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Andalucia

Andalucia is a region in the south of Spain. It is a region of contrasts: ancient cities and deserts, amazing beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz and the Sierra Nevada mountain range where the highest mountain in Spain is found and also the most southerly ski resort in Europe.

Andalucia encompasses an area of 87,268 km2 with a population of just under 8 million people. It spans almost the entire south of Spain and is bordered to the west by Portugal. To the south in the Province of Cádiz at the very tip of Spain lies the British colony of Gibraltar where it is separate from North Africa by just a few miles.

Provinces

Andalucia is divided into eight provinces, each having the same name as its respective provincial capital city.

Cities

Other destinations

Culture and History

Andalucia has a rich Moorish heritage, including many fantastic examples of Moorish architecture which were built during the eight centuries when Andalucia was the centre of the Arab population in the Iberian peninsular. The Moorish rule effectively ended in 1492AD when the Christians recaptured Granada.

Nowaday, the region is a very popular tourist destination with a lot of British and German package holidayers coming to stay in the concrete resorts on the Costa del Sol. But if you stay away from the concrete resorts you will find lots of culture, amazing scenery and great food.

Talk

Andalucian, Castillan, English,etc...

Travel to Andalucia & Visa Requirements

Major airports: Seville(Sevilla), Malaga, Almeria, Jerez de la Frontera.

By car

The main road routes into Andalucia are

The E-1 A-49 from the Algarve (Portugal) to Seville
The E-803 A-66 from Portugal and western Spain to Seville
The E-5 A-4 from Madrid to Cordoba and then Seville
The E-15 A-7 from Valencia and Murcia to Almeria and along the coast

Flights and airtickets to Andalucia

Malaga has the third biggest international airport in Spain, which a lot of discount airlines fly to. From Malaga, the A-7 E-15 motorway runs westwards along the coast to Gibraltar and eastwards to Almeria and beyond. To head north from Malaga, the A-45 motorway runs to Cordoba.

By train

Spain's railway network isn't as developed as those of many other European countries, but Algeciras, Almeria, Cadiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga and Sevilla are all served by regular train services. Some of the other smaller towns are served by less frequent services, see individual city guides for further details. For more info, see the RENFE website.

Tours & Getting around Andalucia

  • Alsina Graells [2] provides bus services around Adalucia. Timetables and ticket booking available at the website.

Andalucia attractions and sightseeing

  • Moorish architecture in Granada, including the Alhambra
  • Lake Negratin is situated at the foothills of Mount Jabalcón. As one of Europes largest lakes, it really is worth seeing not least for the most magnificent lunar-landscape that surrounds it. I would liken the rock formations and the colours it produces during different times of the day to those of the Grand Canyon. There is a manmade beach where you can laze the day away, a number of restaurants dotted round the lake and on a nice day you can swim or take out a pedalo boat, which might lead you to pink flamingos and various other wildlife.
  • Seron is nestled on the lower slopes of the Sierra de los Filabres and is a picturesque town that cascades down the hillside. Dominated by its Castle, which sits at the very top, Seron is famous for its ham and provides a more traditional experience of Andalucian life. It is a beautiful location to start your exploration of the Filabres, or visit at the right time of year and you might find yourself submerged in a vibrant fiesta.
  • Las Menas, an old mining village abandoned thirty years ago, makes an interesting stop in the Sierra de los Filabres. You can investigate old ruins crumbling amidst the most breathtaking countryside, stop for coffee and cake at the hotel and even camp for the night.

Andalucia city tours