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Rick Steves' Best of Andalucía in 10 Days, Day by Day
Traveling to the rhythm of strutting horses and flirtatious flamenco, our Best of Andalucía in 10 Days tour captures the passion and pride of this remarkable region. Starting with the Moorish roots of Córdoba, you'll be immersed in the culture and history of southern Spain — with plenty of time to slow down and savor its wines and cuisine. This slideshow will give you a taste of the experiences that await you. Let's go!
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Day 1: Welcome to Spain
We'll gather at our Córdoba hotel for a "Welcome to Spain" get-together. Then we'll join the locals in their nightly ritual and head out for an orientation paseo (stroll) through our neighborhood. We'll finish by getting acquainted over an Andalusian-style dinner together.
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Day 2: Córdoba's Moorish Maze & Modern City
This morning, we'll explore Córdoba's maze-like Moorish old town, from its Roman foundations to its marvelous centerpiece — and Spain's best Islamic sight after the Alhambra — the Mezquita. This afternoon you're free to experience more of this magnificent city on your own, including its hidden patios and modern Plaza de las Tendillas neighborhood. This evening we'll celebrate the rhythm of Andalucía with an intimate flamenco performance.
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Day 3: Ruta del Vino and Andalucía's Olive Country
An hour's drive along Andalucía's Ruta del Vino brings us to the heart of the Montilla-Morilles wine region. We'll tour a local bodega to learn about the famous Pedro Ximénez grape — and its place among Spanish wines. After lunch, we'll continue through the province of Jaén, getting our first glimpse at a landscape dominated by more than 60 million olive trees. Our ultimate destination is the historic, quaint — and little-touristed — town of Úbeda, one-time home to Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Tonight, we'll orient ourselves to the cultural delights of the town before enjoying dinner together.
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Day 4: Undiscovered Úbeda
There's more than meets the eye to this unspoiled, charming town, and this morning we'll meet our local guide to soak up some of Úbeda's Old World charms. Starting with the impressive Chapel of El Salvador, dedicated to Francisco de los Cobos, we'll unravel its history and dive deeper into the impact of the man who put Úbeda on the map. Later, we'll visit the mystically inspiring Synagogue del Agua before diving back into the 21st century. Your afternoon and evening are free to make even more discoveries.
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Day 5: Rolling Hills and Royal Views
We'll start our day with a visit to one of Úbeda's nearby olive estates, where we'll learn all about olive oil production and put our newfound knowledge to a taste-test. After lunch we'll head to Granada, where we'll begin with a visit to the ornate tombs of world-changing Ferdinand and Isabel, who reigned over a new age of religious zeal at home and exploration of the "new" Americas. Then we'll head up the Albayzín hill for dinner together and enjoy a sunset view of the Alhambra.
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Day 6: Moorish Treasures of Granada
This morning you'll learn about Spain's Islamic legacy with a visit to the sprawling palace and garden complex of the Alhambra (when available). This last and greatest of Europe's Moorish palaces will awe you with its grace and artistry. This afternoon and evening you'll be free to linger longer at the Alhambra and make your own discoveries along the colorful streets and alleyways of Granada's Old Town.
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Day 7: Ronda
Today's destination is the hill town of Ronda, home to Spain's oldest bullring and its most breathtaking gorge. On our way, we'll stop to marvel at the 5,000-year-old megalithic Dolmen of Menga (the largest in Europe). In town, you'll have free time to explore the city's Moorish and Mercadillo quarters linked together by the famous gravity-defying stone bridge. We'll cap our day with an intimate guitar concert together before being set free to complete your quintessential Andalusian evening with dinner on your own.
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Day 8: Sevilla's Barrio Santa Cruz
This morning we'll drive to Sevilla, Spain's most flamboyant and atmospheric city. On our way, we'll stop at a local bull farm to learn about this fascinating — and often controversial — cultural pastime and enjoy a country lunch together. After settling in to our neighborhood hotel, our local guide will introduce us to the Barrio Santa Cruz and the world's largest Gothic cathedral. Tonight you'll have time to do more exploring on your own or take in a performance of sultry, swirling flamenco.
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Day 9: Sevilla's Royal Alcázar
We'll start today with a tour of the beautifully Moorish-style Alcázar palace, the Sevilla home of the Spanish royal family for the past 500 years. Afterward, you're free to walk in the footsteps of Carmen and Don Juan, linger in Sevilla's charming squares, or stroll along the romantic Guadalquivir River. This evening we'll share travel memories and toast new friends at our final dinner together, capped off with a carriage ride through the streets of Sevilla. Salud!
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Day 10: Tour Over After Breakfast
Sevilla's airport, with easy connections throughout Europe, is a bus or taxi ride away. Alternately, you can hop an AVE train to Madrid to continue your Iberian adventures on your own. Hasta luego!
We still have a few 2023 seats remaining for this tour. Learn more and sign up for Rick Steves' Best of Andalucía in 10 Days tour.