We will be in a two week tour in Spain with Gate 1 Tour. We will have two nights (Sept 18 &19) and one day in Seville. On the morning of Sept. 19 the Gate 1 will provide the following guided tour:
This morning, drive to the Plaza de España, passing Maria Luisa Park, and explore the narrow streets and many plazas of the Santa Cruz Quarter. Continue with a visit to the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and home to the burial site of Christopher Columbus. Built on the site of the former great Mosque, its original minaret, the Giralda Bell Tower, still stands.
So the guided tour will not cover Royal Alcazar.
For the afternoon of Sept 19 we have the following two options:
Option 1 - Stay in Sevila and visit Royal Alcazar on our own, plus walk around. I don’t know if it is too hot to walk around.
Option 2 – Join the optional tour provided by Gate 1 to Cordoba ($45/pp for 6 hour). The description of the tour is following:
join the optional tour to Cordoba. Founded by the Romans, it is one of the most cultured and refined cities of medieval Europe. Visit the Mezquita, a former Moorish Mosque that today is Cordoba's main Cathedral. Continue with a walking tour of the city and visit the Jewish Quarter and the medieval synagogue
I would really appreciate your input as which option is better from your perspective. I have a very hard time to decide between these two options.
Posted by
Folsom
2734 posts
I’ve seen both and would choose the Córdoba trip and seeing the Mezquita every time. It was one of the highlights of our trip. You won’t see anything like it on your tour. I assume you’ll see the Royal Alcazar in Madrid?
Posted by
OP
40 posts
Thank you so much for the input. We will be in Madrid and our guided tour will view the outside (not go inside) of the Royal Palace. We can visit the Palace on our own with the leisure time we have. We haven't figure out our schedule in Madrid yet. Do I need to reserve the ticket in advance for visiting the Royal Palace in Madrid (9/13)? If we will visit Alhambra Palace in Granada is it still worth while to visit the Royal Palace?
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
It’s a shame you won’t have sufficient time on your tour to see all the sites that interest you. Assuming you will visit the Alhambra while in Granada, I’d take the Córdoba trip rather than seeing the Alcazar while in Sevilla. The Mesquita really has no par, while many features of the Alcazar are similar to those at the Alhambra.
Posted by
Folsom
2734 posts
The Alhambra and the Royal Alcazar are very different. Do not miss the Alhambra and do see the Royal Alcazar if you can. We took a Rick Steve’s tour where all admissions are included (but we visited Córdoba on our own after the tour as Córdoba was not included). I can’t advise you on advanced tickets I’m sure others on this board can.
Posted by
9 posts
The Alhambra in the city of Granada is the most beautiful building of the region of Andalucia.the royal Alcazar in Sevilla it's a mini-mini copy of the Alhambra.if you already visited the Alhambra I see no real reason to visit the Alcazar in Sevilla edifice constructed by Pedro "El Cruel" after the reconquest of the region by Ferdinand and Isabella,, Pedro hated the Arab people but liked and enjoyed the art and the way they lived and build his palace after the defeat of the enemies almost similar like the Alhambra.So if the other option is the beautiful city of Córdoba,I think that the visit to this monumental part of the region would be more interesting,visiting the Mezquita,the bridge that cross the Guadalquivir river,constructed by t the Romans,an walk,walk for the streets once walked by the philosopher Seneca and for Students coming to Córdoba from all parts of Europe ,because Córdoba was in one times past,the intellectual capital of the world..The real Palace in Madrid is not similar to the Alhambra in Granada.Each one has its merits ,virtues and history,besides the time and the reason why they were constructed
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7160 posts
You can’t lose either way. Both the Mezquita and the Alcazar are worthy of visiting. If you visit the Alhambra, or if you think you won’t be returning to Spain, then I say visit Córdoba. If not, see the Alzacar in Sevilla and walk around other parts of the city without being part of a tour group.
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2456 posts
All of the sites you mention are different shades of excellent, with some similarities and some differences. Of all of them, the one that is most unique is the Mesquita in Cordoba, with its very unusual mosque with a Catholic cathedral built inside the mosque. Given your choice, I would visit Cordoba and its Mesquita.
I myself took the RS Spain Tour, so visited all the major sites in Seville, and then spent two nights on my own in Cordoba after the tour ended. I don't know where your tour will end, and whether you will have time to add-on other visits on your own.
Can't really go wrong in Andalusia, hopefully things will cool off a little bit by mid-to-late September. When in doubt, have a gelato!
Travel well!
Posted by
262 posts
Agree with the prevailing trend. Both should not be missed but if you do the Alhambra you have a sense of the Alcazar in Seville. Actually, I thought the Alcazar was just as good as the Alhambra in a different way - not as largely impressive but being smaller it thej detail was more intimate and close.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
I'd skip out on the tour of the Cathedral and visit the Alcazar on my own instead (it's next to the cathedral) and then take the optional tour to Cordoba. Besides the unique Mezquita, the Jewish Quarter is one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Spain The only similar ones I've seen are in Toledo and to a much lesser extent, Girona.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12314 posts
The Mesquita is great, the Alcazar is great. I'd really want to see them both.
You don't need a guided tour of the Cathedral, just walk across the square, from the Alcazar, and go inside (it's free). Read up a little about what is there. The Cathedral is definitely worth visiting but it's not as great of sight as the other two.
IMO the Plaza de Espana is also completely skippable. It's an old (not real old) World's Fair sight. There are decent gardens to stroll but nothing particularly interesting and nothing at all historical.