A Confluence of Cultures: Discovering Southern Spain and Portugal
From $7,190 per person
8 days
Ship: L'Austral
From $7,190 per person
8 days
Ship: L'Austral
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture. At a time when most of Europe was shrouded in the Dark Ages, a sophisticated society emerged in the province of Andalusia in southern Spain and in the Maghreb in northern Africa. It is conventional to refer to this civilization as “Moorish,” but it was more accurately a hybrid of three powerful cultural forces: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The period when Moorish kings ruled Andalusia—Al-Andalus, as they called it—was a rare moment in history when members of the three great monotheistic faiths worked side by side to build a culture of tolerance, dialogue, and coexistence. This voyage from Tarragona to Lisbon visits several of the historical centers of this distinctive culture and asks the question whether it might be possible to learn something from this medieval example about a way forward through the turbulence and strife of our modern multicultural societies. With their vast experience in Dual Narrative guiding and conflict resolution work, two of your experts, Aziz Abu Sarah and Yuval Ben-Ami, bring a nuanced and deeply informed perspective to the dialogue. By sharing their intertwined legacies, they present a multi-narrative perspective that highlights the periods of coexistence and mutual influence, particularly during the Golden Age of Al-Andalus. These dialogues not only shed light on the historical interactions that shaped the Iberian Peninsula but also explore contemporary issues of identity, tolerance, and cultural heritage. Through their shared stories and diverse viewpoints, they create a space for mutual understanding and reflection, promoting a deeper appreciation of the region's pluralistic past and its relevance to today's multicultural societies. Also joining this voyage is Janina Safran, an expert specializing in the cultural history of the Iberian Peninsula. Sailing from Tarragona, your first port of call is the city of Valencia, perhaps most famous for its production of oranges, but also a showcase of architectural diversity, from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Lonja de la Seda, a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture, to native architect Santiago Calatrava's exuberant 21st-century City of Arts and Sciences. In Cartagena, your day begins with a tour of the city's emblematic Roman Theater, a remarkably well-preserved monument to the role of Cartagena in the defeat of Carthage in the second Punic War, and continues with a drive to Castillo de Concepcion for panoramic views over the city. Before returning to the ship, explore Calle Mayor, Cartagena's main street, where you will see the Gran Hotel and Cervantes House—and perhaps enjoy a liquored coffee, as locals do. During the following two days, L'Austral will remain docked in Malaga, providing the opportunity to visit two of the most important centers of civic and cultural life during Andalusia's Golden Age. First, a full-day excursion brings you to Cordoba, a leading center of scholarship during the Middle Ages and the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba. Tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Mezquita, an enormous 8th-century mosque converted to a Cathedral in the 13th century—a dazzling fusion of Islamic and Christian architecture that served as a model for much of the 'Moorish' architecture of southern Iberia and North Africa. Also visit the vibrant Jewish quarter of the city, with its 14th-century synagogue, and enjoy a lunch of Andalusian cuisine at a local restaurant before returning to the ship. Your second full-day excursion from Malaga is devoted to exploration of the incomparable Alhambra in Granada, described by the leading Muslim art historian of the 20th century as "the greatest architectural expression of Islamic culture ever built." Cádiz, one of Spain's oldest cities, is your gateway to Seville, where a stroll through the Murillo Gardens leads the way to the royal compound of the Real Alcazar. This UNESCO World Heritage site, built in the Mudéjar style in the 14th century, is today a sprawling complex incorporating architectural influences from the Renaissance, Baroque and 19th century. A short walk from the Alcazar is the Catedral de Sevilla—the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb. From Lagos, near the southwestern tip of Portugal, you may choose between two ways to experience the natural beauty, history, and culture of the Algarve. You may stay in Lagos, tour the Old Town, visit the stunning rock formations and caves of Ponta da Piedade, and enjoy a tasting of Algarve wines. Or you may travel the short distance to Sagres on Cape St. Vincent, from where Prince Henry the Navigator directed the expeditions that led to the discovery of Madeira and the Azores. Your voyage ends in Lisbon.
Day-by-day description of your cruise and cruise activities.
