Moorish Palaces and Whitewashed Hill Towns
Andalusia is the largest autonomous community of southern Spain, known for its Moorish architecture, its flamenco heritage and its sunlit landscapes of olive groves, white villages and beaches. It covers eight provinces and has Seville as its capital, and its history reaches from Roman Itálica to the Islamic caliphate of Córdoba and the kingdom of Granada. The region stretches from the Atlantic Costa de la Luz to the Mediterranean Costa del Sol, with the Sierra Nevada rising above the Alhambra at its eastern end.
Three great monuments define it. The Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita-Catedral in Córdoba and the Alcázar and cathedral of Seville are each recognised by UNESCO and each repay a long visit. Between them lie hill towns such as Ronda, perched above a gorge, and Setenil de las Bodegas, built beneath overhanging rock. Flamenco, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2010, is born of Andalusia's Romani, Moorish and Castilian influences and is best felt in a small peña or tablao.
Sherry, Jamón and the Sea Between Them
The region's table is outstanding. Gazpacho and salmorejo, jamón ibérico from the hills of Huelva, fried fish from Cádiz and Málaga, and sherry from the triangle of Jerez, Sanlúcar and El Puerto de Santa María are all part of the pleasure. Olive oil from Jaén is celebrated worldwide, and tapas culture is at its most generous in Granada, where a small plate often arrives with each round. Moorish-influenced sweets and almond cakes give the table its distinctive local flavour.
The coast gives the region a second character. The Costa del Sol, centred on Málaga and Marbella, has long been a leading beach destination, while the quieter Costa de la Luz in the west has wide Atlantic beaches and a strong surfing and kitesurfing culture around Tarifa. Inland, Doñana National Park offers wetlands, flamingos and the rare Iberian lynx. A hotel group can build a rounded offer here that combines culture, coast and cuisine in one trip.
Read the full Andalusia guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitAndalucia.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.