Carole Clark, our new travel leader invites all members who are interested, to book now for this fabulous trip to see the famous festival of the ‘Patios of Cordoba’ and spend some time exploring the villages and sights in the surrounding area.
Dates: 9 – 14 May by coach and staying 5 nights at the Hotel Don Gonzalo 3* – see below for the full itinerary.
Cost per person 648€ with single supplement 150€.
Deposit of 100€ per person is payable on booking by card or bank transfer. Details available when the form is submitted
ITINERARY
DAY 1: JAVEA – CÓRDOBA
Departure from Javea. Lunch at your expense. Arrival at the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
DAY 2: CORDOBA – MEDINA AZHARA
Breakfast. Departure to Cordoba (local guide included), an ancient city declared a World Heritage Site for having been the capital of Hispania Ulterior during the Roman Empire and the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. We will visit the Mosque-Cathedral (8th Century AD), one of the largest in the world, which represents the medieval splendour of the city.
We will also visit the ruins of the Roman Temple (1st Century AD), located very close to the Town Hall, the Synagogue, which reminds us of the importance of the Jewish community in this kingdom, and countless monuments scattered among narrow streets, squares and whitewashed courtyards that have left us so many centuries of history. Lunch in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will visit Medina Azahara (10th Century AD), (shuttle included), a palatine construction in caliphate style, a mysterious city that Abderramán III ordered to be built in honour of his favourite wife, Azahara, at the foot of the Sierra Morena. Built on three terraces, reserving the upper ones for the Royal Alcazar, and the lower ones for the dwellings and the mosque, built outside the walls. Return to the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
DAY 3: COURTYARDS OF CORDOBA
Breakfast. Transfer to the centre of Cordoba, where a local guide will be waiting for us to visit the famous patios. Lunch at the hotel. After lunch, free afternoon. Dinner and accommodation.
DAY 4: ZUHEROS – DOÑA MENCIA – BAENA
Breakfast. In the morning we will visit some of the most outstanding villages in the Subbetica area: Zuheros and Doña Mencia. We will start in Zuheros, a small Cordovan village declared of cultural interest as a historic-artistic site, thanks to its impeccable state of preservation, recognised as one of the most picturesque villages in Andalusia, located in the heart of the natural park of the Sierra Subbética. We will then visit Doña Mencía (guided tour), which owes its name to Da Mencia López de Haro, wife of the captain of Fernando III. We will make a tour of the old town, the castle of Dona Mencia, whose keep is included in the town centre, the pósito, the archaeological museum, the remains of the wall, the old church and we will finish at the wine museum.
Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon departure to Baena, a beautiful town located on the top of a hill surrounded by olive groves. Its castle (10th century AD), built on Roman remains, is considered one of the strongest bastions of the Almoravid and Almohad kings. Other points of interest are the church of Santa María la Mayor (13th-16th century AD), the convent Church of the Mother of God and the Plaza de la Constitución, where the palatial house of Monte and the house of La Tercia (18th century), now the municipal history museum, are located. Return to the hotel, dinner and accommodation.
DAY 5: PRIEGO DE CORDOBA – CÓRDOBA
Breakfast. In the morning departure to Priego de Córdoba. Declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1972. Clearly medieval and Muslim in inspiration. From the 16th century onwards it experienced a period of economic prosperity thanks to the expansion of the textile industry. Amongst its Baroque heritage, the tabernacle of the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands out, but we can enjoy many more examples that are dotted throughout the streets. Lunch at the hotel. Free afternoon in Cordoba. Return to the hotel, dinner and
accommodation.
DAY 6: CÓRDOBA – JÁVEA
Breakfast and return to the city of origin. Lunch at your own expense. Arrival in Jávea..
Included in the Price:
5 nights Hotel Don Gonzalo 3* in the province of Cordoba.
Meals according to itinerary
Water and wine included in meals
Accompanying guide from origin
Lunch in a restaurant in Cordoba
Lunch in a restaurant in Subbetica area
Entrance to Medina Azahara and shuttle service
Local guide 2 hours 30 min in Cordoba
Local guide Patios of Cordoba 2h 30 min (can only be visited from 10am to 2pm)
Guided tour in Doña Mencia 2h30 min
Travel insurance
Hotel Don Gonzalo 3*
Carretera N331 Córdoba-Malaga, km 47, Montilla (Córdoba)
To be added to the waiting list please write to Carole Clark at travel.carole@u3ajavea.com.