Tarragona
Valencia
Valencia, Spain's third-largest municipality, is a proud city with a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene, quality museums, and spectacular contemporary architecture, juxtaposed with a thoroughly charming historic quarter, making it a popular destination year in year out. During the Civil War, it was the last seat of the Republican Loyalist government (1935–36), holding out against Franco’s National forces until the country fell to 40 years of dictatorship. Today it represents the essence of contemporary Spain—daring design and architecture along with experimental cuisine—but remains deeply conservative and proud of its traditions. Though it faces the Mediterranean, Valencia's history and geography have been defined most significantly by the River Turia and the fertile huerta that surrounds it.The city has been fiercely contested ever since it was founded by the Greeks. El Cid captured Valencia from the Moors in 1094 and won his strangest victory here in 1099: he died in the battle, but his corpse was strapped into his saddle and so frightened the besieging Moors that it caused their complete defeat. In 1102 his widow, Jimena, was forced to return the city to Moorish rule; Jaume I finally drove them out in 1238. Modern Valencia was best known for its frequent disastrous floods until the River Turia was diverted to the south in the late 1950s. Since then the city has been on a steady course of urban beautification. The lovely bridges that once spanned the Turia look equally graceful spanning a wandering municipal park, and the spectacularly futuristic Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), most of it designed by Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava, has at last created an exciting architectural link between this river town and the Mediterranean. If you're in Valencia, an excursion to Albufera Nature Park is a worthwhile day trip.
Cartagena
A Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, southeastern Spain, Cartagena’s sheltered bay has attracted sailors for centuries. The Carthaginians founded the city in 223BC and named it Cartago Nova; it later became a prosperous Roman colony, and a Byzantine trading centre. The city has been the main Spanish Mediterranean naval base since the reign of King Philip II, and is still surrounded by walls built during this period. Cartagena’s importance grew with the arrival of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century, when the Navidad Fortress was constructed to protect the harbour. In recent years, traces of the city’s fascinating past have been brought to light: a well-preserved Roman Theatre was discovered in 1988, and this has now been restored and opened to the public. During your free time, you may like to take a mini-cruise around Cartagena's historic harbour: these operate several times a day, take approximately 40 minutes and do not need to be booked in advance. Full details will be available at the port.
Málaga
As you sail into Malaga you will notice what an idyllic setting the city enjoys on the famous Costa del Sol. To the east of this provincial capital, the coast along the region of La Axarqua is scattered with villages, farmland and sleepy fishing hamlets - the epitome of traditional rural Spain. To the west stretches a continuous city where the razzmatazz and bustle creates a colourful contrast that is easily recognisable as the Costa del Sol. Surrounding the region, the Penibéetica Mountains provide an attractive backdrop overlooking the lower terraced slopes which yield olives and almonds. This spectacular mountain chain shelters the province from cold northerly winds, giving it a reputation as a therapeutic and exotic place in which to escape from cold northern climes. Malaga is also the gateway to many of Andalusia's enchanting historic villages, towns and cities.
Málaga
As you sail into Malaga you will notice what an idyllic setting the city enjoys on the famous Costa del Sol. To the east of this provincial capital, the coast along the region of La Axarqua is scattered with villages, farmland and sleepy fishing hamlets - the epitome of traditional rural Spain. To the west stretches a continuous city where the razzmatazz and bustle creates a colourful contrast that is easily recognisable as the Costa del Sol. Surrounding the region, the Penibéetica Mountains provide an attractive backdrop overlooking the lower terraced slopes which yield olives and almonds. This spectacular mountain chain shelters the province from cold northerly winds, giving it a reputation as a therapeutic and exotic place in which to escape from cold northern climes. Malaga is also the gateway to many of Andalusia's enchanting historic villages, towns and cities.
Cádiz
Believed to be the oldest town on the Iberian Peninsula, the Andalusian port of Cádiz enjoys a stunning location at the edge of a six-mile promontory. The town itself, with 3,000 years of history, is characterised by pretty white houses with balconies often adorned with colourful flowers. As you wander around be sure to take a stroll through the sizeable Plaza de Espãna, with its large monument dedicated to the first Spanish constitution, which was signed here in 1812. Cádiz has two pleasant seafront promenades which boast fine views of the Atlantic Ocean, and has a lovely park, the Parque Genoves, located close to the sea with an open-air theatre and attractive palm garden. Also notable is the neo-Classical cathedral, capped by a golden dome.
Lagos
Lisbon
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.
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