| The
three cultures |
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Given
its location at the western
end of the Mediterranean, it’s
not surprising that so many
cultures – Moorish, Visigothic,
Roman and Greek – have
crossed paths in the southernmost
part of Spain. This route follows
the paths of the Caliphs –
the chief civil and religious
ruler of the Muslim faith, regarded
as the successors of Muhammad
– and of Washington Irving,
most famous as the creator of
“The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow”, but who stayed
in the Alhambra Palace while
serving as the American ambassador
to Spain in the 1840s.
Our bicycling routes include
an old rail track perfectly
adapted for pedaling, smaller
country roads and paths. We
will stay in outstanding accommodation:
four-star hotels in the bigger
cities and smaller hotels with
their own special charm in a
few picturesque Andalusian villages.
This is a perfect opportunity
to experience traditional Andalusian
cuisine with excellent wines.
We will be using our minibus
during half of the journey to
arrive at the starting points
of each one of our stages. We’ll
ride the most interesting parts
of our journey and for those
looking forward to a bit more
of a challenge, each day’s
stages may be lengthened or
shortened (depending on the
group’s bicycling skills.) |
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Itinerary |
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Day
1: Madrid
We will meet you at the
airport on arrival and take
you to the hotel in Madrid
centre. This is a great
opportunity to visit the
city (by bicyle, if you
wish) and the nearby Prado
Museum on your own. |
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Day
2: Cordoba
We
will leave Madrid early
in the morning by van and
stop in Toledo to visit
the spectacular walled city.
We will also make a stop
in the land of Don Quijote,
La Mancha, to see the ancient
windmills made famous by
the novel. Alternately,
if you would like to explore
the quaint streets of Cordoba
by day, you have the option
to catch the fast train
from Madrid in the morning
and we will meet you in
Cordoba in the evening.
That night, we’ll
immerse ourselves in Spanish
culture with a tapas dinner
and flamenco show.
Ten centuries ago, Cordoba
was one of the greatest
cities in the world and
the capital of Muslim Spain.
Today Cordoba is well-known
for its mosque but there
are many other artistic
and architectural treasures.
The old Arab and Jewish
quarters with their narrow
streets offer the visitor
a unique experience.
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Day
3: Zuheros (CORDOBA)
Total
distance 40 Kms. flat terrain.
After
breakfast, we’ll travel
by minivan to visit a winery
in the town of Montilla,
then we’ll head to
Lucena and start riding
east on the “Via Verde
del Aceite” rail trail
– a disused railway
line which has been converted
into a recreational trail
for walkers, hikers and
horseback riders. We’ll
stop and have lunch at the
converted train station
in the town of Cabra (now
an interpretation centre).
That afternoon, we’ll
continue to the charming
town of Zuheros, nestled
in the Sierra Subbética
mountain range, and have
dinner at the hotel. |
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Day
4: Priego de Cordoba
Total distance 40 Kms. rolling
terrain.
The Sierra Subbética
is home to some of the most
beautiful architecture in
Andalusia, and we’ll
get to see some of it today
as we ride to Luque, famous
for the imposing ruins of
its Moorish castle, and
to Priego de Córdoba,
known for its 17th and 18th
century palaces. Dinner
that night will be at the
hotel. |
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Day
5: Granada
We’ll start the day
by visiting the castle of
Alcalá la Real, and
from there, go to Puerto
López, where we’ll
get on the bikes and ride
through countryside to Moclín
(with its fabulous views
of the Sierra Nevada) and
take advantage of the hills
to ride down to the outskirts
of Granada city.
At night, great flamenco
show and dinner in the unforgetable
caves of Sacramonte. |
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Day
6: Granada
No visit
to Andalusia would be
complete without taking
a half-day to explore
the centuries-old hallways
and gardens of the Alhambra
Palace, the most complete
and beautifully restored
Moorish building in western
Europe. After exploring
the Alhambra (and revelling
in the views from the
Palace’s battlements),
you’ll explore the
atmospheric Albayzín
neighborhood. At sunset,
you can go to the Mirador
de San Nicolás
to get the most perfect
view of the Alhambra’s
red walls, backed by the
snow-topped peaks of the
Sierra Nevada. An unforgettable
moment on your bicycling
tour through Andalusia.
That
afternoon, if your muscles
need some relief, there’s
the opportunity to have
a soak in a hammam (traditional
Moorish bath). |
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Day
7: End of the tour
After a hearty breakfast,
you can head back to Madrid
or we can organise your
extra nights in other cities. |
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PRICE
2010 (EURO):
1590
€ in hotels 4*-3*
Single
suppl.: 190 €
DAYS/NIGHTS:
7
days / 6 nights
LEVEL:
Medium.
2010
DATES (Sunday):
April: 18
May: 7 (Frid) and 30
Sept: 26
Oct: 10
INCLUDED:
-
Accomodation with buffet
breakfast.
- Transfers during the
tour.
- 4 lunches, 3 dinners
+ 1 dinner featuring tapas.
- Flamenco show in Granada.
- Guided visit to Alhambra.
- Travel insurance.
- Quality touring bicycle.
NOT
INCLUDED:
OPTIONS:
-
Extra nights: Ask for
price.
- Arab baths.
SUPPORTED TOUR
MINIMUM GROUP 4 PERSONS
Please
NOTE: Although
this tour has been designed
for a week’s worth
of travel, it can easily
be expanded to include
towns and areas around
Seville and Málaga.
If your group would like
to explore Andalusia in
more depth, please contact
us: we’d be delighted
to specially design a
tour that introduces you
to the region’s
historical and cultural
treasures.
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- The Alhambra Palace
– the jewel in the
crown of Moorish architecture.
- The sweeping views of
Córdoba province
from the battlements of
the Moorish castles in
Luque and Zuhero.
- Andalusian gazpacho:
the original power drink!.
- Discovering the narrow
whitewashed streets of
some of the prettiest
towns of Córdoba
and Granada by bicycle.
- Magic nights of flamenco
music and sangria drink. |
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