The Hidden Villages of Andalusia

Upon arrival, leisurely check-into your room before orientation

On your own to enjoy what you like

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to make suggestions. During many of our visits we will encounter winding or hilly roads, as well as cobblestone streets and sidewalks. Comfortable and sturdy footwear is highly recommended. There will be extensive daily walking, often up to 3-4 miles, approx. 1-4 hours, at a steady pace. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event, we will alert you as quickly as possible. After orientation we’ll set out with our Group Leader for a walking exploration of the area around the hotel.

At restaurant, we´ll enjoy a welcome dinner with a delicious set menu with one included beverage choices: wine, beer, soft drink, water; Other beverages are available for purchase

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night's rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold items including egg dishes, breakfast breads and meats, cereals, fresh fruit, milk juice, coffee, tea and water.

At the Center for Cross-Cultural Study headquarters in Seville, housed in an 18th Century mansion we will enjoy a cultural class on contemporary Spain. Learn about the changes to Spanish society since the death of Franco and the advent of Democracy in 1975. Discuss family structure, schooling, social care, the current economic and political situation and what lies in store for the future. Then, we will depart for walk with our Group Leader to the extraordinary Alcázar Royal Palace and gardens and meet a local expert who will guide our explorations. This UNESCO listed World Heritage Site incorporates architectural and artistic influences from its beginnings as a Moorish fort into the Middle Ages and on through the Renaissance and Baroque eras to the 19th century. Still used by the royal family, it is the oldest royal palace in Europe and one of the most beautiful with its striking Mudéjar (Moorish influenced) design and ornamentation. Next, we will visit Seville's oldest neighborhood, the Barrio Santa Cruz. During medieval times, this neighborhood was the Jewish quarter and it is home to many of Seville's oldest churches including the Cathedral that in 1898 became the reputed final resting place of Christopher Columbus.

On your own to sample the local cuisine

We will depart by walk to attend a hands-on cooking class led by a chef. We will learn and cook the most popular traditional Spanish dish: Paella.

Share your favorite experiences with your new Road Scholar friends over a tasty Paella at the cooking class

At leisure.

Hotel buffet

We will depart for The Center for Cross-Cultural headquarters where an expert will introduce the history, culture and a demonstration of the art of flamenco dance and music.. Afterwards we will walk with a local historian to the Cathedral, one of the world´s largest and packed with historic treasures and art. The 343-ft bell tower, the Giralda, the symbol of Seville, is in fact all that remains of the mosque built before the Christians conquered the city in 1248. It was used as a cathedral until earthquake damage caused the Christians to start building a Gothic cathedral on the site in 1401. Construction lasted more than 100 years, paid for partly by gold and silver from the New World. One altar is made entirely of Mexican silver.

At a local restaurant, we’ll have a set menu with one beverage selection included; other beverages available for purchase.

Meet with local families, learn all about the realities of family life in Spain, as you enjoy lunch an afternoon at their homes.

On your own to sample the local cuisine

At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Hotel Buffet

Once checked out of the hotel, we’ll begin our transfer to Grazalema, but not before stopping in Córdoba, the crossroads of civilizations, and mainstay of Islamic and Jewish heritage in Spain. While here, we’ll enjoy expert-led explorations of the Great Mosque and Cathedral, and pass by one of the last-standing ancient synagogues in Spain. We’ll stroll through the geranium-filled Judería, once Córdoba's Jewish Quarter, and site of a monument to the famous philosopher Maimónides.

At a typical restaurant in Córdoba, we’ll have a set menu with one beverage selection included; other beverages available for purchase.

We’ll then take our bus to our first stop in the White Villages of Andalusia: Grazalema. Known for their uniformly whitewashed constructions, the White Villages still seem part of medieval Spain and appear to be inserted like bird nests into the mountains, sitting on dramatic gorges, often crowned by castles. Upon arrival at the hotel, we’ll check in and then go on an orientation walk around the village with our Group Leader

At a the hotel restaurant, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one beverage included; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure

Continental Breakfast

We’ll start out the morning with a light morning hike in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park (2,500 feet altitude) which was declared a biosphere reserve in 1977. Along our expert-led hike, we will keep an eye out for colonies of endangered vultures and explore limestone caves. Afterwards, we’ll stop at an 18th century functioning olive mill where the hacienda owner, an expert, will lead a lecture about the production of Spain's golden liquid during a lecture and oil tasting session.

At the Olive Mill Hacienda, we’ll have delicious plated meals accompanied by included wine made right at the hacienda, and water. Other included beverages available upon request.

Upon arrival back in Grazalema, the remainder of the day will be at leisure

On your own to sample the local fare.

At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Continental Breakfast

After checking out of the hotel in Grazalema, we’ll transfer via private motorcoach to Vejer de la Frontera. En route, we will stop at Ronda where we will experience this magnificent city nestled into the Malaga side of the Sierras under the guidance of a local expert. During our walking tour we will enjoy the views over the gorge and visit the oldest bullring in Spain.

At a local restaurant in Ronda, we’ll have plated meals with one included beverage choices: wine, beer, soft drinks, water; other beverages available for purchase.

We’ll then complete our transfer to Vejer de la Frontera and, upon arrival, we’ll check into the hotel, which was once a convent. We’ll get oriented to the area on a stroll through the village, which towers over the surrounding countryside at 600 feet above sea level while only a couple of miles from the coast. The city is dominated by its Moorish castle and Gothic church. Clean, narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed homes are the characteristic trait of the Andalusian towns. Vejer is steeped in history; the famous battle of Trafalgar took place just off the coast near the town in 1805.

At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have plated meals with a choice of one included beverage; other beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

Continental Breakfast

We´ll set out for an expert-led field trip at the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia in Bolonia. Near Tarifa, it was abandoned in the 6th century and today serves today as a preservation of some of the most representative elements of a typical Roman city.

At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a delicious plated meals featuring typical coastal fare, plus a choice of one included beverage; other beverages available for purchase.

Return to Vejer. Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Seville. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

On your own to sample the local fare.

At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Continental Breakfast

Once checked out of the hotel, we’ll make our way to Seville but not before making a stop in Jerez de la Frontera, the place where Spain’s sherry originated. During a visit to a bodega, or winery, we’ll be given the opportunity to taste the regional flavors and learn from the winery’s own staff about this special blend.

At a restaurant in Jerez, we’ll have a late lunch of a set menu with a choice of two beverages; other beverages available for purchase.

We’ll then continue to Seville. After check-in we will re-group at the hotel lobby and we will depart by walk to a local “tablao” and see flamenco come alive at an intimate performance.

On your own to enjoy what you like in Seville. On-site staff will be happy to make suggestions.

Prepare for departure in the morning and get a good night's rest.

Hotel buffet. This concludes our program

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!