Treasures of Andalucia

Your holiday begins this morning when you meet the Tour Manager and group at London Gatwick, or depart independently from your regional airport, for a morning flight to Malaga.

On arrival we're transferred by coach to our hotel in Antequera, a traditional Spanish town in the heart of Andalucía, ideally situated to explore the cities of Granada, Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.

Antequera is a typical Andalucian medieval town with an impressive Moorish fortress, several churches, and a relaxed atmosphere. The town also has many examples of Spanish Baroque buildings, carefully restored to retain their façades. There's time to look around and get your bearings in Antequera.

After breakfast this morning, you are free to explore Antequera at your own pace. To find out more about local sights and seasonal or special events, the tourist office is located in the centre near the Plaza de San Sebastián.

There are plenty of cafés and restaurants to choose from if you'd like to indulge in a traditional Spanish lunch. A local speciality is 'Porra Antequerana', a gazpacho-style soup, served cold and made with tomatoes and bread.

Nature lovers have two interesting nearby places to discover. El Torcal de Antequera, five miles outside of the city, a national park with unique rock formations which can be reached by local bus or taxi. Equally interesting are the Dolmen Tombs, some of the largest prehistoric burial chambers in Europe. Antequera's cuisine is well regarded throughout Andalucía and, dining independently, you can uncover why.

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Our tour continues this morning as we catch the high-speed train to beautiful Seville, for a guided tour.

Exploring by coach and on foot, our first stop is the Plaza de España, a colourful landmark with fountains, and tiled alcoves, created for the 1929 'Fair of the Americas' a mix of Andalucía's different architectural styles. Our tour ends at the amazing cathedral, the largest Gothic building in Europe, where the bones of Christopher Columbus were interred. The cathedral's bell tower, La Giralda is the minaret of the original mosque and has panoramic views over the city.

The afternoon is yours to explore. The nearby Santa Cruz district is teeming with tapas bars and restaurants. After some lunch you could visit the Alcázar Palace, which - with its stunning gardens, shady seating areas and cooling water features - is a lovely retreat from the city streets. You may like to walk along the river to the Torre del Oro, once a watchtower and medieval prison, which glows gold as the sun sets. We return to our hotel by rail at the end of the afternoon.

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Today we take another high-speed rail journey, this time to Córdoba, an ancient city that was once the largest metropolis in western Europe and is now a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site.

On arrival, we're taken on a guided tour of the city's main attractions, seeing the exterior of the famous Mezquita of Córdoba - one of the world's greatest examples of Islamic architecture. Inside, several Roman Catholic chapels have been introduced over the centuries, and the building is now regarded as a mosque-cathedral. Our tour also takes you through Córdoba's historic Jewish Quarter, which has a tiny ancient synagogue, hidden stone patios and characterful streets.

You're free over lunch and into the afternoon to look around at leisure and may like to visit the Alcázar palace and gardens here, smaller than Seville's historic palace but still beautiful. We return to our hotel by rail where there is time to relax and dine independently.

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On this free day, you could visit Malaga, around an hour away by rail. This attractive city combines history, cuisine and culture. Known as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, the Museo Picasso in the Old Town is one of the city's most popular sites (booking ahead advised). The city has a cathedral, a Roman amphitheatre and one of the best-preserved Moorish fortresses in Spain, the Alcazaba, which overlooks the city from a hilltop. Above is a second fortress, the Castillo de Gibralfaro. Malaga has many inviting restaurants, cafés and bars, as well as the 'Centre Pompidou' gallery of contemporary art.

In Antequera, the Roman Villa of the Station was discovered in 1998 and is now open to the public. From mid-June to mid-September the town has a cultural event called 'Moonlight', when monuments are lit up after dark.

Of course, you may prefer a relaxing day, possibly at the hotel swimming pool before visiting a restaurant for dinner on your own. Local cuisine ranges from refreshing soups to hearty stews and sweets treats such as Bienmesabe.

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Travelling by coach to Granada, we visit one of the world's most well-preserved examples of Moorish architecture - the Alhambra palaces and fortress complex, with a stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. On a guided tour, we discover the wonderful Alhambra palaces, whose interiors have intricately carved wooden ceilings, colourful mosaics and beautiful plasterwork.

After our tour you are free to walk among the beautiful 14th-century Generalife gardens, once a summer palace and country estate of the sultans. Peaceful paths are laid out beneath pergolas dripping with jasmine, pebble mosaics, pools and cooling water features, framed by flowerbeds and pavilions.

With the rest of the day at leisure you could look around the Albaicín - the Moorish quarters of the city with its steep, narrow streets, Moroccan-style tea shops, and colourful craft shops. The Mirador de San Nicolas has fantastic views up to the Alhambra and is a popular spot for flamenco players, artists and craftspeople. Restaurants and cafés nearby serve tapas, drinks and meals.

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This morning, we bid adiós to Spain, as a coach transfers us from Antequera to Malaga Airport for our flight back to London Gatwick, or to your regional airport.

Our adventure in Andalucía has taken in the region's three main cities, and on this tour, we have explored its deep history, from Moorish times to the modern day, with plenty of free time to discover the region for ourselves.

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