Seville (Day Trips)

Next Stop…Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

October 24, 2018 By International Lodging Corporation

The city of Jerez de la Frontera, or Jerez for short, is a traditional Andalusian city that dates back to Moorish times. Much of the charm and aristocratic air of the city can still be seen and felt today in the casco antiguo (old town), the wide streets, and tree-lined squares.

Jerez is perhaps best known for the fortified wine (sherry) that takes its name from the city. Its origin dates back to 1100 B.C. when the Phoenicians brought the first vines to the region. The name “sherry” is derived from the name “Sherish,” which was the 12th C. Arabic name of the city. No stay in Jerez would be complete without visiting one or more of the bodegas (wine cellars) that are open to the public, such as Tio Pepe, Gonzalez Byass, Pedro Domecq and Sandeman.

Jerez is also well known for its Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, which is considered one of the four principal riding academies in the world, along with the schools in Vienna (Austria), Queluz (Portugal) and Saumur (France). Visitors can watch the world-renowned “dancing stallions” at either one of the riding shows that take place twice a week, or at one of the training sessions held throughout the week. Besides taking in an equestrian show, visitors can also tour the facilities, including the Stables, Harness Shop, Carriage Museum, and Equestrian Art Museum.

Other places to visit in Jerez include:

12th C. Moorish Alcázar
Cathedral built between 1695-1778
Plaza de la Asunción, with the 15th C. Iglesia Dionisio and 16th C. former town hall building
Archaeological Museum
Palacio del Virrey Laserna – residential palace passed down through generations of the same aristocratic family since the 13th C. and is now open to the public

Jerez has a rich flamenco heritage, and many visit each year to attend the Festival de Flamenco that takes place traditionally the end of February/beginning of March and attracts some of the most famous flamenco artists in Spain. Other popular festivals are the Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair) that celebrates the city’s deep equestrian tradition in early May, and the Feria de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest Fair) in early September that opens with grape-treading on the cathedral steps.

Photo credit: Willtron / Photo of Catedral de Jerez

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Seville Day Trips (Spain)

September 26, 2018 By International Lodging Corporation

If you are planning a trip to Seville, you should make room in your itinerary to visit some of the historic towns and cities that are located within a 2.5 hour drive or train ride from the city. The following is a list of some places you can visit and still make it back to Seville for dinner:

Itálica – site of an important Roman city from the 3rd C. BC, Itálica’s ruins include the third largest amphitheater in the world (20 min.). For more information, click here.
Carmona – a charming town with a Moorish Alcázar (fort) and Roman wall (35 min.). For more information, click here.
Jerez – classic Andalucía town famous for its namesake sherry, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, and its annual flamenco festival (1 hour). For more information, click here.
Cádiz – historic seaside city with beautiful beaches and an Old Town with a strong Moorish influence lined with cobblestone streets (1 hour 20 min.). For more information, click here.
Ronda – a lovely white village perched on the edge of a 500 ft. gorge with dramatic views and one of Spain’s oldest bullrings (1 hour 45 min.). For more information, click here.
Córdoba – best known for its Mezquita (mosque) and the charming Jewish Quarter that surrounds it (1 hour 30 min. drive / 45 min. by high-speed train). For more information, click here.
Málaga – lovely city on the Mediterranean where Picasso was born; visit his home and museum, the Cathedral, and 14th C. Gibralfaro Castle (2 hours 30 min). For more information, click here.

Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Your personal guide can provide you with information on the city and its historic sites. For more information on our Seville tours, click here. For more information on our Córdoba tours, click here. For more information on our Ronda tours, click here. For more information on our Cádiz tours, click here. For more information on our Málaga tours, click here. For more information on our Jerez tours, click here.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Next Stop…Ronda, Spain

January 20, 2015 By International Lodging Corporation

Ronda is the largest and one of the prettiest of the white villages that dot the countryside in the southern region of Andalucía. It is perched on the edge of a 500 ft. gorge, and its location provides visitors with dramatic and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. It is well worth a visit as a day trip from Seville, Málaga, or elsewhere on the Costa del Sol, or as an overnight stay.

One of Ronda’s most emblematic images is the arched bridge that straddles the 120 meter deep gorge and links the two sections of town. The Puente Nuevo (“new bridge”) was completed in 1793 and replaced the prior bridge that collapsed in 1741. Ronda is famous for being the birthplace of modern bullfighting. The historic 17th C. Plaza de Toros bullring is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spain. It is open to the public on off days, and includes a museum, stables, and other behind-the-scenes areas that can be visited.

Other places of interest to visit in Ronda include:

Santa María la Mayor (Renaissance church)
Don Bosco House (with the best views of the mountain range “Serranía de Ronda” and from where you can take the best picture of the New Bridge)
Mondragón Palace, which houses the Museum of Ronda
Baños Arabes (Arab Baths) in the Jewish Quarter dating from the 13th – 14th C.

If you decide to spend the night you can stay at the Parador de Ronda. The Parador sits atop the gorge in the historical center of town. It is located on the site of the former town hall, and offers guests panoramic views of the gorge and surrounding mountains. For more information and reservations, click here.

Photo credit: TheBoxagon

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.