TOURS FROM CADIZ CRUISE SHIPS
Cadiz and Sevilla have been among the most important Spanish cities during many decades. They were the main ports and gateway to the Americas. If you wish to visit Seville from the port of Cadiz, I will fetch your party by the dock and bring you back to your ship after visited my city, the charming capital of southern Spain. Once in Seville, we’ll tour the main sites and old town, within the available time on the ground.
Itinerary for Seville shore excursion
– Leave from Cadiz port (cruise terminal) in the morning.
– Arrive to Seville (1h30′ drive, during which I will give you an extensive introduction to Al-Andalus culture)
– Visit the Alcazar royal palace and/or St Mary Gothic cathedral.
– Visit the old town and the Square of Spain with Maria Luisa gardens, if you had enough time on the ground.
– Optional time for lunch or tapas.
– Travel back to Cadiz pier.
Duration of the excursion
approx. 10 hours.
We will pick you up by the cruise terminal at Cadiz port.
Your excursion is private for your party only. No strangers will join.
Tickets to Seville’s UNESCO sites and attractions (and your meals) are not included.
PRECIO / FEE:
Van up to 6 persons/ hasta 6/ fino a 6: 1190€ -OR- Minibus 1340€. Price per party not per person.
METHODS: PAYPAL / CASH / GBP or USD or EURO BANK TRANSFER (ALSO CNY, CAD, HK$)
Please keep reading to learn about an example of detailed itinerary (subject to the available time in your hand)
10.30 AM appointment at the cruise terminal of Cadiz port
The coach and the guide will welcome you upon arrival at the cruise terminal, then before heading to Seville, will do a short coach tour around the city of Cadiz to enjoy its views on the Atlantic Ocean from famous Malecon promenade, similar to that of Havana in Cuba.
It is said that the city of Cadiz inspired the architects that built colonial old Havana. Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe, founded by the Phoenicians more than 3000 years ago. We will admire the beauty of the gilded dome of its cathedral as we’ll be leaving the port. This majesty demonstrates the wealth that the city accumulated during those 150 years in which Cadiz became the Spanish gateway to the West Indies, thit is of America.
During a drive of less than 1 hour and a half, we will cross a plain that was formerly a gulf called Ligustinus lake by the Romans. This area was populated by Phoenician colons that introduced wine and olive oil from the Middle East. This is an extremely fertile countryside called Vega del Guadalquivir, where the Palomino Fina vine is transformed into famous sherry wine. All types of vegetables, cotton and wheat are grown here.
12.00 NOON – Arrival in Seville
Our arrival in Seville will be spectacular. We will start by visiting the majestic Plaza de España, the biggest square of the nation. Probably you will be able to recognize the setting of Lawrence of Arabia (1967), Star wars (2003), The Dictator (2012) and other movies that used this incredibly large, elegant, breathtaking space. The square is surrounded by the semi-tropical park of Maria Luisa, one of the lungs of the city of Seville. Here, the Iberoamerican Exhibition of 1929 was held. In the decade of the 20s, Seville was modernized and for the first time a peculiar architectural style was introduced: the Andalusian regional architecture. Marbles, precious timbers, terracotta, bricks, pottery everywhere and wrought iron on the balconies. A spectacle for your eyes and cameras.
1.30pm Entrance and visit to Alcazar
After this, we will enter the Unesco site par excellence of Seville, the Real Alcazar which is an enclosure that has hosted the rulers and governors of the city for a thousand years, from Phoenicians through Romans to Muslims and Christians, and still remains active as a royal residence.
Alcázar means “the fortress” in Arabic, it is the most important Christian-Muslim blending styled palace in Spain, unique in its fusion. A true wonder that has been used for the filming of several TV shows and feature films: The Game of Thrones 2015 and 2017 or the movie “1492: The Conquest of Paradise” on the life of Christopher Columbus. In this palace, Columbus and the Queen Isabel really met after the first trip to the new world of 1492.
The ceramic mosaics of the Alcázar are a work of art that is necessary to enjoy and observe from very close, the coffered ceilings challenge in elegance those of the most beautiful palaces of Asia, the spell created by fountains and patios courts immerses us in an atmosphere of 1001 nights.
The 7 gardens were each one built in a different style . They are the delight and pride of Seville.
2.30 pm lunch / snack break, this is the chance of savoring the famous tapas Sevillanas, vegetables, meat, fish, and the most delicious salads and the popular gazpacho and salmorejo cold tomato creams and drinks, so refreshing in summer. The juices of orange or the wines of sherry and greenjos, rioja and ribera del duero will help refreshing our throats during our break.
3.20 pm cathedral entrance
It is the third largest and most majestic church in Europe, built in only 73 years in sandstone 600 years ago.
Its pillars are absolutely impressive, its 25 meter high altar is the most imposing in the world and we will visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus, in front of which we will finally be knowing the true history and find answers to many questions and mysteries about the discovery of America in 1492.
There will also be time to see the symbol of the city: the bell tower of 100 meters and extraordinary beauty, the Giralda, which once was the minaret of the mosque of Seville. It is the tallest bricks’ building (100 meters), more robust (resisted 4 earthquakes) and oldest in Seville (800 years).
4.30pm visit neighborhood of santa cruz and old town
The center of the city still maintains much of the layout of medieval streets, with its Jewish quarter, market streets, squares. Your guide will make you fall in love with this labyrinth of shady streets and graceful little squares and courtyards, which will take us to the Spain of the lost centuries. We will learn the way of life of the Andalusians, their rhythm and their customs, right at the time of the famous siesta.
In particular, the Barrio de Santa Cruz was one the Jewish quarter of Seville (1248-1391) that housed 4 synagogues. Later in the 19th century, this same neighborhood inspired many of the most famous operas that we can still enjoy today in Opera houses worldwide: Carmen from Bizet, Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Don Giovanni and Weddings of Figaro of Mozart. On every street, there’s a story to discover or revive.
5.30pm departure to Cadiz
7pm end of shore excursion in Cadiz port
“The Magic of Seville Private Tours” – Phone +34 654871750 – E-Mail: contact@themagicofseville.com