Many Brits will have visited Andalusia almost without realising it – the eternally popular Costa del Sol runs along the base of this large Spanish province.
But out of the main summer season, visitors who venture beyond the beach resorts will find a very different Spain, one in which they can wander through mazes of cobbled streets and white-washed houses, visit Moorish palaces and Gothic cathedrals, sample local delicacies and drinks and see passionate flamenco performances.
Between the handsome cities, the landscape spans golden wheatfields and blue mountain ranges, with walking and cycling opportunities for active travellers.
The shoulder seasons are the perfect times for these cultural and active types of holidaymakers, when it’s warm but not swelteringly hot for sightseeing, and the school-holiday crowds are gone.
For those who want to dig deep into the cultural sights, suggest an escorted tour. These usually take in the cultural trio of Seville, Cordoba and Granada, sometimes adding in other towns along the way.
Page & Moy, Leger Holidays, Cosmos Tourama and Shearings Holidays all offer week-long options. A self-drive would provide an alternative for those who prefer greater freedom, while for clients with less time, a short break to one of the Andalusian cities provides a perfect taster experience which is sure to leave them wanting more.
Attraction World has just added Andalusia to its programme. On offer are full day tours of Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Ronda, Gibraltar and even Tangier, plus an evening flamenco show option. Hotel pick-ups are available from Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola – ideal for clients on a traditional beach holiday who want to add in a few cultural excursions.
Seville
Andalusia’s bustling capital has winding, cobbled streets lined with the orange trees that take their name from the city.
Highlights include the vast Gothic cathedral, cited as the largest in the world, the Torre del Oro, a landmark on the Guadalquivir riverbank, and the 9th-century Alcazar Palace, which has beautiful gardens.
Dance lovers should visit the Museo del Baile Flamenco to discover the background to the dramatic art-form, and there are performances at the museum on Friday and Saturday nights too.
Granada
Granada’s most famous sight towers above the town – the magnificent Alhambra Palace is built on a hilltop. The last of Spain’s ruling Islamic dynasties, the Nasrids, lived here in the 14th and 15th centuries. Within its pink walls visitors can wander through tranquil gardens with fountains and buildings with pretty arched doorways.
Below the Alhambra, in the historic city itself, the cave dwellings in the Roma gypsy neighbourhood of Sacromonte are a fascinating sight.
Cordoba
Another pivotal city for the Islamic empire in Spain, Cordoba is home to the massive Mezquita, a mosque dating back to the 8th century.
The stunning interior houses a sea of columns crowned by candy striped arches and ornate ceiling decorations. The mosque is so large that after the Christians recaptured power they built a cathedral right in the middle of it.
The city’s streets are particularly picturesque – visitors can wind their way between whitewashed buildings, taking in the atmosphere. To relax, suggest customers head for the Hammams de Al Andalus, a traditional Arabic steam bath built into a beautiful old house.
Ronda
The plunging 100m-deep El Tajo gorge cuts the city of Ronda in half, with three famous bridges spanning the canyon above the Guadalevin river. Visitors flock to make the vertigo-inducing crossing between the pretty white squares located on both sides.
The city, situated high in the mountains, is home to Spain’s oldest and most beautiful bullring, which is now a museum. Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles both spent time in the town and wrote about their experiences, and the latter’s ashes were scattered in the bullring.
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez translates into English as sherry for a reason – the drink originated here and visitors can hardly walk 10 paces without finding a wine cellar where they can take a tour and try a few tastings.
Jerez is also famous for its horses, and visitors can see the impeccably schooled horses ‘dance’ at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Flamenco aficionados may want to visit in early spring to coincide with the internationally renowned flamenco festival.
As with most Andalusian towns, there’s also a Moorish fortress to visit, plus churches and a charming old town.
Malaga
Often bypassed by the crowds who fly into its airport on the way to the Costa del Sol, Malaga warrants a closer look as a city destination in itself. It was the birthplace of Picasso, and visitors can view his former home as well as some of his greatest works at the Picasso Museum.
With this, tropical gardens, a bull-fighting museum, a cathedral and a hilltop fortress, there’s more than enough to tempt clients away from the beach – though the latter is always there when they want to kick back and relax.
Ask an expert
Claire Mellor, Page & Moy tour manager, Spain
“The best tapas in Granada, where I live, can be found at Al Mordux, on a street called Paseo De Salon. There’s a lovely terrace where you can sit out in good weather. For more upscale dining, try La Mimbre, a beautiful restaurant by the side of the Alhambra.
“Suggest clients who like a spectacle visit Andalusia during Easter week, or Semana Santa as it’s known in Spain. Parades and processions with decorated
floats can be seen in all the cities across the region.”
Sample product
Page & Moy offers seven nights’ half-board on its Week in Andalucia tour, which visits Malaga, Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Ronda, from £699 including flights to Malaga. pageandmoy.co.uk, 0844 567 6633
Classic Collection Holidays offers three nights’ B&B at the Vincci Posada del Patio in Malaga’s old town centre from £386 including flights and private transfers this November. classic-collection.co.uk, 0800 088 7288
Explore offers a 15-day Moorish Andalucia walking trip visiting Granada, Seville, Cordoba, Ronda and the scenic landscapes of Cazorla and Grazalema, from £1,160 including flights, for departure dates in 2011. explore.co.uk, 0844 499 0904
