You want to visit Spain but don’t know where to start? We suggest Andalusia!
If you want to find out why here you have 10 reasons to include Andalusia in your next trip to Spain:
1. Delicious food
Spain has so much more to offer foodwise than
paella! Many of its
most famous delicacies come indeed from Andalusia: p
escaito frito,
gazpacho,
rabo de toro,
tortillitas de camarones,
flamenquines,
salmorejo…
Tapas are a religion here and due to their small size you will be able to taste many different flavors in just one meal.
2. Impressive cities
All eight capital cities in Andalusia surely deserve a visit, but if your time is limited, we would stick to:
Seville. It is the capital and largest city of Andalusia. Situated on the plain of the river Guadalquivir, its Old Town contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Alcázar, the Cathedral and the General Archive of Indias.
Granada. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, is not only home to the
Alhambra but to many other cultural attractions that make this destination one of the favourites among tourists around the world.
Cordoba. Located in a depression on the banks of the Guadalquivir and at the foot of Sierra Morena, is home to many remarkable pieces of Moorish architecture such as the Mezquita, currently used as a Cathedral. The whole historic center of Córdoba has been declared a UNESCO heritage site.
Málaga. The southernmost large city in Europe. It lies on the Costa del Sol, and due to its 2,800 years of history it is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. In contrast, nowadays it is known as one of the most modern and trendiest towns in Andalucía.
3. Charming white villages
Have you heard of Andalusian white villages, also known as ‘p
ueblos blancos’? They are
hidden amongst the peaks and valleys throughout the province, but the more famous are
Arcos de la Frontera,
Zahara de la Sierra and
Véjer de la Frontera in Cádiz,
Ronda and
Frigiliana in Málaga and
Salobreña in Granada.
4. Dreamy beaches
Andalusia boasts
800 km of sun-soaked coastline, that go from Almeria in the east to the Atlantic coast of Huelva in the west. Though Costa del Sol is the most famous beach destination, we truly advise not to miss
Bolonia and
El Palmar in
Costa de la Luz, Cádiz, and
Los Muertos and
San José in
Costa de Almería. The Caribbean has nothing on them!
5. Mountains
You are not a beach person? Don’t worry, while it is true that Andalucía has always been well known for its coast, its interior is no less impressive with a range of mountains that will allow you to do
hiking, trekking, mountain biking and even
skiing in the slopes of Sierra Nevada during the winter season.
6. Local festivities
Holy Easter Week or
Semana Santa is a big deal in Andalusia. Watching the
‘procesiones’ (parades) for the first time is something you won’t easily forget. Observing religious sculptures paraded through the streets followed by a trail of
nazarenos while listening to the solemn music of the bands and smelling the incense floating in the air is a unique experience.
The
Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best-known in Spain. What makes it so special and different from other carnivals around the word is humor. Aside from people flooding the streets dressed up in customs, the highlight of the event is the contest of ‘
chirigotas’ that sing about the current affairs through sarcasm, mockery and irony.
There are also
many ferias happening throughout the year, being the
Feria de Abril in Seville the most traditional and representative, and the Málaga one, in August, the most open and welcoming for the foreigner.
7. Art & culture
Hundreds of years of History and an interesting blend of civilizations have left an incredibly rich legacy in Andalucía: the
Alcázar in Seville, the
Alhambra in Granada, the
Mezquita in Córdoba… the list of impressive monuments is endless!
If you are into museums, you’d like to know that
Málaga has become a cultural reference not only in Andalucía but within the whole country due to its impressive
museums offer, among which we can find some with an international reputation such as Museo Picasso, Centre Pompidou Málaga or Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga.
8. Amazing weather
It is no secret that Andalusia has a
wonderful climate, with plenty of sun all year round. The average temperature runs from 15°C in February to 40°C in August and it receives around three thousand hours of sunshine per year.
9. The locals
Andalusians are renowned for being the
friendlier and more open people in the whole country!
10. It’s really affordable
And if all this was not enough, Andalusia is
one of the cheapest regions in Spain and quite likely, in all of Western Europe.