19 May Exclusive Garden Tour in Southern Spain with Just Explore
The gardens of Andalucia are just one of the innumerable things southern Spain has to offer; a land of castles, legends, palaces and home to some of the most exquisite palatial grounds you’ll ever see.
From immaculate patios to acres of landscaped designs, Andalucia is blessed with enormous floral wealth, owing much to its Moorish heritage. In fact, this culturally rich and historic corner of Spain is full of fragrance, flowers and fruit and a garden tour in Andalucia should be on every traveller’s bucket list, because even those who don’t have ‘green fingers’ will find beauty in the flowers of Andalucia.
Tailor-Made Garden Tour in Southern Spain
A tour through the exotic beauty of the Andalucian gardens is actually one of our favourite escorted tours, which we offer each year during the last week of April. And having recently completed the 2023 Garden Tour, today we take a look back on some of the highlights of this romantic journey through flowers, water displays, plants and Instagram-worthy doors and archways.
Not only is Spring one of the best seasons to visit Andalucia; it’s warm but not too hot, but the region becomes covered in the most spectacular colours, permitting our exclusive tour group (12 people maximum) to be captivated by southern Spain’s finest flourishing gardens.
The tour, which always starts and finishes in Malaga—renowned for its beautiful beaches, vibrant cities and fascinating history—then passes through Ronda before exploring Andalucia’s Golden Triangle (Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada). The itinerary includes the main UNESCO World Heritage sites in Spain such as the Gothic Cathedral in Sevilla, the Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra Palace in Granada; but also entrance to some private houses, whose gardens are opened exclusively to us, thanks to our local connections.
It was in these private courtyards where we found that most of our clients were left truly mesmerised by the dizzying floral displays; an oasis of peace in the stunning Andalucian countryside. Inside these, normally hidden patios, we were able to share a moment with the patio owners who offered drinks and snacks, and permitted the tour group to enjoy a private party surrounded by a sea of flowers and plants.
This tour combines the finest Moorish, Renaissance and Tropical Andalucian gardens in this cultural corner of the country together with other stunning historical sites. And, like in previous years, we have been delighted with the response, appreciation and warmth felt from everyone who joined us on this year’s 2023 garden tour.
What’s more, the tour dates coincide with some other must-see spring festivals in Andalucia, with the possibility of extending the itinerary if requested.
If you want a glimpse of what you can expect on one of our garden tours, here’s a summary video of our Garden Tour 2023. Just play the music and enjoy!
Feria de Abril in Sevilla (April’s Fair)
If you’re looking for lights, colour, excitement, horse shows and flamenco, then a stop at Sevilla’s Feria de Abril is highly recommended. The Sevilla Fair takes place each spring along the banks of the Guadalquivir River and is perhaps one of the most colourful festivals of all Spain.
Patios de Cordoba
The festival is a tradition which is unique in the world and a long standing custom of the city of Cordoba. The festival celebrates the art of elaborately decorating “Patios” (courtyards) with hundreds of colourful flowers and plants and was declared an intangible cultural heritage in 2012 by UNESCO.
Those patios participating in the contest can be visited during the first two weeks of May.
May Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez holds the Jerez May Horse Fair traditionally during the first week in May each year. This is a spectacular equestrian event with a horse show that takes place in the Gonzalez Hontoria Park, a space covering 52,000 square metres.
There, some of the world’s finest horses and riders come together to offer superb displays of horsemanship in all its forms such as cowboy and classical dressage, riding competitions, polo and incredible displays of carriage driving.
Cruces de Mayo
The Festival of the “Cruces de Mayo” (May Crosses) is celebrated throughout Andalucia though it is in Cordoba and Granada where the most impressive displays are on show. The festival marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated by decorating crosses with flowers, lights, and other decorations.
Keeping in line with the Spaniards’ love for a fiesta, a temporary bar is typically set-up in the same square as the cross where the locals congregate in the evenings for a drink and some tapas, which inevitably leads to some spontaneous flamenco dancing as everyone enjoys themselves until the early hours.
The above is just a sprinkling of what southern Spain has to offer in terms of festivals. In fact, there are over 3,000 fiestas celebrated every year in Andalucia, including fairs, pilgrimages, carnivals, mock battles between Moors and Christians and religious processions; there is scarcely a day in the year without its fiesta.
Let yourself fall in love with the variety of landscapes and the rich culture of the South.
As you explore southern Spain and discover its hidden treasures, bask in the explosion of colours in the Andalucian courtyards and be inspired by the deep smell of orange blossoms that line the cobblestoned streets of the ancient cities you visit.
If you think our Garden Tour could be for you, we are already taking bookings for next year, with a departure date 14th April 2024, so don’t miss out and get ready to enjoy an authentic experience you’ll look back on for a lifetime.
You might want to also check out our other bespoke escorted tours: Cultural Tour (for those looking to take a journey back in time and delve into Spain’s multi-cultural past and discover some of our main World Heritage Sites) or our exclusive Wine Tour (with an itinerary which offers the best wine experiences in southern Spain).
Join us in our tours and live a unique experience in Spain.
