Itinerary+Peter

Itinerary: Pete´s Itinerary of the Autonomous Communities of Andalucia and Murcia: Publico: Group of 8 to 12 Spanish-speaking individuals who are able to walk far distances without problems, ranging in age from 30 to 50 Commencement Point of Trip: Sevilla, Andalusia, Espana --- directly outside la  Catedral de Sevilla at 12:00 on the first day of the tour Duration: 4 days (sightseeing/visting only, prior travel dates to Espana and  Transportation to Andalusia not included) Destinations: Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, La Manga del Mar Menor (returning back  to Sevilla in the evening on the fifth day after La Manga del Mar Menor) Objectives: To witness and experience the amazing cultural and historical outlets that Southern Spain (Andulsia and Murcia) have to offer while allowing members of the group space to explore Southern Spain´s great cities on their own Transportation: Throughout the duration of the trip, walking and riding in  chartered busses will be utilized. Especially within all of the cities that we will visit (Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, La Manga del Mar Menor) walking will be the primary <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">means of transportation thus it is essential that anyone partaking on this <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">excursion must be in suitable walking condition, up to several kilometers at a  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">time. For travelling between the cities of Sevilla-Cordoba, Cordoba-Granada, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Granada-La Manga del Mar Menor and La Manga del Mar Menor-Sevilla <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the charted buses will be used. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">SEVILLA: The tour will commence in the beautiful city of Sevilla, the cultural, <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">political and financial capital of the Andalusian province and of Southern <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Spain. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir and is currently <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">the fourth-largest city in Spain. The inhabitants of the city are known as  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Sevillanos. The city is 140 km2 but on this excursion we will only be covering a  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">percentage of the main parts of the city. During our visit to Sevilla, we will <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">be visiting the Sevilla Cathedral, the Alcazar and Plaza de Espana.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Day 1: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">12:00: Tour commences directly outside the main entrance to the Sevilla <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Cathedral (located directly next to the Giralda) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">12:00-14:00: Tour of the Cathedral of Sevilla and the Giralda <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Cathedral of Sevilla and the Giralda: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The Cathedral of Seville was built from 1401–1519 after the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">‘Reconquista’ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">on the former site of the city's mosque. It is the third largest Catholic Church in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The interior is lavishly decorated and is home to the longest nave in Spain. The Cathedral reused some columns and elements from the mosque, and, most famously, the <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">//Giralda// <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">, originally a minaret, was converted into a bell tower. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">14:00-15:40: Free time for lunch and exploration of Sevilla, meet outside main <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">entrance to the Alcazar of Sevilla at 15:45 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">15:45-17:45: Tour of the Alcazar of Sevilla <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-walk to Plaza de Espana- <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Alcazar of Sevilla: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The Alcazar of Sevilla was developed from the former Moorish palace. Construction began in 1181 and continued for nearly 500 years. The Alcazar was built utilizing a Mudejar and Renaissance style. The Alcazar is also known for its lavish gardens.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">18:10-19:25: Tour of Plaza de Espana <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Plaza de Espana: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Located in Maria Luisa Park, Plaza de Espana was built for the 1929 Iberian-American Exposition. The plaza is well-known for utilizing several different styles such as Art-Deco and Neo-Mudejar.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">19:25-21:15: Free time for exploration of Sevilla; meet in lobby of hotel at  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">21:30 for dinner <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">21:30-23:00: Group dinner within walking distance of hotel <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">23:15: Return to hotel, the rest of the night is yours! <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">CORDOBA: The capital of the province of Cordoba in Andalusia, Cordoba was once one of the largest cities of the world, in ancient times. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">An Iberian and Roman city in ancient times, in the Middle Ages it was a capital of an Islamic caliphate and one of the largest cities in the world. The Guadalquivir River passes through Cordoba, and is home to one of the world’s greatest architectural accomplishments in the Great Mosque of Cordoba.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Day 2: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">10:00: Group meets in lobby of hotel, boards bus at 10:05 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">10:15-11:45: Bus from Sevilla to Cordoba <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-walk to Great Mosque of Cordoba (across the bridge)- <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">12:00-14:30: Tour of the Great Mosque of Cordoba <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Great Mosque of Cordoba: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Originally built as a Christian Visigoth Cathedral, when the Moors invaded Spain they overtook Cordoba and made it their capital and established a Mosque on the same grounds as the Cathedral. Today, there is the Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption located directly in the middle of the mosque. There are over 850 columns still standing from the original structure, which began in 784 and finished in 987. It is widely regarded as the greatest achievement of the Umayyad dynasty.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">1430-16:00: Free time for lunch and exploration of Cordoba, meet outside main <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">entrance of the Alcazar of the Christian Kings at 16:05 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">16:10-17:40: Tour of the Alcazar of the Christian Kings <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Alcazar of los Reyes Cristianos: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The Alcázar was built by ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**Alfonso XI**  ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> in  ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**1328**  ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**.**  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> The original Moorish Alcázar stood beside the Great Mosque of Cordoba, on the site of the present Bishop's Palace. ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**Ferdinand and Isabella** ** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> later governed Castile from the Alcázar for eight years in the 15th century as they prepared to reconquer Granada  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">17:40-21:00: Free time for exploration of Cordoba, meet in lobby of hotel at  <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">21:15 for dinner <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">21:15-22:45: Group dinner within walking distance of hotel <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">23:00: Return to hotel, the rest of the night is yours! <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">GRANADA: The capital of the province of Granada, the city was the last Moorish stronghold of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. It was in Granada that the Spanish Catholic Kingdoms ‘Reconquista’ was completed; in which, the keys to the kingdom of Granada were handed over to Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castilla. Today over 350,000 people live within Granada and enjoy a very favorable climate nearly year-round. Aside from the rich culture and history seen within the confines of Granada, it is also famous for beautifully decorated streets and rich character. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Day 3: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">10:00: Group meets in lobby of hotel, boards bus at 10:05 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">10:15-11:45: Bus from Cordoba to Granada <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-bus drops group off in front on entrance to Alhambra & Generalife- <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">12:00-15:00: Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Alhambra: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">15:00-16:30: Free time for exploration of Granada; meet at Plaza Isabella Catolica for tour of the Albayzin <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-walk to Albayzin from Plaza Isabella Catolica- <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">16:45-19:00: Tour of Albayzin

