Southern Spain & Morocco Golf Cruise
Sunday, 21st November 2010: Embark - Seville, Spain
Day 1
SEVILLE, SPAIN - EMBARK
Upon arrival in Seville, transfer to Corinthian II. Overnight aboard ship, docked in port.
Day 2
SEVILLE
Occupied by the Romans, conquered by the Moors and ruled by a succession of Catholic Monarchs, Seville is one of Europe’s most important and affluent maritime cities.
GOLF: Today, play the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, designed by José María Olazábal, and one of Europe’s best courses. Set in the town of Alcala de Guadaira, the course was a venue for the
2004 World Cup.
TOUR: Visit the Alcazar, with its charming Murillo Gardens, and the Gothic Cathedral.
Day 3
AT SEA
Attend lectures and enjoy the ship’s amenities while cruising toward Morocco.
Day 4
JORF-LASFAR / MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
GOLF: Play El Jadida Royal Golf Course, recently listed by Golf Digest as the top golf course in Morocco. Situated close to the Atlantic Coast and designed by Cabell Robinson, El Jadida captures guests with its stunning natural beauty.
TOUR: Enjoy a full-day excursion to fabled Marrakech, one of Morocco’s four Imperial Capitals, founded in the 11th century and set among gardens and palm groves. Our exploration includes the 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret; the Bahia Palace; the Ben Youssef Medressa; the Jewish Quarter; and Djemma el-Fna, the city’s central square at the heart of the Medina. There will also be the opportunity to walk through Marrakech’s colorful souks before we drive back to Jorf-Lasfar.
Day 5
CASABLANCA / RABAT / CASABLANCA
GOLF: After docking in Casablanca, drive to Rabat to play Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, a glorious golf complex originally designed by Robert Trent Jones for the late King Hassan II.
TOUR: Discover Rabat, Morocco’s elegant capital, whose position on an estuary has long attracted settlers. Visit Rabat’s historic monuments, including the Medina, encompassing the evocative Kasbah des Oudaias.
Day 6
GIBRALTAR
GOLF: Play at Club de Golf Valderrama, the perennial #1 golf course in continental Europe. Cork oak and olive trees frame this majestic layout and give each hole a distinctive feel. Site of the 1997 Ryder Cup and notorious for the approach shot to the 17th green, Valderrama offers one of the world’s superlative golf experiences.
TOUR: Gibraltar is one of the world’s great sea landmarks that have guided mariners for enturies. Explore Casares, a typical Andalusian “White Town,” set on a hillside below a castle. Wander around the twisting lanes, enjoying views from the Alcazar, the ruins of a Moorish castle.
Day 7
MOTRIL / GRANADA / MOTRIL, SPAIN
Granada exemplifies the best of Moorish culture, art, and architecture. Tour the Alhambra, a striking 13th-century palace begun by the caliphs of the Nasrid dynasty. Also see the Sala de los Dos Hermanos and stroll through the splendid Generalife Gardens, adjacent to the Alhambra.
Day 8
ALICANTE, SPAIN
Known since the Greco-Roman times for its beautiful position on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, Alicante (Alacant) was dominated by the Moors from the 8th century until 1246, when it was reconquered by Alfonso X.
GOLF: Today play Parador de El Saler, rated one of the best golf courses in Europe. Designed by Javier Arana and located within the El Saler Nature Reserve, the course integrates the reserve’s protected landscape. Play amidst typical Mediterranean forest while enjoying spectacular views of the sea.
TOUR: Visit the imposing Castillo de Santa Barbara, started by the Moors in the 9th century; the Cathedral of San Nicolas, built on the site of a former mosque; and the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon, drive to Elche (Elx), famed for its exotic palm forest, said to have been planted by the Phoenicians and expanded by the Arabs, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Also visit the Huerta del Cura, a delightful garden.
Day 9
PALMA de MALLORCA, MALLORCA, SPAIN
Arrive in Palma de Mallorca, located on Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, known for their lush, rugged landscape and sunny, mild climate. Palma, the archipelago’s capital, is renowned for its fine location and romantic medieval quarter.
GOLF: Today play Alcanada, situated on the bay of Alcúdia. Opened in late 2003 and designed by Robert Trent Jones, Alcanada is a hilly and challenging course set amid olive trees and provides spectacular views of the bay around the island.
TOUR: Visit the lovely golden-stone 13thcentury Gothic Cathedral as well as the Almudaina Palace, the residence of the Moorish and then the Spanish rulers of the islands. The State Apartments are filled with Flemish tapestries and paintings by Spanish masters. Also visit the Pilar and Joan Miró Foundation.
Day 10
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Disembark & return home
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