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Professional Artist Tour

We encourage you to make your Artistic Expedition with us all you want it to be.

Paint from Dawn to Dusk and Immerse yourself in your Art
and / or
Enjoy all the Unique Opportunities that your Destination of choice offers
or
Do both with your Spouse, Artist Friends and Companions.

                                        -The Artist Tours Group

Join us on our exciting Artist Expedition of Spain’s Mediterranean Coast. In the Province of Andalusia, we will drive through stunning olive groves and salt marshes where the scenery seems to shimmer with light. Here the sun reigns supreme as it highlights the beaches of dazzling white sand. You will see some of the most scenic parts of Spain where few tourists have visited and even fewer have painted.

To All Tour Participants:

In Seville.- Do not miss the "Triana quarter", with its traditional patios bursting with flowers, as well as Santa Cruz in the historic center, with charming narrow streets. The Maria Luisa and Murillo gardens are definitely worth a look as they both have beautiful corners (like for example, the Fuente de las Tres Mujeres in Maria Luisa park is both beautiful and very little known). I would say that the best views of the Guadalquivir River are in the Torre del Oro area, which is also a beautiful place to watch the sunset. Of course the typical sites as the Cathedral etc, are also worth it. Also, the Cemetery of San Fernando , of romantic design, can be interesting for its natural decorations.

Around Seville , these places are worth a look in the province: - Itálica.- If you are into Roman remains and mosaics, etc a visit to Italica is a must. It is only a 10 minutes drive from Seville and it consists of some remains of houses, a theatre and an amphitheater, as well as an excellent mosaics and sculptures museum.- Carmona.- It is very interesting because it gives a sense of what arab medinas must have looked like. Also the view from the Parador is a must.- Écija.- Called the "City of the Towers", it offers a very interesting landscape. Check out the lookout points, which are indicated. basically same about Osuna.- Marchena.- Located in a lush valley, it is certainly an interesting place, for both its landscape and its arty atmosphere.

The Tourist Office of Spain       

Day 1   Depart

Day 2   
Arrive in Seville Meet your tour director at airport and depart for a brief morning city tour of Seville . The tour will end at your hotel.

The rest of the day is free.

Welcome to Seville. Sometimes a city becomes famous simply for its beauty and romance. Seville (Sevilla in Spanish), the capital of Andalusia , is such a place and has remained one of the most charming Spanish cities.

Don Juan and Carmen--aided by Mozart and Bizet--have given Seville a romantic reputation. Because of the acclaim of Don Giovanni and Carmen, not to mention The Barber of Seville, debunkers have risen to challenge this reputation. But if a visitor can see only two Spanish cities in a lifetime, one would definitely have to be  Seville. All the images associated with Andalusia --orange trees, mantillas, lovesick toreros, flower-filled patios, and castanet-rattling gypsies--come to life in Seville . But it's not just a tourist city; it's a substantial river port, and it contains some of the most important artistic works and architectural monuments in Spain.

Unlike other Spanish cities, Seville has fared rather well under most of its conquerors--the Romans, Arabs, and Christians. Rulers from Pedro the Cruel to Ferdinand and Isabella held court here. When Spain entered its 16th-century golden age, Seville funneled gold from the New World into the rest of the country, and Columbus docked here after his journey to America .

This evening we will transfer to a local restaurant in the harbor area for Welcome drink and dinner. Return transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight at HOTEL
 
Andalucía
Andalusia has 800 kms of coastline. The Mediterranean seaboard is graced by the Costa de Almeria, Costa Tropical and the Costa del Sol , while the Costa de la Luz lies along the Atlantic shore to the west of Gibraltar .

It is the great Moorish monuments that vie for your attention in Andalucía. The Moors, a mixed race of Berbers and Arabs who crossed into Spain from North Africa , occupied al-Andalus for over seven centuries. Their first forces landed at Tarifa in 711 AD and within a decade they had conquered virtually the whole of Spain ; their last kingdom, Granada , fell to the Christian Reconquest in 1492. Between these dates they developed the most sophisticated civilization of the Middle Ages, centered in turn on the three major cities of Córdoba, Sevilla and Granada . Each one preserves extraordinarily brilliant and beautiful monuments, of which the most perfect is Granada 's Alhambra palace.

Extending to either side of Málaga is the Costa del Sol , Europe 's most developed resort area. Although, much of its beautiful beaches are hidden by the hotels and resorts that occupy this area. But, there is life beyond the Costa del Sol. especially the beaches of the Costa de la Luz towards Cádiz on the Atlantic coast, and those around Almería in the southeast corner of Spain .

