Andalucia: Christians and Muslims in Southern Spain

Andalucia: Christians and
Muslims in Southern Spain
26 APR – 11 MAY 2015
Tour Leaders
Code: 21504
Dr John Wreglesworth
Physical Ratings
Spanish historian Dr John Wreglesworth introduces the
historic interactions between Muslims, Christians and Jews
in Andalucia, Southern Spain.
Overview
Tour Highlights
Dr John Wreglesworth introduces the historic interactions between Muslims, Christians and Jews in Andalucia - a region
separated from Spain's heartlands by the Sierra Morena, and from the Mediterranean by the Sierra Baetica.
Explore the culture of Islamic Spain through its magnificent monuments including Seville's Alcazar, Córdoba's Mosque and
Granada's Alhambra and Generalife gardens.
Study fascinating relationships between Christian, Jewish and Islamic visual culture at palaces, synagogues, mosques and baths
in Córdoba, Jaén, Ronda and Granada.
Visit Córdoba's delightful, hidden, Islamic-style courtyard gardens.
Visit the magnificent Isabelline Gothic funerary chapel in Granada (Tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella) with its great collection of
Netherlandish paintings.
Encounter some of Europe's greatest Gothic, Renaissance, Plateresque and Baroque chapels and cathedrals in Seville,
Granada, Baeza, Úbeda, Ronda and Jerez de la Frontera.
Delight in the beauty of Andalucia's white towns like Carmona and Antequera.
Visit prehistoric sites and museum collections, including Bronze Age Dolmens and Menhirs (Antequera and Almería) and
Phoenician cities (Cádiz).
Explore Jerez de la Frontera during the Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair), for a chance to see some of the greatest horses in the
world, including the famous thoroughbred white Andalucian horses, go on parade.
Visit a unique mirador (tower), 'La Bella Escondida' in the centre of Cádiz, home of Manuel Morales de Jodar, one of
Andalucia's most respected interior designers.
Savour some of the region's best cuisine at the restaurant El Huerto de Juan Ranas in Granada, where we sample traditional
Andalucian dishes with delicate Arabic influences while enjoying splendid views of the Alhambra, and at the historic Café
Royalty in the centre of Cádiz, adorned with rich paintings by well-known Spanish artists, beautifully handcrafted carpentry and
early 20th century furnishings.
Stay in a number of heritage hotels including: a 16th century palace in the heart of Seville; a converted renaissance palace in
the beautiful city of Úbeda; a parador housed in a former 18th century town house overlooking the dramatic frontier town of
Ronda; and the Parador in Cádiz with magnificent views over the Atlantic.
16 DAYS IN SPAIN
Overnight Seville (3 nights) • Córdoba (2 nights) • Úbeda (1 night) • Almería (1 night) • Granada (3 nights) • Ronda (2 nights) • Cádiz (3
nights)
Tour Overview
We journey from Seville in a grand arc through Córdoba and Jaén to the Renaissance cities of Úbeda and Baeza. Driving south to
Granada and Almería, we follow the coast west along the Strait of Gibraltar to the beautiful city of Cádiz. We explore the famed white
towns of Ronda and Carmona, and visit Jerez de la Frontera to attend a performance of Spain's famous pure-bred horses. We
encounter the ancient roots of Andalucia's culture in the prehistoric tombs of Antequera, at the 4000 years old Copper Age site of Los
Millares and at the Roman coastal city of Baelo Claudia. Our main focus is on the outstanding Muslim heritage at the great mosque of
Córdoba and the Alhambra's palaces as well as baths and fortresses. There is also an impressive Christian legacy of castles, churches
and mansions from the Gothic era onwards. In Seville's Alcazar, and elsewhere, we see places where Christian tastes and Muslim styles
commingle into something uniquely Andalucian. This region is rich in literary and musical associations, from Cervantes and García
Lorca to Carmen and Figaro. Within a dramatic landscape of mountains, plains and coast, popular culture in Andalucia has been
shaped or enriched by the experiences of gypsies, bullfighting and flamenco. In Seville we stay in a 16th century palace in the Santa
Cruz district, a traditional orchestration of courtyards, gardens and fountains. In Córdoba our accommodation is two 18th century
mansions opening onto a Mudéjar courtyard. In Úbeda we stay in a 16-17th century palace; at Ronda, in a 4-star parador perched
above the city's deep ravine; and in Cádiz, at the newly rebuilt parador overlooking the Atlantic. We also savour some of the region's
best cuisine; in Granada we sample Andalucian dishes with delicate Arabic influences while enjoying views of the Alhambra, and in
Cádiz we lunch at the historic Café Royalty adorned with rich paintings by well-known Spanish artists and beautifully handcrafted
carpentry. Special highlights include attending the Jerez Horse Festival and a visit to a unique mirador (tower) in the centre of Cádiz,
home of one of Andalucia's most respected interior designers.
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August 2014
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Leaders
Dr John Wreglesworth
An Independent scholar, past university
teacher & fellow of the Centre for
Mediterranean Studies & Canada Blanch
Foundation, John has been a popular ASA
lecturer in Europe & South America since
1998.
Dr John Wreglesworth is an independent scholar who has enjoyed leading tours for Australians Studying Abroad since 1998, exploring
European culture and history from Portugal to Russia. After gaining an honours degree in History, and a Post-graduate Certificate of
Education, at Manchester University, he went on to obtain a doctorate in medieval history at Leeds University. Over the years he has
given papers at international conferences on the UK and Tunisia. John's long career as teacher/lecturer in schools, colleges and
universities has always been matched by an equal enthusiasm for travel around the world.
An abiding love-affair over many years with Spain and Portugal, and their overseas territories in the Americas, is still being
strengthened by regular visits to the Iberian peninsula. His research work, teaching programmes as well as personal interest, have
ensured a wide-ranging knowledge of Europe's history and its cultural treasures. Over the past decade John has guided many ASA
groups across Europe, from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean sea and from Portugal to Russia- although, obviously, not at the same
time! John considers himself fortunate that while having the pleasure of exploring some of the world's finest art, architecture and
culture in the company of like-minded travellers, he has made many new friends through ASA tours.
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Itinerary
The following itinerary lists a range of museums, galleries and other sites which we plan to visit. Many are accessible to the public, but
some require special permission, which may only be confirmed closer to the tour's departure in 2015. The daily activities described in
this itinerary may change or be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate alterations in opening hours, flight schedules and
confirmation of private visits. Participants will receive a final itinerary together with their tour documents prior to departure. The tour
includes breakfast daily, lunches and evening meals as indicated in the itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=lunch, and D=evening meal.
Seville - 3 nights
Day 1: Sunday 26 April, Arrive Seville
Welcome meeting, short orientation walk (time-permitting)
Welcome Drinks
Our tour commences in Seville. Upon arrival, participants on the ASA ‘designated’ flight will be included in the group transfer to our
hotel. Those taking alternative flights should meet the group at Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia. The remainder of the day is at leisure. If
time permits, there will be a short afternoon orientation walk within the vicinity of our hotel followed by welcome drinks.
