ANDALUCIA

has historically been an agricultural region. It’s a region with a rich culture and a strong identity. Many cultural phenomena that are seen internationally as distinctively Spanish are largely Andalusian in origin these includes flamenco and bullfighting and Hispano-Moorish architectural styles. 

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MOORISH

Domination extended from the Eight century till the Fifteenth. It gave an architectural style with monuments like the Alcazar in Seville and many others. 

MEDITERANEAN ATMOSPHERE

You may enjoy Marbella (nice landscapes and mountains) and as I did in particular if you stay in the residence of rich friends with swimming pool inside and outside and breathtaking views including at night. 

SHOPPING

Puerto Banus is the place to go if you want to shop seriously. We went to all places from Dior, Gucci, Dolce e Gabbana, D Squared and so on. In the meantime we drank champagne and we got champagne everywhere in the shops. We had so many shopping bags that the Bentley SUV Type was full.  

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LANDING

You will land in Malaga which is a nice city. The tourism is less chic than in Marbella (a good number of retired German) but we did stay with pleasure in The Gran Miramar Hotel which occupies a quite luxury building facing the sea. 

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JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Worth mentioning as I find difficult to write compliments about Spanish food. It is closed to the Miramar and its really delicious (Takumi).

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PEOPLE

are very nice and helpful. If you speak Spanish of course it’s easier but anyhow I found everywhere a good atmosphere and people very gentle and open.

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CLEAN

Everywhere it was so clean despite the tourism and the problems you may find in big cities with small streets.

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ESTEPONA

on the world famous Costa del sol deserves all the charm of a typical Andalusian town with its peaceful squares bedecked with colourful flowerpots and little white houses. 

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TO DO

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TRAVELLING Of course you need to rent a car at Malaga airport and go to the countryside all  the more so I you want to visit nice cities like Cordoba and Granada. Roads are good and the traffic was nice may be because we were there in winter. Climate was nice and we admired the SIERRA NEVADA (beautiful mountains) on our way to Granada.

 

 

GRANADA

 

GRANADA located at the foot of Sierra Nevada at the confluence of 4 rivers. The city sits at an elevation of around 800 meters above the sea level and it takes only an hour to reach the Mediterranean coast. The city is dotted with fine Renaissance Baroque and Neoclassical churches palaces and mansions…

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ALHAMBRA

 

ALHAMBRA is not only a palace but a real citadel overlooking the city. You need to take a full day to go there in the various buildings and gardens and to admire the style of the palaces.

 

 

ALBACIN

 

ALBACIN is a fascinating part of Granada with small streets and whites houses full of flowers. You may also visit it by night which will give you even more fascination in discovering charming plazas, quaint courtyards and historic sites.

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DINING

 

DINING Go to  El Trillo restaurant with a view on the Alhambra and nice dishes.

 

 

SLEEPING

 

SLEEPINGI stayed at the Palacio de Santa Paula Nice people and interesting atmosphere. Good service. 

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CORDOBA

 

CORDOBA is a thing you have to visit once in your life time as the Great Mosque is something you would not have imagined. The Historic Center of Cordoba creates the perfect urban and landscape setting for the Mosque. It reflects thousands of years of occupation by different cultural groups that all left a mark. This area reflects the Roman era and the splendor of the great Islamic city.

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HISTORY

 

HISTORY First a Carthaginian township Cordoba was captured by the Roman in 206 BC. In the 6th century with the crumbling of Roman Empire the city felt to the Visigoths until the beginning of the 8th century when it was conquered by the Moors. It had become one of the most advanced citie sin the world recognized for its culture learning and religious tolerance. 

 

 

THE GREAT MOSQUE

 

THE GREAT MOSQUE is unique by its size and the sheer boldness of the heights of the ceilings. It’s a testimony of the Caliphate of Cordoba and the most emblematic monument of Islamic religious architecture.

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STAYING

 

STAYING I enjoyed a charming hotel called Hospes Palacio del Bailio which has also a nice world.