Cultural excursions
In between never-ending olive groves and tremendous vineyards, the poppies on the corn fields and the glaring yellow sunflowers, these are the images that we remember.
Route of the White Villages
In our most popular cultural tour through the White Villages of the mountains our first stop is Zahara de la Sierra, where we stroll along the narrow streets with its little cafés and then walk up to the castle ruin. From up there we have a priviledged view over the Zahara-El Gastor Lake, the valley, the mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema with the pass to Grazalema where we continue our route. The next stop is the access point to the "Garganta Verde", the "Green Throat" hiking trail. There we initiate a short hiking tour to see the nesting place of the vultures where we have spectacular views at these huge birds flying only 20 metres above our heads. In the Garganta Verde there is one of the most important population of griffon vultures in Europe. Back in the car we climb up the curvy road to the 1357 m high "Puerto de las Palomas" which means "Pigeon Pass". If we are lucky we can see the coast of Cadiz from the viewppoint. In Grazalema we ample along the winding alleys, take a glimpse at the Calzada Medieval (a medieval paved road) and then have a tea at the "Tetería Azul", a teashop which reminds of the Moorish past of Grazalema. On the way back we take the road that leads along the other side of the Sierra to El Bosque passing by the Moorish village Benamahoma.
Ronda - the dreamt-of town
Our excursion to Ronda, which is also very popular among our students, goes to Ronda, a romantic town famous for poets and authors such as Rainer Maria Rilke, Ernest Hemingway and many more who were inspired by this enchanting town. On our walk through Ronda we see the Moorish district with the ancient town wall, watch towers and the Moorish Baths which we can visit inside. There a film takes us to the XIII century when Ronda was an important town of commerce. The Christian district forms a contrast to the Moorish one. We cannot miss the viewpoint in the Tajo Canyon where we have a breathtaking view at the nearly 100 metres high Puente Nuevo (New Bridge). Then we cross the bridge and looking down we learn what the Spanish nickname of the bridge is about. We take a look at the bullfighting ring which is one of the oldest ones in Spain and then go to a confectioner's where we can try the typical "Yemas del Tajo".
City tours
The visits to the nearby Andalucian cities can either be organised by the language school or by the students who go on their own by bus. The school office provides information material and advice on how to get to the places of interest.
- Jerez: Visit of a Sherry bodega, Alcázar (Moorish fortress) and the Royal Andalusian Horseriding School
- Cádiz: Historical monuments of the old town (cathedral, etc.), arqueology museum, beaches
- Seville: Giralda, Torre del Oro at the River Guadalquivir, Plaza de España, Reales Alcázares, Triana district, Flamenco museum