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Walking, cooking and discovering the White Villages
of the Alpujarra in Andalucia, Spain
October 12 - 21, 2008
Our program:
- 1 night Granada
- 3 nights Ferreirola
- 2 nights Yegen
- 2 nights Gaudix
- 1 night Granada
The Alpujarra is a beautiful, unspoiled area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range (the second highest mountain range in Europe) southeast of Granada. It is a region of quiet villages with distinctive Berber architecture - white-washed, flat-roofed houses, narrow streets and covered passages (tinaos).
This region enjoys about 330 days of sunshine each year and the altitude makes for warm days and cool to chilly evenings. The valleys are lush and fertile with groves of fig, olives, almond, orange and kiwi.
Although evidence of human settlement in the area goes back to the Visagoths of 2000 years ago it was the Berbers and the Moors that made the current settlement imprint that we discover today.
The Berbers populated this area as refugees from Seville in the 11th century. The Moors came along in the 15th century fleeing the Christian re-invasion of Granada. Their agricultural, architectural and artistic achievements like their excellent irrigation schemes and the magnificent palaces of the Alhambra and the Generalife are eloquent examples of the remarkable engineering skills which allowed agriculture and civilisation to flourish at a time when the greater part of Europe was still in a state of barbarism.
Sunday 12/10: Arrival in Granada
We meet our Canadian Tour leader, Rose Tomassini and other group members in this exciting Andalusian city.
Dinner and overnight in Granada
Granada - this former stronghold of Moorish Spain is still full of romance and folklore. Within sight of the Sierra Madre it sprawls over two main hills - the Alhambra and the Albaicin. The Palace of the Alhambra was the focal point of Washington Irving's novel Tales of the Alhambra which illustrates life in a true Sultan's palace.
The Arab quarter of the Albaicin is the old Moorish casbah, or "medina" - a fascinating maze of narrow streets to explore, little squares, hidden courtyard gardens, countless shops and restaurants
It is a beautiful modern city in its own right and these two features just add to its historic quality and mystique.
At right: The Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada range as a backdrop.
Monday 13/10 : Granada - Ferreirola
Visit of the Alhambra Palaces in the morning
Lunch in Granada
In the afternoon, transfer by bus to the village of Mecina Fondales, located at an altitude of 1100m.
Dinner and overnight in Ferreirola
Ferrierola - is part of the "La Taha de Petres" a group of 7 small villages dating back to the times when the area was occupied by Moors. We will stay in this lovely village for 3 nights and enjoy our walks from here. There are no cars allowed in the village and in the cool nights the only sound will be from the birds and bells the goats wear in the nearby fields. The village has lovely traditional church, an old wash-house and several attractive fountains. This area enjoys a spring of natural gaseous mineral water and is known for it's air-dried hams, organic fruits and inexpensive rugs and pottery.
Tuesday 14/10: La Taha de Pitres
Circular route, walking 4-5 hours through surrounding countryside and villages, including the ruins of an ancient Mezquita. Frequently we will take ancient muleteer tracks that criss-cross the banks of the Rio Trevelez. Picnic en route on the river bank.
Dinner and overnight in Ferreirola
Wednesday 15/10: Ferreirola
Vegeterian cooking lessons (3 hours) with lunch included, provided by a famous French-trained international chef established in the Alpujarras. Jean-Claude Juston formerly ran the vegetarian café at the prestigious London School of Economics. His arrival in the remote and picturesque old Moorish enclave in the Alpujarras mountains has boosted local interest in the vegetarian way of life and motivated a number of people involved with institutional catering to learn how to cook vegetarian and vegan meals at L'Atelier Vegetarian Centre, a 16th century house with a superb view of the mountains where Jean-Claude welcomes us to introduce us to the pleasures and benefits of gourmet green cuisine or simply to sample the food and enjoy the invigorating mountain walks.
Dinner and overnight in Ferreirola.
Thursday 16/10: Ferreirola -Yegen
Private transfer to Yegen by bus
Visit of a ham curing house.
