TOUR DELL’ANDALUSIA: TRA ARTE, STORIA E SAPORI

TOUR DELL’ANDALUSIA: TRA ARTE, STORIA E SAPORI

Day 1 – October 2, 2026: SAN MARINO / MALAGA / COSTA DEL SOL

Participants meet at the designated locations in San Marino, settle onto the coach, and transfer to Bologna Airport. Boarding formalities and departure at 15:10 on a direct Ryanair low-cost flight to Malaga. Arrival at 17:55, meeting with the local tour escort, and coach transfer to the hotel in Benalmadena / Torremolinos. Room assignment, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 2 – October 3, 2026: COSTA DEL SOL / RONDA / SEVILLE (approx. 230 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Board the coach and depart for Ronda, featuring stops at Marbella, a renowned seaside resort, and Puerto Banus, the luxurious marina of the Costa del Sol. Enjoy a walk with the tour escort before continuing to Ronda. Lunch at a local restaurant. Meet the local guide for a tour of the old quarter, home to the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria, an important Renaissance building that still preserves an archway from the former main mosque. The tour continues to the 18th-century Plaza de Toros, built atop a vertical rocky promontorio. The historic center, with its Moorish remnants and medieval layout, lies south of the Guadalevín River, while modern Ronda, which developed from the 16th century onward, stretches north of the riverbed. Three bridges cross a canyon over 100 meters deep, leading to the other side of the city. Afterwards, continue to Seville. Hotel check-in, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 3 – October 4, 2026: SEVILLE

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, enjoy a guided tour of the city. As the capital of Andalusia, Seville is rich in history and charm, blending Phoenician, Roman, Moorish, and Christian art and culture. Highlights include the Cathedral, the Giralda, and the Santa Cruz district. The Cathedral stands as a harmonious ensemble of extraordinary beauty; it is the largest of all Spanish cathedrals, started in late Gothic style in 1403 on the site of the Great Mosque and consecrated in 1506. The Giralda, the symbol of Seville, is an ancient minaret later converted into the Cathedral's bell tower. The Barrio de Santa Cruz is a picturesque neighborhood stretching along the walls of the Alcazar, characterized by narrow alleys, small squares, and beautiful flowered courtyards. Originally the Jewish ghetto under Moorish rule, it later developed into a labyrinth of tiny streets designed to block out the harsh sunlight. This quarter is famous in literature, theater, and art, with numerous plaques commemorating the writers and artists who lived here. Free time for lunch and an afternoon at leisure in the center of Seville. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 4 – October 5, 2026: SEVILLE / CARMONA / CORDOBA

Breakfast at the hotel. Board the coach and depart for Carmona, a town with an ancient atmosphere that was an important Roman municipality founded in 206 BC, later passing to the Moors in 712 AD. Of particular interest is the grand Gothic church of Santa Maria, built in the 16th century. Take a stroll through this beautiful town crossed by the Via Augusta, known in the Middle Ages as "El Arrecife." Continue to Cordoba, where lunch will be served in a restaurant.
In the afternoon, meet the guide for a city tour. Cordoba offers an exceptionally rare and unique fusion of Roman, Jewish, and Muslim cultures, resulting in an unparalleled architectural and cultural heritage. Visit the Mezquita, a mosque-cathedral that stands as the ultimate expression of Moorish architecture in the West. It is the largest mosque in the world after the Kaaba in Mecca and one of the most evocative monuments of Islamic civilization. Begun by the first Umayyad emir (756–788) on the site of the pre-existing Visigothic church of San Vicente, it was enriched and expanded until the end of the 10th century, with precious marble columns and ornaments sent from all over the world, including the Byzantine Emperor. Following the Christian conquest (1236), the mosque was consecrated to the Assumption. Strict orders were given to respect the monument, but in 1523, the Cathedral Chapter—much to the anger of Emperor Charles V himself—destroyed part of the interior to build a Baroque cathedral designed by Hernan Ruiz. The breathtaking interior features 19 longitudinal and 36 narrower transverse naves, standing up to 11 meters high, creating a true forest of 850 columns made of granite, green and purple jasper, and other precious marbles from across the Mediterranean. Next, enjoy a walk through the Jewish Quarter, with its characteristic narrow streets, balconies overflowing with flowers, and traditional Andalusian courtyards. After the tour, transfer to the hotel for room assignment. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5 – October 6, 2026: CORDOBA / JAEN / GRANADA

Breakfast at the hotel. Board the coach and depart for Jaen, the ultimate land of olive oil, where olive groves cover two-thirds of the province's cultivated land. Resembling an ancient fortress, the town reflects its past as a small Moorish capital and a later outpost of Christianity. Perched on a hill to the west of the city lies the Castillo de Santa Catalina, a fortress of Moorish origin. Enjoy a stroll through the historic center or opt for a visit to an olive oil mill.