Seville gained great importance and prosperity when the Almohad dynasty made it the capital of Muslim Spain (Al Andalus); and again
in the sixteenth century, when it acted as the entrepôt for gold and tobacco from South America. Its major monuments and most
important works of art date from these periods and from the 13th and 14th centuries, when Castile wrested the province from the
Muslims. Seville therefore boasts fine Moorish, Gothic, Mudéjar (Mudéjar is the term which denotes buildings built for Christians by
Muslim craftsmen) and Baroque monuments.
In the 17th century it vied with Madrid as the centre of Spanish sculpture and painting. Zurbarán, Velázquez and Murillo worked in
Seville and the city produced a fine school of polychrome wood sculpture, examples of which are used today in processions for Holy
Week. In the 19th century, Seville became a prime setting for northern European Romantic novels and operas. Its role as a picturesque
setting in Romantic literature, art and music was encouraged by the popularity of Murillo’s paintings of street urchins, its famous
bullfights, and the magnificence of its celebrations during Holy Week. Just after Holy Week, the city celebrates the colourful Feria de
Abril, a popular festival begun in the nineteenth century, which includes horse riding (the wealthy ride through the feria grounds
decked out in resplendent costumes), music and the dancing of the Sevillana and Seguidilla. (Overnight Seville)
Day 2: Monday 27 April, Seville
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Casa de Pilatos
Santa Cruz Quarter
Cathedral and Giralda
Torre del Oro
Hospital de la Caridad
This morning we shall visit a Sevillian mansion of the 16th century, the Casa de Pilatos. Built by Fadrique de Ribera in 1519, it owes its
name to a legend that it was modelled upon Pilate’s house in Jerusalem. Processions during Holy Week used to leave this building,
winding their way out of the city to the Cruz del Campo, the distance believed to be exactly that from Pilate’s Jerusalem Praetorium to
Golgotha. The house, organised around a great patio, is a fascinating mix of Mudéjar and Renaissance elements.
We next make our way to the Santa Cruz quarter, Seville’s medieval ghetto. Despite its tiny streets, it grew in popularity in the 16th
and 17th centuries. Aristocrats built small palaces here, conserving the original, picturesque street plan. A walk through this quarter,
therefore, will provide us with a unique opportunity to discover the shape of old Seville. Our walk will take us to Seville’s Cathedral.
This huge building, which is the largest Gothic structure of its type in Europe, was built upon the foundations of the Moorish Friday
Mosque by the Christian conquerors of the city. It retains the general plan of the mosque and courtyard used by the Islamic population
for ritual ablutions. The cathedral boasts one of Spain’s greatest Retablos Mayores, a massive gilt wood retable occupying the whole of
the chancel wall. It also contains a number of major Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque art works and the tomb of Christopher
Columbus.The minaret of the mosque was built by the Almohads and is in the same style as those at Rabat and Marrakesh in Morocco.
It is a monumental, square tower which houses seven superimposed rooms. Access is provided by a ramp up which the Imam rode a
donkey five times a day to call the faithful to prayer. The exquisite brick patterns on its four façades assured its survival when Seville fell
to the Christians. Upon it they placed a belfry (bells are anathema to Islam) and a weather vane, or Giraldillo, thus giving the cathedral
tower its modern name, the Giralda.
After some time at leisure for lunch, we visit the Almohad Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold), so named for the gilded tiles that once
adorned its eight sides. The Torre del Oro was part of the Alcázar, and in it was anchored one end of the great defensive chain
stretching across the Guadalquivir River.
We also view the Hospital de la Caridad. This 17th-century hospital is intricately linked to the legend of Miguel Manara. It was once
thought that he built this institution to atone for his sins, but this has been disproven. The death of Manara’s beautiful young wife in
1661 caused him such grief that he retired from society and entered the “Charity Brotherhood,” burying corpses of the sick and
diseased as well as condemned and executed criminals. Today members of this brotherhood continue to look after the poor, the
elderly, and the infirm who have no one else to help them. The baroque chapel contains works by the 17th-century Spanish painters
Murillo and Valdés Leal. (Overnight Seville) B
Day 3: Tuesday 28 April, Seville
Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum)
Alcázar
We commence our day with a visit to the Museo de Bellas Artes, a large museum of Andalucian art which was refurbished for Expo.
Here we shall explore the development of Sevillian religious painting in the works of such masters as Zurbarán and Murillo. We shall
look at the development of the devotional image during the 16th and 17th centuries and at the intimacy, realism and informality which
makes Spanish Counter-Reformation painting so different from its Italian counterpart. We shall discover the fine treatment of light by
Zurbarán, which isolates figures from their surrounds, underpinning their expressions of intense, private devotion, and at the virtuosity
with which Murillo bathes his luminous images in radiant light.
This afternoon we visit the Alcázar, a fine Moorish palace built, not by the Almohad dynasty, but by the Christian king, Pedro the Cruel
(14th century). This Alcázar, its courtyards lined with fine stucco reliefs and coloured tiles, speaks of the ambivalence of the Christian
invaders who emulated the vanquished Islamic culture. The Alcázar echoes the Alhambra (Granada) in its richness, and was, in fact,
built by Pedro the Cruel in conscious imitation of this great group of mansions. Pedro saw in the architecture of the Alhambra a
reflection of the sophistication of the autocratic Nasrid state of Granada, and by inserting his own emblem within a decorative scheme
inspired by it was asserting his own authority and power. The complex grew beyond Pedro’s original palace. It includes, for example,
the Oratory of the Catholic Monarchs, with splendid early sixteenth century polychrome tiles, a fine garden with a subterranean bath,
and rooms in which expeditions to South America were planned. (Overnight Seville) B
Córdoba - 2 nights
Day 4: Wednesday 29 April, Seville – Carmona – Córdoba
Roman Necropolis, Carmona
Muslim fortress, Carmona (now Parador)
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This morning we drive to Carmona. There we shall visit the Roman necropolis which lies on a low hill at the edge of Carmona amid
cypress trees. It contains more than nine hundred family tombs dating from the second century BC to the fourth century AD. Enclosed
in subterranean chambers hewn from the rock, the tombs are often frescoed and contain a series of niches in which many of the funeral
urns remain intact. Some of the larger tombs have vestibules with stone benches for funeral banquets and several retain carved family
emblems. Opposite is a partly excavated ampitheatre.
Lunch will be at the Alcazar del Rey Don Pedro (a Muslim fortress now converted into the 4-star parador of Carmona). The remains of
this Muslim fortress dominate a bluff at one end of the city, overlooking the great Andalucian plain. Carmona, inhabited long before
the classical period, became a major town in Roman Baetica and an independent Muslim city state (Taifa) after the fall of the Caliphate
of Córdoba. It was taken by Ferdinand III in 1247 and became a favourite city of Pedro the Cruel, who used workmen employed
constructing his Alcázar in Seville to turn the castle into a sumptuous residence. We next drive into Córdoba to check-in to our hotel.
