Spain Journey: Madrid - Seville - Cordoba Mezquita (7 Days)

Breakfast at the Hotel. You will be picked up at around 0615hrs for this Full-day Granada, Alhambra Palace, and Albaicin tour from Seville Enjoy priority access with skip-the-line tickets to the Alhambra Palace (Admission Included) . Explore the UNESCO-listed Alhambra Palace and Nasrid Palace on a guided walking tour Discover the hidden Nasrid palaces of the Albaicin quarter on an optional walking tour. The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Romanfortifications, and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada, who built its current palace and walls. It was converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. The Palace of Charles V (Admission Included) is a Renaissance building in Granada, southern Spain, located on the top of the hill of the Assabica, inside the Nasrid fortification of the Alhambra. The building has never been a home to a monarch and stood roofless until 1957. The structure was commanded by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who wished to establish his residence close to the Alhambra palaces. Although the Catholic Monarchs had already altered some rooms of the Alhambra after the conquest of the city in 1492, Charles V intended to construct a permanent residence befitting an emperor. The project was given to Pedro Machuca, an architect whose biography and influences are poorly understood. At the time, Spanish architecture was immersed in the Plateresque style, still with traces of Gothic origin. Machuca built a palace corresponding stylistically to Mannerism, a mode still in its infancy in Italy. The exterior of the building uses a typical Renaissance combination of rustication on the lower level and ashlar on the upper. Even if accounts that place Machuca in the atelier of Michelangelo are accepted, at the time of the construction of the palace in 1527, the latter had yet to design the majority of his architectural works. The Palacio de Generalife (Admission Included) was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. The Alcazaba (Admission Included) was a building used for military purposes. In the evening return back to Seville. Overnight at the Hotel.

Breakfast at the Hotel. Enjoy a Full Day Tour of Cordoba. You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning around 0800hrs, Relax during the 1.5-hour journey to Cordoba. Get acquainted with the history and cultural mélange of the fascinating city as your guide offers an introductory narration throughout the journey. On arrival, immediately notice the charismatic mix of Muslim, Christian and Jewish architecture and disembark to explore the historical heart of the city on foot. Weave your way down Cordoba’s quaint cobbled lanes and observe the abundance of flowering balcony boxes, antique bodegas and bespoke craft boutiques. Hear of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city’s prosperous past. We will visit Mezquita Catedral de Córdoba (Admission Included). Enter Cordoba’s most important monument, the Mezquita (aka the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba), a symbol of the many religious changes the city has undergone over the centuries. Originally a Catholic church, it was converted into an Islamic mosque in the Middle Ages, then back into a church after the Reconquista. With its otherworldly architecture, the Mezquita is considered one of the most accomplished Moorish monuments in the world. Notice the mix of stately Roman columns, Baroque and Renaissance frescoes and Moorish tiles and arches as you stroll the interior. whose streets stretch out like capillaries and emerge onto tucked-away courtyards buzzing with locals enjoying post-siesta tapas. Next, head over to the old Jewish quarter (Juderia), whose streets stretch out like capillaries and emerge onto tucked-away courtyards buzzing with locals enjoying post-siesta tapas. Listen as your guide points out the distinctly Moorish flair to these mediaeval alleys, reminiscent of the Jews' prosperity under the Caliphate of Cordoba. Here you'll visit the Cordoba Synagogue, (Admission Included) one of the few synagogues existing today in Spain, built in 1315 in Mudéjar style. Before leaving Cordoba, walk down the tiny Calleja de las Flores alleyway, one of the most popular streets in the city. Look back to see Mezquita's tower peaking between the corridor. The Calleja de las Flores is one of the most popular and tourist streets of the city of Córdoba. It is a narrow passageway with arches and stones that is finished in a square where the visitor finds a series of flowerpots with geranium and carnations. Then enjoy your 1.5hours drive back to Seville. Return to your hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

In the afternoon you will proceed with your Seville City Sightseeing Hop on Hop Off bus at any of the 12 stops around Seville. Then, simply watch the sights roll by, accompanied by the on-board audio commentary, available in 15 languages. Remain aboard for the 1-hour full loop, or hop on and off as you wish to explore on foot. Why not hop off near Seville Cathedral to admire this incredible church, one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedrals? Or perhaps visit the stunning Plaza de España, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition world fair, and set in glorious Maria Luisa Park. Alternatively, hop off to admire the 13th-century Tower of Gold beside the Guadalquivir River; visit the Archaeological Museum at the Plaza de América, or to ride the coasters at the sla Magica theme park. Your ticket also includes free entry to several Seville attractions among others, enjoy complimentary admission to the Castle of St George Inquisition Museum, once the seat of the Spanish Inquisition; and join a free walking tour to take in attractions such as Seville Cathedral and the markets and lanes of the historical Macarena quarter. Finish by midday and you will return to your hotel and meet your driver for your transfer to Seville Train Station to connect your train to Madrid (Standard Class Ticket Included). Arrive and you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

Breakfast at the Hotel. Check out of the hotel by 1100hrs. Day free at leisure on your own until departure transfer to the airport/train station.