Inland, and in the cities away from the tourist gaze, you will find many natural and undeveloped treasures. Andalucía, is also the home of the exuberant flamenco and the bullfight, and most of the traditional images of exotic Spain. These are best absorbed at one of the hundreds of annual ferias and romerías. 


Day 3 
Breakfast at the hotel

The day is free for painting (with lunch box for the painters).
Deluxe Motorcoach transportation provided to access painting sites & opportunities

Overnight at HOTEL
 

Day 4 
Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is free for painting (with lunch box for the painters).
Deluxe Motorcoach transportation provided to access painting sites & opportunities
Overnight at your HOTEL.


Day 5  
Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning we will leave early to embark on an expedition to discover the rural charms of Andalucia by your deluxe motorcoach. After leaving the metropolitan area, the vast expanses of farmland around Seville are punctuated mainly by towns, such as Carmona, Ecija and Osuna, rather than small country villages. This is partly because much of the property has traditionally been in the hands of a few wealthy landowners. This part of Andalucia was reconquered from the Moors early on in the 13th century, when Spanish monarchs had relatively little power and were forced to share out the spoils of war among a small number of knights, in contrast to the supreme authority of Isabel and Ferdinand when they took eastern Andalucia three centuries later, and took care to divide the land in small plots among poor farmers from the north of Spain.  

Nevertheless, the wooded hills in the north of the province, in that part of Sierra Morena known as La Sierra Norte, are home to charming towns such as Cazalla de la Sierra, where King Philip V was fond of hunting wild boar and deer and which is currently favoured by Seville´s gilded youth for weekend escapades, and Constantina with its ruined castle and poetic vistas.

An interesting place to visit is La Cartuja de Cazalla a national monument which is an old Cartusian monastery converted into a hotel and cultural centre.

In the southern part of the province are villages and towns such as Utrera, where the lowlands approach the marshes, El Arahal, Morón de la Frontera, El Coronil, Montellano, Las Cabezas de San Juan and Lebrija.

When we arrive the rest of the day will be a reserved for painting.
(Box lunches provided ) 
Overnight at HOTEL.


Day 6  
Breakfast at the hotel.

Cádiz, the first major town to the west of Algeciras, is among the oldest settlements in Spain, founded about 1100 BC by the Phoenicians and one of the country's principal ports ever since. Its greatest period, however, was the eighteenth century, when it enjoyed a virtual monopoly on the Spanish-American trade in gold and silver. Inner Cádiz, built on a peninsula-island, remains much as it must have looked in those days, with its grand open squares, sailors' alleyways and high, turreted houses. Crumbling from the effect of the sea air on its soft limestone, it has a tremendous atmosphere and full of mystique.

The Plaza de San Juan de Dios, busiest of the many squares is situated along the water and is laced with its blind alleys, cafés and back streets.  Cádiz is fascinating to wander around, a couple of things that you might want to put in schedule is the Museo de Cadiz (Tues–Sun 9.30am–2pm ; 250ptas, free for EU passport holders), at Plaza de Mina 5, just across from the tourist office (Mon–Fri 9am–2pm & 5–8pm ), and the cathedrals. The huge Catedral Nueva is High Baroque, but decorated entirely in stone, with no gold or white in sight and perfect proportions. The "old" cathedral, Santa Cruz , is worth a look mainly for an interior studded with coin-in-the-slot votive candles. There are also two churches noteworthy for the paintings they contain: the chapel of the Hospital de Mujeres (Mon–Fri 10am–1pm ) has a brilliant El Greco of St Francis in Ecstasy; and the oval, eighteenth-century chapel of Santa Cueva (Mon–Fri 10am–1pm ; 50ptas) has three frescoes by Goya.


Pueblos Blancos, The rugged hills known as the Sierra de Cádiz, are densely wooded with pine groves and cork trees. Here, clinging to the edge of soaring river gorges, are a series of fascinating fortified towns, whose history goes back to the Reconquest and beyond. In fact, many of the villages - with their narrow, twisting streets and massive castles - are still identified for their military function on the frontier between the Moorish and Christian kingdoms, such as Arcos de la Frontera and Véjer de la Frontera...

Some of the most fascinating villages of the region are:

Vejer de la Frontera 
Medina Sidonia
Arcos de la Frontera
El Bosque
Los Barrios
Grazalema
Zahara de la Sierra
Olvera
Setenil de las Bodegas
Jimena de la Frontera
Castellar de la Frontera

Fishing Villages 
The ancient seaports of the Cadiz coast still support their fishing fleets. Nowadays they are popular with holiday-makers in summer for swimming and surfing.