(Overnight Córdoba) BL
Day 5: Thursday 30 April, Córdoba
Synagogue, Córdoba
Mosque, Córdoba
Palacio de Viana – Patio Museum
Córdoba patios
After breakfast at our Córdoba hotel, which is in the Jewish Quarter (Judería) of the city, we shall visit Córdoba’s delightful small
synagogue. The Jews arrived in Córdoba before the Muslims and almost immediately made it a centre of learning. They established
the Jewish Quarter after the city had become the centre of Muslim Spain. Its 14th century synagogue is one of three surviving
medieval synagogues in Spain. It has a women’s gallery, and the upper reaches of its walls are in the Mudéjar stucco style, with
Hebrew inscriptions. These stuccoes, like those of many mosques, alternate geometrical and vegetal motifs.
We continue our morning’s program with a visit to the great mosque of Córdoba. The mosque (c.786-986), one of the earliest and
finest still standing, was constructed by successive members of the Ummayad dynasty. Its outer façades boast exquisite geometrical
and floral patterns set in the tympana of horseshoe arches and in panels above them. Within the prayer hall is a forest of columns
supporting superimposed tiers of polychrome arches thought to have been modelled upon the Roman aqueduct at Merida. The
mihrab (prayer niche) is adorned with exquisite abstract designs in mosaic, executed by a school of mosaicists from Constantinople.
These mosaics, and those of the domes above the mihrab, give meaning to Allah’s prescription to the prophet concerning images:
that they should be a simile of nature, not an abstraction of it; and that they should convey by their delicacy the notion that nothing
material has meaning or permanence. The mosque is punctured by a huge cathedral, whose minaret became the cathedral bell tower.
This afternoon is devoted to exploring the patios of Córdoba. This city has some of the loveliest small urban gardens in Spain, located
in the courtyards of old Córdoban houses. Some of these houses are very, very old; everywhere in the ancient city core are to be found
the remains of Muslim dwellings built before the end of the eleventh century. Even if houses are later, they follow earlier plans because
their foundations (and many of their cellars) are the walls of older houses. Once a year, Córdoba opens its patios in an Andalucian
version of our open garden scheme and prizes are given to the best exhibits. Many of the previous prize-winners are in the San Basilio
district of the city near the hotel. We also visit the Palacio de Viana, located on the northern edge of the old town. This traditional
Andalucian mansion features twelve patios covering the Renaissance and Baroque periods with fountains, formal parterres, citrus trees,
date palms and roses with a profusion of pots, pebbled floors and elegant arches. (Overnight Córdoba) B
Úbeda - 1 night
Day 6: Friday 1 May, Córdoba – Jaén – Baeza – Úbeda
Morning tea at the Castillo de Santa Catalina (Parador of Jaén)
Muslim Baths of Palacio de Villardompardo, Jaén
Palacio de Jabalquinto, Baeza (façade)
Baeza Cathedr
This morning we depart early from Córdoba and drive to Jaén. On arrival we take morning tea at the parador, an eighteenth century
Arab fortress. The hotel’s location on the Cerro de Santa Catalina adds a defensive, fortress-like character to the Jaén landscape.
Jaén gained prominence as a Taifa kingdom when the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba fractured into a number of small states. Jaén
was a major stronghold in the Sierra Morena and was taken by the Christian armies shortly after the great battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
(1212). Much archaeological investigation has been carried out in Jaén since the death of Franco, when Spaniards began to rediscover
their Muslim heritage. Jaén’s magnificent Muslim baths with their fine domed ceilings were restored. We shall visit the baths and the
interesting folk arts museum nearby.
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After lunchtime in Jaén, we drive to the small city of Baeza. Baeza and its twin, Ubeda, arguably have the best preserved examples of
Renaissance urban planning and architecture in Spain. Located on a Roman road to eastern Spain, these two cities rose to prominence
during the Muslim period. They were captured by Ferdinand III in 1234 who settled a number of aristocratic families here, making them
Christian bastions against the Nasrid kingdom of Granada. The towns experienced great prosperity again in the 16th century through
agriculture and the production of textiles and it is from this period that most of their finest palaces and churches derive.
We shall walk through Baeza, view the magnificent Isabelline Gothic façade of the Palacio de Jabalquinto (sometimes also known as
the Palacio de los Condes-Duques de Benavente), and visit the cathedral, built between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Tonight we stay in the Parador Condestable Dávalos a former palace built in the 16th century and altered in the 17th, which belonged
to the dean of the Sacred chapel of El Salvador. The façade of the Parador conceals a very beautiful inner courtyard with a double
gallery whose upper part is glazed. (Overnight Úbeda) BD
Almería - 1 night
Day 7: Saturday 2 May, Úbeda – Guadix – Almería
Ubeda Pottery Quarter
Chapel of San Salvador, Ubeda
Troglodyte Village, Guadix
Museo de Almería
This morning, we take a walk through Ubeda’s pottery-making quarter and also visit the Holy Chapel of San Salvador. It is rare in Spain
to find a church built during a short period in a unified style without a large number of later accretions. Such is Ubeda’s Chapel of San
Salvador. This is particularly so of the interior, whose decoration and furnishings have altered little since its construction.
We next drive south to Almería via Guadix. We shall pass the young Guadalquivir, which flows ultimately through Córdoba and Seville,
and drive through remote regions of the Sierra Nevada. Guadix, located in a strange, heavily eroded landscape is likened by some to
Göreme in Turkey, and has similar troglodyte dwellings.
Upon arriving in Almería on the Mediterranean coast in the afternoon, we visit the archaeological museum of Almería, which opened
its doors in 2003. The museum contains important and varied archaeological objects, collected from various places in Almería
province, ranging from the first settlements (the oldest site in the province at Cueva de Zájara dates from the Mid-Paleolithic), until the
present day. The Museum also has a wide range of ethnographical items: popular ceramics, regional costumes, weapons, items made
from esparto grass, etc. But the main attraction of the museum is its exhibition space focusing on the Millares and El Argar cultures. A
clever use of multimedia is applied to bring to life these unique cultures. (Overnight Almería) B
Granada - 3 nights
Day 8: Sunday 3 May, Almería – Los Millares – Granada
Alcazaba, Almería
Cathedral of Almería (exterior only)
Los Millares archaeological site
Although a modern resort sits next to the old city of Almería, this port – for much of its history best approached by sea – has fine
Muslim fortifications and an Alcazaba second only to that of the Alhambra in scale. Abd al-Rahman III made Almería the most
important port in Al-Andalus in the mid-tenth century. In 1031 it became an independent kingdom when the Córdoban Caliphate
collapsed. It was captured by Alfonso VII in 1147 and although recaptured by the Nasrids, came to be eclipsed by Granada. It
surrendered to Isabella and Ferdinand in 1481, eleven years before Granada. Devastated by earthquakes, it has recently undergone a
revival.
Alfonso VII is believed to have taken Almería in order to suppress its pirates who raided the Christian coast. After 1492, its isolated
coastal position in turn made it the object of raids by North African corsairs. This threat led its cathedral to be designed in a squat,
fortress-like style.
