Secrets of Andalusia - Pre-tour Extension to Experience Spain Apr 24

You will be met on arrival at Seville Airport and transferred to your hotel in town.

Seville, the largest city in southern Spain and capital of Spain's Andalucia region will be our base for the next two nights. 

After check-in, there will be time to freshen up before we have dinner together this evening at the hotel.

The bustling city of Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region and most famous for flamenco dancing. The largest city in southern Spain, it has a rich and fascinating history, being ruled by many different cultures and rulers over the years and an important trading centre. 

Today will be dedicated to seeing the very best of Seville. This morning we enoy a guided sightseeing tour of the historic city centre including entrance to the Gothic Cathedral, the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb, and a minaret turned bell tower, the Giralda. After the tour there will be some free time for you to explore at your own pace and find somewhere for lunch.

This afternoon we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the beautiful Plaza de España. The landmark square features an large ornamental water feature beside a gigantic ornate pavillion, the centrepiece for the 1929 Iberoamerican Exhibition and decorated with painted ceramic tiles depicting teh history and culture of Spain's 48 provinces and islands. 

Afterwards, we continue down to the mighty Guadalquivir River for a panoramic cruise, passing the many bridges and sights such as the Torre de Oro, before we head for dinner in the city centre. 

This morning, we make our way south of Seville back down to the Atlantic coast to continue our exploration of Andalusia.

Our first stop is in the famous town of Jerez and the Sandeman's Visitor Centre. Here we will learn about the famous sweet wine, Sherry, which is so famous of the area and whose name in English is derived from a mispronunciation of the town's name.

This afternoon, we visit the fascinating city of Cádiz. Dating back of 3,100 years, Cádiz is renowned as being the oldest city in Western Europe and one of the oldest in the world. An important trading point and port, the city set on an island just off the mainland, has seen many rulers and tells a fascinating history. We will discover some of this on a guided tour before we have time for lunch at leisure and exploration. 

Then, we we will head to our hotel, where after checking-in we will enjoy dinner together.

Make sure your passports are to hand this morning as we will need them as we briefly leave Spain for a few hours. A great experience awaits us on our final excursion - to the British territorty of Gibraltar.

This area on the tip of southern Spain has always been strategically important as a military base, for here it is only 9 miles across the Mediterranean Sea to Africa, and is the entrance for all ships coming into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic.

The 'Rock of Gibraltar', a 1,400 feet high limestone rock rising out of the sea, has been a British territory since 1713 and this British and military history and heritage is very much still in evidence today. Highlights of today's tour will include entrance to St Michael's Caves with their intricate limestone formations showcased with colourful lights, and the Monkey Reserve where the famous Barbary Apes live. The views from around the island are spectacular - you can see three countries and two continents at the same time! 

We then cross back over the border into Spain continue our journey along the Costa del Sol to Los Amigos Beach resort. Here, after checking-in, we will spend the evening at leisure to relax and prepare for our next adventure. For those that leave us here and are not joining the Experience Spain event, it is time to make your own way onwards home.