FLY-RAIL
ANDALUSIA AND MADRID HOLIDAY BY AIR AND TRAIN
7 nights / 8 days From £ 1,690 per person
Granada, the Alhambra
MADRID • GRENADA • CORDOBA • SEVILLE
This Spanish rail holiday is the ideal way to travel to and around Andalusia. Begin your rail holiday by flying into Madrid, where you spend your first night. From here, travel by train to the southern region of Andalusia and journey by rail between three of its great cities – Seville, Cordoba and Granada.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAY ONE Arrive in Madrid Fly from London to Madrid where you have most of the day to explore the city with its many attractive plaza and museums. You spend one night at the Hospes Puerta de Alcala in the city centre. We include a combined ticket which allows you one entry to the permanent exhibitions of the Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.
DAY TWO Madrid to Grenada by train Leaving Madrid at 9am, travel by train arriving to Granada nestled at the edge of the mountains of the Sierra Nevada around 1.30pm. Spend two nights in the Hospes Palacio de los Patos in Granada. Granada is one of Spain’ s most fascinating cities. The Sierra Nevada and its wooded slopes form a beautiful backdrop, but the Alhambra palace is the key attraction. Originally constructed as a 9th century fortress, it has been changed and added to over successive centuries expanding the complex to include palaces, churches and mosques. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site. Please note: There is currently building work affecting rail services to Granada. Part of this holiday currently includes a bus leg between the stations of Antequera Santa Ana and Granada and first-class rail travel is not available to and from Granada.
DAY THREE In Grenada A shared tour of the Alhambra is included with your holiday. This includes visits to the Royal Palaces, Gardens and Carlos V’ s Palace. You have the rest of the day at leisure to explore Granada, perhaps strolling around its old quarter and trying the selection of tapas that are served free with drinks in Granada. An authentic Andalusian flamenco show is included this evening.
DAY FOUR Granada to Cordoba by train Leave Granada at 9am and take the train to Cordoba arriving just over two hours later. Cordoba is set on the Guadalquivir river at the heart of rural Andalucia, and you spend two nights here at the Hospes Palacio del Bailio. The city has beautiful winding lanes, many historical attractions, restaurants and nightlife. From mid-April to mid-June the city is full of flowers when local residents open their gardens to the public for the Fiesta de los Patios.
DAY FIVE In Cordoba Entrance tickets are included to Cordoba’ s mosque – the largest Islamic structure in Western Europe and a UNESCO protected site. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Cordoba, and in the evening a romantic“ Caliphal” dinner is included- served in the intimate ambiance of the Senzone restaurant. Starters: an exclusive selection of Tapas. Main Course: a tasting menu of typical Andalusian dishes. Dessert, coffee and mineral water included. Wine and other alcoholic beverages are not included.
DAY SIX Cordoba to Seville by train Travel by high speed train from Cordoba – leaving mid-morning and arriving into Seville 45 minutes later. You spend two nights here at the Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza. Seville is the capital of Andalucia and Spain’ s fourth largest city. The centre is formed of a maze of narrow lanes and hidden plazas. Key attractions of Seville are its art and architecture which includes Roman, Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque influences. Flamenco music and dance are at the heart of this city and it is not uncommon to hear people clapping the rhythm as you walk down the street, but even more popular are the sevillanas – the city’ s own musical heritage.
DAY SEVEN In Seville A two and a half hour shared guided tour of Seville is included, which visits the main sights of the Barrio de Santa Cruz. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Seville, during which you can look around the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, climb up the Giralda tower to see a panoramic view of the entire city, and visit Triana – the city’ s historic gypsy
62 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk