Alcázar, Seville. Private Gardens in Andalucia with Harriet Landseer 5th 10th April The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Tours

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1 Alcázar, Seville Private Gardens in Andalucia with Harriet Landseer 5th 10th April 2016 The Ultimate Travel Company Escorted Tours

2 The Alhambra Private Gardens in Andalucia With Harriet Landseer 5th 10th April 2016 Contact Verity Smith Direct Line Telephone Fax Harriet Landseer Harriet Landseer lives in Prague, with occasional stints in Ireland and Andalucia where she and her husband have a small house. She studied History of Art at Yale University and has led tours all over the world since joining Specialtours in Fluent in Czech, with excellent contacts, she is also at ease in German, French and Spanish.

3 Detailed Itinerary This tour of Andalucia, the largest region in Spain, takes in the cities of Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Malaga. Through our travels we will discover the Moorish architecture, cathedrals, castles, and palaces that offer vivid testimony to the region s fascinating history. The Moors, the Almohads, Christopher Columbus, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and Pablo Picasso are but a few of the many cultures and individuals who have left their mark on the cultural and physical landscape. Gardens are also an important part of the Andalucian tradition. While the great gardens of the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcazar in Seville are widely known, there are many private and lesser-known gardens in Andalucia which are well worth visiting. From elaborate early Islamic gardens to intimate contemporary townhouse patio gardens, and cliff-top modernist gardens, this tour will highlight the amazing diversity of Andalusia's gardens and the region's unique heritage. The Alhambra, Granada The Mezquita Cathedral, Cordoba Day 1: Tuesday, 5th April London / Malaga / Seville Morning departure from London City Airport on a British Airways flight to Malaga Airport arriving in the afternoon. On arrival drive west from Malaga to visit a private garden (subject to confirmation). After tea continue to Seville. Continue to Seville and check in to the Casas de la Judería Hotel, a converted town house hotel located in the Jewish quarter of Seville near the Alcázar. Dinner at the hotel. Day 2: Wednesday, 6th April Seville Morning visit to explore the Royal Alcazar with its magnificent Mannerist gardens, including the newly discovered sunken gardens, with a specialist horticultural guide. The Alcazar, the palace of the Spanish kings, is the successor of the original Moorish palace. Continue to Seville Cathedral, the largest Cathedral in the world and burial site of Christopher Columbus. Walk through the Santa Cruz quarter of Seville with its winding cobbled streets, beautiful patios adorned with flower pots and historic gardens. Visit the Hospital de Los Venerables, to view its collection of Velazquez and Murillo paintings. Lunch in a local restaurant in the Santa Cruz quarter. Visit the Casa de Pilatos, the private home and foundation of the Duchess of Medinaceli, to explore the courtyards decorated with Renaissance tiles of Seville and experience the fusion of late-medieval Gothic and Mudejar architecture with the overlay of Renaissance innovations. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Maria Luisa Park. Originally created in

4 the mid 19th century, the park was redesigned in 1911 by the French designer Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier in a Moorish paradisiacal style. The park has since inspired notable landscapes worldwide, including Balboa Park in San Diego. Dinner under own arrangements. Day 3: Thursday, 7th April Sanlucar de Barrameda Depart by coach for Sanlucar de Barrameda. Visit the stunning gardens of the Niebla Palace of the Medina- Sidonia family. Continue to the gardens of the Montpensier Palace, the summer home of the Borbon-Orleans family, who also had Forestier work on the gardens here. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we hope to visit the private estate gardens of El Botanico, founded in 1810 by Prime Minister Godoy (subject to confirmation). Return to Seville. Dinner at a local restaurant. El Generalife Gardens, Granada Cordoba Day 4: Friday, 8th April Seville / Cordoba / Granada Leave with luggage for Cordoba to visit the Moratella Palace. Originally designed by Forestier for the Marquis de Viana, it is now the property of the Duke of Segorbe. Continue to Cordoba to visit the Mezquita Cathedral, a World Heritage Site renowned for the hundreds of intricately decorated columns in the interior and its exterior courtyard of orange trees. Originally a Visigothic church, it was appropriated when the Moors entered Cordoba and then reappropriated by the Christians as a Cathedral. It is now one of the largest and most sumptuous of Spain s Muslim shrines while still a Cathedral. Lunch at El Churrasco. Continue to visit the Palace of the Marquis de Viana, a quintessential example of Cordoban patio gardens. Drive to Granada and check in to the Alhambra Palace Hotel where two nights are spent. Situated on the hill of the Sabika and only five minutes walk from the Alhambra Palace, it has breathtaking views over the city of Granada where the austerely beautiful and often snow-capped Sierra Nevada forms a backdrop to the city. Dinner at the hotel. Day 5: Saturday, 9th April Granada This morning walk to the Alhambra. Guided tour of the Alhambra to see the exquisite arabesque interiors of the palace with its elegant halls and courtyards and experience the 14th century well preserved delicate plasterwork, the fine azulejos and the enchanting patios. Continue for a guided tour of the Generalife Gardens with a garden connoisseur. Once the summer residence of the Sultans, it is surrounded by a secluded garden with tall cypresses, fountains and water channels. Continue to Carmen de los Cipreses, a private house and terraced garden typical of the charming Moorish quarter opposite the Alhambra.