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Albayzin: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The Albayzín is an ancestral neighborhood located near the center of Granada. What makes the Albayzín so important is its rich history and cultural significance, especially that of Al-Andalus. When the Cordoba Caliphate terminated, it broke into the Taifa kingdoms, the taifa kingdom of Granada was led by the Zirids, which made the Albayzin their economic, political, military and religious center or court.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">19:00-21:00: Free time for exploration of Granada, meet in lobby of hotel at 21:10 for dinner <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">21:20-22:50: Group dinner within walking distance of hotel <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">23:00: Return to hotel, the rest of the night is yours! <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">LA MANGA DEL MAR MENOR (Murcia): La Manga del Mar Menor is located in the province of Murcia and is quite famous for its beaches and resorts. During the winter months, La Manga is famous for hosting many soccer clubs from all over the world. La Manga lies on a small strip of land (19 kilometers long by 100 meters wide) and separates the Mediterranean Sea from Mar Menor. It is famous for its bars, shops, clubs, restaurants, beaches, sailing and hotels.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Day 4: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">8:00: Group meets in lobby of hotel, boards bus at 10:05 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">8:15-11:45: Bus from Granada to La Manga Del Mar Menor <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-bus drops group off near main beach entrance- <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">11:50-20:00: Free time for exploration of La Manga del Mar Menor (don’t forget to bring a towel!) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-meet at hotel at 20:05 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">20:15-22:15: Group dinner within walking distance from hotel <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">22:30: Return to hotel, the rest of the night is yours!

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Day 5: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">10:00-15:15: Free time for exploration of La Manga del Mar Menor <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">-meet outside of main beach entrance, to board bus back to hotel- <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">15:30-16:10: Time at hotel to pack and shower <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">16:15-22:45: Bus from La Manga del Mar Menor to Sevilla, including stop for Spanish picnic along the way <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">22:50: Return to hotel in Sevilla, for last night! <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Day 6: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">10:00: Depart Group to have your own adventure!!

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">We hoped you enjoyed our tour!!!