This morning we will walk though the historic centre of Almería to the Alcazaba with the remains of a mosque, and view vestiges of the
original walls which connect this fortress to a second high point, the Cerro de San Cristobal. Although the Cathedral will be closed
during our time in Almería, we will view its remarkable exterior from the Cathedral Square.
We next visit the archaeological site of Los Millares, thought to be the location of Spain’s first metal-working culture, and regarded as
the most important of all the Copper Age sites in south-east Spain, before driving north to Granada. (Overnight Granada) BL
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Day 9: Monday 4 May, Granada
Alhambra
Generalife
Afternoon at leisure
Dinner at restaurant ‘El Huerto de Juan Ranas’, Albaicin quarter
This morning we shall visit the Alhambra (1354-1391) and Generalife (summer palace and villa of the Nasrid rulers) to study the
architecture and garden design of Nasrid Granada. We visit palaces and villas in the complex that centre upon the Court of the Myrtles
and the Court of the Lions, and the Generalife. The first complex – comprising the Patio de Machuca, the Mexuar, the Patio del Cuarto
Dorado, and the Patio de Comares (Court of the Myrtles) – gives a sense of the disposition of an Islamic palace, the discrete, hermetic
spaces of which bespeak Islam’s emphasis on privacy. This complex combines areas where the ruler sat in court or received
ambassadors with a harem designed to isolate the royal household from the outside world. In essence the palace is introverted, its
main façade secreted within the Patio del Cuarto Dorado, rather than turning outwards to announce to the outside world the palaces
within, in the way of a Western façade. The Hall of the Ambassadors is an example of the spatial rhetoric of power, while the Patio de
Comares used a great pool and trees (later replaced by hedges of myrtle) to create a paradisal, secluded core to the complex.
Next to this group is the villa of the Nasrids, built about the Court of the Lions, whose fine stucco arches and slender columns are,
some scholars argue, the architectural evocation of an oasis. Here we find rooms filled with exquisite detailing, such as the
Abencerrajes Gallery, the Sala de los Reyes, and the Sala de las Dos Hermanas, two of which have extraordinary stucco domes
reproducing star bursts in the desert sky. Beneath this villa there is yet another, to which are attached the Royal Baths.
We then walk out across the pine-forested hills of the Alhambra Mountain to the Generalife, an exquisite villa retreat and hunting
lodge of the Nasrids. Here we see gardens to rival the Villa d’Este, Rome, with fine fountains whose sounds were intended to provide a
poetic counterpoint to the architectural aesthetics of the Arab palace or villa. Lastly, we shall visit the Alcazabar, the fortress of the
Alhambra, which has a broad panorama of the Sierra Nevada. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure so you can enjoy the beautiful
environment of the Alhambra Mountain.
This evening we dine at Restaurant ‘El Huerto de Juan Ranas’, located on San Nicolas Square in the Albaicín quarter with splendid
views of the Alhambra. We shall sample traditional Andalucian dishes with delicate Arabic influences. (Overnight Granada) BD
Day 10: Tuesday 5 May, Granada
Albaicin
Muslim Baths
Palacio de la Madraza (exterior only)
Capilla Real
Cathedral
Alcaiceria
Corral del Carbon
Today we shall explore the city of Granada on a walking tour. We shall begin by visiting the Albaicín quarter which nestles beneath the
protective shadow of the Alhambra. The Albaicín was originally a suburb of Muslim Granada. After the fall of the city to Ferdinand and
Isabella it became the refuge of the Moriscoes and is now the oldest residential quarter in the city. It has preserved several Islamic
features: its street-plan, mosque fragments incorporated into churches, and the 11th century Zirid Hammam al-Yawza, one of the best
preserved Muslim baths in Spain.
We then visit the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) in which Ferdinand and Isabella are buried. Their sumptuous Renaissance tomb, and that
of their daughter Joan the Mad and her husband Philip the Handsome, are to be found in the great sacristy. The sacristy also contains
fine retables, polychrome sculptures and Spanish and Italian paintings. Next to the sacristy is the museum collection of Isabella, which
houses the swords and ceremonial garb of Ferdinand and Isabella, as well as their magnificent collection of Flemish paintings.
We then walk to the Cathedral, one of Spain’s last, which was conceived by the Emperor Charles V as a model of the ‘heavenly
Jerusalem’. Nearby is the commercial and religious centre of Granada: the Corral del Carbon, a Nasrid caravanserai or khan where
merchants could store their produce and spend the night, and the Alcaiceria, an area of closely packed shops still arranged according
to the street-plan of the qaysariyya or royal market of Islamic Granada. Another site of interest is the Palacio de la Madraza, previously
the Nasrid Yusufiyya Madrasa, a theological college built in the 14th century. (Overnight Granada) B
Ronda - 2 nights
Day 11: Wednesday 6 May, Granada – Antequera – Ronda
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Municipal Museum of Antequera
Megalithic Tombs of Antequera
This morning we drive to Ronda via Antequera. Roman Antikiera became a Muslim fortress city, dominated by a castle. First taken in by
the Christians in 1410, it became a major centre of humanist learning in the 16th century. At this time it gained palaces to rival the
masterpieces of Baeza and Ubeda. We shall walk through this white town to view its palace façades, churches, municipal museum and
most importantly, the Dolmens (large Megalithic tombs constructed of large slabs of stone, the oldest Megalithic tombs date back to
the year 2500 BC) before driving on to Ronda.
The landscape we shall encounter today and for the next two days is dominated by the white towns for which Andalucia is justly
famous. We shall spend the next two nights in the Parador de Ronda, housed in a former 18th century town house; it is located in the
historical centre alongside the famous Tagus River, next to the Puente Nuevo and the bullring. (Overnight Ronda) BD
Day 12: Thursday 7 May, Ronda
Puente Nuevo
Bull Ring
Muslim Baths
Colegiata Santa María la Mayor
Afternoon at leisure
The early 19th century artists David Roberts and J.F. Lewis both painted the dramatic view of the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) which
spans the deep ravine, “El Tajo”, connecting the two parts of Ronda, the old Muslim town and the Christian district, the Mercadillo.
The ravine was cut by the Guadelvin and the high bridge which spans it was built in the late 18th century. Of Roman origin, Ronda
became an almost impregnable Muslim fortress city until it was taken by the armies of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1485. It retains a
Roman bridge which we cross to visit the Muslim baths, a reminder of its Islamic history.
In 1493, eight years after the Christian capture of the city, the Maestranza, or Company of Knights, was formed here for the supervision
of bullfighting. Ronda’s bullring, the second oldest in Spain after that of Seville, was built here in 1794. In the 18th century Ronda’s
greatest matador was Pedro Romero who is believed to have developed the classical bull-fighting style of the School of Ronda. We
shall visit the bullring which is in the Mercedillo. The old town preserves its Muslim street plan. Here we shall visit the Colegiata, built in
the 15th and 16th centuries on the site of the mosque. It preserves a 13th century horseshoe arch and a minaret which was converted
into a bell tower in the 16th century.
