Andalusia

Spain

Spain Cycling Trip 2025
Monday May 19 – Saturday May 24

Next stop Spain!

Dear Friends,

One of Europe’s largest countries and desirable travel destinations, Spain is comprised of 17 regions which are remnants from medieval kingdoms and feudal territories - each possessing their own distinctive personalities, traditions, and local cuisine. Our five day cycling trip covering just over 260 miles will provide us a journey through one of those former kingdoms in region now called Andalusia. Brief history: Over the centuries, successions of conquering empires such as the Romans, Arabs, Christians, Habsburgs and Bourbons shaped Spain into the country it is today. The Romans were first to settle and left their language, aqueducts, theatres, roads, monuments, while many of the Roman Empire’s greatest rulers were actually Spanish - among them Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. Following the Romans were the Muslims who then ruled over portions of Spain for nearly 800 years, leaving a legacy of amazing architecture, lyric poetry, science, and so much more. After centuries of conflict between the Islamic empire and Christians, the Muslims relinquished their final Iberian peninsula stronghold Granada in 1492 and the country of Spain was unified under the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. With the end of the conflict, F&I finally gave the pesky Christopher Columbus the permission and funding to explore the direct route to the East Indies he claimed he could discover for them. Not!

Spain possesses a dramatic landscape speckled with ancient stone castles, aqueducts and ruins with a backdrop of rugged snow-capped mountains, rolling plains blanketed with olive trees and wonderful beaches & dramatic coastlines. Fun fact from someone (me) in the olive oil business: Spain produces more olive oil than the next five leading producing nations combined – Italy, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and Portugal!

We have chosen the Andalusia region because it is actually the historical heart of Spain – where it all began. After recently scouting out the territory with Kim, I’m very excited to take you there and to cycle through the breathtaking landscape starting in Sevilla, then to Ronda, Antequera, and Granada. We will finish on the last day in the Sierra Nevada mountains before giving up the bikes to relax at a Costa Del Sol beach resort for the last evening together.

Consider planning extra days on your own. Spain is so worth it!

Best Regards,

John Profaci

johnaprofaci@gmail.com

A map of gibraltar is shown next to a graph

ANDALUSIA, SPAIN | SCHEDULE

Day 1: Monday May 19 - Sevilla

DAY 1

Monday May 19 - Sevilla

Sevilla is the capital and largest city of the Spanish region of Andalusia. Its old town contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising three buildings: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. Sevilla was built up during the Roman period and changed hands during the Islamic conquest in 711. Centuries and several ruling empires later, Sevilla became one of the largest cities in Western Europe and its Baroque architecture earned its reputation as the “brilliant flowering” city of Spain.

We recommend you arrive over the weekend to tour Sevilla on your own

Day 1:

Arriving to Sevilla and hotel. Typically, we plan a “group bus” from the airport to our first hotel accommodating those arriving the morning of Day 1, but that has not worked well for various reasons. There is no direct flight to Sevilla from the US so it is our opinion with research (do your own as well please!) that the best travel plan - cost and timing - seems to fly roundtrip in-out of Madrid and then take trains: 3.5 hour train from Madrid to Sevilla at the start and then the following Saturday (5/24) for our return home, we will plan an 8am group bus departing our beach hotel to Malaga Train Station for a similar 3.5 hour train to Madrid arriving in time for those booked on a 4pm or later flight back to the US. Or stay in Madrid that day and fly home Sunday 5/25.

Hotel

11:30am to 1:00pm - Check into the hotel and hopefully our rooms will be available upon arrival. Regardless, lot to do. Meet our cycling support team and get set up on your rental bikes. In the afternoon, feel free to try out the bikes for a casual ‘ tool around’ to explore Sevilla. There will not be an organized ride due to the congested streets, city sprawl and bike riding confined to bike lanes as we discovered during our scouting trip. Impossible for a large group ride together but ideal to explore the historic center in small groups or on your own.

Hotel Meliá Sevilla - Calle Dr. Pedro de Castro, 1, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

Phone: +34 954 42 15 11

Lunch

1:30pm - After lunch, we will gear up for our afternoon ‘easy ride’ around Sevilla bike lanes or the beautiful Plaza de Espana park literally across the street from our hotel.

Dinner

8:00pm - Welcome Dinner at “El Giraldillo” a traditional restaurant in the old city. Address: Pl. Virgen de los Reyes, 2, Casco Antiguo, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

DAY 2

Tuesday May 20 - Ronda

‘Hotel Parador de Ronda’ is the building with the arches

Ronda is one of the oldest towns in Spain dating back to the Neolithic period evidenced by cave art. It is mountaintop town set dramatically above a deep gorge considered one of Spain's most beautiful cities due to its spectacular location, the deep ravine (Tajo), and the surrounding mountains, called Serranía de Ronda. American artists Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent many summers there as part-time residents of Ronda's old-town quarter called La Ciudad. Both wrote about Ronda's beauty and bullfighting traditions.

Day 2:

7:00am - Breakfast in Hotel Melia, pack luggage and bring to lobby for pick-up.

A map showing a red line going to sevilla

Depart

7:40am - Cyclists depart toward the town of Zahara de la Sahara for lunch

Morning Ride

Cyclists depart: Part 1 - Sevilla to Zahara de la Sierra 62.7 miles / 4142 elevation

A graph showing the elevation of a mountain

Lunch

1:30pm to 3:00pm - Lunch at Meson Onate Restaurant

A table set for a dinner with a view of a lake.

A small town on top of a hill with a castle in the background.

Félix Rodríguez, 9, 11688 Zahara de la Sierra, Spain

Depart

3:00 pm - Depart