Continue to Granada for lunch. In the afternoon, meet the guide for a tour of the city. Nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada along the Darro River, Granada was a Roman colony named Elvira before being conquered by the Moors, under whose rule it reached its peak splendor, becoming the main political and aristocratic center of the Western Muslim world. Entrance and guided visit to the Cathedral, a grand complex consisting of buildings from different eras: started in Gothic style in 1523, it was continued in Renaissance style by order of Emperor Charles V and completed in 1703. The magnificent interior amazes with its proportions: 116 meters long, 64 meters wide, and 30 meters high, featuring five naves supported by twenty massive pillars. Next, visit the Royal Chapel (Museo de Los Reyes Catolicos), a jewel of Isabelline Gothic architecture built by order of Isabella the Catholic between 1506 and 1521. It houses the royal tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, Philip I "the Handsome" of Austria, and his wife Joanna "the Mad". After the tour, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6 – October 7, 2026: GRANADA

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet the guide for a tour of the Alhambra, one of the most beautiful monuments in the world and a triumphant symbol of Moorish art. The palace grounds consist of stunningly beautiful courtyards adorned with splendid fountains, diverse flowers, and plants, alongside Nasrid-style buildings that served as residences for kings and their servants. The oldest structure is the Alcazaba, and one of the most prominent features is the Vela Tower, which offers some of the finest views over the Alhambra. The Court of the Lions, with its famous fountain, is among the most prized elements. The tour includes the Generalife, a leisure retreat for the kings of Granada when they wished to escape official palace life. Lunch and afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7 – October 8, 2026: GRANADA / NERJA / COSTA DEL SOL

Breakfast at the hotel. Settle onto the coach and depart for Nerja, a charming town overlooking the Malaga coastline—a picturesque shoreline of beaches, bays, and cliffs. The historic center features fine examples of traditional architecture, beautiful avenues, and iconic spots like the Balcony of Europe, a splendid viewpoint over the sea. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as revealed by the cave paintings discovered in the famous Caves of Nerja, known as the "prehistoric cathedral." Take a walk through the beautiful town center, followed by lunch in a restaurant. Continue by coach to the Costa del Sol. Hotel check-in, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 8 – October 9, 2026: COSTA DEL SOL / MALAGA APT / BOLOGNA / SAN MARINO

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, board the coach for the transfer to Malaga Airport. Complete boarding formalities and depart at 12:10 on a Ryanair low-cost flight to Bologna, with arrival expected at 14:45. Board the coach for the return transfer to San Marino.

N.B.: Due to technical and organizational reasons, the order of the visits may vary, while the full content of the program remains unchanged.

INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION FEES

USL Members Fee: €1,950
Non-USL Members Fee: €1,970
Single Room Supplement: €395.00*
*Limited availability, to be requested upon booking.

The fees include:

• Round-trip GT coach transfer from San Marino to Bologna Airport.
• Ryanair low-cost flights: Bologna – Malaga – Bologna.
• 1 checked bag (20 kg) per person + 1 small cabin bag (e.g., handbag/backpack) with maximum dimensions of 40x30x20 cm.
• Professional local Tour Escort from arrival at Malaga Airport until departure from Malaga Airport (including escort’s board and lodging in a single room).
• Coach service for the entire itinerary as per the program.
• Driver’s board and lodging.
• Italian-speaking local guides for the following tours: half-day in Ronda, half-day in Seville, half-day in Cordoba, and half day in Granada.
• Admission tickets package: Cathedral and Plaza de Toros in Ronda; Cathedral in Seville; Mezquita in Cordoba; Cathedral, Royal Chapel, and Alhambra in Granada (€85 per person, prices subject to reconfirmation).
• 4-star hotel accommodation: 1 night on the Costa del Sol, 2 nights in Seville, 1 night in Cordoba, 2 nights in Granada, and 1 night on the Costa del Sol.
• Full board basis from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8 (excluding 2 lunches).
• Buffet breakfast.
• Drinks included with meals (water and wine).
• Audio headsets for the entire duration of the tour.

The fees do not include:

Graturities/tips, tourist taxes (currently not applicable), travel cancellation insurance, personal extras, and anything not expressly mentioned under "The fees include".

REQUIRED TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:

For San Marino citizens: A valid passport.
For Italian citizens: A valid identity card approved for overseas travel or a valid passport.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE (RYANAIR)

October 2, 2026: BOLOGNA – MALAGA | 15:10 – 17:55
October 9, 2026: MALAGA – BOLOGNA | 12:10 – 14:55
Please note: Low-cost flights are subject to schedule changes beyond the travel agency's control.