Discover Andalusia - Extension to Experience Spain & Portugal

We set off from Los Amigos this morning and drive down the Costa del Sol as we make our way to the southern tip of Spain and the British enclave, Gibraltar. 

Make sure your passports are to hand this morning as we will need them as we briefly leave Spain for a few hours. This little peninsula on the tip of the southern Spanish mainland has always been strategically important as a military base, for here it is only 9 miles across the Mediterranean Sea to Africa, and is the entrance for all ships coming into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic.

The 'Rock of Gibraltar', a 1,400 feet high limestone rock rising out of the sea, has been a British territory since 1713 and this British and military history and heritage is very much still in evidence today.

On a tour, we will see St Michael's Caves with its intricate limestone formations showcased with colourful lights, and the Monkey Reserve where the famous Barbary Apes live. The views from around the peninsula are spectacular - you can see three countries and two continents at the same time if the weather is clear!

After lunch, we make our way up the Atlantic coast to the fascinating city of Cádiz. Dating back of 3,100 years, Cádiz is renowned as being the oldest city in Western Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Here we will check in for the evening and enjoy dinner, before exploring in the morning.

An important trading point and port, the city set on an island just off the mainland, Cádiz has seen many rulers and tells a fascinating history. We will discover some of this on a guided tour before we have time for lunch at leisure and exploration.

This afternoon, we head back in land towards Jerez and visit a sherry winery. Here we will learn about the famous sweet wine, sherry, which is so famous of the area and whose name in English is derived from a mispronunciation of the town's name. 

Afterwards, we will travel to our hotel in Seville, the capital of Andalusia and most important city in southern Spain, where after checking-in we will enjoy dinner together.

The bustling city of Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region and most famous for flamenco dancing. The largest city in southern Spain, it has a rich and fascinating history, being ruled by many different cultures and rulers over the years and an important trading centre. 

Today will be dedicated to seeing the very best of Seville. This morning we enoy a guided sightseeing tour of the historic city centre including entrance to the Gothic Cathedral, the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb, and a minaret turned bell tower, the Giralda. After the tour there will be some free time for you to explore at your own pace and find somewhere for lunch.

This afternoon we will enjoy a panoramic tour of the beautiful Plaza de España. The landmark square features an large ornamental water feature beside a gigantic ornate pavillion, the centrepiece for the 1929 Iberoamerican Exhibition and decorated with painted ceramic tiles depicting teh history and culture of Spain's 48 provinces and islands. 

Afterwards, we continue down to the mighty Guadalquivir River for a panoramic cruise, passing the many bridges and sights such as the Torre de Oro, before we head for dinner in the city centre. 

We leave Seville this morning as we head west, to cross the Guadiana River which forms the border into Portugal and onwards to our resort on the Algarve.

Our first stop however is just outside the town of Huelva, sitting on the marshy esturaries of the Rio Tinto and Rio Odiel. Whilst the modern town is small, its port area is large, bearing history to its maritime importance. 

The town has strong historical connections to Christopher Columbus, as it is here, at the monastery of La Rábida, a quiet oasis in marshy wetlands amongst the modern port buildings, where Columbus planned his explorations and voyages to the New World. We will visit and tour the monastery, learning of its past and seeing priceless artefacts, before visiting the nearby Pier of the Caravels. Here we will get the chane to see lifesize replicas of the three ships that participated in Columbus' discovering America – La Pinta, La Nina and the Santa Maria. You will be amazed at the small size of the boats the men set sail upon to cross what is now known as the Atlantic to the Americas. 

We will have lunch together in Huelva, before we continue our way into Portugal and continue our journey along the Vilar do Golf resort. Here, after checking-in, we will spend the evening at leisure to relax and prepare for our next adventure. For those that leave us here and are not joining the Experience Portugal event, it is time to make your own way onwards home.