Andalusía Travel Guide

Much of what the world imagines as Spain is in fact Andalucía. This sun-drenched region is the home of flamenco and bullfights, sombreros and sherry. In tiled tabernas, friends share tapas—mounds of salt sprinkled prawns and translucent slivers of the world’s finest ham. Some may reject these stereotypes, but most Andalucians celebrate them with pride.  Nothing here is done by halves. The fiestas are more passionate, the flowers more colorful, and the music more intense.

Andalucía was the last redoubt of the Moors, who held al-Andalus for nearly eight centuries until 1492, and it still shines with the glories of medieval Islam: Granada’s world-famous Alhambra (pictured above), the Mezquita of Córboda, and the minaret of Sevilla’s Giralda. Many of Andalucía’s smaller towns are hauntingly beautiful too, from the Renaissance grace of Úbeda and Baeza to the romance of gorge-split Ronda and the Pueblos Blancos (White Towns). Add the aristocratic languor of Jerez and the glittering personality of Cádiz, and whether you spend a week or a month here, you’ll scarcely begin to scratch the surface.

Spain’s southernmost region also includes the Costa del Sol, the seaside playground covered in Chapter Eight. Go there for its beach resorts and nightclubs. Visit Andalucía for its rich history and architectural wonders, its traditional tapas, flamenco music, and sheer love of life.