14 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 Early Periods XXX! XXX ROMAN ANDALUC A HOME OF THE EMPERORS Our tour looks at the province’s towns which were its heartbeat, showing us magnificent buildings, mosaics and other works of art in Seville, Ecija, and the provincialcapital,Cordoba,andalsowhere new finds are emerging at Torrparedones, the ancient colonia of Ituci where we can see how a pre-Roman settlement and its fortifications were Romanised. We shall also visit a whole suburb built by the Emperor Hadrian for his hometown of Italica which includes one of the largest amphitheatresintheRomanworld.Aswell as urban splendour, we will also visit the villas and garum works which generated this fabulous wealth and see how, in towns like Carmona and Cadiz, locals held on to their Carthaginian heritage despite the passing of the centuries. 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 15 - 22 April 2019 8 days with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear with Dr Andy Fear Activity Level 2 Activity Level 2 ESSENTIALS Return flights from London, 4 star hotel, buffet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour price: £2495 Single supplement: £350 Deposit: £250 Price without flights: £2345 Modern Andalusia was the second oldest province of the Roman Empire. It was captured from Hannibal’s Carthaginians in the Punic Wars after the battle of Ilipa, outside of Seville, in 206 BC and then remained a Roman possession for some six hundred years. First known as “Further Spain”, Hispania Ulterior, and then as Baetica after the river Guadalquivir which runs through its heart, it became oneofthewealthiestprovincesofthe empire, famous for its exports of Olive Oil and Garum or fish sauce. It was also the birthplace of some of Rome’s most famous sons, such as the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, the epic poet Lucan, and the philosopher Seneca. The region’s prosperity continued in the post-Roman period. The Visigothic bishop of Seville, Isidore, wrote an encyclopaedia, the Etymologies, which was to be the standard work of reference across Western Europe for the best part of a millennium and he has recently been made patron saint of the internet. Day 1 - Malaga and Jaen. Fly London – Malaga. Driving in to the historical centre of this lovely city, we gain a glimpse of Malaga’s Roman Theatre. After lunch we head for Jaen and check in to our hotel for one night. Evening lecture before dinner. Day 2 - Jaen and Torreparedones. We visit Jaen’s wonderful provincial museum with its fine collection of 5th Century BC sculptures and Spain’s largest surviving Moorish baths, the Baños Arabes. At the impressive Torreparedones Archaeological Park, where digs continue, we find amongst other things, the forum with its monumental inscription carved in to the pavement, the Ibero- Roman Sanctuary, fortified eastern gate and important necropolis. Continue to our hotel situated on the edge of the Sierras Subbeticas Natural Park. Day 3 - El Ruedo and Cordoba. We drive to the Roman villa ‘El Ruedo’, one of the largest such sites in Iberia, with its mosaics, paintings and paving. Thence to the impressive Roman cisterns found under a cemetery in Monturque. Continue to Cordoba to visit the archaeology museum with its fine display of Roman mosaics, ceramics and glassware. Check in to our hotel for the night. Day 4 - Cordoba and Ecija. We see Cordoba’s Roman bridge and temple before we drive out to the Roman villa of Fuente Alamo, with its superb collection of figurative and geometric mosaics and thermal baths, and the archaeology museum at Puente Genil. This afternoon we head for Ecija, known "Dr Andy Fear made this tour a success with his approachability and wit along with his ability to wear his learning lightly."