Day 1: Lisbon, Portugal
Embarkation 4 pm - Dinner on board. Overnight at sea to Portimao
Day 2: Portimao, Portugal
Our half day excursion will take us to Silves, largely destroyed by a 17th century earthquake. Marvel at the centuries- old Moorish castle complex with an underground water reservoir, a 13th Century Cathedral built by Alfonso X of Castile on the site of a former Mosque and a fine strong 15th century bridge over the Rio Arade. During your visit to Silves, you'll also have time to browse the historic exhibits at the Museu Arqueológico. We leave Silves visit and travel into the Serra de Monchique to reach the picturesque city of Monchique nested between two hills. The city retains its 16th century charm and you will walk through its cobbled streets with small doorways housing various artisan trades. There is a 17th~Century Franciscan monastery overlooking the town and a 16th Century Parish Church decorated with hand- crafted blue ceramic tiles. We return to Portimao for a late lunch. Afternoon optional walking excursion in Portimao town or time free for shopping for bathing at the local beach. Afternoon sailing to Cadiz. Overnight at sea to Cadiz
Day 3: Cadiz, Spain for Seville
This morning we leave port to drive in land for our full day optional excursion to Seville, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe , where Moorish and Spanish art and culture have left their mark. Our optional excursion will bring you to the Cathedral, the Alcazar Palace and its Andalusian gardens, the Maria Luisa Park and the quaint and elegant district of Santa Cruz. Late in the evening we return to Cadiz. Overnight in port
Day 4: Cadiz for Jerez De La Fronter
A Morning optional full day excursion to Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its wines, horse breeding and flamenco Your tour will enable you to see the Alcazar, the cathedral and a “ganadería”, where bulls are raised to take part in bull fighting., very much part of Spanish culture. After lunch on board, Back on board for lunch followed by an optional guided tour of Cadiz and Sanlucar de Barrameda. We begin with a guided visit of Cadiz; with its white and blue buildings and its rich historic and cultural wealth. Later we will reach the area of Sanlucar de Barrameda and visit a wine cellar renowned for its production of “Manzanilla”. Late afternoon return to ship. Overnight at sea to Gibraltar
Day 5: Gibraltar
Morning arrival in Gibraltar. Optional half day excursion in the “ Rock” . We reach the Cable Car Base Station. which will take us to the Top Station perched on the summit of Gibraltar for a breathtaking view as you are suspended in mid-air. At the Top Station your guide will show you around the geography of this British colony. Then you will travel to the Middle Station and the sanctuary of Gibraltar’s older inhabitants, the Barbary Apes, roaming free around this station. Return to your coach for a 5-minute drive to Princess Caroline’s Battery and the entrance to the Great Siege Tunnels, a system of tunnels carved out of solid limestone. Proceed to the Gibraltar Museum with its enormous amount of artifacts on display. You will have the option to return to your yacht or stay in town and make your own arrangements for returning to the yacht. Overnight in port
Day 6: Gibraltar - Early morning sailing to Porto Banus
Port Banus for RONDA Arrival in Porto Banus. Our optional full day excursion to Ronda, 50 km inland a city which retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town and the nearby 18th century Puente Nuevo. Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today glimpsed once a year at the spectacular Feria Goyesca. Plaza de Toros is now a museum, and visitors can stroll out into the arena. Our full day optional excursion will include visits to the an elegant cloistered 16th century convent and old Ronda, La Ciudad, with its cobbled streets hemmed by handsome town mansions, some still occupied by Ronda's titled families such as the Casa de Don Bosco. We will walk to the leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, which boasts a convent, two churches, including the toy town bell tower of the iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor. We return to port and there is time to visit trendy Marbella. Overnight at sea to Motril, Spain for Granada.
Day 7: Motril for Granada
Morning arrival in Motril. Optional full day excursion to Granada, one of the most fascinating cities in Europe and the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492. We will visit one of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. We will also visit the Cathedral with its Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style. In the afternoon we leave Granada to return to Motril. Overnight at sea to Malaga
Day 8: Malaga Disembarkation 7 to 10 am
Overnight in port
Itineraries can be changed at the discretion of Variety Cruises and of the Vessel's Captain in case of adverse weather conditions - winds of 6/7 beaufort or more depending on the vessel- on port authorities not allowing a vessel to leave port or in case of other extraordinary conditions. Such itinerary changes do not entitle automatically passengers to any refunds but Variety Cruises guarantees that passengers are disembarked at the advertised port of disembarkation on time for their flights.
Spain & Portugal Cruises
Highlights
- Seville, built along the Guadalkivir river with several UNESCO classified monuments and a rich Moorish and Spanish heritage
- Grenada, with its brilliant architectural jewels such as the Alhambra Palace
- Jerez de la Frontera, an Andalusian city world famous for its architecture, sherry and fine horses
- Ronda, birthplace of modern bull fighting
- Gibraltar, a British outpost right in the South of Spain
