Walking holiday in Andalucia, Spain
| country: | Spain |
| location: | Andalucia |
| trip type: | Introductory walking holidays |
| departures: | Departs 2-3 times a month throughout the year, except January |
| price: | From £697 - £797 (8 days) including flights from the UK, from £545 excluding flights. Optional single supplement £70 |
read 4 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Andalucia is Spain's largest and most southerly province. It is a magical jumble of mountain ridges, cultivated land, sleepy villages and historic cities. Situated just a few miles across the sea from Morocco, it has been dominated by many different peoples throughout history, each influencing the landscapes and culture of today. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans all left their mark. The Moors and Berbers from Morocco built a sophisticated Moslem kingdom giving Andalucia its richest and most lasting cultural heritage and distinctive traditions. The Christian re-conquest in 1492 led to yet more change but Andalucia retains the richness and diversity of tradition from its unique past.
The historic centres of Seville, Cordoba and Ronda are within easy reach of our base, a beautifully converted farmhouse in the rural community of Algamitas. On a less grand scale we visit Olvera, one of the most scenic of the 'pueblos blancos' ('white villages'), and take a walk on the trails of Penon Hill.
Accommodation
This trip stays for the whole week at a delightfully renovated farmhouse, the Cortijo Rosario. It overlooks the village of Algamitas 20 minutes walk away which, together with its sister village Villanueva, are known as the 'forgotten villages'. The Cortijo is in Seville province, in a peaceful isolated situation in 25 acres of olive trees and arable land. You could be a million miles away from the touristy 'costas' relaxing by the private 11m swimming pool in summer or in front of the log fire in winter. The Cortijo Rosario is a tourist-class pension with eight twin rooms each with its own shower, washbasin and toilet. Due to the limited number of rooms only one single room is available on most dates. The atmosphere at the Cortijo is informal.
Our Spanish staff caters for guests, with meals being served in the large dining room or al fresco on the terrace or by the swimming pool. The comfortable lounge has an open fireplace for cooler evenings and there is a well-stocked bar. A number of pet cats and dogs are resident at the Cortijo Rosario.
The historic centres of Seville, Cordoba and Ronda are within easy reach of our base, a beautifully converted farmhouse in the rural community of Algamitas. On a less grand scale we visit Olvera, one of the most scenic of the 'pueblos blancos' ('white villages'), and take a walk on the trails of Penon Hill.
Accommodation
This trip stays for the whole week at a delightfully renovated farmhouse, the Cortijo Rosario. It overlooks the village of Algamitas 20 minutes walk away which, together with its sister village Villanueva, are known as the 'forgotten villages'. The Cortijo is in Seville province, in a peaceful isolated situation in 25 acres of olive trees and arable land. You could be a million miles away from the touristy 'costas' relaxing by the private 11m swimming pool in summer or in front of the log fire in winter. The Cortijo Rosario is a tourist-class pension with eight twin rooms each with its own shower, washbasin and toilet. Due to the limited number of rooms only one single room is available on most dates. The atmosphere at the Cortijo is informal. Our Spanish staff caters for guests, with meals being served in the large dining room or al fresco on the terrace or by the swimming pool. The comfortable lounge has an open fireplace for cooler evenings and there is a well-stocked bar. A number of pet cats and dogs are resident at the Cortijo Rosario.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Start at the Cortijo Rosario. |
| Day 2: | Stay by the pool or take a half-day guided walk on the trails around the Cortijo, through the local hills and olive groves, on the good trails and paths of Penon Hill. |
| Day 3: | Ronda is perched on a high escarpment and famed for its dramatic 18th century bridge. It is pleasant to stroll in the historic quarters where there are churches and several Moorish palaces and Renaissance mansions to visit. You can visit the oldest bullring in Spain and its museum. After lunch we cross Andalucia's highest road, the 'Puerto de los Palomas' (1357m) on the way to the beautiful village of Zahara de la Sierra where we stop for a drink in the square and climb up to the Moorish fort. |
| Day 4: | A morning visit to Olvera, one of the most scenic of the 'pueblos blancos' ('white villages' built by the Moors); the Arab castle here dates back to AD 700. We head to Setenil, built under overhanging rock, and a good place to wander and buy ceramics and local crafts. Return to the Cortijo Rosario after lunch for a dip in the pool or a walk in the surrounding countryside. |
| Day 5: | A full-day trip to Cordoba, which was the capital of 'Al Andalus', rivalling Constantinople in wealth and culture for over four hundred years. One outstanding building remains, the 'Mezquita', the third largest mosque in the world and one of the most beautiful Islamic buildings in existence. After the Christian Reconquest the central part of the mosque was converted into a Cathedral and as such it still stands today. Around the 'Mezquita' lie the old Moorish and Jewish quarters of the town, with endless fascinating little alleys to explore on foot. |
| Day 6: | A free day for sightseeing, or an optional self guided walk to a nearby village for lunch. |
| Day 7: | A visit to the magnificent city of Seville. Near the centre of the city is the evocative 'Giralda', an architectural masterpiece dating from the 12th century. Originally built as a minaret for the central mosque in Seville it is now the bell-tower for the enormous cathedral. Close by is the magnificent 'Alcazar', a complex of palaces with fine examples of Moorish and 'Mudejar' architecture and some lovely gardens. |
| Day 8: | End at the Cortijo Rosario. |
travellers' tales
The most memorable parts of our holiday were the food, the accommodation and the wonderful company. Those beautifully warm evenings sitting together eating al fresco will stay with us forever. (more)
award winner
This tourism business won an awardin our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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Although just an hour or two from the "Costas", the tiny village of Algamitas is virtually untouched by tourism, and the beautiful "Cortijo Rosario" is the only tourism venture in the village. We employ several people from the village to run the Cortijo, and much of our produce is sourced in the village as well. Surrounding village cafes and bars all benefit from our visits. As do local established restaurants in the towns and cities we visit. The residence is set amongst the olive groves and hills of central Andalucia and we get a real taste of the local lifestyle, as different from the "popular image" of the South of Spain as could be.
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