5 Lunch in a restaurant in the Albaicin. Walk to the Royal Chapel to see the tombs of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as well as her painting collection which includes works by Botticelli and Memling. Continue to a modernist garden of the 1920 s belonging to the Rodriguez-Acosta family (subject to confirmation). Return to the hotel. Final dinner at the Carmen de San Miguel restaurant. Day 6: Sunday, 10th April Granada / Malaga / London This morning leave Granada to visit a private garden just outside of the city. This private garden in Niguelas is now owned by the Mueller family, but was created by Jose Blanes Zabala, who was part of the literary set in Granada in the 1920s. Besides Generalife-style formal gardens, there are some very ancient trees, including a 500-year old chestnut Take a tour of the garden before an early lunch privately. Continue to Malaga to visit La Conception, one of Spain's most impressive tropical botanical gardens. Transfer to Malaga Airport for a British Airways early evening flight to London City.

6 Tour Price COST PER PERSON: 2,195 Single supplement: 320 The tour cost includes: economy class scheduled flights air passenger duty, passenger service charge, airline security charges, airport taxes and fuel surcharges where applicable currently 60 (liable to change without notice) accommodation throughout as shown in the itinerary breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 dinners all visits and excursions as per the itinerary all transportation as detailed in the itinerary all entrance fees; gratuities to driver/s and guides; gratuities in restaurants porterage the services of your tour leader throughout The tour cost does NOT include: air passenger duty, passenger service charge, airline security charges, airport taxes and fuel surcharges where applicable travel insurance items of personal expenditure (e.g. telephone calls / laundry etc.) government levies or taxes introduced after costing and publication of this programme on 03/08/15. Changes to the Itinerary Please note, that certain elements of this itinerary, and/or the order of events, may well be subject to alteration due to circumstances beyond our control. Fitness to travel Whilst we do not impose any age limitations on joining a tour, participants must be reasonably fit. The very nature of the sightseeing involved in our tours (and the difficulties of direct access by coach in various places) means that a considerable amount of walking and standing is unavoidable on almost all tours. We regret that our tours are not suitable for people who have difficulty in walking, may require wheelchair assistance at any time, or are unable to keep pace with the group. If you are in any doubt as to the suitability of a tour, please make this known to us before you book and we will advise you accordingly. The Ultimate Travel Company reserves the right to decline a reservation without necessarily giving a reason. Your tour leader may also refuse to take participants on particular excursions if they feel that the rest of the group will be held up.

7 Airline Tickets As a tour operator we have access to special airfares. While these offer good value, they do carry certain restrictions applied by the airline. Please ask us for details. Note: If you are thinking about using air miles to upgrade to a premium cabin on the flights, please check with us first as fare restrictions might not permit this. Accommodation Hotels are chosen on the basis of category, character and location. The majority will be at least 4 star, otherwise the best available. The projected size of the group will often rule out the use of luxury boutique hotels. Sometimes the style of hotel will mean that not all rooms are of the same size or have the same outlook. Health Requirements There are no mandatory health requirements for visitors to Spain, and no inoculations are required. Passport and Visa Information Passengers should hold a full passport. British passport holders do not require a visa to visit Spain. Nationals of other countries should consult their local Spanish Consulate. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of entry. FCO Advice Travel advice issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office can be viewed at