At a glance
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Our group trips are a great chance to travel with others. We also recommend adding in a few extra nights tailor-made to ensure you build the perfect itinerary.
An intimate winter residency for gay men and allies, blending culture, creativity and shared life in the Andalusian hills.
This intimate six-day residency in southern Spain is designed for gay men and allies who appreciate beautiful places, thoughtful experiences, and the pleasure of time well spent.
Held at Castillo de Monda – a restored Moorish castle rising above the Andalusian hills – the residency brings together a carefully curated group to live, dine and experience the week as a shared rhythm rather than a fixed itinerary. The castle is reserved entirely for the group, creating an atmosphere that feels private, relaxed and quietly indulgent.
Days unfold at an unhurried pace. Mornings begin slowly, with time to enjoy the setting and the stillness of the landscape. Afternoons invite curated cultural and creative encounters led by invited artists and contributors. Evenings draw everyone together for long dinners, live performance, music, and conversation that often becomes the heart of the experience.
This is not a retreat focused on therapy or self-work. Instead, it is a hosted cultural residency – one that balances depth with pleasure, curiosity with ease, and connection with celebration.
Guests may arrive solo or with a partner. What unites the group is a shared appreciation for culture, identity, and the rare luxury of being fully present in good company.
More Information
Spain legalised same-sex marriage in 2005, one of the first countries in the world to do so. The legal framework includes comprehensive anti-discrimination protections, adoption rights and gender identity recognition. In 2025, Spain went further, introducing requirements for companies with more than 50 employees to implement workplace protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, representing some of the strongest such legislation anywhere in the world.
Madrid and Barcelona are two of Europe’s great gay cities. Madrid’s Chueca neighbourhood has been the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene for decades, with a dense concentration of bars, clubs and venues, and one of Europe’s largest Pride festivals each summer. Barcelona’s Gaixample, the stretch of Eixample around Consell de Cent, offers a similarly welcoming neighbourhood with strong community roots.
Beyond the two capitals, Sitges is one of Europe’s most celebrated gay resort towns, lively and unpretentious in equal measure. Ibiza has a long-established gay scene, particularly in the north of the island. Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas is a major destination in its own right, drawing large numbers of LGBTQ+ visitors year-round.
Legal protections are strong nationwide, though social attitudes vary. Major cities and coastal resort towns are cosmopolitan and relaxed. Rural areas, particularly in parts of Andalusia and the interior, can be more conservative. The far-right Vox party has made attempts to roll back protections in certain regions, though the national legal framework remains robust.
- 18 Jan, 2027
- Five nights’ accommodation at Castillo de Monda, a restored Moorish castle reserved exclusively for the group
- All meals throughout the stay, prepared on site and inspired by Andalusian flavors
- A curated cultural and creative programme, including conversations, artistic encounters and guided sessions
- Live performances and evening gatherings woven naturally into the flow of the week
- All materials required for creative sessions
- Dedicated on-site hosting and coordination throughout the residency
- International flights to and from Málaga
- Travel and personal insurance
- Airport transfers (available on request)
- Alcohol outside of scheduled meals or events
- Optional personal services offered by the hotel
In detail
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Don't forget that most of our itineraries can be totally customized. Our expert team will be able to talk you through all the options.
Monday - Arrival & Welcome
Arrive at Castillo de Monda and settle into the castle at your own pace. Stone corridors, open terraces and sweeping views across the Andalusian hills invite you to slow down as the week begins.
As the afternoon light softens, enjoy time by the pool or a drink on the terrace before gathering in the early evening for a relaxed welcome. Dinner is served together beneath warm light, setting the tone for a week shaped by care, conversation, and shared presence.
Tuesday - Expression & Movement
The morning unfolds unhurriedly, with breakfast served at leisure and time to enjoy the surroundings.
In the afternoon, the residency opens with a curated exploration of identity and expression, weaving art, history, and conversation into an engaging and accessible session.
Later, a movement experience inspired by Andalusian traditions brings warmth, energy, and play into the day. The evening follows with candlelit dining and conversations that linger long after dinner.
Wednesday - Conversation & Culture
Midweek centres on dialogue across generations and perspectives, exploring how identity evolves through culture, memory, and community.
As the afternoon eases, the group gathers outdoors for a relaxed Andalusian interlude – music, shared drinks, and laughter in the open air.
The evening features a live cultural performance within the castle walls, offering an intimate moment that resonates quietly into the night.
Thursday - Making & Memory
Thursday is devoted to creativity and craft.
Guests are invited into tactile and expressive sessions using voice, text, and clay – accessible, unhurried, and thoughtfully guided.
As evening falls, the castle becomes the setting for a celebratory night of performance, music, and shared enjoyment, blending elegance, warmth, and joy.
Friday - Celebration & Closing Evening
The final full day offers time to gather what has emerged over the week – conversations revisited, moments reflected upon, and a growing sense of closeness within the group.
As evening approaches, the castle begins to shift. Light softens across the terraces, music drifts through the corridors, and guests prepare for a closing celebration shaped by anticipation and ease.
Dinner is served by candlelight, with long tables, shared laughter, and a sense of quiet glamour. At one point in the evening, a simple masked moment adds a touch of play and mystery – brief, optional, and gently memorable.
The night unfolds naturally with music, movement, and a final toast beneath the Andalusian sky, closing the residency with warmth and gratitude.
Saturday - Departure
After a final breakfast together, departures begin. Guests leave Castillo de Monda carrying memories shaped by place, people, and the simple pleasure of time generously shared.
More Information
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Don't forget that most of our itineraries can be totally customized. Our expert team will be able to talk you through all the options.
What Makes This Residency Special
The Glainne Andalusia Residency is shaped around the idea that identity is not something to solve, but something to explore – through culture, conversation, creativity, and shared experience.
Designed specifically for gay men and allies, the residency offers space to engage with questions of expression, visibility, and belonging in a setting that feels elegant, welcoming, and unforced.
Rather than following a rigid schedule, the week is designed as a living rhythm. Time is intentionally spacious, allowing moments to unfold naturally: a conversation that lingers over lunch, a performance that sparks reflection, an evening that stretches into laughter.
Invited artists, thinkers, and performers contribute throughout the week, offering encounters that feel accessible and beautifully curated – often flowing naturally into shared meals, music, or conversation beneath the Andalusian sky.
At its heart, this is an experience about presence: being seen without pressure, engaging without expectation, and enjoying the ease of belonging – even if only for a short while.
Why book with us?
Personal Service
We want to ensure you have the best experience with us so we’ll keep working on your itinerary until perfect. You will have your own personal dedicated member of our team who will help build a trip that is bespoke to you.
Call our travel experts on +44 (0)20 7157 1570
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