An afternoon at leisure will allow you to explore the town further and to walk out of it in order to enjoy the views so valued in the 19th
century. (Overnight Ronda) BD
Cádiz - 3 nights
Day 13: Friday 8 May, Ronda – Jimena de la Frontera – Algeciras – Tarifa – Cádiz
Jimena de la Frontera, Andalucian White Town
Algeciras and view of the Rock of Gibraltar
Tarifa Old Town
Baelo Claudia
This morning we drive south towards the Strait of Gibraltar, stopping at Jimena de la Frontera, a small historic white town of narrow
cobbled streets built on a rock escarpment dominated by its castle. From Jimena’s castle, once a Muslim stronghold, you can enjoy the
beautiful vista across the surrounding woodlands, mountains and valleys to the bay of Algeciras, where our next stop will be.
Strategically located on the far side of the bay opposite Algeciras stands the dramatic Rock of Gibraltar, the name of which is derived
from the Arabic Jebel Tariq or ‘Mountain of Tariq’ after the Berber leader Tariq Ibn Ziyad, who led the Islamic invasion of the Spanish
peninsula in 711 AD. We will stop briefly for a chance to view and photograph this famous landmark, which to the ancient Greeks and
Romans was one of the two Pillars of Hercules marking the western edge of the known world.
We then follow the coastline road west to Tarifa, which offers spectacular views of the Strait of Gibraltar over to Morocco and the Rif
mountain ranges. We stop for lunch in Tarifa, named after the Moorish leader Tarif Ibn Malik who led a first expedition to the southern
tip of Spain in 710, a year before the main Moorish invasion of the peninsula. We will have time to explore the attractive old town with
its narrow streets, white-washed houses and flowered balconies, and view its Moorish castle dating back to the 10th century. Christians
took over the town in 1292 but suffered several counter-attacks, during which it was defended by Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, nicknamed
El Bueno “the good”, for allowing his son to be captured and killed rather than surrender the town to the Moors.
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In the afternoon we drive to the archaeological site of Baelo Claudia, one of the best and most complete Roman urban sites in Spain
surrounded by beautiful vistas of the Gibraltar Range National Park. This small Roman coastal town is thought to have emerged at the
end of the 2nd century BC, and subsisted mainly on tuna-fishing, sauce-making and olive-oil pressing industries. Its origins and
subsequent development are closely linked to its commerce with North Africa, and it is thought to have served as a main port of
embarkation for Tingis (modern Tangier). It became a Roman municipium under the Emperor Claudius (41-54 AD) and displays features
of centralised town planning of the early imperial period with an interest in public buildings, such as the forum, temple complex,
market and public bath complex built along the Decumanus Maximus, the principal thoroughfare. (Overnight Cádiz) B
Day 14: Saturday 9 May, Cádiz – Jerez de la Frontera – Cádiz
Alcazar, Jerez de la Frontera
Yeguada de la Cartuja Horse Stud
Bodega Tio Pepe – Gonzalez Byass
Cathedral, Jerez de la Frontera (exterior)
Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair), Jerez de la Frontera
Every year in spring, the city of Jerez de la Frontera – famous for its sherry production and for its thoroughbred white Andalucian
horses – hosts the Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair) lasting seven days.
The Horse Fair in Jerez is one of the oldest in Spain; it began as a livestock show in 1284 and has since grown into one of Andalucia’s
biggest festivals. The Gónzalez Hontoria Park is the main site of the fair and features more than 200 marquees or casetas, some
offering typical dishes of the region; an amusement area; the alumbrado, or fairy lighting, which is illuminated at the Fair’s
inauguration; and the horse promenade along which horses, riders and carriages in traditional dress parade all day long in a beautiful
spectacle. The Horse Fair also offers an ideal opportunity to enjoy the art of flamenco that emerges spontaneously in every corner of
the fairground.
Jerez is the home of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, a riding school comparable to the world-famous Spanish Riding
School in Vienna and the Fair attracts horse lovers and equestrian enthusiasts from around the world. Amongst other events and
numerous exhibitions, the equestrian program includes competitions of doma vaquera and doma clasica, known as country-style and
classical dressage, a carriage competition show, and the presentation of the Caballo de Oro (Golden Horse) Award, the most
prestigious equestrian trophy awarded annually in Spain in recognition of dedication to, and work carried out in favour of, the horse.
Today we travel to Jerez de la Frontera where we experience a quintessential Andalucian itinerary of thoroughbred Spanish horses –
originally produced during Moorish rule by crossing Berber and Arab stallions with Iberian mares – fine Islamic and Christian
architecture and a drop of sherry.
Our tour begins with a visit to the fine Alcazar with a beautiful small mosque in the spare style of the Almohads. When the Christians
took Jerez in the 13th century, it became a centre of monumental architecture.
Mid-morning we drive to the Yeguada de la Cartuja Stud, famous for its Jerezano thoroughbred horses. First bred in the 15th century
by the Carthusian monks in what was a former monastery, Jerezano, or Carthusian horses provided the bloodline for many famous
breeds around the world, including the Lippizzaner horses that were bred in Lipica in present day Slovenia, and those that grace the
Spanish Horse School in Vienna. Today, amidst its splendid Renaissance buildings, the breeding program continues not by the
Carthusian monks who were expelled from Spain by the French army in the 19th century, but by a consortium of private owners eager
to preserve the bloodline they established. Our visit includes a guided tour of the stud’s facilities and an opportunity to watch some of
these fine animals go through their paces in a classical dressage performance.
Following lunch and a glass or copita of sherry wine or brandy at one of Jerez’s famous bodegas, we shall take a tour of Jerez de la
Frontera to soak in the festive atmostphere of the Horse Fair. When Jerez was taken by the Christians in the 13th century, it became a
centre of monumental architecture. Time allowing we shall also view the cathedral’s ornate façade, and a number of beautiful Gothic
houses (exteriors). (Overnight Cádiz) BL
Day 15: Sunday 10 May, Cádiz
Museo de Cádiz
Oratorio de la Santa Cueva
‘La Bella Escondida’ private home
Farewell lunch at the Café Royalty, Cádiz
Afternoon at leisure
Located on a peninsula on a large bay, Cádiz was founded in 1100 BC as a Phoenician port, prospered under the Romans, but
declined under the Visigoths (5th century). Córdoba and later Seville eclipsed it during the Muslim period and it only revived with the
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American trade in the 16th century. When the Casa de Contrataccion (Office of the Americas) was moved here from Seville in 1717,
Cádiz prospered as Seville had done, through a virtual monopoly of American trade. Surrounded in the 18th century by fortifications, it
was the French laid seige to the city from 5 February 1810 until withdrawing on 24 August 1812. During this seige Cádiz’s Spanish
patriots promulgated Spain’s first modern constitution. This act heralded the development of the concept of liberalism in Western
politics.
We shall spend the morning in the archaeological, fine arts and ethnographic sections of the Museo de Cádiz. The archaeological
section documents the city’s important ancient history, and the highlight of the Fine Arts section is the Zurbarán collection. We shall
also visit the Oratorio de la Santa Cueva, an exquisite example of 18th century Baroque, which sports three recently restored Goyas.
