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  Andalucia Route of Caliphates Cordoba to Granada
The three cultures

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.)

  Itinerary
  Day 1: Madrid
We meet clients at the airport and transfer them to the hotel located near Atocha Station. This is a great opportunity to visit the city (by bicyle, if you wish) and the nearby Prado Museum on your own.
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.
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.
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.
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. That afternoon, if your muscles need some relief, there’s the opportunity to have a soak in a hammam (traditional Moorish bath).
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), we’ll explore the atmospheric Albayzín neighborhood by bicycle, taking advantage of its narrow, winding streets to go where no car was meant to go. At sunset, we’ll climb 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 our bicycling tour through Andalusia.
  Day 7: Madrid
After a hearty breakfast, we’ll head back to Madrid.

PRICE (EURO):
1490 € in hotels 4*-3*
Single suppl.: 190 €

DAYS/NIGHTS:

7 days / 6 nights

LEVEL:

Medium.


2009 DATES (Sunday):
May: 17
June: 21
Sept: 27
October: 18

INCLUIDED:
- Accomodation with buffet breakfast.
- All transfers.
- 4 lunches, 2 dinners + 1 dinner featuring tapas.
- Flamenco show in Cordoba.
- 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.


- 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 the cities of Córdoba and Granada by bicycle.
RESERVATIONS
 
 
BIKE SPAIN TOURS | Phone +34 915 590 653 - Fax: +34 915 592 125 | info@bikespain.info
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