of a gorge, Setenil is also a good place to buy ceramics and local crafts. We return to the Cortijo after lunch and the afternoon is free for a dip in the pool or walks in the surrounding countryside.

Day 4
A full-day trip by minibus to Cordoba. Your guide will offer a walking orientation of the city, which you can join if you wish. The remainder of the day is free to sightsee at your own pace. Cordoba was the capital of Al Andalus, rivalling Constantinople in wealth and culture for over four hundred years of the Moorish occupation. From this golden era one outstanding building remains, the Mezquita, the third largest Mosque in the world and one of the most beautiful Islamic buildings in existence. After the Christian Reconquest the central part of the mosque was converted into a Cathedral on the orders of the monarch, Charles V, and it has remained so to this day. Around the Mezquita lie the old Moorish and Jewish quarters of the town, with endless little alleys beautifully decorated with flowers and plant-filled patios.

Day 5
A free day to explore around the farmhouse and surrounding countryside or an optional self-guided walk to a nearby village for lunch. It is also possible to travel by train to Ronda or Granada. If you would like to visit the Alhambra palace in Granada, tickets are restricted so you will need to book this in advance. Please visit www.servicaixa.com for details on how to book. You should search for 'Alhambra' in the search box and purchase a morning entry ticket to the site (up to 14 hrs) with entry to the Nazrid Palace between 12:30 - 14:00 hrs. This will then match train arrival and departure times.

Day 6
A visit to Jerez and a fantastic horse show at the equestrian centre of Andalucia, before an afternoon to indulge in a tour of the world famous sherry bodegas. Jerez de la Frontera became famous throughout the world for its sweet wines named after the town, which the British pronounced 'sherry'. It is called 'de la Frontera' because it once stood on the frontier between the Moorish and Christian realms. We visit The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art and enjoy a fantastic horse show 'How the Andalusian Horses Dance', (entrance fee not included in package price - see extra expenses section for more details) an equestrian ballet to the beat of traditional Spanish music.

Day 7
A visit to the magnificent city of Seville. Your guide will offer an optional walking orientation of the city. The remainder of the day is free to sightsee at your own pace. Now the capital of Andalucia, Seville was one of the first conquests of the Moors. After the fall of the Cordoba Caliphate in the 11th century, under whose direction it previously lay, it became the most powerful city in Al Andalus. Near the centre of the city is the evocative Giralda, an architectural masterpiece dating dating back to the 12th century. Originally built as a minaret for the central Mosque in Seville, this Mosque was later destroyed, and it is now the bell-tower for the enormous cathedral. Close by is the magnificent Alcazar, a complex of palaces dating back from Roman times and later used by both Moorish and Christian rulers. It has fine examples of Moorish and Mudejar architecture, rivalling that of Granada's 'Alhambra' and has some lovely gardens. After the Christian re-conquest Seville became famed as the gateway to the 'New World'. Christopher Columbus negotiated here with Queen Isabella to fund his epic voyage to the Americas, bringing her back untold riches and making Seville one of the wealthiest cities in Europe.

Day 8
To Malaga; fly to London.