Andalusia

Andalusia, or Andalucia in Spanish, is the Southernmost part of Spain and is the land of flamenco, bullfights, sherry, tapas,  castles and some fabulous Moorish architecture. The Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba and the Alcazar in Seville are all not to be missed.

The arid landscapes in the interiour of Andalucia contrasts with the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, Spains highest range of mountains,  and the coast has long been known to British tourists who pour into the Costa del Sol. However aswell as the crowded and not very nice beaches around Malaga there are some beautiful alternatives on the Atlantic coast.

 

Coast

Costa del Sol

With over 300 days of sunshine a year and the conveniently located airport of Malaga this coastline attracts a lot of tourists. However whilst there are bad resorts such as Torremolinos, there are a selection of more stylish resorts such as Marbella, Puerto Banus and the Marina of Sotogrande.  In fact even Torremolinos is enjoying a face lift. As well as beaches there are over 30 of Europe's best golf courses close by.

Costa de la Luz

An unspoiled stretch of coast, with views down to Gibraltar and across  to Morocco.

 

Inland

The two national parks and three major cities in Andalucia, Cordoba, Seville and Grenada, all World Heritage Sites are the main places to visit in inland Andalucia but the white hill towns around Ronda and the Renaisssance towns of Osuna, Baeza and Ubeda are all worth visiting.

 

Parks

Donana National Park - see below

The Sierra Nevada National Park - see below

The Garganta del Chorro, El Chorro Gorge. A five kilometer long gorge cut into the limestone mountain. 180m deep and with a concrete catwalk, the Camino del Rey,  leading to a bridge across the gorge but this can no longer be accessed without guides and climbing gear.

National Park of El Torcal, with amazing rock formations made out of weathered limestone.

National Park of Cazorla, spectacular scenery and lots of wildlife

National Park of Cabo de Gata, a coastal national park with sand dunes and cliffs of volcanic rock.

 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Catalonia:

Doñana National Park. A National Park created around the wetlands area at the delta of the Guadalquivir. Home to flamingoes, 300 species of birds including many rare birds such as the imperial eagle, and one of Europe's rarest mammals the lynx.

The Sierra Nevada National Park, with a large variety of flora and fauna, including fify varieties of wild flowers unique to this area.

Alhambra and the Generalife, Granada

Historic centre of Cordoba including the Mosque of Cordoba

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville. These three buildings are situated together in the heart of Seville.  t

 

Cities and Places to Visit:

Cordoba, home of the Mezquita, the most beautiful of all the Mosques constructed by the Moors in Spain

Granada, home of the Alhambra and Genaralife

Jerez, capital of sherry production and hoe to the Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Ecuestre or the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art

Cadiz, Europe's oldest city

Ronda and the "White Towns". These whitewashed towns are dotted around the hillsides near Ronda. Ronda itself is a spectacular town which sits on top of a rocky outcrop

Osuna, streets of tiled, whitewashed houses, dotted with fine Renaissance houses

Italica, Roman ruins including a vast amphitheatre and the ruins of several villas with their mosaic floors can be seen here.

Ecija, known as the frying pan of Andalusia because of its intense heat but worth a visit for its eleven Baroque church steeples.                                                

Priego de Cordoba, many fine examples of Baroque carvings and ironworks. The medieval quarter has a Moorish fortress

Guadix, troglodyte area near Grenada

Ubeda, has a fabulous Renaissance square

Baeza, another beautiful town with fine Renaissance architecture.

Tabernas, rugged scenery and a Moorish fortress have proved the setting of many spaghetti westerns including "A Fistfull of Dollars". Two film sets can be visited: Mini Hollywood and Texas Hollywood.

Almeria,home to the largest fortress built in Spain by the Moors, the Alcazaba.

 

Museums

Picasso Museum, Malaga. Malaga was the birthplace of Picasso and this museum contains some important works

 

Monastaries

Monasterio de La Rabida, Fransiscan Monastary on the Western tip of Andalusia

 

Gardens

Botanical Garden of La Concepcion, Jardin Botanico La Concepcion. A tropical garden just north of Malaga

Visit the fabulous gardens of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos in Cordoba.

Botanical Gardens of Cordoba, with exotic trees and shrubs from around the world.

Gardens of the Alhambra and Generalife in Grenada

 

Paradors of Catalonia

Parador de Antequera, Antequera

Parador Arcos de La Frontera, Arcos de la Fronera

Parador de Ayamonte, Ayamonte

Parador de Cadiz, Cadiz

Parador de Carmona, Carmona

Parador de Cazorla, Cazola

Parador de Cordoba, Cordoba

Parador de Granada, Granada

Parador de Jaen, Jaen

Parador Malaga Golf, Malaga

Parador Malaga Gibralfaro, Malaga

Parador de Mazagon, Mezagon

Parador de Mojacar, Mojaca

Parador de Nerja, Nerja

Parador de Ronda, Ronda

Parador de Ubeda, Ubeda

 

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