The Andalusian kitchen can trace its roots to Mediterranean and Arabic cuisine. It is the result of simple abundance--succulent seafood from the coast, mountain cured hams and meats from the country, olives, nuts, fruits and vegetables. The Andalusians have an uncanny knack of combining these fresh ingredients and making them special.
Join us for a week in Eastern Andalusia, learning all about this beautiful region of southern Spain-its cuisine, its culture, and its people. Your adventure begins in Granada and its spectacular Alhambra palace. Then you go to the country to learn all about the recipes and ways of Andalusian cooking. Visits to artisan bakeries, goat cheese producers, and olive mills are included, along with excursions to some of the most stunning places on the peninsula.
Group transfer from the airport to the Palacio de Santa Ines in Granada, a beautifully restored 16th century palace with extraordinary views of the Alhambra palace.
Join your guides for an aperitif and learn about the week that lies ahead.
This morning you'll visit the Alhambra Palace, one of the most impressive Arabic monuments in Europe. Then take a tapas tour in the ancient Moorish neighborhood of Albaicin, with its fascinating mix of old white houses and carmenes (private villas).
In the afternoon you'll travel to the village of Durcal, 30 minutes outside of Granada. Check in to El Molino del Puente, a restored flourmill transformed into a family run hotel. Enjoy the rural cuisine of El Molino's restaurant for dinner.
Today you'll visit an old olive mill on the way to Vegas del Genil, in the western area of the province. Here you'll see the old spa town of Alhama de Granada, a characteristic rural village built over a huge rock. Enjoy migas (an appetizer composed of fried bread crumbs) then lunch in a traditional restaurant.
Your cooking lesson today will be at El Molino and will taught by local women of the area. You'll learn how to prepare home cooking and then enjoy it afterwards for dinner.
Full day excursion to Las Alpujarras, an area of lavish mountains and valleys scattered with white villages where the Moorish way of life still prevails. Stop for lunch in one of the most beautiful of the villages. Afterwards you'll visit several of the little towns in this remote area, where handcrafted rugs and blankets are made.
Evening on your own.
Today you're off to the tropical coast, where crops such as avocado and papaya are grown in the shadows of the majestic Sierra Nevadas. Lunch will be in the seaside village of Salobrena. Free time afterwards to explore the town on your own.
Today's cooking lesson is led by well known chef Diego Morales and focuses on the Arabic influence in Andalusian cuisine. Dinner follows the lesson.
Morning visit to the bakery at El Molino, where organize pastries and bread are made. Then you'll have a second cooking lesson with Chef Morales, learning about traditional recipes of the region. Lunch follows the lesson.
Afternoon excursion through the Lecrin Valley, where olive and orange trees dot the landscape. Visit a goat cheese producer.
Tonight you'll celebrate the end of your tour with a dinner at one of the city's best restaurants. Then take part in an authentic zambra (flamenco meeting) in one of the caves of the Sacromonte, the gypsy neighborhood. A memorable experience!
Breakfast. Group transfer to the Granada airport.
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