Your Local Specialist Travel Advisors For Custom Tours
7 nt Legacy of Al Andalus Self Drive Tour featuring Parador Hotels in Jaen, Ubeda, Cazorla, Granada, Cordoba
Prices from 1198 EUROS PER PERSON
Your Local Specialist Travel Advisors For Custom Tours
Prices from 1198 EUROS PER PERSON
Trip Overview:
Andalusia in Southern Spain is known to many as `the bridge between two continents´ or `the gateway to Europe´. The Andalusia region has been coveted by many cultures since the earliest period of mankind, and it is one of the areas of settlement of our prehistoric ancestors. The diversity of the landscapes, which form the Andalusia...
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Trip Summary:
JAEN (1 night) - UBEDA (1 night) - CAZORLA (2 nights) - GRANADA (1 night) - CORDOBA (2 nights) ...
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Access:
Depart on Sundays.
Flying into Malaga International Airport. Departure from Malaga.
Totally Spain does not arrange flights so you have the flexibility to book the flights you prefer. We can recommend a travel agent with whom you can book your flights if required. Otherwise a website such as Skyscanner is very useful for checking up-to-date flight schedules and prices.
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Jaen, Spain
Fly into Malaga airport and pick up your car rental before making your way northwards to Jaen. Drive time is roughly 2hrs. If you would prefer to arrive a day earlier and overnight in Malaga city or somewhere else en-route to Jaen, we can arrange that for you.
The Parador de Jaen situated in the Santa Catalina Castle was built on a hill overlooking the city of Jaen by the great al-Ahmar. At an altitude of 820 meters it offers an amazing panoramic view, making it possible to understand the town’s importance for controlling access to Granada during the Nazarid era. It is a wonderful place to stay and a great start to this tour of Andalusia.
Cultural highlight in Jaen include the Arab baths and the Villardompardo Palace in the Magdalena Quarter: the cathedral: and other churches including San Juan, San Ildefonso and la Magdalena, as well as palaces such as Condestable, Quesada-Ulloa, Velez and Vilches.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Ubeda, Spain
Today drive from Jaen to the Parador de Ubeda stopping en-route in Baeza.
Baeza stands on a little promontory, dominating a landscape of olive trees, in the centre of the county of La Loma. This town along with Ubeda was declared heritage of mankind by UNESCO for its´ monumental renaissance centre which includes the Cathedral built on the site of a mosque: the Jabalquinto Palace and the Seminary of San Felipe Neri: the many aristocratic houses and small palaces found in the Plaza del Populo.
After visiting Baeza continue to Ubeda in the afternoon.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Cazorla, Spain
The Parador de Ubeda is ideally situated right in the heart of the town, in the Renaissance Vazquez de Molina square.
It was during the Arab period that Ubeda became a population center, when Abderrahman II founded the city of Ubbadat al-Arab. In 852 the town was walled, and during the 11th and 12th centuries, it was conquered first by Almoravids and subsequently by Almohads. Though nowadays Ubeda is most noteworthy for being home to the best of the Andalusian renaissance architecture. Be sure to see the Holy Chapel of San Salvador and Santiago Hospital, Cadenas Palace and Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares Church.
Ubeda is famous for its´ distintive ceramic and it is possible to visit workshops where the skills and designs date back many centuries.
After visiting the Ubeda this morning, set off for the Parador de Cazorla , your next stop on your journey.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Cazorla, Spain
The Parador de Cazorla is located In the heart of the Cazorla Nature Reserve, in the area known as Sacejo. The surrounding hillsides are covered with native pine trees where an atmosphere of tranquility and beauty makes it a wonderful location for nature lovers.
Here you can truly immerse yourself in the great outdoors at the Cazorla, Segura & las Villas Nature Reserve, which highlights include the Torre del Vinagre Interpretive Center, Iruela Castle and Collado del Almendral Game Park.
The enticing old quarter of Cazorla is worth visitng for its´ Yedra Castle and Museum of Arts and Traditions of the Upper Guadalquivir.
Cazorla is a pleasant sojourn before hitting the bustling city of Granada.
Activities & Services Included today
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Granada, Spain
Today you continue to Granada and the Parador de Granada.
The city is scenically located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. As it was the last Moorish capital of the Iberian Peninsula, you can look forward to an abundance of artistic grandeur embracing Moorish Palaces and Christian Renaissance treasures such as the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife, the Albaicin district and the gypsy neighbourhood, Sacromonte, famous for its gypsy cave dwellings and flamenco music.
This afternoon you will enjoy visiting the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens. It is often hailed as the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. Set on a wooded hill above Granada city, the Alhambra Palace was built in the 14th century by the sultans of Granada, rulers of the last Muslim kingdom in Al-Andalus. It reveals the brilliance and spirit of the Moorish culture in Andalusia at a time when the rest of Europe was only just beginning to emerge from the Dark Ages.
Activities & Services Included today
Meals Included today
Cordoba, Spain
Continue to Cordoba today and the Parador de Cordoba.
Cordoba was the realization of the dream of the caliphs, capital of the Omeya Caliphate and an important center of learning in the Muslim West during this period. In the city and its´ surrounding area you can discover all the splendor of this culture in monuments and sites such as the mighty Mezquita mosque /cathedral and on the outskirts of Cordoba, Medina Azahara. Also of note are the old synagogue, the city walls, the Roman bridge and royal stables where you can see the Andalucian horses perform.
Wandering through the lovely streets of Cordoba is a pleasure for all the senses. Look out for the charming patios filled with flowers.
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Cordoba, Spain
Today enjoy visiting the city including the Mezquita with pre-booked entrance tickets.
See the fortress of the Catholic Kings, visit the synagogue and important sights in the Jewish Quarter such as the Monument to Lovers, Maimonides Square, Tiberiades Square, and `the Souk´ where you can watch artisans practising crafts with materials like ceramic, leather and glassware. Visit Cardinal Salazar´s Square, the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters (old acute hospital), the monument to Al Gafequi, the former Convent of San Pedro de Alcantara and the Mezquita - the great Mosque-Cathedral.
Free afternoon.
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Departure,
Following breakfast make your way to your departure airport where you return your rental car.
Meals Included today
ORIGINAL AND RELATED POSTS FROM TOTALLY SPAIN'S BLOG
Driving in Spain and Portugal
Driving Routes in Spain
Paradores in Spain
Southern Spain Parador Tour
Must-Sees in Andalusia
Visiting the Alhambra in Granada
Best Cities in Spain
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Accommodation (based on 2 people sharing)
Meals
Transport
Pre-Booked Entrance Tickets
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NOT INCLUDED
Flights, Personal Travel Insurance, Porterage (not commonly available in Spain), Tips, Meals, drinks or hotel extras other than those described above. Anything else not specified above.
CONDITIONS
Prices from
1198 EUROS PER PERSON
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