Lunch
Circular digestive route 'Strolls of Gerald Brenan' following the steps of this British writer, who wrote his book 'South of Granada' while living in Yegen (2 hours).
Dinner and overnight in Yegen
Yegen is a high, peaceful village (at 1000 metres) still on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada range with a mild climate enjoying spectacular views. This area produces exceptional wind-dried hams. This region is home to the world famous Serrano ham. (The name Serrano derives from the word 'sawtooth' - (sierras), the profile of the mountain tops against the sky. A favourite local dish is a plate of thinly sliced Serrano ham served with peeled seasonal local figs.
Friday 17/10: Yegen - Mecina Bombarón - Yegen
Walk along the trail of 'Las Encinas' (= Holm Oaks), a circular walk through very beautiful and varied terrain, passing through the villages of Yegen, Mecina Bombarón and Golco (5 to 7 hours walking gently with picnic en route)
Dinner and overnight in Yegen
Saturday 18/10: Yegen - Guadix
Private transfer to Guadix by bus. Stop en route in the small town of La Calahorra, for lunch (possibly visit of the Castle if open).
Dinner and overnight in Guadix
The cathedral town of Guadix is well off the beaten path, a large, bustling country town with a personality all of its own. Its history dates back to Phoenician and Roman times, and it played a major role in the Reconquest.
The most interesting feature of the Guadix area is that almost half of the inhabitants of this large town live underground, in the southern part of the town, in what is known as cave houses. The jagged ochre terrain and the dazzling whitewashed chimneys and doors of the caves contrast dramatically with the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada, which loom above. The cave district is signposted on the main street of the town as the "Barrio Troglodyte".
The "troglodytes" very friendly people and are also very house-proud, or "cave-proud", as you wish... If you show an interest in their homes, you will be sure to be invited in to have a look. Ever since the Moorish times, the Andalucians have been fond of living underground because it is the best way of escaping the summer heat waves, and don't be surprised if you are invited in to have a look around. Most of today's cave-dwellings are well-appointed, like any other Spanish home, and some are even quite luxurious, with marble floors, fitted kitchens, faxes and internet connections. Purullena, a nearby village, has a disco inside a cave, and you can rent a cave to spend the night in many of the region's villages. In the centre of Guadix, you should not miss theCathedral, founded in 1594, and the Cave Museum. The region is famous for its hand-crafted earthenware,which is sold on the roadside in the nearby village of Purullena. The desert landscape around the village ofBenalúa de Guadix is especially impressive.
Castle of the Calahorra in the village of La Calahorra, just a few miles to the East. You will be treated to the spectacular view of the round towers of the castle framed against the towering Sierra Nevada, which so often features in photographs and posters. This impressive fort was awarded to a Christian knight for his role in the Reconquest. Given its somewhat featureless but forbidding exterior the sinsed has some surprisingly lavish features including a beautiful Renaissance colonnaded courtyard delicately crafted in Italian marble by Florentine craftsmen.
Sunday 19/10: Guadix
Circular walking route in the morning.
Lunch
Optional: Spa in the afternoon
Dinnner and overnight in Guadix
Monday 20/10: Guadix - Granada
transfer by train to Granada in the morning.
Free time in the afternoon to stroll through the charming streets of Granada and for ultimate shopping.
Dinner and night in Granada
Tuesday 21/10: Granada
After breakfast our tour is completed.
As a full service travel agency we are happy to assist with airfare from your hometown and any additional custom arrangements before or after our tour program.
COST OF LAND TOUR (based on sharing twin accommodation) $2495.00 Canadian Funds
Single supplement: 150.00
We endeavour to offer the best prices to our clients. In order to accommodate payments by our clients by credit card we must add a 3 percent processing fee.
The price includes: 9 nights accommodation (twin share rooms) in 2* and 4* hotels, charming rural lodges, breakfasts, dinners, 5 lunches, 3 picnics, all transfers in private buses and by train, the entrance to the Alhambra Palaces, cooking lessons for 3 hours with a chef, visit of a ham curing house. Fully escorted. All taxes.
The price does not include: lunches of day 1, 9 and 10, Spa activities, personal expenses