We conclude our program this morning with a visit to ‘La Bella Escondida’, one of 128 miradors (watch towers) remaining from the 170
or so 18th century towers that overlooked the sea from the centre of Cádiz. By this time Cádiz had become the major entrepôt for
trade with the Americas; the river port of Seville had collapsed because silting had closed the Guadalquivir to navigation. Cádiz
merchants added these towers to their residences; from them they would scan the horizon, anxiously awaiting the return of their
precious cargoes.
Located in the historic centre, ‘La Bella Escondida’ is so-named because it cannot be seen from the street (escondida = ‘hidden’) but
only from other mirador towers or from a nearby rooftop. Its design is unique. From its octagonal base rises a Mudéjar shaft covered
with a profusion of ceramic tiles. The palace-house (casa palacio) to which it is attached has four floors, a central patio with magnificent
columns and elegant salons. Until the 19th century this palace belonged to one of Queen Isabel II’s goddaughters. It was bought and
carefully restored by Seville’s leading interior decorator, Manuel Morales de Jódar, who also owns what is arguably Seville’s most
fashionable antiques shop, ‘Montano Piranesi’.
Nearby, we enjoy a farewell lunch at Café Royalty, one of the few historically preserved grand romantic cafes in Andalucia, located in
Cádiz’s historic centre. The Café features rich paintings by well-known Spanish artists such as Felipe Abarzuza, beautifully handcrafted
carpentry from the era, and gold leaf plaster details together with early 20th century furnishings. Inaugurated in 1912, it soon became
the most popular spot in Cádiz, and was frequented by renowned writers, intellectuals, politicians, artists and musicians, such as the
great local composer Manuel de Falla, who delighted customers with his concerts.
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. (Overnight Cádiz) BL
Day 16: Monday 11 May, Cádiz – Seville Airport
This morning we drive north to Seville Airport. The tour ends today at Seville Airport at approximately 12.00noon. Participants wishing
to extend their stay in Seville are advised to contact ASA for more information. B
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Accommodation
16 Days in Andalucia
A special feature of this tour is our stay in several heritage hotels. ASA has selected 4-star hotels that are themselves historical
buildings and/or are located in historical centres. All hotels provide rooms with private facilities. Single rooms may be requested and
are subject to availability and payment of the single supplement. A hotel list will be given to all participants prior to departure.
Seville (3 nights): 4-star Las Casas de la Juderia - housed in the former palace of the Duke of Béjar, located in the heart of the
Santa Cruz district, built in the traditional manner around courtyards with gardens and fountains. www.casasypalacios.com
Córdoba (2 nights): 4-star NH Hotel Amistad Córdoba, housed in an 18th century mansion, located in the historic centre within
walking distance of the mosque and synagogue. www.nh-hoteles.com
Úbeda (1 night): 4-star Parador de Úbeda - located on a Renaissance square in the aristocratic and monumental town of Úbeda,
in a former palace built in the 16th century and altered in the 17th, which belonged to the dean of the Sacred Chapel of El
Salvador. The façade of the Parador conceals a very beautiful inner courtyard with a double gallery whose upper part is
glazed. www.parador.es
Almería (1 night): 4-star Vita Gran Hotel Almería - a modern hotel located in the city centre overlooking the
sea. www.almeria-vitagranhotel.com
Granada (3 nights): 4-star Melia Granada -recently renovated and close to the Cathedral and Alhambra Palace. www.melia.com
Ronda (2 nights): 4-star Parador de Ronda -housed in a former 18th century town house located in the historical centre of
Ronda, alongside the famous Tagus River, next to the Puente Nuevo and the bullring. www.parador.es
Cádiz (3 nights): 4-star Parador de Cádiz - recently renovated, modern hotel, located next to the Genovés Park with spectacular
views over the Bay of Cadiz. www.parador.es
Note: Hotels are subject to change, in which case a hotel of similar standard will be provided.
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Tour Map
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Tour Price & Inclusions
AUD $7790.00 Land Content Only - Early-Bird Special: book before 30 Sep 2014
AUD $7990.00 Land Content Only
AUD $1380.00 Single Supplement
For competitive Economy, Business or First Class airfares and/or group airfares please contact ASA for further information.
Tour Price (Land Content Only) includes:
Accommodation in twin-share rooms with private facilities in 4-star hotels
Breakfast daily, lunches and evening meals indicated in the itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=evening meal
Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included
Transportation by air-conditioned coach
Airport-hotel transfers if travelling on the ASA 'designated' flights
Porterage of one piece of luggage per person at hotels (not at airports)
Lecture and site-visit program
Tour handbook
Entrance fees
Use of audio headsets during site visits
Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals.
Tour Price (Land Content Only) does not include:
International Airfare: Australia-Seville, Seville-Australia
Personal spending money
Airport-hotel transfers if not travelling on the ASA 'designated' flights
Luggage in excess of 20 kg (44 lbs)
Travel Insurance.
Andalucia: Christians and Muslims in Southern Spain
August 2014
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Physical Endurance & Practical Information
Physical Ratings
The number of flags is a guide to the degree of difficulty of ASA tours relative to each other (not to those of other tour companies). It is
neither absolute nor literal. One flag is given to the least taxing tours, six to the most. Flags are allocated, above all, according to the
amount of walking and standing each tour involves. Nevertheless all ASA tours require that participants have a good degree of fitness
enabling 2-3 hours walking or 1-1.5 hours standing still on any given site visit or excursion. Many sites are accessed by climbing slopes
or steps and have uneven terrain.
This 16-day tour involves:
A moderate amount of walking, often on uneven and/or cobbled streets; some steep inclines and steps
Standing during museum and other site visits
Note: this tour includes the use of audio headsets which amplify the voice of your guide (despite noisy surroundings). This
technology also allows you to move freely during site visits without missing any information.
Other considerations:
4-star hotels with six hotel changes
You must be able to carry your own hand-luggage. Hotel porterage includes 1 piece of luggage per person
Evening meals are generally not served until 8-8.30pm
It is important to remember that ASA programs are group tours, and slow walkers affect everyone in the group. As the group must
move at the speed of the slowest member, the amount of time spent at a site may be reduced if group members cannot maintain a
moderate walking pace. ASA tours should not present any problem for active people who can manage day-to-day walking and stairclimbing. However, if you have any doubts about your ability to manage on a program, please ask your ASA travel consultant whether
this is a suitable tour for you.
Please note: it is a condition of travel that all participants agree to accept ASA's directions in relation to their suitability to participate in
activities undertaken on the tour, and that ASA retains the sole discretion to direct a tour participant to refrain from a particular activity
on part of the tour. For further information please refer to the ASA Reservation Application Form.
Practical Information
Andalucia: Christians and Muslims in Southern Spain
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Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
Prior to departure, tour members will receive practical notes which include information on visa requirements, health, photography,
weather, clothing and what to pack, custom regulations, bank hours, currency regulations, electrical appliances and food. The
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade website has advice for travellers see: www.smartraveller.gov.au
Booking Conditions
Make a Reservation
ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION FORM
Please complete the ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION and send it to Australians Studying Abroad together with your non-refundable
deposit of AUD $500.00 per person (payable to Australians Studying Abroad).
