Andalusia & Morocco 11 days

FIRST DAY - MADRID - CÓRDOBA

Departure at 8:00 am through La Mancha to Andalusia, we will stop at Viso del Marques, where we  will visit the Palace of Don Alvaro de Bazan, Spanish Renaissance jewel and General archive of the Spanish navy.  We will continue to Cordoba, the city of three cultures, the capital of Muslim Spain, which heads a territory located in the center of the Andalusian geography.  The Guadalquivir crosses the province from east to west and fertilizes a wide valley where fructify cereal, grapes and olives.  It retains traces of Iberian, Roman and Muslim past,  rich in traditions; It has an impressive monumental heritage and its gastronomy has experienced a remarkable boom, recovering a  variety of recipes of traditional cuisine.

Tour of the city: the famous Mosque / Cathedral and Jewish Quarter.

Arrival at hotel and Check in

SECOND DAY -  CÓRDOBA - MEDINA - ZAHARA - CARMONA - SEVILLA

 Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure towards Medina Azahara, one of the most important archaeological sites in Al Andlus, which was built by Abd al-Rahman III which established the seat of his government.

This great building came to house more than 25,000 people. All official entities of caliphate had their headquarters there.
Its stately halls and riches of all kinds which were inside made it the ideal place for the reception of embassies stage. We must emphasize the Salon Rico, the House of Jafar, the bathroom, the large porch and its mosque.

Continuation towards Carmona in order to walk through it, city where was spent the Via Augusta, which carried to Rome known during the Middle Ages under the name of The Reef, and in which are conservated remains and a bridge of Roman origin. It also acquired great importance on the Muslim era, being capital of one of the kingdoms of Taifa.

During the reign of Peter the Cruel, Carmona was one of his favorite places. His Alcazar de la Puerta de Marchena was one of his favorite private residences.

In 1630 Felipe IV gave to Carmona the title of city.

We will continue towards Sevilla, arrival at the hotel and check in.

THIRD DAY - SEVILLA  MONUMENTAL

Breakfast at the hotel.

Monumental tour of Seville, capital of Andalusia, the fourth most populated city in Spain; Seville is a cheerful, quaint town with a virtuous climate all year round.  

Although its architectural Moorish influence is most striking, it had long before been a cultural center of great importance. In its existence is recorded, as first settlers, a very high culture, a peaceful people, cult and archaeological remains.

Guided tour that includes the Alcazar,  the cathedral and the Santa Cruz quarter.

Free afternoon.

If you love good food you can enjoy a guided tour of the historic center of Seville where besides enjoying the environment, you will have the opportunity to see the foundation of tapas in our city. We will visit bars and taverns of long tradition in tapas. We propose a tour  exclusively by walk  (not shared) and tapas on two establishments that combine local color and knowhow.

FOURTH DAY -  SEVILLA -WITHE VILLAGES OF  CADIZ - RONDA - MARBELLA

Breakfast.

Today in the morning we will make the famous route of the white villages of the Sierra de Cadiz. We will begin by Arcos de la Frontera, in order to continue towards Zahara de la Sierra and finally reach the famous town of Ronda.  In the millenarian Ronda links the threads that form the multicolored fabric of one of the most interesting cities of Andalusia. The landscape, urbanism, history, the romantic legend of bandits, the place where were born the bullfighters and artists will always make of Ronda a unique city.

In the afternoon we will continue towards Marbella, located on the Costa del Sol, where we will enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight.

FIFTH DAY MARBELLA - TANGIER - RABAT - CASABLANCA

Breakfast. Departure towards Tarifa. Boarding on the fast ferry to cross the strait to Morocco.

 Disembarkation and continuation by car for a panoramic tour of Tangier. Continuation towards Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco ..  Tour of the city to explore the Mausoleum of Mohamed V and the Hassan Tower. After the visit of these emblematic places, we  will continue to the Kasbah of Oudaya and the famous Andalusian quarter, which will evoke us places we have already visited in Andalusia.

Arrival at the cosmopolitan city of Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco and economic capital of the kingdom, located on the Atlantic coast, at the South of the capital Rabat.

 It is the most populous city in the whole country, with nearly 6 million inhabitants. Here we can admire the Hassan II Mosque, designed by French architect Michel Pinseau. It was inaugurated in 1993 after 22 years of work. This mosque is the highest in the Arab world and the lights of its minaret, 200 meters high, can be seen from several kilometers away. This is the second largest mosque in the world after the Mecca.  This architectural work has the latest technologies such as earthquake resistance, a roof that opens automatically, heated floor or electric gates. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco that can be visited  by everyone.

Dinner and overnight.

SIXTH DAY - CASABLANCA - MARRAKECH

Breakfast.

