Take a walking tour in cliff-top Ronda, straddling a limestone cleft IBERIAN TREASURES
7. DAY AT LEISURE IN MARBELLA Spend the day as you wish in the resort town of Marbella, home to whitewashed summer villas and sun-kissed beaches. Its fascinating Old Town (Casco Antigua) is surrounded by shops, cafés and squares and is dominated by 15th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación. Meals B
Boasting a wonderfully warm climate and coastal charms, the Iberian Peninsula is a cultural melting pot that blends Moorish architectural influences with Spanish and Portuguese traditions.
Think of Spain and images of red cloaked matadors and fighting bulls, flamenco dancers, fans in hand, and tapas, tasty bites of regional cuisine, come to mind. Take a closer look and see landscapes of whitewashed houses reflecting their Moorish heritage, mosques-turned-cathedrals and opulent palaces that embody the Islamic ideal of paradise on Earth and cliff-top villages like Ronda, held by the Moors until falling to the Christians in 1485.
In Portugal, fishing hamlets line the coasts, boats navigate great rivers, cities pay tribute to explorers who traveled the world and beaches welcome royalty, celebrities and vacationers. Go inside towns like Sintra and Evora, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and find decoratively tiled Moorish castles and arcades standing side by side with Roman temples and churches that chronicle a legacy of history that embraces visitors from around the world.
8. CLIFF-TOP RONDA & MOORISH GRANADA Venture into the mountains today amidst breathtaking views. Visit cliff-top Ronda, a virtually impregnable Moorish bastion until 1485. Take a guided walking tour to explore its Moorish remains and see the Plaza de Toros – inaugurated in 1785, it is one of Spain’s oldest bullrings. Next stop is the ancient city of Granada, the capital of a Moorish kingdom for about 250 years, for a two-night stay that includes a private flamenco show. Your hotel is just steps away from the famous Alhambra Palace. Meals BLD
9. THE ALHAMBRA, PARADISE ON EARTH Built as a “paradise on Earth” by 13th-century caliphs, the Palace of the Alhambra ranks among the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture and is resplendent in delicate craftsmanship. A guided tour goes inside the Royal Palace and the terraced quarters of the Generalife. Enjoy time at leisure and dine à la carte tonight at a local restaurant. Meals BD
10. MOORISH MONUMENTS IN CÓRDOBA Journey to Córdoba today for a guided walking tour and an overnight stay. Explore the old Jewish Quarter and visit the mighty Mezquita, whose history dates back more than 1,200 years. Dine family-style at a local restaurant tonight. Meals BD
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