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Trip Overview Ride through Andalucia on the beautiful Via Verde |
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An illustrated itinerary of one of our many travel adventures for gay men, lesbians, and friends. This information supplements our
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Experience the heartland of Andalucia, with its beautiful cities and charming villages, as we bike along quiet rivers, ride past white-washed hillside villages of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and traverse off-road Via Verde rail trails through some of southern Spain’s most dramatic scenery. Nestled in the shadows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, our route will be on flat to rolling terrain, with some larger hills near Granada, mostly with light traffic and surrounded by the beauty of rural Spain. To enjoy a more in-depth experience of the cities, we suggest adding a few days before or after the tour in Seville or Granada.
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1-2: Seville, Carmona and Palma del Rio
We will meet in Seville in the afternoon and enjoy a walking tour of the old city from the Barrio Santa Cruz with its Moorish and Jewish quarters, to the cavernous gothic Cathedral, with its distinctive Moorish-style bell tower, through the romantic Murillo Gardens to the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Afterwards, we will transfer to our unique hotel a few miles outside of Seville, and enjoy a Welcome Dinner. We start our riding in Carmona, one of Andalucia's most historic and beautiful white towns/pueblos blancos. Carmona is built on a hill overlooking the sprawling suburbs of Seville. Dating from medieval times, complete with ancient walls, Carmona is dominated by the Alcazar del Rey Pedro, the ruins of the palace of Pedro I, known as Pedro the Cruel. Leaving Carmona, we descend from the city walls to the valley below and ride over undulating terrain past fields of cereals and sunflowers, owned by Andalucian gentry since the Reconquest of these lands from the Moors in the 15th century. For much of the day, we will ride through the Nature Reserve above the Guadalquivir River, over gently undulating terrain with one difficult but short climb, pausing for a picnic lunch along the way. Today's destination is Palma del Rio, where we will stay in a former monastery, known for its gardens and superb food, which we will enjoy during our included dinner.
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3-4: Our next stop: Cordoba
After breakfast, cycle out from Palma del Rio along a system of canals formed from the Guadalquivir River to the town of Almodóvar. There we will have time to visit the impressive castle, which can be reached by biking up the steep incline or by riding in our van. Lunch is on your own, in or nearby the castle. After lunch, we ride over gently undulating terrain to the outskirts of Cordoba, after a leisurely 42 km riding day. After the ride, we have the option of shuttling into the city in a mini-bus or riding into town along rather busy roads. Cordoba was the center of Western Civilization in 1,000 AD, with over 500,000 inhabitants; today the city preserves its rich medieval atmosphere and legacy. We stay in the heart of the old quarter of this white city. Dinner is on your own, leaving you the evening to explore the labyrinth of streets and alleys that weave this city together. The next morning, a local guide will escort us to the Mesquita/Great Mosque and show us other treasures of Cordoba. Later, we will transfer by mini-bus to the village of Zuheros, a dramatic pueblo blanco in a gorge, crowned by a Moorish castle, and with hiking and biking paths to explore the area. Before our dinner at our hotel, we will visit a local olive oil and cheese producer.
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5: Into the Hills: Zuheros to Montefrio
After breakfast in Zuheros, we shuttle to the Cueva de los Murcielagos (Bat Caves). Holy Guano Batman! These caves date back thousands of years, evidenced by the cave paintings and objects left by Neolithic cave dwellers who could never have imagined a gay group on bikes! Starting at the top of the mountain we can gaze out on the expanse of undulating hills as we begin our ride through the Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbeticas along the via verde trail that once carried trains through the valley to Lucena. From Lucena, we will shuttle to the beautiful hillside town of Montefrio for the night. The region we pass through today was once the heartland of the Sephardic Jews of Iberia, but is now better known for its National Park and its anise production. You may want to taste the famous anis dulce, a favorite aperitif in the area. Montefrio (Cold Mountain) was the last stronghold of the Moors in Spain. Across a stretch of rocky outcroppings, dramatically placed walled villages are like a crown, with Montefrio the jewel in the diadem. You'll see wonderful views of tile-roofed, white-washed houses running up the steep crags. Montefrio, known for its acoustics and chorizo sausages, sits on the remains of 16th century Moorish fortifications. The late afternoon and evening are free to discover the charms of this unique village.
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6: Cold Mountain and Hot Writer
For our final biking of the week, you can bike or take our van to the summit above Montefrio, then enjoy a 23 km downhill ride to the outskirts of Granada. We end our ride near the town of Fuente Vaqueros, at the Casa Museo Federico Lorca, former home of Spain's outspoken gay writer and popular personality. From Fuente Vaqueros, we board our mini-bus for the shuttle through traffic into central Granada where we will spend two nights. 
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7: The Palaces of Granada
This morning we tour the renowned Alhambra and Generalife Palaces with a local guide, then have the afternoon free to explore this vibrant city on our own, from our hotel in the central area of the city. In the evening we will enjoy our Farewell Dinner together at one of Granada's signature restaurants.
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8: Departure Day
Our tour concludes this morning after breakfast. For now we say Hasta Luego!!
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