Gourmet Andalucía

Itinerary

Day 1 Seville (D)

Arrive in Seville at any time and make your way to our hotel in the centre of the city.Seville is one of the most exciting and visually stunning cities in the country. Muslim monuments, flamenco, and a large and lively student population maintain its energetic pulse.There are enough sights in Seville to wear down the most ardent ruin-watcher and church-spotter. Before getting into the details, take a stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir river to get a feel for the city. It’s bigger than you might think, and the river is one of the few places where you are free from the heave of cars and people. En route you’ll pass the Torre de Oro, the Maestranza bullring, several grand bridges and a string of inviting green spaces. You will meet with your local guide in the evening for welcome drinks followed by an included dinner in a local restaurant where you can sample some typical dishes. Thank God for tapas – it means you never have to choose but can have it all, almorejo, acorn-fed Iberian ham, anchovies, rice with partridge, grilled guilt-head bream and of course sublime gazpacho, tortilla, olives, shrimps, salt cod, peppery cheeses and even soup…¡Buen provecho!

Day 2 Seville (B, D)

Today we will take a guided walk through the historic quarter of Seville that will take us to Cathedral, the largest gothic edifice in the world, and its iconic Giralda, a minaret that has become the symbol of Seville; along with the orange tree patio, it is one of the few visible remains of the mosque that originally occupied this site. For the best views of the city, climb up its 40 floors of gently sloping ramps, built so that the muezzin could ride his horse to the top, from where he called the faithful to prayer.The highlight of the tour is a guided visit to the magnificent and majestic Real Alcazar Palace, begun in 1181 and continued over 500 years, and one of the best remaining examples of Mudejar architecture. Its style and its gardens are fine examples of the fusion of Christian, Islamic and Andalusian influences. The Real Alcazar is the oldest royal palace in Europe and is the residence of the Spanish Royal Family when they stay in Seville.The true heart of Seville lies in the Santa Cruz quarter. It is impossible to resist the charm of this district with its winding alleys, picturesque lime-washed houses, delicate hardly visible flowery patios and small squares. After the tour you will be free to explore Seville on your own before meeting with your guide at 20:00h. He will be taking you on a tapas tour in typical Andalusian style in some of the best tapas bars lining the cobbled streets of the historic quarter of the city. Seville is considered by many to be the tapas capital of Spain so everyone is in for a great experience. In former times only a snack, Tapas advanced to become a complete meal and successfully found their way into every corner of the country. But no imitation has come close to the mastery of Seville in scope and variety of the ingredients - always accompanied by Sherry wine (vino fino) from the region of Jerez de la Frontera, and wine from the country.

Day 3 Jerez / Sanlúcar Barrameda (B, L)

After breakfast we will drive to the charming region of Jerez, that stands out for its flamenco, dancing horses and, most famous of all, its namesake sherry. To learn just how varied sherry can be, we take a tour of the big bodegas in the town centre where the wines are aged and bottled: sample a hazel-nutty amontillado, or the treacle, raisin tones of an oloroso. You will be taken around what are spectacular buildings with their rows and rows of sherry butts stacked one on top of the other. These buildings are often compared to cathedrals and it is certainly true that they give the impression of being sanctified places. During the tour you will learn about the unique process for making sherry as well as the methods for making sherry vinegar and Jerez brandy. The visit will finish with a tasting of a selection of fine sherry wines. You will then go on to a boutique winery that only produces very high-end sherries, brandies and vinegar. You will get to sample the full range of wines and brandies with most being tasted directly from the barrel, a rare treat! You will then head on to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, passing by some of the most important vineyards. Sanlúcar, the second most important sherry town, is unknown to the majority of foreign visitors. It is situated at the mouth of the Guadalquivir estuary and looks across to the Doñana National Park and out on to the Atlantic Ocean. It is from here that Columbus set sail in 1498 and the Portuguese, Ferdinand Magellan set off to circumnavigate the globe, in search of a westerly route to the spice islands of Indonesia. Among the many styles of sherry wine produced here manzanilla stands out as a light style of sherry with a salty hint to it. The town is also known for very fine seafood, being one of the best places for this in Spain. Here you will be having lunch at one of the fantastic seafood restaurants along the bank of the estuary, indulging in the best local seafood washed down with the finest manzanilla. There will be time for a walk along the beach before returning to Seville, where you will be free for the rest of the evening.

Day 4 Andalucia / Sierra de Grazalema (B, L)

Toady’s excursion, departing at approx 9:30am, will start with a visit to a modern olive oil mill in the town of Zahara de la Sierra situated about 90 km (56 miles) to the southeast of Seville. This small, spectacular town is situated in the mountainous and very beautiful area known as the Sierra de Grazalema, a designated Unesco Biosphere reserve, one of Spain's most ecologically outstanding areas and a typical olive-growing area of Andalucia. At the mill you will learn about how most olive oil is produced today and will taste a selection of oils, including organic ones. After a short drive you will then go on to a traditional olive oil mill which dates from 1755 where you will learn about the old methods of production which are now used in very few places. After tasting the olive oil they produce you will have a chance to look around the town of Zahara with a walk up to the castle for those of you who are feeling strenuous! You will then settle down to a picnic lunch of great local produce including: cheeses, cured meats, olives, fine wine etc.After some time to relax you will make your way back to Seville where at around 20:15h you will be going to experience the passion and emotion of an excellent flamenco show in a traditional mudejar style building. To round off the day and your trip to this beautiful part of Spain your host will take you for a farewell drink and tapa, ending what we hope has been a fantastic experience.

Day 5 Seville (B)

Depart Seville after a final breakfast at our hotel.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Traditional-style hotels (4 nts).
Departure	Departures vary Sun-Thurs
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Included Highlights	Seville walking tour, Guided tour of the Real Alcázar Palace and Cathedral of Seville, Tapas tour, Excursion to Jerez sherry bodegas and tasting tour, Excursion to Sierra de Grazalema olive-oil producing farms, Flamenco Show Spectacle, Arrival transfer and daily breakfast
Local Payment	EUR150
Meals Included	4 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner
Recommendation	Would you like to see more of Spain? Why not look at Pyrenees to the Costa Brava, ESPC?
StartFinish	ex Seville
Transport	Private van.
Brochure Intro	Tantalise your tastebuds with tapas from Seville, sherry from the bodegas of Jerez, seafood delights from the shores of the Guadalquivir Estuary and a gourmet picnic under the olive trees of the Sierra de Grazalema. This mouth-watering trip will have you sampling the delicacies of Andalucia, while discovering the unique culture of this captivating area.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-11-10	2008-11-14	7+

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