I'M DOING A SPRING GARDEN TOUR OF BRITAIN THAT FINISHES IN EARLY MAY AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SPARE AFTERWARDS. I'M LOOKING FOR A SMALL GROUP TOUR SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE THAT OFFERS A STRONG SENSE OF HISTORY AND CULTURE, A DISTINCTIVE CUISINE AND PREFERABLY WARMTH. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
A. CARLING, DRUMMOYNE.
Southern France, Greece, Croatia, Sicily and most other parts of Italy are just some that fit the bill, but what about Andalusia? This is a lovely, full-blooded region with a potent culture and many of Spain's foremost architectural treasures. Byroads (byroads.com.au) has a 13-day tour of the region starting from Madrid in mid-May and winding through Seville, Toledo, Cordoba and finally to Granada, with diversions to some of the less visited parts of the region. Tour leader is Richard Mole, who has a particular interest in Islamic art and culture, which gives a slightly different take to this tour of Andalusia, a region richly entwined with Moorish influences.