Panoramical visit around the city (optional guided tour of the Mosque of Casablanca, € 15 per person), and departure to Marrakech, the red pearl of southern Morocco. It was founded in 1062 by the Almoravids and gained worldwide prominence during medieval Islam under the Youssef Ibn Tachfin mandate, and which became one of the most important cities of medieval Islam.

Marrakech is proud to be the origin of the name of Morocco  and has over a million and a half inhabitants.

In the afternoon, visit of the exotic Djemaa el Fna, denominated by the writer Juan Goytisolo as The Greatest Show on Earth, with its incessant activity, musicians, dancers, snake charmers, etc.

Dinner and overnight.

SEVENTH DAY - MARRAKECH - MEKNES - FEZ

Breakfast at the hotel.

We will continue with the visit of the imperial city and capital of the south, where are located the Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace.

Departure towards Meknes, imperial city surrounded by 40 kms of walls, with the beautiful gate "Bab El Mansour" and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.

The history of Meknés (city world heritage by UNESCO since 1996), is indissolubly linked to the person of Moulay Ismail, founder of the Alawite dynasty. Ambitious, visionary and brilliant architect, he remodeled and beautified the city following the example of Louis XIV of France, in order  to get a "Moroccan Versailles".

 Moulay Ismail erected on this building frenzy, walls, sumptuous palaces, mosques, madrassas, gardens and fountains, which still surprise us by its beauty and variety.

In his ambition to emulate the French monarch, Moulay Ismail, who have asked for the hand of his daughter, Mademoiselle de Blois, Princess widow of Conti. Sun King kindly declined the request, but in return, he sent a beautiful collection of watches, which say that he still adorn the beautiful palace of Meknes, Dar El Makhzen.

It seems that he was fastly consoled, because he had more than 500  concubines and 867 children, although none has passed into history to continue or enhance their inheritance. So the city of Meknes is still today an example of Spanish-Moroccan architecture, faithful to its origins in the seventeenth century, when it was briefly imperial capital.

Continuation towards Fez, founded in the ninth century by Idris II. The city hosts the oldest Medina in Morocco and one of the biggest in the Maghreb, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981.  The city is divided into three distinct areas, it preserved its traditions lost in the Western world, like the  leather tanning by hand, a job that is done the same way since a lot of  centuries.

Dinner and overnight.

EIGHTH DAY - FEZ - CHEFCHAOUEN

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, we will make a  city tour to stroll through its narrow streets of the ninth century. The old walled Medina is one of the largest in the world, considered as a World Heritage, with its exotic corners, arches, mosques, madrassas, fountains and craft shops.

In the afternoon departure to Chefchaouen where we can enjoy this wonderful village on the Rif mountains, mysterious town where most homes are painted in indigo blue color that makes it unforgettable. Chefchaouen was founded as a secret place from where it was possible attack the Portuguese installed on the north coast of Morocco. The entrance of Chefchaouen was totally forbidden to Europeans until the arrival of the Spanish troops in 1920.

 It is located within a natural reserve of the biosphere, in the foothills of the mountains Jbel  Tisouka and Jbel Megou,  part of the Rif Mountains.

Chefchaouen is a holy town perched on the mountain. Its streets are painted by white and blue. This is a village of wise, kind and friendly people, and offer visitors beautiful urban panoramas in decline, precious samples of local crafts and a peace and serenity that  is difficult to find nowadays.

Dinner and overnight.

NINTH DAY - CHEFCHAOUEN TANGIER - GRANADA

Breakfast.

Departure to the port of Tangier in order to board in Tarifa and transfer to Granada, where you can travel back into time to have a walk through the rising cobbled streets of the Albayzín.  The reward will be beautiful views from the Mirador de San Nicolas. Granada's nightlife is dynamic and varied, partly thanks to the student population. You will be able to head over to the bars of Calle Elvira or, if you fancy a quieter activity, you can still visit  the street of tea shops.

Dinner and overnight.

TENTH DAY - GRANADA

Breakfast.

Visit of the impressive monuments of the Alhambra with Nazarite Palaces and the Generalife. The Alhambra in Granada is one of the most famous buildings of Spain; an Arab fortress that combines great ornamental arches with delicate mosaics.

Dinner and overnight. Optional visit at night to the caves of Sacromonte with flamenco show.

ELEVENTH DAY - GRANADA - TOLEDO - MADRID

Breakfast.

Departure to the imperial city of Toledo, one of the most important centers of medieval Spanish history. The first historical document about its existence is provided by Tito Livio, who describes it as a small fortified city.  The fortress has always been an important parameter in its history, still evident, because you can still see the walls that surround it, and if it do not have been enough to defend it from the enemies, there are the swords of Toledo, world-famous, to do the rest.

Lunch and city sightseeing throughout its narrow streets and monuments. Contination back to Madrid.

Arrival and end of services.