Passport Details
All participants must provide no later than 75 days prior to the commencement of the program a photocopy of the front page of their
current passport.
Single Supplement
Payment of the single supplement will ensure accommodation in a single room throughout the tour. The number of single rooms is
extremely limited. People wishing to take this supplement are therefore advised to book well in advance.
Andalucia: Christians and Muslims in Southern Spain
August 2014
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Reservation Application
TOUR NAME
TOUR DATES
Please complete one application, per person in block letters and sign. Parental signature is required for participants under 18 years
of age. Please mail this form with the appropriate deposit to: P.O. Box 8285, ARMADALE, VICTORIA, 3143. On receipt of this Reservation
Application and deposit, ASA will process your booking and if approved, send you a tour confirmation.
Applicant Details (as in passport)
TITLE
Mr
Mrs
Ms
Miss
Dr
Other
FIRST NAME
Preferred FIRST NAME
MIDDLE NAME
SURNAME
POSTAL ADDRESS
CITY
TEL. (AH) (
STATE
)
COUNTRY
TEL. (BH) (
POSTCODE
)
Mobile Tel:
EMAIL address
Date of birth
/
/
GENDER Male
Passport Number
Expiry date
I have enclosed a colour copy of my current valid passport
Female
/
/
Nationality
ASA has a colour copy of my current passport
Travel Plans
I wish ASA to book my airfare, please contact me to discuss my options.
Business Class
I plan to leave Australia before the tour commences. Planned departure date
/
Economy Class
/
I will be arranging my airfare independently and taking the Land Content Only option.
Frequent Flyer
Membership #
Name of Airline
Airline Seat preference
(please note request only)
Tour Accommodation (rooming preferences)
I/we would like:
a twin-bedded room
I am travelling:
on my own
a double-bedded room
with a friend/family member
Meals
a room for sole occupancy
Travel Companion
Please X the box if you CAN NOT eat any of the following:
I do not have any specific dietary requests
Your preferred method of correspondence
poultry
red meat
eggs
pork
nuts
dairy products
Other
Allergies: Refer to the Medical Information
Correspondence
fish
Postal Mail
Email Address
Emergency Contact Details
Note: this person MUST be available by telephone and be present in Australia for the duration of your tour with ASA
Name
Relationship to Traveller
Address
TEL. (AH) (
EMAIL address
)
TEL. (BH) (
)
Mobile Tel:
Medical Information
The purpose of seeking this information is to assist ASA to determine,
where necessary, whether ASA is able to make reasonable adjustments
to accommodate your specific needs and whether your health and safety
(or that of your fellow travellers) is likely to be compromised given your
choice of tour. It will also assist you and ASA if you fall ill or have an
accident whilst travelling.
• ASA reserves the right to decline your Reservation Application if this
Medical Information section is not completed properly and may reject
or cancel your reservation, or terminate your participation on any tour,
if ASA subsequently learns that you have failed to make full and
proper disclosure.
Mobility and Fitness
As many of ASA’s international sites do not provide access to wheelchairs or similar
mobility aids, we regret that ASA tours are not suitable for people who require the
use of a walking frame, wheeled walker, wheelchair or motorised scooter.
1. Do you suffer from any medical conditions that may compromise
your mobility and/or fitness to participate on this program?
If yes, please specify
YES NO
If yes, how will you manage this on tour?
• ASA is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information.
ASA’s privacy policy is available for viewing at www.asatours.com.au
• If ASA has any concerns about the information you have provided, it will
contact you to request clarification before considering your Application.
• ASA requires you to consider carefully your limitations in light of ASA’s
Physical Endurance Star Rating System in ASA’s Brochure and
Itinerary when choosing your tour.
• If you are not likely to satisfy ASA’s Participation Criteria (see below),
ASA, in its sole discretion, may reject your Reservation Application.
• It is a condition of your tour that you agree to accept the directions
of ASA’s Tour Leaders in relation to your suitability to participate in
activities planned on tour.
• ASA reserves the right to cancel your participation on a tour if your
behaviour is in ASA’s opinion causing undue distress or damage to any
person or their property.
• If your participation is discontinued during a tour, ASA will assist by
arranging your onward travel (if required) at your own cost, but you
will not be refunded for forfeited parts of the tour.
• ASA tour groups are not accompanied by a medical practitioner.
ASA recommends that you see your doctor for advice about
your specific needs while overseas. You may also wish to contact a
travel and vaccination clinic for advice. www.traveldoctor.com.au
tel:1300 658 444; www.travelvax.com.au tel: 1300 360 164.
• Travel insurers require you to declare all existing medical conditions.
Allergies and/or Food Intolerances
ASA will make reasonable endeavours to organise meals to suit you, provided
that you give ASA adequate notice of your specific dietary requirements or
allergies. You may be required to research dietary alternatives, as not all
destinations may be able to offer suitable food substitutes.
YES NO
1. Do you have any food allergies or intolerances?
If yes, please specify
2. Have you ever had an anaphylactic reaction to anything?
If yes, please specify
Do you carry an epipen?
3. Do you have any other allergies or reactions to anything,
including medical drugs?
If yes, please specify
• Please carry a complete list of medications with you during the ASA
tour. Include generic names of each medication (consult your local
pharmacy for information).
Existing Medical Conditions
Please mark X in the YES or NO box to every question below and
provide details where necessary:
Participation Criteria
To participate in an ASA tour, you must be reasonably fit, in good
health and able to participate in all activities without assistance from
Tour Leaders or other tour members. If you require assistance, a fit
and able travel companion must undertake to accompany and assist
you with all tasks for the duration of the whole tour. The responsibility
of the Tour Leader is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing
and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to
provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.
You alone are responsible for managing any existing medical conditions, your
medication and any medical equipment that you may need when on your tour.
Please plan for contingencies and take extra medication, dietary supplements
and/or fully charged batteries for medical equipment if your health and safety
depends on these. You should take into consideration that power sources at
some destinations may be unavailable, inadequate, inconvenient or unreliable.
1. Have you any significant medical conditions that may
impact your capacity to complete this tour?
If yes, please specify
YES NO
If yes, how will you manage this on tour?
YES NO
1. Can you walk and stand unassisted for at least 2-3 hours
a day in hot, humid conditions?
2. Do you require some form of powered medical aid,
such as a CPAP machine?
These machines may not be operable on certain international flights, modes
of transport, in remote or other areas with inadequate or unreliable power
sources without a fully charged independent long life battery or batteries.
2. Can you walk unassisted on and over uneven surfaces?
3. Can you climb at least 3 flights of stairs and/or walk up and
down steep slopes unassisted?
4. Can you walk at a steady pace and no less than 1km every
15 - 20 minutes unassisted?
5. Can you organise, manage and carry your own luggage?
6. Can you follow and remember tour instructions and meet
punctually at designated times and places?
7.
