With one of the most romantic Spanish cities as its capital, Andalusia, the picturesque south of the Iberian Peninsula, prides itself with eight beautiful provinces: Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga and Seville, its epicenter, boasting as many lyrical and diverse sunsets.
The birthplace of artists such as Picasso and Velázquez, the most prominent scene of flamenco and bullfighting, home of the scenic Costa del Sol and Sierra Nevada, Andalusia is a melting pot of cultures and traditions and the place where the East meets the West on the most lurid Spanish land.
“All Spain feels its existence justified by the honor of having on its flanks the Andalusian piece of the planet.” - Ortega y Gasset, Teoría de Andalucía, 1927
Almeria
Photo by Juan de Dios Santander Vela
Almeria or literary “Mirror of the Sea” was founded in 995 AD by the Moors, whose traces are still visible today in the region’s rich culture. Also known as “The Garden of Spain”, Almeria boasts dozens of attractions including spectacular fortifications such as the Moorish Alcazaba, charming pueblos with narrow Kasbah streets, the western Oasys Theme Park which served as a settlement for “The good, the bad and the ugly”, lots of museums and lovely beaches, as well as the stunning National Park, Cabo del Gata.
Cadiz
Photo by Basilievich
Overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, Cadiz is the southernmost part of Western Europe and maybe the most exotic piece of the old continent. Boasting an impressive array of wild beautiful beaches, white towns, natural parks, enchanting plazas and cathedrals, Cadiz has a charm of its own, being considered by many, one of the most mysterious places in Europe.
Cordoba
Photo by Bogdan Migulski
With a striking historical and cultural background, a lovely countryside, Moorish castles, and unusual cathedrals, the beautiful region of Cordoba still preserves between its boundaries, one of the softest Spanish vibes, being able to offer visitors an authentic experience. Cordoba’s major attractions include: the timeless Old Jewish Quarter (The Juderia), The Mosque (Mezquita), the beautiful gardens of Alcazár de los Reyes Cristianos, Don Quixote’s Plaza del Potro and Plaza de la Corredera, build on a ruined Roman amphitheater.
Granada
Photo by Nic McPhee
Home of the famous Alhambra, the flamboyant Sacromonte quarter and one of the best Moorish architectures in Europe, Granada is the point of departure of most of the Spanish stereotypes and the place where gypsy women are still dancing flamenco with passion, holding red roses between their teeth.
Sharing the striking Sierra Nevada with its neighbor – Almeria and being ideally located just 70 km away from the coast, Granada offers tourists the amazing opportunity of skiing and sunbathing in the same day, as one of the best year-round destinations in Spain.
Huelva
Photo by Tomas Fano
Connecting Spain with Portugal, Huelva boasts a wonderful varied landscape, being bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Morena mountain range. Spain’s most pristine beaches, a remarkable array of Nature Reserves and charming fishing villages as well as a conspicuous gastronomy make from this land of fiestas an authentic destination for any kind of Spain aficionados.
Jaen
Photo by hem73
Malaga
Photo by Marta St▲rbucks
World famous Malaga features some of the best resorts in Spain, being the preference of many when it comes to lovely summer beaches on the Iberian Peninsula. Home of the illustrious Marbella with its exclusive Puerto Banus , beautiful Torremolinos , romantic Benalmadena, the amazing city of Malaga, charming Estepona , the beautiful beaches of Fuengirola and dozens of charismatic villages sprinkled in the center, Malaga is par excellence a parade of culture, architecture, history, wine regions, eye-catching sights and never-ending beaches.
Seville
Photo by Tom Raftery
The capital of Andalusia, Seville lies beautifully on the banks of Rio Guadalquivi, as one of Spain’s most treasured and interesting destinations. Offering a great amount of attractions such as the imposing Cathedral of Seville, the delightful Old Town or the one and only Alcazar (Mudejar Royal Palace), the romantic city of Seville encompasses everything a traveler would expect to find between the Spanish borders.
Although Seville itself is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and even in Europe, there’s still much to discover in the surrounding area, so, don’t hesitate to venture beyond the capital’s delights, and to discover the serene La Campina, the North’s wooden hills, the South’s whitewashed towns or the West’s arty Aljarafe.
I still have a bit of ground to cover in Andalucia but I have to say that I lost my heart to Cordoba a couple of years back. The photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s stunning- especially when the Patio Festival is on in May.
I still have few places to cover in Andalucia, too, and I know the photo might not be the best illustration of Cordoba’s delights, but it had to be a sunset (like all of them). This was a sort of introduction, I know that Cordoba, as well as the other provinces of Andalucia deserve more than a few words, maybe a piece(or more) of their own, so don’t worry I’ll make justice:)! Thanks for stopping by!
I have been to many magical places but my very Cuban heart knows that in my DNA lies ancestors in Andalusia. The beauty of the Alhambra, the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, the beautiful architecture of Islamic Spain can only be truly appreciated first hand. Your pictures are fantastic but they unfortunately don’t do justice to the beauty. Thank you for taking me back to southern Spain. I just returned from Northern Spain (Basque region, Cantanbria, Navarra) and loved the area as well although its flavor is totally different but no less magical.