The Route of the Moors

Arrive at airport. Transfer to Antequera. Try bikes, and visit Old Quarter of town with its whitewashed streets, fine churches and castle and the “only” bullring in Spain with a restaurant.

Leave Antequera through gently rolling countryside and olive plantations towards the village of Iznájar, a typical Arab village with its castle dominating the dramatic setting overlooking the blue waters of the Embalse de Iznájar.

Leaving Iznájar, we follow the reservoir towards the village of Rute, famous for its donkeys and also aniseed liqueur. Our next port of call is Lucena, known in medieval times as the “Pearl of the Three Cultures” (Jewish, Christian and Arab. We may be tempted to ride up to the Santuario de Araceli, patron of Lucena, to be rewarded with infinite views of the surrounding countryside. From Lucena we take the Vía Verde cycle path across some spectacular countryside to the incredible Moorish village of Zuheros (the name comes from the Arab word for rock, suhayra), with its 9^th century castle perched high above the surrounding countryside and with the backdrop of the Sierra Subbética.

Today we are free to take it easy in Zuheros. One option is to cycle to the olive oil producing town of Baena to visit the traditional oil press of Nuñez de Prado in Baena. From here we can cycle towards the Laguna del Salobral and then return to Zuheros along the Vía Verde cycle path with more spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

Today is a shorter route that takes us around the Parque Natural to our next stop shortly before Priego de Cordoba. Priego de Córdoba has a fine medieval Moslem quarter and is know as the capital of the Cordoba baroque style due to its several fine churches dating from this period. (This route can of course be extended at will by those who wish to explore the beautiful Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas.)

From Priego de Córdoba continue through the Sierra Subbética. We head through fine and hilly countryside, through a veritable “forest” of olive trees to finally arrive in the fine village of Montefrío, dominated by its 15^th century church built after the town was reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1486.

From Montefrío the Catholic Monarchs began their march to conquer the city of Granada, and we will do the same, albeit in a rather more discreet fashion. A brief ascent from Montefrío leads to a magnificent descent towards the Plain of Granada, with the Sierra Nevada visible in the distance. Crossing the plain with its distinctive tobacco barns, we pass through the village of Fuente Vaqueros, birthplace of the famous poet and playwright Federico García Lorca, born in 1898 and tragically assassinated at the beginning of the Civil War. Finally we reach the city of Granada.

We spend one more night to take advantage of the sights of Granada. Visit the Muslim quarter of El Albayzín and the cathedral, where the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel are buried. And of course La Alhambra, the magnificent fusion of gardens, Muslim palaces and fortress that makes such a unique monument. And if you still want to ride, you can tackle the slopes of the Sierra Nevada.

Early departure after breakfast to transfer to Málaga Airport