Seville ~ The Cultural Season

Dates: January 30 – February 7, 2008

Day 1 - Departure
Depart for Seville, Spain. (Flight provided for Air-Inclusive participants only.)

Day 2 - Seville
Upon arrival, transfer to the Fernando III Hotel, located in the Santa Cruz quarter in the center of Seville. (Transfer provided for Air-Inclusive participants only.) This evening, attend a Welcome Reception and Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 - Seville
Today our city tour focuses on the history, art and architecture of this capital of Andalucía. Explore the colorful Barrio de Santa Cruz, with its bougainvillaea-draped balconies, sparkling fountains and shady medieval lanes. Visit the renowned Cathedral of Seville, the world's largest Gothic building, and the spectacular 14th-century Alcázar palace. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 4 - Granada and the Alhambra
Our destination today is Granada, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Experience the serene beauty of the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a finalist to be named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Visit the remarkable Royal Palace with its terraced gardens. Lunch is at the magnificent Parador de la Granada in the palace grounds.

Day 5 - Carmona
Our next stop is historic Carmona, with its splendid 15th-century tower and grand gateway, the Puerto de Sevilla. We will explore the Casco Antiguo (Old Quarter), and admire the Puerta de Córdoba, with its impressive octagonal Roman towers. The afternoon is at leisure in Seville for independent exploration.

Day 6 – Córdoba
Córdoba is endowed with an extraordinarily rich history born of Roman, Moorish, Jewish and Christian influences. We will visit the extraordinary Mezquita, a unique mosque-cathedral considered to be an architectural masterpiece and the crowning symbol of this crossroads of civilization, before investigating the medieval Judería (Jewish Quarter), a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, shady courtyards and picturesque squares.

Day 7 - Jerez and Arcos de la Frontera
The 3,000-year-old town of Jerez (Spanish for "sherry") is famous for its sherry and brandy. Here we will attend a lecture on Spanish wines, followed by a tasting of the local sherry. Afterwards, we will witness the amazing harmony between man and horse at the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art before continuing to Arcos de la Frontera, one of the quaint pueblos blancos (white villages) that dot the mountainous landscape.

Day 8 - Seville
Today is free for independent exploration. Take the opportunity to further investigate one of several important aspects of Spanish culture - Spanish cooking, bullfighting or flamenco – or spend the day discovering Seville on your own. This evening, attend a Farewell Dinner.

Day 9 – Return Home
Transfer to the airport for the flight home. (Transfer and flight provided for Air-Inclusive participants only.)

This itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. An updated itinerary will be sent with final documents.

Back to 2008 destination list