Andalusia

Andalucia covers the entire southern coast of Spain. It features spectacular Moorish monuments and pretty white hill towns, hot sandy beaches and cooler mountains.

The capital, Seville, has an ambience all its own. Baking hot in summer, Seville is flamenco and bullfighting, tapas bars and Moorish monuments. The Alcazar is a 14th century palace featuring many Moorish elements. The Gothic cathedral is the largest church in the world. It was built on the site of a mosque, and has incorporated the old Moorish turret - La Giralda - within it. The Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold) is a remarkable remnant of the old Moorish walls of the city.

Elsewhere, the Alhambra at Granada is the best-preserved Moorish monument in the world. Cordoba is the foremost Moorish town in Spain and features the Mezquita or Grand Mosque.

The Costa del Sol – the Malaga coast – is much loved by holidaymakers for its mild Mediterranean climate and its tourist resorts - including Marbella and Torremolinos. The Atlantic coast in the Huelva and Cadiz provinces is also beautiful, and less touristy. Cadiz itself is a lovely Andalucian city, almost surrounded by water, with a colourful centre and the typical whitewashed buildings.

As for cuisine, each of Analucia’s eight provinces has its own speciality, but you’ll find the highest quality hams and olive oil everywhere, together with the sherry – Jerez, Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado and more.