Diabetics: You may be travelling and sightseeing for many hours at a time.
Insulin dependent diabetics must carry extra supplies of insulin (as this
medication cannot be obtained in some destinations), regulators,
applicators, storage and refrigeration equipment, as well as any necessary
supplements. Accommodation may not provide refrigerators in rooms.
3.
Can you administer your own medication?
8. Do you have impaired vision or hearing which may impact
your capacity to participate on this tour?
Are you diabetic?
Are you insulin dependent?
4.
Do you suffer from travel sickness?
Remember to use an appropriate medication while on tour.
Declaration, Liability
and Booking Conditions
Declaration
I declare that: I have read and understood the ASA Tour Itinerary, Reservation Application and Booking Conditions. I am aware of ASA’s terms as relating
to refunds, cancellations, responsibility and liability. I understand that ASA relies upon this declaration when considering this Application. I accept that there
are inherent dangers and risks that may occur during any tour. I have made full and complete disclosure and have not knowingly withheld any medical
information about myself from ASA. I have completed this Reservation Application honestly and accurately. I warrant that l am able to participate independently
in all activities described by ASA in the itinerary without assistance from any person.
I will advise ASA in writing if any aspect of my fitness and or health conditions change materially at any time before my departure date. I understand and
accept that the itinerary, accommodation and lecturers scheduled for this tour may change.
I agree and consent that ASA may give my personal information in this Reservation Application to tour service providers and relevant authorities as required
by law, but for the purpose of making bookings with and engaging services provided for the tour. I understand that if l do not consent to the use of my
personal information for this purpose, ASA will decline my Reservation Application.
In consideration of ASA’s acceptance of my Reservation Application, I irrevocably release and indemnify ASA from all claims that I, or any other party, may
have against ASA its employees, invitees, agents and contractors, however arising in respect of any loss, damage, injury, death or expense incurred in the
course of travelling to, on and from any tour.
I understand and acknowledge that this Release and Indemnity applies with respect to:
1.
Every general risk to which I or my personal belongings may be exposed in the course of travelling to, on or from any ASA tour
2.
Every special risk, in particular medical risks, to which I may be exposed in the course of travelling to, on or from any ASA tour arising from, including,
but not limited to:
a. intermittent power cycles and/or the temporary or permanent loss of power (beware CPAP or any other medical machine users);
b. dietary, food or other allergies (ASA cannot guarantee that traces of items to which you are allergic are not present in food or drink you are served,
medication you are administered or other substances with which you may come into contact);
c. any event or situation that may compromise the administration of necessary medication or my health, safety and wellbeing generally.
3.
All claims arising as a result of my or ASA’s cancellation or termination of my continued participation on a tour for whatever reason (refund conditions
in ASA’s Booking Conditions excepted).
Limitation of Liability
ASA is not a carrier, event or tourist attraction host, accommodation or dining service provider. All bookings made and tickets or coupons issued by ASA
for transport, event, accommodation, dining and the like are issued as an agent for various service providers and are subject to the terms and conditions
and limitations of liability imposed by each service provider. ASA is not responsible for their products or services. If a service provider does not deliver the
product or service for which you have contracted, your remedy lies with the service provider, not ASA.
ASA will not be liable for any claim (eg. sickness, injury, death, damage or loss) arising from any change, delay, detention, breakdown, cancellation, failure, accident,
act, omission or negligence of any such service provider however caused (contingencies). You must take out adequate travel insurance against such contingencies.
ASA’s liability in respect of any tour will be limited to the refund of amounts received from you less all non-refundable costs and charges and the costs of
any substituted event or alternate services provided. The terms and conditions of the relevant service provider from time to time comprise the sole agreement
between you and that service provider.
ASA reserves the sole discretion to cancel any tour or to modify itineraries in any way it considers appropriate. Tour costs may be revised, subject to
unexpected price increases or exchange rate fluctuations.
Booking Conditions
DEPOSITS
A deposit of $500.00 AUD per person is required to reserve a
place on an ASA tour.
UNUSED PORTIONS OF THE TOUR
We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions of the tour, such as
meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers.
CANCELLATION FEES
If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply:
WILL THE TOUR PRICE OR ITINERARY CHANGE?
If the number of participants on a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a
significant change in exchange rates ASA reserves the right to amend the advertised price.
We shall, however, do all in our power to maintain the published price. If an ASA tour is
forced to cancel you will get a full refund of all tour monies paid. Occasionally
circumstances beyond the control of ASA make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to
make amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes in due course.
More than 75 days before departure: $500*
75-46 days prior 25% of total amount due
45-31 days prior 50% of total amount due
30-15 days prior 75% of total amount due
14-0 days prior 100% of total amount due
*This amount may be credited to another ASA tour departing
within 12 months of the original tour you booked. We regret,
in this case early-bird discounts will not apply.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
ASA requires all participants to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. A copy of your
travel insurance certificate and the reverse charge emergency contact phone number
must be received by ASA no later than 75 days prior to the commencement of the tour.
We take the day on which you cancel as being that on which
we receive written confirmation of cancellation.
FINAL PAYMENT
The balance of the tour price will be due 75 days prior to the tour commencement date.
PLEASE READ THE ABOVE CAREFULLY, PRINT AND SIGN BELOW
I accept the conditions on this booking form
I have read the information about the physical requirements of the tour in the detailed
itinerary and confirm that I am able to meet these requirements
Applicant’s Signature
Print Full Name
Dated
Deposit Payment
Tour / Course Name
I have enclosed a non refundable deposit of $
(including CC or bank fee if applicable)
for this tour
By Cheque
Credit Card Payment
Please make cheques payable to Australians Studying Abroad
Credit card fees apply: Mastercard, American Express & Visa
Direct Deposit or Internet Banking
Please debit my:
You will need to:
1. Provide your bank with ASA’s bank details (see below) and
the amount you wish to transfer OR make a direct deposit
through any ANZ branch
I authorise ASA to debit my credit card for the amount due plus
the applicable fee as above
2.
Include any fees levied by the banks
Expiry Date
3.
Provide a reference number (Mobile or last name recommended).
Bank the Card is linked to (eg. NAB or ANZ)
4.
Complete section below, including confirmation no. (given
when transaction completed).
Cardholders Name
Australians Studying Abroad bank details
Bank
Branch
Swift Code
BSB
Account No
ANZ
420 St Kilda Road, Melbourne Vic
ANZBAU3M
013-423
3472-32759
Bank confirmation No.
Reference used: Mobile or last name recommended
Mastercard
American Express
1.95%
Visa
Credit Card Number
Security Code (CVC)
Cardholders Billing Address
State
Postcode
Country
Phone
Email
Cardholders Signature
Date Money Transferred
AUSTRALIANS STUDYING ABROAD
Office 6, Level 1, 1087-1095 High St (PO Box 8285) Armadale VIC Australia 3143
Phone +61 3 9822 6899 Freecall 1800 645 755 (outside metro Melbourne area only) Email [email protected]
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www.asatours.com.au
License No. 31248 ABN 27 006 589 242