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Cultural
walking tour
Route of
the Caliphate
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Moorish
Spain
For over 700 years, much of the
Iberian penisular was ruled by Arab
dynasties originating from north Africa.
During this period of history, Islamic
Spain grew into one of the world's most
important cultural centres - a land well
known for its cultivation of knowledge,
spectacular yet graceful architecture and
a remarkable degree of religous
tolerance. The Arabs named their land al-Andalus.
Outline
The 8 day tour provides a personalised,
illuminating and anecdotal insight into
Islamic Spain. Nights are spent in Cordoba,
the Subbetica Parqe Natural and Granada..
Hotels and restaurants are hand-picked
for their comfort, character, and
emphasis on local cuisine. Airport
transfers and dedicated transport is
provided throughout the holiday. The
historical centres and rural locations
are then best experienced on foot. The
pace of the tour is gentle and relaxed,
and the walks, offered at the rural
locations, are optional.
For information on
non-scheduled tours please
Click Here
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Dates
and Prices
Autumn
2005
Wed
Sept 7 - Sept 14
Wed Oct 5 - Oct 12
Cost £745 * per
person |
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Spring
2006
Please
enquire for dates and
prices.
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-What is included:-
- Hotel accommodation for 7 nights in double,
twin or single* room with en-suite facilities.
- In Cordoba and Granada the hotels are in
historic buildings in quiet locations. In Zuheros
we use a delightful family-run hotel in the
centre of the village.
- Breakfast and main meal of the day, including
wine (normally taken in the evening at a
selection of good restaurants).
-
British guide and leader resident in Spain.
- Entrance fees to the Mezquita, Madinat
al-Zahra and the Alhambra.
- Escorted walks and excursions in the
Subbetica.
- Airport transfers at specified times from
Malaga to Cordoba and Granada to Malaga.
- Dedicated transport throughout the holiday.
- Air fares are not included
* Single supplement charge is £15 per night.
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Itinerary
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Day 1 - Malaga to Córdoba
On arrival, you will be met at Malaga Airport.
Our transfer to Córdoba normally leaves 4.0
p.m.and the road journey takes about two hours.
After booking into your hotel in the heart of
Córdoba we take an introductory stroll through
the historic centre the city followed by welcome
drinks and dinner at our chosen restaurant. |
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Day 2 - The
splendours of Córdoba
After breakfast, the morning is spent
exploring the historic centre of Córdoba,
including the Mezquita.
This mosque is surely one of the most important
Islamic monuments built in the west, and its
scale and symmetry are quite breathtaking. There
should also be time to explore the Jewish
quarter, with its patios resplendent with
flowers, and to visit the palace and gardens of
the Alcazar. After
lunch we visit Madinat al-Zahra
set amidst green hills away from the old town.
These impressive ruins of a beautiful city-palace
evoke the splendours and the precipitous fall of
the Umayyad dynasty. On return to the
city there will be free time before dinner, and
for those that are interested, time to visit and
try the ancient Arab baths. |
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Day 3 - Last sights of Córdoba
Before leaving the city we visit the Torre
de Calahorra, an Islamic watch tower which now
houses a fascinating exhibition of the three
cultures of medieval Cordoba: Christian, Muslim
and Jewish. Our journey to Zuheros is
broken at lunchtime in Montilla
, where we visit a bodega and sample the
region's most famous product. A late afternoon
arrival in Zuheros gives us the opportunity to
explore this picturesque hill-top village, our
base for the next three nights. |
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Day 4 -
Zuheros
In Zuheros we stay at the delightful Zuhayra
rural hotel and have two full days of relaxation,
recreational walks and visits to villages whose
Arab castles bear testimony to this rich history,
and a visit to Priego de Córdoba,
home to many fine Baroque buildings and
well-preserved medieval quarters. |
Day 5 -
Walking in the Subbetica
The Parque
Natural de la Sierra Subbetica is a
semi-mountainous landscape of great scenic
appeal, offering many walking possibilities.
These were the frontier lands were between
Christian kingdoms and Granada, the last
remaining Muslim stronghold. |
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Day 6
-Granada and the Alhambra
After our stay in the Subbetica
we move on to Granada for the last two nights The
2 hour journey is broken in Moclin,
a small village whose castle was known as the
Vanguard of the Frontier for its strategic
defensive position protecting the Nasrid kingdom.
The great achievement of that dynasty, the Alhambra,
awaits us that afternoon. There will be ample
opportunity to stroll through the gardens of the Generalife,
admire the views from the Alcazaba and -
the crowning glory of the complex - the Palacios
Nazaries, one of the world's great monuments
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Day 7 - The
Albaicin and more
We enjoy a number of guided strolls
through Granada, culminating our explorations of
this rich cultural heritage. We visit the
Moorish-Jewish neighbourhoods of the Albaicin
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Realejo,
which offer glimpses of life in medieval
times, and provide a fascinating contrast to
modern-day life in the city. Views of the
Alhambra, with the Sierra Nevada beyond, are seen
around almost every corner of the narrow, steep
cobbled streets. |
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Day 8 - Buen
Viaje
The tour ends after our final breakfast
and transfer back to Malaga. |
NB
Airport transfers are provided from Malaga
airport at 4.00 pm and arrive back at the airport
at 12 noon. Alternatively the tour can be joined
directly in Cordoba and left in Granada. For
further travel information please click on Travel & booking information.
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