Donegal Daily’s Advertising Manager Don Sheridan recently embarked on a seven-night exploration of the Highlights of Andalucia with Travel Department.
Joined by his wife Brenda, this was his first experience of a guided group holiday. From the ancient wonders of Antequera to the majestic Alhambra, here’s why the week exceeded all expectations:
Having never experienced this type of holiday, we embarked on this 7-night guided trip to explore the history and beauty of Spain’s southern region. The price included flights, transfers, 4-star accommodation and fully guided tours.
We flew into Malaga airport, where our guide, Alex, was waiting for us and we then travelled to Loja – a small town nestled at the foot of the Sierra de Loja and our base for the first four days. The rest of the day was at leisure and gave us an opportunity to meet and get to know our fellow travellers – couples, groups of friends and solo travellers of all ages.
Alhambra Palace in Granada
The following morning, after a lovely breakfast, we departed on our first tour which took us to Antequera which is known as ‘the heart of Andalucia’ because of its central location among Malaga, Granada, Cordoba and Seville.
Antequera is known for its ancient burial mounds, including the Dolmen de Menga (one of the largest known ancient megalithic structures in Europe), similar to our own Newgrange in Co. Meath.
Overlooking the town is Pena de los Enamorados – a distinctive face-shaped mountain. In our own time, we had an opportunity to visit the town’s Bullring which dates from 1848 – definitely worth a visit.
A walking tour of Antequera including a visit to Dolmen de Menga, a megalithic burial mound
Antequera’s Plaza de Toros
The following day we visited Cordoba – best known for La Mezquita, an immense mosque dating from 784 AD which is now a cathedral. We were accompanied by a professional local guide for this tour. This is a ‘must see’. Again, we had leisure time in the afternoon giving us the chance to explore the city and frequent a few of the lovely tapas bars and restaurants.
On Day 4 we departed for a full day excursion to Sevilla, a charming city with a rich cultural and architectural heritage. Commencing with a panoramic tour of the city by coach, we stopped at the Plaza de Espana – simply stunning. A guided walking tour of the historic city centre followed by a visit to the Royal Alcazar (a sprawling palace and garden complex) with a professional local guide completed the day’s excursion. There was also some leisure time to explore the city at our own pace.
Plaza de España, Seville
Royal Alcázar of Seville
On Day 5, we departed Loja and transferred our base to Granada – a medieval city set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Once we had booked into our hotel, we had the rest of the day to explore this wonderful city. One of the highlights was a visit to Basilica de Saint Juan de Dios – a spectacularly ornate and extravagant church. We then came upon the Mercado San Augustin – a bustling market where you can buy fresh fish, meat and produce or do as we did and select fresh fish and tapas which was cooked for us and served on the outdoor patio which had the added bonus of live Spanish guitar music. A great experience and a wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by. A few metres from the Cathedral of Granada, we found one of the most charming parts of the city, the Alcaiceria – once the old Moorish silk market and Granada’s grand bazaar, it is now a street of many shops, some with locally made items.
Day 6 was a full day excursion to explore the Arab heritage of Granada which is known for its grand examples of medieval architecture. A visit to the Alhambra Palace with a professional local guide is without doubt an experience which will remain with us forever. The Alhambra is a hilltop fortress comprising royal palaces, serene patios and reflecting pools as well as the fountains and orchards of the gardens. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world.
Generalife Gardens, Alhambra, Granada
Day 7 gave us a full day at leisure to enjoy everything Granada has to offer. Whether you wish to lounge around the roof-top pool at the hotel or hop on the tourist train around the city and explore the many more wonders that it has to offer (and indeed there are plenty), there is much to do in this vibrant and exciting city. On this, our last evening, we were treated to dinner followed by a Flamenco show at Tablao La Solea. It was a truly Spanish experience and a memorable way to end our wonderful week in Andalucia.
Whether you’re a solo traveller, a couple or a group of friends, of any age, we would totally recommend this holiday. This is the ideal way to see Andalucia in a safe and friendly environment. This was our first experience using the Travel Department but not the first for many of our fellow holidaymakers who originally met as solo travellers but now holiday together with the Travel Department as a group of friends. We would have to say that our first experience of this type of holiday was certainly enriched by our fellow travellers, who we now count as friends.
Andalucia offers a blend of cultural attractions, beautiful scenery, fabulous food, comfortable weather and warm hospitality. Our Tour Guide, Alex, was a delight – knowledgeable, friendly and always there to help.
The Travel Department are extremely efficient and professional. We felt so well looked after from the moment of booking until we arrived home. We are so looking forward to our next adventure with them.
– Don & Brenda
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