Places still available
NHG TRIP 20 – 23rd April 2015
“Interesting Sights and Gastronomic Delights”
City Gems of South Eastern Spain
Cartagena*Murcia City*Lorca
3 night 4 day trip by coach
On this 4 day trip, we will be exploring three wonderful Cities in the undervisited region of Murcia. En route, calling at Baza & its interactive archaeological museum on the outskirts, where we will meet a special lady!
Day 1: We leave SuperSol Capistrano at 8.30 am and head towards Granada where we will have breakfast together. Travelling onwards through beautiful countryside, we arrive on the outskirts of Baza, a small town where a large sculpture of a seated woman on a throne was found in 1971, “La Dama de Baza”, thought to be a Goddess or Queen. We will be attending the Archaeological Museum CIYA, which was built in her honour & where we will have a guided visit in English plus time to explore the interactive facilities. Staying in the Baza countryside, we will enjoy a light lunch at a restaurant where the owner Domingo makes his own eco wine ! We then move on to our destination of Cartagena, where we check in to the NH Hotel, situated close to the waterfront and central to the lively City, for 3 nights on a B & B basis. After a spell of R & R, we meet together for Dinner together in a nearby restaurant.
Day 2: After a wake-up call and buffet breakfast, our Guide, Pedro, will join us for our tour of Cartagena. Cartagena is a significant port, founded by the Phoenicians & has been inhabited by several cultures which have left their mark on its heritage. We will see some fine examples, starting with the Punic Wall, from the 3rd Century B.C. then panoramic views of the City from the vantage point near the castle, to which we will ascend by lift, where our Guide will tell us about the various Monuments. We will descend on foot (those who cannot will descend by lift) and join the bus for a ride along the seafront for a coffee break before visiting the Roman Theatre, where we will start with an explanatory video.
We will then ascend through 3 floors of the museum by escalator.
Free time for lunch and time to enjoy one or more of the suggested optional visits: The Naval Museum; Underwater Archaeological Museum, Civil War Museum or perhaps a boat ride around the bay. We meet together later and after a short walk, have Dinner together.
Day 3: After a wake-up call and buffet breakfast, our guide Pedro will join us again for our journey to Murcia City. Here we will have a walking tour of the City, looking at the Town Hall, Cathedral, Chapel of San Juan de Dios with its Moorish remains underneath and exhibition of bronzes upstairs. We will then enjoy a stroll around the pretty streets, take a look at the Casino (Gentlemen’s Club) and other places of interest en route to our restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we join our bus for a short journey to the Museum of the 18th C sculptor, Salzillo, who is famous for his sculptures for Semana Santa & his Nativity scenes. We then head back to Cartagena for a free evening – a stroll by the sea to one of the many bars and restaurants; perhaps a visit to one of the suggested optional visits which you missed yesterday: a visit to the nearby Naval Museum; a visit to the underwater Archaeological Museum; the Civil War Museum or stroll along the pedestrianised shopping street with its many bars and restaurants – the choice is yours !
Day 4: After a wake-up call, leaving luggage outside room for collection and buffet breakfast, we head off by coach for the City of Lorca. Lorca suffered an earthquake in 2011, from which it is still trying to recover. Many buildings are still in urgent need of repair. Again, this City has known many civilisations with the result that there are many styles of architecture. However, we will be ascending to the Castle and Parador where significant remains were found during its construction. Lorca was an important place for the Jewish community and a Synagogue was found and partially re-constructed underneath the Parador. After enjoying a coffee on the terrace, admiring the stunning views, we will enjoy a visit of the Synagogue. Afterwards, we will have lunch in the dining room before boarding our coach once again for our return journey to Nerja, stopping for refreshments and comfort stop en route. Our ETA in Nerja is 19.30.
What is Included
Coach Travel, 3 nights B & B accommodation in 4 * Hotel Cartagena, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Day 1: Breakfast, Bi Lingual Guide, Entrance as described above, Lunch , Dinner,
(Museum and restaurant are opening especially for us in Baza)
Day 2: Bi-Lingual Guide, Entrances as described above, coffee break, Dinner
Day 3: Bi-lingual Guide, Entrances as described above, coffee break, Lunch,
Day 4: Luggage collection, coffee break, Entrance as described above, Lunch, tea break
All Gratuities
COST: 550 € per person sharing 625 € single (75 € single supplement)
Click on Programme, Talks and Trips at top of page to get the booking form.