Discovering Andalusia

Day 1: Lucena
Individual arrival in Lucena, Andalusia. The city is 60 kilometers from Cordoba and 85 from Malaga and has good connections to Granada, Seville and Jaen. In the afternoon, enjoy a walk in the old town center where the neo-Gothic church of San Mateo from the 15th-16th century is situated, housing one of the most beautiful Baroque sacrariums of Andalusia. You can also visit the castle and the ancient Palace of Medinaceli, residence of the Count of Santa Ana and Rico de Rueda. Lucena is also home to one of the largest Jewish communities, known for centuries as the City of the Jews and, between the 9th and 12th centuries, as The Pearl of Sephard. Tonight you will sleep in an old convent converted into a hotel, full of charm and local character, a special place to start your adventure. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Lucena – Zuheros (45 km; +773/-611 m)
After breakfast, start pedaling through the typical Andalusian countryside, among gentle hills, extensive olive groves and vineyards. From Cabra town, the route takes you along the peaceful bicycle path built on the track of the old railway, once used for olive transport. The final destination of the day is the charming village of Zuheros, which boasts both Moorish and Andalusian beauty, situated at the entrance to the Sierra Subbetica. We highly recommend a visit to the Moorish castle, home of the Local History Museum, housing some archeological finds from the Cueva de los Murciélagos, a cave inhabited since the Neolithic age, located 4 kilometers from the village. Rich in rock paintings, the cave can be reached by bike, tackling the climb (for the bravest), or by taxi from the hotel. At the end of the day, enjoy a delicious three-course dinner at the hotel, prepared with local ingredients.

Day 3: Zuheros – Priego de Cordoba (49 km; +863/-846 m)
Today you will bike through spectacular landscapes, pedaling towards Carcabuey, a charming white village located on the road to Priego de Cordoba, your next destination. In the afternoon, take some time to stroll through the streets of this typical Andalusian village, situated at the foot of the Sierra Subbetica Natural Park mountains. This is one of the most beautiful stages of the Caliphate Route, a European cultural route that crosses Andalusia from Cordoba to Granada. We recommend a visit to the beautiful fountain, the various Baroque churches and the castle, located right behind your hotel and accessible from the imposing Adarve balcony. This viewpoint is also the perfect spot to enjoy the sunrise. Before dinner, treat yourself to a relaxing massage. Free dinner. We recommend the Balcón del Adarve restaurant, or Asador La Muralla, both close to the hotel. The typical cuisine of Priego, based on local olive oil with a Denomination of Origin, will perfectly round off your day.

Day 4: Priego de Cordoba – Iznájar (32 km; +528/-744 m)
After breakfast, enjoy the route through olive groves, cycling on quiet roads that wind through the mountains. The final destination of the day: the village of Iznájar, one of the most beautiful villages in Southern Andalusia, almost entirely surrounded by the largest water basin in Southern Spain. Enjoy the afternoon at the pool with a view of the lake. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5: Iznájar – Loja (47 km; +1100/-427 m)
This last day of biking will take you back to Loja, pedaling through the vineyards set amidst the Andalusian mountains. You will pass through a beautiful village with mountains as a backdrop and a sea of olive trees at its feet, which will greet you with its smell of anise seeds coming from the distilleries that made it famous.

Day 6: Loja – Antequera (43 km; +500/-461 m)
Today discover Antequera, one of the most beautiful historical cities in Andalusia and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Antequera is a medieval city located on the hills north of Malaga, dominated by a Moorish fortress or Alcazaba erected over Roman ruins in the fourteenth century to counteract the Christian advance from the north.

Day 7: Antequera
After breakfast, end of services and individual departure.