Seville (full day)
Seville is the largest city in Andalusia and traces its history back to the Carthaginians and the Romans. After capturing it from the Moors in 1248, the Castilian monarchs made it their southern capital. During the 16th century, the city grew rich with the rapid growth of trade with the Americas.
Seville has twice played host to major international exhibitions: the Ibero-American Fair in 1929 and EXPO in 1992.
Famous buildings include the vast Gothic cathedral, the largest in Spain, which incorporates the Orange Tree Court and Giralda minaret from the mosque originally on the site. Another is the Alcazar, the former palace of the Moorish emirs which was rebuilt in its present form by Pedro the Cruel in the 14th century. No entrance charges are included.
Please watch out for pickpockets and other petty thieves when walking around Seville.
Gibraltar (full day)
The British Crown Colony of Gibraltar is a vast rock measuring 4½ by 1½ kilometres, with its highest point towering 423 metres above the Mediterranean. In Antiquity it constituted one of the legendary ‘Pillars of Hercules’, together with the rock of Abyla, on the North African coast 25 kilometres away. Gibraltar has been a British territory since 1704, and its familiar shops, red post boxes and policemen’s helmets form a strange sight in the south of Spain.
Drive along the coast for a tour of the rock by minibus. Entrance to St Michael’s Cave, about 300 metres above sea level, is included, and you will also see the famous Barbary Apes, the last wild apes in Europe. Also shop for bargains in Main Street.
You must bring your passport. Please be prepared for delays when crossing the border between Spain and Gibraltar, and note that your bags may be inspected.
Tangier (full day)
Travel by ferry to Tangier, also known as the White City, which lies on the North African coast at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.
Millionaires moor their yachts where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean and famous writers such as Paul Bowles and William Burroughs have chosen to live here.
The city is also renowned for its traditional souks and beautiful beaches.
Place de France is a small square right in the middle of the Ville-Nouvelle and offers a choice of cafes.
The medina is a place of arcades, winding alleys and hidden terraces. The Kasbah mosque features a fascinating octagonal minaret.
You can absorb city life in the Grand Socco, where the market sells everything from fruit and vegetables to arts and crafts.
On the north side ofthe square, a fascinating banyan tree that is over 800 years old can be seen in the Mendoubia Gardens.
Sierra de Grazalema (full day)
Designated a UNESCO Biosphere reserve in 1977, Sierra de Grazalema was declared Andalusia’s first natural park in 1984 and is one of the country’s most ecologically outstanding areas. The 53,411-hectare park is famous for its spectacular and rugged landscape of canyons, gullies, caves and gorges and it's home to the impressive gorge of Garganta Verde, not to mention large colonies of griffon vultures and bats.