Magical Andalucia

A 7 day tour in April 2026

Our travels in Andalucia started on a cool evening, having been met by our Tour Manager, Paul, at the airport.  Paul proved to be a knowledgeable raconteur, all the while ensuring everything went according to plan in the background.

Our first day was spent in Granada with a splendid guided tour of the magical  14th century Alhambra Palace  and Gardens of the Generalife.  The excellent guide took us through the palace extoling its beauties whilst telling us about the turbulent history of Spain from the 8th century into the 15th century and beyond.  The weather improved as the day progressed, allowing those that wished to to enjoy a lunch just outside the walls and then a walk down to various points of interest in the city.

Day two took us to Seville, but not without stopping at Cordoba to visit the majestic Mezquita, where another knowledgeable guide  explained the complexities of the development of the original mosque and the subsequent incongruous creation of  a Catholic cathedral at the very heart of the complex.

We settled at our very nice hotel in Seville, enjoying a meal together in the evening, ready for yet another dive into history on day three.    A morning tour took us to the Plaza de Espana  and on a city bus tour focusing on buildings from the 1929 World Fair.  After wandering through the Old Jewish Quarter, where we had a leisurely lunch, the afternoon brought us to the beauty of the Reales Alcazares and gardens.

Thursday was a free day to explore the many delights Seville had to offer independently.  Many visited the Seville Museum of Fine Arts, others explored the Setas de Sivilla, some crossed the river to Triana, the old gypsy quarter, or simply went in search of shopping opportunities.  There was another opportunity to explore in the afternoon after our morning visit to Italica, the first Roman city outside of Italy, birthplace of Hadrian and its amphitheatre the first to see gladiator versus animal combat. .

Each day had become hotter and heads swirling with all we had learned, as well as the beautiful scents and colours, we made beautiful Ronda our final stop on the journey back to the airport.  Many of us left a wistful part of our hearts there.