The most interesting villages from South to North are:

Tarifa
Bolonia
Zahara de los Atunes
Barbate
Caños de Meca
Conil de la Frontera
Chiclana & Sancti Petri
Puerto de Santa Maria
Rota
Chipiona
Sanlucar de Barrameda


Day 7 
Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is free for painting (with lunch box for the painters)
We encourage you to embark on your own vision quest of discovery.
Deluxe Motorcoach transportation provided to access painting sites & opportunities
Overnight at HOTEL.
 

Day 8  
Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is free for painting (with lunch box for the painters).
We encourage you to embark on your own vision quest of discovery.
Deluxe Motorcoach transportation provided to access painting sites & opportunities
Overnight at your HOTEL.


Day 9  
Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is free for painting (with lunch box for the painters).
We encourage you to embark on your own vision quest of discovery.
Deluxe Motorcoach transportation provided to access painting sites & opportunities
Overnight at your HOTEL.

Day 10 
Breakfast at the hotel.

The day is free for painting (with lunch box for the painters).
We encourage you to embark on your own vision quest of discovery.
Deluxe Motorcoach transportation provided to access painting sites & opportunities

This evening we will transfer to a local restaurant in the harbor area for Farewell drink and dinner. Return transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight at your HOTEL.


Day 11  
Breakfast at the hotel.

After your breakfast, you will meet your English speaking assistant in the lobby of your hotel to aid you in your transfer to the airport, for your flight home.  

 

Artist Tours Group 2001 / Copyright Notice. All Rights Reserved.

  Copyright Notice. All Rights Reserved. All images shown here are done so with the permission of the Tourist Office of Spain.

Reservations, final payment and cancellations: Tours are confirmed upon receipt for a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 per person.  Final payment on land tours must be made at least 100 days prior to departure.   For land tours, the charge for cancellations from 99-31 days prior to departure is $1250.00 per person, 30-8 days prior to departure is 75% of the land tours selling price per person, and less that 8 days prior to departure (including no shows) is 100% of the land tour selling price per person. There may be additional cancellation penalties on certain excursions and extensions; see your tour flyer for details. 

For all programs: Reservations made after final payment due date must be paid in full prior to any confirmations.  Any deviations in travel arrangements, pre or post trip, must be requested in writing prior to the final payment due date and will be subject to processing fee. Cancellations must be in writing by FAX, telegram, or registered mail (indicating reason for cancellation) and received by the final payment due date to avoid any cancellation charges.  Domestic airfares are subject to applicable airline cancellation fees, which may be in addition to the cancellation fees above.  Optional travel insurance premiums and visa fees (when applicable) are not refundable.  The cost of these vacation packages is based on group promotional tariffs and foreign exchange rates in effect as of September 1st, 202.  All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise specified and are per person and based on double occupancy.  Enrollment in these tours and payment of deposits constitute agreement to the above terms and conditions of travel. 

Responsibility:  The responsibility of Tumlare Travel Organization , it's affiliated and subsidiary companies, sponsoring organizations and agents (collectively, Tumlare Travel Organization ) is limited.  Tumlare Travel Organization  acts only as agent for the suppliers of transportation, accommodations, food and other goods and services provided to the tour participant.  All arrangements for transport, accommodations, food and other goods and services are made upon the express condition that Tumlare Travel Organization  shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damage, injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity of any kind occasioned by reason or any act or admission beyond its control, including without limitation any act of negligence or breach of contract or any third party such as airlines, cruise lines, trains, hotels, restaurants, ground handlers, etc., who is to or does supply any goods or services for the tour.  Without limiting the foregoing. Tumlare Travel Organization  is not responsible for any losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strikes, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, or for any other cause beyond it's control.  Tumlare Travel Organization  will assume no financial responsibility for any cancellations or delays resulting from invalid passports, visas, or other travel document requirements.  Tumlare Travel Organization  reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour without our prior notice.  If the tour is canceled by Tumlare Travel Organization  for any reason, Tumlare Travel Organization  shall have no liability beyond the refund of all tour participants payments received by it.  Tumlare Travel Organization  may decline, accept or retain any tour participant as a member of the tour at any time.  If any tour participant leaves or is removed from the tour, a refund only for refundable unused services shall be made.  The common carriers used are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the tour participants are not aboard their conveyances.  Any litigation concerning this tour must be brought to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.