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7th day, BAEZA-GUADIX-GRANADA 181 kms
Departure and visit in morning of the town of Guadix (to reach it follow the road
that from Baeza goes to Ubeda, Jodar, Torre Credela,
Guadix) here you can visit the Cathedral built on the site of
the mosque beginning from 1510 it
is in Gothic-Renaissance style, it was finished in the 18th
century with the Baroque façade, the tower is of the 17th century. In
the sacristy it is an interesting Museum Catedralicio with baroque paintings, manuscripts and gold goldsmith works. The Alcazaba, the Arabic fortess
built in the 10th century that constituted the last Arabic rampart to the
Christian conquest dominates the city. The
1540 Santiago church with a rich plateresco portal and the Barrio
Troglodita the district of the characteristic houses dug in the
tuff, the natural belvederis of Cuatro Veredas and St. Fandila offer a
spectacular vision of the area.
After the visit of Guadix, continue for Granada.
Night in GRANADA: Best Western Dauro II, Granada: three stars in
the center of Granada, next to the cathedral; the hotel has a parking
lot (to brief distance) to a reasonable price, good relationship
quality/price. We stayed very good.
8th day, GRANADA
The today's day is devoted to the visit of Alhambra (Alcazaba,
Buildings Nasridi and Generalife). The visits has to be reserved
for time to the site: www.alhambratickets.com. The tickets withdraw
near the box-office of the Patronage of the Alhambra the same day of the
visit, and you must obligatorily introduce the number of
identification of the ticket, united to document of identity or passport.
To remember that is important to respect
the schedule for which you have booked the entry to the Buildings
Nasridi, in fact you has 30 minutes to enter therefore you have to be
punctual.
The Alhambra, the medieval Arabic real citadel that dominates the city
is recognized as one of the jewels of the world architecture, it deals
with a series of buildings and gardens built in the 14th century during
the dynasty of the Nasridis. The visit of this immense complex has its
points of strength in the Sala de los Embajadores, in the Patio de los
Leones and in the Sala de las Dos Hermanas. Of the succesives
constructions of Christian epoch are interesting the Palacio de Carlos
V, where today they are entertained the Museum de Arte Hispano-Musulman and the Museum de Bellas Artes (Spanish paintings).
The Generalife, the fourteenth-century country residence of the emirs
is found little bottom the walls of the Alcazar, are here
stupendous gardens, some hanging ones, fountains and stupendous
panoramas can admire on the Sierra Nevada and on the city.
Night in GRANADA: Best Western Dauro II, Granada
9th day, GRANADA
Other day devoted to the visit of Granada: to visit the enormous Gothic
Cathedral, built, to the place of the Mezquita Mayor, between 1523
and 1703, with the Capilla Mayor and the Capilla Real where the graves
of Isabela and Ferdinand are carved by the Tuscan sculptor Domenico Fancelli.
Among the churches, are to visit those of Santa Ana (in Mudejar style, 1537-1563), San Salvador (in Mudejar style, 16th
century), Santo Domingo (1532), San José and San Jeronimo (1496-1547).
On the hill in front of the Alhambra the Albaicin is found, the old
casbah or Arab "medina", in the tallest point in the hill lies the Plaza de
San Nicolas from where is a stupendous view toward the citadel
of the Alhambra. Granada still entertains the most complete group in
houses and buildings with Arabic architectures of Europe: the Dar al Horra, or the Alcazar Genil, or as the casa Horno de Oro, the casa of the Chapiz, o the house of Abén Humeya, the public Baths
as El Bañuelo or the baths of the Alhambra and the complex of public Arabic fountains
and wells (aljibes). To north of the city it is the hill of the Sacromonte with residences
drawn in the caverns. A little out in the city, on a hill, it is the
Baroque Monastery of the Cartuja.
Night in GRANADA: Best Western Dauro II, Granada
10th day, GRANADA-ANTEQUERA-RONDA 176 kms
Departure from Granada for Ronda, in the morning, along the road
stop to Antequera (88 kms) and if possible brief deviation for the
visit of the natural park El Torcal characteristic for its
beautiful rocky formations.
Antequera: to visit the Dolmens, that are found in the park to the west of the
inhabited center, the most spectacular of which it is the Cueva de la
Menga, date back to 5000 years ago. Other buildings not to be missed are
the Roman Baths, the Giants' arc, the Arabic Castle (Alcazaba) of the
13th century, the magnificent Renaissance collegiate of Santa María la Mayor (16th century), and the church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen. The
palacio de the Nájera of the 18th century is headquarters of the Town Museum,
the strong piece of the museum is the Efebo of Antequera. In the
proximities of Antequera are to visit: the natural park of El
Torcal, characteristic for its beautiful rocky formations; and the
lagoon Fuente de Piedra where the flamingos nest.
In the first afternoon you will reach Ronda that you will visit.
Ronda: beautiful town with notable buildings of the Arabic period: the
building of Mandragon, the Arabic baths (Baños Arabes), the building of
the Moro king (casa del Rey Moro) and the town-walls that surround
part of the city. Of the Christian period are: Iglesia de Padre Jesús, the Iglesia de Santa María, the Convento de San Francisco, the Iglesia Convento de la Merced, the Iglesia del Espíritu Santo and the Palacio del Marqués de Salvatierra. The 18th century will mostly
affect urbanistic aspect of Ronda, in this century the most
meaningful monuments will be built, as the New Bridge, the arc of
Felipe V, the Templete de la Virgen de los Dolores, the Casa Consistorial and the Plaza de Toros (1785). Not to be missed, in the
proximities of the Plaza de Toros, the beautiful walk, calledAlameda del Tajo, that allows magnificent panoramic views on the mountains of
Ronda.
Night in RONDA: Husa Reina Victoria, Ronda: Beautiful hotel, four
stars, next to the center, with beautiful views on the town, we will
have wanted to remain a few days more and not only one night.
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