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The Spanish region of Andalucia is home to one of the most amazing collection of
historic towns and cities anywhere in the world. Seville, Granada, Ronda, Malaga,
Jerez, Cadiz and Cordoba spread out across the Andalusian landscape offering a
historical past to rival any. Andalucia has more than eight hundred kilometres of
Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline, and lots of interesting places to visit for
those who want to explore "real" Spain with its culture, history and traditions.
It has a very diverse landscape, from the beaches on the coast to the fertile
valleys and the mountains of the Sierras. Folklore is an important part of the
Andalucian culture and throughout the year traditional celebrations are held.
Flamenco dance and music originated here and competitions are held regularly.
The Costa del Sol is perhaps the most known area of Andalucia, where you can enjoy
glorious beaches, a superb range of sporting activities, including golf, and excellent
Spanish cuisine with a wide choice of evening entertainment. Marbella has a wealth
of high-class shops and restaurants, while Puerto Banus is a delightful marina where
you can stroll along the harbour, enjoying the yachting atmosphere and the bustling
activity of the smart bars, shops and fish restaurants.
The historic cities and towns of Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Ronda are within
easy reach of the Costa del Sol. Granada is only about a two hour drive inland
from the Costa del Sol and is well worth visiting for its beautiful Moorish buildings
as well as being the home of the famous Alhambra palace, one of the most remarkable
buildings ever constructed. Not far north from Marbella is the historic town of Ronda,
famous for the ravine that cuts the town in half, and for being the birthplace of
bullfighting. The Ronda bullring is one of the oldest in Spain.
The character of Andalucia has been strongly marked by its distinctive white houses,
which make a striking impression as you travel through the countryside. The pueblos
blancos or white villages of Mijas, Gaucin and Frigiliana are easily accessible by
car from the coast and are delightful villages with narrow streets and pretty squares.
The region of mountain villages known as Las Alpujarras lies on the southern flanks
of the Sierra Nevada with breathtaking valleys and gorges which run down towards the
Mediterranean coast.
Costa Almeria nestles between rugged mountains and very clear blue sea. The architecture
of Almeria has an unmistakeable Arab influence and the old Moorish hill village of
Mojacar reflects this with its white houses and domed roofs. A visit inland will reward
you with beautiful scenery and small towns and villages hardly touched by our pace of
life today.
Costa de la Luz extends across the Atlantic coastline of southern Spain from Algeciras
to the Portuguese border. This relatively unknown area of Spain is easily accessed from
just across the border in Portugal. With fine sandy beaches, pine woods and a beautiful
climate, this is the perfect place to enjoy the more peaceful and tranquil aspects of
coastal Andalucia. The famous towns and cities of the area, Jerez, the home of sherry,
Cadiz and the beautiful city of Seville offer a delightful mixture of the areas cultural
heritage. The coastal town of Tarifa is a windsurfers paradise and hosts the world
championships.
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