Highlights of Andalucia

Your holiday begins this morning when you meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London Gatwick, or depart independently from your regional airport, for a morning flight to Málaga.

On arrival, we're transferred by coach to our hotel in Antequera, a traditional Spanish town in the heart of Andalucía, ideally situated to explore the cities of Granada, Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.

Antequera is a typical Andalucían medieval town with an impressive Moorish fortress, several churches and a relaxed atmosphere. The town also has many examples of Spanish Baroque buildings, carefully restored to retain their façades. After a welcome drink at the hotel, there's time to look around and get your bearings before dining independently this evening.

After breakfast this morning, you are free to get to know Antequera at your own pace. To find out more about local sights and seasonal or special events, the tourist office is located in the centre near the Plaza de San Sebastián.

There are plenty of cafés and restaurants to choose from if you'd like to indulge in a traditional Spanish lunch. A local speciality is 'Porra Antequerana', a gazpacho-style soup, served cold and made with tomatoes and bread.

Nature lovers have two interesting nearby places to discover. El Torcal de Antequera, five miles outside of the city, is a national park with unique rock formations which can be reached by local bus or taxi. Equally interesting are the Dolmen Tombs, some of the largest prehistoric burial chambers in Europe. Antequera's cuisine is well regarded throughout Andalucía and, dining independently, you can uncover why.

• Breakfast

This morning, we catch the high-speed train to beautiful Seville for a guided tour. Exploring by coach and on foot, our first stop is the Plaza de España, a colourful landmark with fountains and tiled alcoves, created for the 1929 'Fair of the Americas' - a mix of Andalucía's different architectural styles.

Our tour ends at the amazing cathedral, the largest Gothic building in Europe, where the bones of Christopher Columbus were interred. The cathedral's bell tower, La Giralda, is the minaret of the original mosque and has panoramic views over the city.

The afternoon is yours to explore at leisure. The nearby Santa Cruz district is teeming with tapas bars and restaurants. You could visit the Alcázar Palace (booking advised), which - with its stunning gardens, shady seating areas and cooling water features - is a lovely retreat from the city streets. You may like to walk along the river to the Torre del Oro, once a watchtower and medieval prison, which glows gold as the sun sets. We return to Antequera by rail at the end of the afternoon.

• Breakfast

Today we take another high-speed rail journey, this time to Córdoba. This ancient city was once the largest metropolis in western Europe and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On arrival, we're taken on a guided tour of the city's main attractions, seeing the exterior of the famous Mezquita of Córdoba - one of the world's greatest examples of Islamic architecture. While we do not enter the Mezquita during the tour, you could return during free time later (booking advised) to explore its remarkable interior where several Roman Catholic chapels have been introduced over the centuries, and the building is now regarded as a mosque-cathedral. Our tour also takes us through Córdoba's historic Jewish Quarter, which has a tiny ancient synagogue, hidden stone patios and characterful streets.

You're free over lunch and into the afternoon to look around at leisure and perhaps visit the Alcázar palace and gardens here, smaller than Seville's historic palace but still beautiful. We return to Antequera by rail where there is time to relax and dine independently.

• Breakfast

Today is free to relax or explore at your own pace. You might choose to visit the attractive city of Málaga, located about an hour away and easily accessible by rail. Known as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, the Museo Picasso in the Old Town is one of the city's most popular sites (booking ahead advised). Historic landmarks include the impressive cathedral, a Roman amphitheatre and the hilltop Alcazaba of Málaga, overlooked by the Castillo de Gibralfaro. With its bustling restaurants, cafés and bars, Málaga offers plenty to discover.

If you choose to stay in Antequera, you could visit the Roman Villa de la Estación, discovered in 1998 and now open to the public. From mid-June to mid-September the town also hosts its 'Moonlight' cultural programme, when historic monuments are beautifully illuminated after dark.

Of course, you may prefer a relaxing day. You could unwind at the hotel swimming pool before dining independently. Local cuisine ranges from refreshing soups to hearty stews and sweets treats such as Bienmesabe.

• Breakfast

Travelling by coach to Granada after breakfast, we visit one of the world's most well-preserved examples of Moorish architecture. The Alhambra palace and fortress complex is a historic masterpiece, set against a stunning backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains. On a guided tour, we discover the wonderful Alhambra, whose interiors have intricately carved wooden ceilings, colourful mosaics and beautiful plasterwork.

After our tour, you are free to walk among the beautiful 14th-century Generalife gardens, once a summer palace and country estate of the sultans. Peaceful paths are laid out beneath pergolas dripping with jasmine, pebble mosaics, pools and cooling water features, framed by flowerbeds and pavilions.

With the rest of the day at leisure, you could look around the Albaicín - the Moorish quarters of the city with its steep, narrow streets, Moroccan-style tea shops, and craft shops. The Mirador de San Nicolas has fantastic views up to the Alhambra and is a popular spot for flamenco dancers, artists and craftspeople. Restaurants and cafés nearby serve tapas, drinks and meals.

• Breakfast

Our exploration of Andalucía has taken in the region's main cities, offering the perfect blend of history, culture and time to explore at your own pace. From the grandeur of Seville Cathedral and the serene courtyards of Córdoba's Mezquita to the majesty of Granada's Alhambra and the authentic charm of our base in Antequera, this holiday has captured the very essence of Andalucía.

This morning, we bid adiós to Spain, as a coach transfers us from Antequera to Málaga Airport for our flight back to London Gatwick, or your regional airport.

• Breakfast