Head to the hills and olive groves of Andalucia and treat your mum, wife or better half, to a relaxing weekend away at the exciting new boutique B&B, Casa Olea .

With the almond blossom out, wild flowers in the hills, the sun shining and comfortable day-time temperatures (15 – 20C), a green getaway to “Andalucia in Spring” is just what she deserves after such a long, cold winter…

Use Casa Olea as your comfortable base and visit the Moorish wonders of Granada and Córdoba (Alhambra and Mezquita); then explore the picturesque “white villages”, medieval hill-top castles and stunning mountains of the Sierras Subbéticas, with Casa Olea’s own self-guide walking and mountain biking routes.

Sample award-winning olive oils, tasty local goats cheeses and fino wines from Montilla-Moriles; marvel at Priego de Córdoba’s baroque churches and enjoy a steam, soak and a massage in their Arabic baths; then come back to tasty home-cooked evening meals, log fires and a warm welcome at Casa Olea.

* MOORISH MOTHER’S DAY escape to Andalucia…
- Price: double rooms from 85 euros/night including taxes and breakfast.
- How to Get There: Fly to Granada with Ryanair, or Malaga with most low-cost airlines.
- Car Hire: from Granada or Malaga airports, with all major companies.

www.casaolea.com

A seriously Moorish Valentines Break with a difference. Head to the heart of Andalucia and discover romance, Moorish wonders (Alhambra and Mezquita), Olive Oil tasting, bracing winter’s walks in fabulous mountain scenery and warm hospitality at an exciting new “boutique B&B”, Casa Olea.

Use Casa Olea as your comfortable base and visit a region which has been attracting romantic travellers, writers and artists since the early 19th century. Visit Granada and Córdoba for the day and explore the Sierras Subbéticas mountains around Casa Olea, a hidden corner of Andalucia, not yet “on the map” for UK travellers. And there are some bargain flights out there still, so it’s an afforable escape too.

AMOR IN ANDALUCIA – Valentines Break offer

* PRICE: from 148 euros per person for 3 nights, including:
- 3 nights’ accommodation at Casa Olea with breakfast in your room or the dining room and no 9AM deadline scrum at the buffet!
- 3-course Valentines home-cooked dinner with a bottle of Cava.
- Olive Oil tasting to sample the region’s award-winning oils.
- “Champagne picnic” to take with you on a romantic winter’s walk.
- Price based on double room. Additional nights from 79 euros/dbl.

* TRAVEL COSTS are extra and would need to be booked direct. Guide prices for Flights and Car Hire as follows:

- Ryanair Stansted/Granada return (Wed/Sun): from 40 GBP return.
- Ryanair Bristol/Malaga return (Fri/Mon): from 80 GBP.
- Ryanair Birmingham/Malaga (Fri/Mon): from 50 GBP.
- Ryanair Glasgow/Malaga (Thu/Tue): from 40 GBP.
- Car Hire Granada airport, 4 days: from 48 GBP.
- Car Hire Malaga airport, 3 days: from 41 GBP.

Enjoy one of Andalucia’s big cultural festivals or in-the-know fiestas in 2010, while staying at the exciting new “boutique B&B”, CASA OLEA  – half way between Granada and Cordoba and ideal for visits to the Alhambra, Mezquita and much more…

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* JAN: Los Reyes (Three Kings): watch the children go crazy as sweets are thrown from carnival floats in street processions throughout Andalucia (06 Jan).

* FEB: Valentine’s Day: treat your loved one to breakfast-in-bed at Casa Olea, then our “champagne picnic” on a walk through the olive groves to a hill-top medieval watch-tower.

* MAR: the onset of Spring in the Sierras Subbéticas, ideal temperatures for hiking, biking, a day’s skiing in the Sierra Nevada, or visiting the Alhambra (Granada) & Mezquita (Córdoba) nearby. In Baena, an ear-busting 3000+ drummers hit the streets for their “Vispera de San José” fiesta.

* APR: “Viernes Santo” (Good Friday) is the climax of Semana Santa in Priego de Córdoba, with emotive processions day and night and ritual blessing of the hornazos, the lucky pastry chicken!!

* MAY: Patios de Mayo in Córdoba: annual contest of flower-filled patios and balconies. The “Hay Festival Alhambra” comes to Granada, while the MotorGP Spanish Grand Prix takes place in Jerez (02 May).

* JUN: Corpus Christi, observed throughout Andalucia (03 Jun), is especially traditional/fun in Granada. The “Festival de Musica Sefardi” celebrates Córdoba’s ancient Jewish heritage with night-time concerts and food stalls in the Botanical Gardens and Juderia district.

* JUL: escape the World Cup obsession for “Jazz entre Olivos” (Jazz in the Olives) in Jaén, with open-air street concerts; or the “Festival de la Guitarra” (Córdoba Guitar Festival), with flamenco, classical, jazz guitar & Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler live in the Plaza de Toros.

* AUG: the “Fiesta de la Alcaparra” (Caper Festival) in Fuente Tójar – a very local, small-scale fiesta typical of the summer weekends in Andalucia. Or, experience the crazy Pamplona-style fiesta of “Toro de Cuerda” in Carcabuey, with locals running with “baby bulls” on ropes.

* SEP: sample cheeses from all over Spain at the “Feria de Quesos” (Cheese Festival) in Zuheros; try the fino wines at the “Fiesta de la Vendimia Montilla Moriles”, one of Spain’s oldest wine festivals (since 1816). Or, see U2 in Seville, as part of their U2 360° Tour.

* OCT: sample quince in every form conceivable at the “Fiesta de Membrillo” (Quince Festival) in the white village of Zagrilla, then burn it off with hiking in the Sierras Subbéticas. See Europe’s top golfers (and hopefully recent Ryder Cup winners?!) at the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, Sotogrande.

* NOV: catch up with the latest releases in European film at the Seville European Film Festival; or enjoy jazz performances throughout Granada at the “International Jazz Festival”, one of Europe’s oldest. Baena’s “Olive & Olive Oil Festival” celebrates the region’s rich olive heritage.

* DEC: all of Spain heads to the campo (countryside) for the popular “Puente de la Inmaculada” long weekend (4-8 Dec); while “Noche Vieja” (New Year’s Eve) is also celebrated throughout Andalucia – with locals eating their 12 lucky grapes on the main square to chimes of midnight.