Cruising the Heart of Andalusia

We fly to Seville and transfer to our ship where we’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail before dinner.

Today’s included excursion takes us to the charming city of Córdoba. Once an important Roman settlement it was conquered in the 8th century by the Moors, who built hundreds of mosques, countless palaces, and public buildings that rivalled the splendours of Constantinople, Damascus and Baghdad. On our guided tour we’ll see the medieval Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos, Plaza del Portro with its 16th century fountain, the old city walls and 14th century Palacio de Viana. Undoubtedly the highlight is Córdoba’s mesmerising Mezquita, an extraordinary blend of Moorish and Christian architecture. After lunch in a local restaurant you can enjoy some time at leisure before returning to our ship in Seville.

Seville is simply beautiful and this morning’s guided walking tour takes us first to the majestic Plaza de España designed for the 1929 Ibero-American Expo. This unique palace-plaza has featured as a backdrop for many films, including Lawrence of Arabia. With its winding cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, picturesque Santa Cruz is a delightful part of the city. It was formally the Jewish Quarter and here we’ll see many renowned monuments including Seville’s grandiose Cathedral and the Giralda bell tower. We then visit the Alcazar, a truly unique complex of palaces. The walled enclosure has been a residence for kings of different eras and each left their architectural legacy. This afternoon we leave Seville and cruise past the Doñana National Park, designated a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, before arriving in Cádiz this evening.

This morning’s excursion takes us to Jerez, a city renowned for its centuries-old association with sherry and rich flamenco heritage. A panoramic tour shows us the historical centre, which clusters around the Cathedral and impressive Moorish fortress. The bull is a symbol of Spanish culture, and we’ll visit a typical Ganadería where bulls are bred and raised. After lunch on board we’ll join a guided tour of Cádiz. One of the oldest cities in Europe, its old central quarter is a maze of narrow streets and alleys where many of the buildings reflect links with foreign shores. Admire beautiful baroque churches and elegant mansions, many of which are adorned with painted facades of delicate pastel colours and ornate wrought iron balconies. Highlights include the 17th century castle of San Sebastian, the popular neighbourhood of La Viña and the beautiful yellow-domed Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece that took more than a century to build. Back on board we’ll enjoy an evening of traditional flamenco as we cruise towards El Puerto de Santa Maria.

One of the oldest wineries in the region, Osborne began producing its Sherry Solera in 1772. Its iconic Osborne bull silhouette has become part of the landscape in the area. This morning we’ll walk to the Osborne cellar for a tour and tasting of three different wines along with some local delicacies.  We then cruise to Isla Minima where we’ll visit a genuine Andalusian hacienda. Once used in combat and much favoured by the nobility, the Andalusian is a pure Spanish horse bred for its agility and we’ll appreciate their elegance in a short equestrian show.

Today’s excursion takes us to Granada, which sits at the confluence of three rivers at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. The city was the capital of the last Islamic kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula and our tour starts with a visit to the Alhambra, one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture. The name directly translates as ‘the red’ reflecting the colour of the walls of this majestic Moorish fortress at sunset. We’ll then stroll through the Generalife, which was the tranquil garden retreat of the Nasrid Sultans back in the 13th century. After lunch in a local restaurant there’s time for you to explore more of the city at your own pace before we return to our ship in Seville.

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Seville before our excursion to the Wharf of the Caravels, where we’ll see replicas of the ships used by the great explorer Christopher Columbus. Tonight’s gala dinner is the perfect way to spend our final evening on board. 

After breakfast we bid farewell to our Captain and crew and transfer to the airport for our return flight to London.