Romantic Andalusia: Granada, Cordoba, Seville Tour

Granada is often called the “Soul of Andalusia,” due to its atmospheric labyrinthine streets and gorgeous panoramas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The romantic city highlights the changing times of historical Spain with preserved architecture and a cultural heritage that stems from the Moorish kingdom of the 13th- 15th centuries. With a rich tradition of Gypsy and Jewish influences, and the predominant Christian customs post the Reconquista that shifted historical mosques into lavish churches, there is much to learn about and take in.

Your flight will arrive at Federico Garcia Lorca Granada Airport, where your private transfer greets you at baggage claim. The striking beauty of the city will be immediately obvious as the Alhambra looms over the streets atop the summit of al-Sabika. After settling into the comforts of your luxury accommodations in the heart of the city, your guide will greet you in the lobby eager to introduce you to the charms of the Albaicin neighborhood. Strolling along Carrera del Darro has you following the pathway of one of the city’s oldest streets alongside the picturesque banks of the River Darro. Street vendors and cafes fill the air with the scents of coffee and delicious sweets like almond merengues and traditional baklava while performers bring a festive atmosphere beneath the shading trees in front of the storybook bridges arching over the water.

In the morning, the aroma of churros dipped in sugar emanates from the cafes around Granada alongside the savory scent of toast drizzled with olive oil and topped with crushed tomatoes and sea salt. Tea houses carry on the Arab traditions with hot mint tea mixed with honey and delicious pastries. Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby after breakfast ready to immerse you in the splendors of Granada, beginning with the renowned Alhambra.

The fascinating Moorish spirit of the city was preserved as a love letter to Moorish design, both too beautiful to destroy and too grand for Spanish royalty not to take as their own upon returning to the country. The walled citadel offers spectacular views to the backdrop of the snowcapped Sierra Nevada mountains. The featured extravagance of the architecture was built between the 13th and 14th centuries on the foundations of an earlier 9th-century stronghold with ruins of Roman settlements remarking on the long tradition of fortresses erected on the summit.

You will soon reach the Court of Myrtles and can look deep into the reflective pool that mirrors the delicate latticed arches and bordering myrtle hedges. Muslim and Christian motifs inside the Prayer Room overlooking the River Darro unveils the shift between the former meeting place for the Sultan’s council of ministers to a Christian chapel.

In the morning, the shops in the Great Bazaar open with vendors offering hand-painted earthenware decorated with green or blue motifs with a traditional Moorish flair. Inlaid furniture with intricate patterns provides deeper insight into the preserved traditions of the Muslim influence on artisans in the city before your travel by train to the city of Cordoba. Your private driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to a stunning hotel at the heart of the city. Your guide will meet you at the hotel ready to lead you on a fascinating tour of Cordoba as the capital of Moorish Spain and the cultural center of Western Europe in the 10th century.

Artisans bring beautiful jewelry and distinctive leather goods while also turning their creativity to the cuisine by producing some of the typical dishes like oxtail stew with an elaborate modern twist or comforting rustic presentation. As you explore the marvels of the city, your guide can point out the wandering wrought-iron balconies and colorful potted plants, verdant trees and buildings glinting with golden stone hiding charming plazas.

You will continue to the mesmerizing design of the Mezquita, the former Grand Mosque with foundations dating back to the 8th century when the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish communities lived in harmony. The Patio de los Naranjos features the enchanting sound of a trickling fountain with verdant palm, cypress, and orange trees providing a mixture of herbaceous and citrus aromas to the air. The mosque’s interior possesses a unique and stunning design resembling a forest of 1,293 jasper and marble columns of which 856 remain supporting horseshoe archways adorned with red and white stripes.

You will arrive in Seville after a brief train ride that will take you past the Parque Natural Sierra de Hornachuelos. The enchanting city casts a romantic spell with the cobblestone lanes of the former Jewish quarter, the elegant promenades lined with palm trees, and the sophisticated antique facades with vintage street lamps. Horse-drawn carriages glide through the winding alleyways alongside the largest Gothic church in the world.

Your guide will whisk you into the storybook charm of the city at the Real Alcázar, a medieval Moorish fortress and former palace of the Christian kings. The sensational structure dates back to the 11th century and retains its Mudéjar architectural style. You will enter into the primary courtyard of the Patio de las Doncellas, which embodies the magnificent attention to detail of traditional Moorish design featured in the arabesque work supported by 52 glinting marble columns. At the Patio de las Muñecas, you reach the heart of the private royal complex boasting decorations similar to the Alhambra in Granada.

In the afternoon, you can embrace the steps of a traditional flamenco during a private dance lesson where you can learn the renowned, spirited movement. The passion quickly moves you as you watch the instructor combine the motions of stomping her feet and clapping her hands to the inspiring strum of Spanish guitar.

In the morning, you will set out to the romantic white villages of Andalusia with your private driver venturing first to the dreamy landscape of Arcos de la Frontera. The whitewashed walls of town glint at the top of the rugged cliff top with mystery, charm, and elegance. Twisting alleyways harken back to the 11th century as you enter the center of town at Plaza del Cabildo while ancient structures outline the plaza that opens to a stunning view that overlooks the River Guadalete and the outer walls of town.

You will then continue to the town of Ronda, perched on a plateau with a breathtaking view of the El Tajo gorge. The Puente Nuevo acts as one of the town’s historical symbols and dates back to 1788 and reflects the feat of stone masonry engineering. The structure reaches across an open point in the gorge at 230 feet long standing 322 feet tall connecting La Ciudad with the historical Moorish neighborhood. The cultural quarter remains the heart of the town with narrow pedestrian lanes and spellbinding whitewashed houses boasting the charm of a medina. The Moorish Renaissance palace of Palacio de Mondragon has a stunning water garden overlooking the steep cliffs for an excellent place for a romantic stroll in the endless charms of Ronda.

The city of Cadiz is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe, originally established in 1100 BC under the Phoenicians. The romantic allure of the city stems from the eroded sea walls that brace against the crashing Atlantic waves and the cheerful taverns that fill the cobbled lanes with the aroma of wine and frying fish. The narrow alleyways illustrate the breadth of history along the houses, shops, and plazas while the golden sands attract teems of beachgoers eager to lounge in the welcoming Mediterranean warmth. The spectacular cathedral glints like the sun with a yellow dome that accentuates the Baroque and the neoclassical aesthetic of the 18th and 19th centuries during which the feature was built.

The dome and towers have become iconic images of the city skyline and welcome visitors like a visible beacon standing 170 feet tall from around the winding streets. The windows wrapping around the architectural detail allows natural light to flood the interior nave for a breathtaking ethereal ambiance that washes over the tombs of bishops and the composer Manuel de Falla. The watchtowers of the city once acted a testament to the important position of trade during the 1900s inspiring 129 towers in total to guard the coastline. Tore Tavira was the tallest tower reaching a height of 148 feet tall offering spectacular views of incoming ships traveling with goods from the Americas.

The morning sunlight spreads across the distinctive architectural design of the Metropol Parasol, known locally as The Mushrooms. The icon of Seville was erected in 2011 as extra shade for the sunbaked Andalusian city rising nearly 99 feet tall with an undulating roof resembling honeycomb. The upper-level hosts a fabulous walkway offering views over the elegant city, as well as a café opening its doors to the subtle aroma of orange citrus and the captivating scent of caramel cake. After breakfast and a chance to take it in, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Seville’s international airport for your flight home.