Description of the tour
Tour itinerary: Jerez de la Frontera
Being one of three points of this Magic Triangle
and due to its position, almost midway between Cádiz and Seville, Jerez is
visited primarily because of its bodegas-wine cellars. In reference to its monuments it must be one of the most undiscovered
areas in Andalusia. However, this city was an important part of the emirate
centred in Seville since the Moors came here . For instance, the Alcazar of Jerez is one of the
few examples of Almohad architecture in Spain. So we start our program visiting it .The whole building has been well preserved. Remaining from the 12 000 a.d are two gates, a small mosque, an octagonal tower, the baths and the beautiful
gardens, laid out in typical symmetrical Arabic style with a number of small
fountains.
A unique show entilted "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" at the Royal School of Equestrian Art starts at 12.00 and we need to be there in advance to walk through the Palace park and admire the "pura rasa" horses preparing to leave. It is saying
the heading that “the Spanish Horse is the most fitting to be mounted by a
King. In fact, it is easy to see portraits where Kings and nobles appear
mounted upon Spanish horses. They are not
only very handsome and elegant with its long legs and snow white hair, but they
are also famous because of their grace, intelligence and nobility.
The show
consists of between six and eight different choreographies combining classical
and country-style riding Doma Vaquera. The Spanish walk, piaffe (between
pilars), levanta- when horses rise up on his hind legs, carriage driving are
some star elements of this incredible show.
A tasting of exclusive Spanish sherry, brandy and tapas takes place after the equestrian ballet. Each "bodega" - a winery - owns a certain section of the "magic triangle" in the province of Cadiz. This district, located between tree towns of the Cadiz province is registered by origin and only here sherry production is allowed.
Alone in Jerez there are more than 40 such bodegas or rather, more beautiful! - wine cathedrals. They can't be named differently. The buildings themselves in the heart of a luxurious fragrant gardens are magnificent. Sherry mature in casks of American red oak, which are stacked in rows
on top of each other forming a ladder . What is the secret of sherry-making ? Why are its quality and its taste the same , being the harvest not
equally successful every year? In order to answer these questions , we visit Tio Pepe winery. Sherry ranges from dry to syrupy-sweet. So it is impossible not to like it !