Join me in sunny Spain to explore the beautiful gardens, landscapes, and culture of Andalucía. Our tour takes us to Seville, Granada and Cordoba, exploring intimate neighborhoods, stunning architecture and iconic gardens with centuries of history. We will learn about plants that tolerate hot, arid conditions, learn techniques for dryland gardening, and see how the beautiful and productive gardens help people thrive in a hot climate! Join your fellow garden lovers as we learn about the courtyards and culture of southern Spain.

We start in Seville with visits to Casa de Pilatos, Jardines de Murillo, Palacio de las Duenas, Palacio de la Condesa, Catedral de Sevilla, and Moratalla Gardens. The Jardines de las Reales Alcazares is the largest late-medieval garden in Europe. The garden features courtyards bounded by arcades and sequestered behind high walls for protection from the harshness of the outside world. The oldest spaces are in and around the palace, including small courtyards with glittering pools, fountains, and recessed seats. Plantings include palm, cypress, myrtle, mulberries, magnolia, orange and lemon trees. Glazed and unglazed tiles are characteristic of Arab architecture.

A highlight of the tour is sure to be our visit to the Alhambra and the adjoining gardens of the Generalife. This beautiful building is one of the best
examples of Islamic architecture in the world. The Alhambra is built around a series of peaceful courtyards, often featuring water. These include the Fountain of the Lions and the Court of the Myrtles. Be sure to look out the windows in the outer walls for beautifully framed views of the surrounding city.

The Generalife gardens were intended to portray an earthly idea of paradise. Experience a feast for your senses—exquisitely clipped hedges surround colorful beds of roses and perennials, fragrant herbs, and water features and fountains. We’ll have time to wander through the gardens on our own before returning to the hotel for dinner together (included).

Adventure awaits us in Cordoba, where we visit the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos. This fortress was one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. The extensive gardens of the Alcazar are arrayed on three levels. Palms, cypress, lemon and orange are some of the trees featured in the gardens. Water from the mountains moves through the pools and fountains within the gardens of clipped boxwood hedges and roses.

Additional stops on this tour include the cities of Malaga, Ronda and perhaps Gibraltar. From Seville we travel to Barcelona and end our tour with an exploration of the astounding architecture of Eduard Gaudi.