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Costa del Sol and Marbella
Costa del Sol is located on the coastline to the east and west of Malaga
in Andalusia, Spain. There are cliffs of up to 200 meters where the Sierra Almijara
joins the sea. This section ends at Mara on a coastal plain. It has an urban landscape
surrounded by traditional agriculture. Nerja is the most important center on the
coast and has grown rapidly. It is surrounded with tourist pueblos and at the
foot of Nerja is a winding footpath joining several coves.
To the west, there is 100km of coastline from Malaga to the Cadiz provincial border. In the middle of the Costa is the most important inland connection.
The population of the Costa is one of the most multiethnic in Spain - British, German, French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Moroccan and American are some of the nationalities you will find here. It is by far the most popular all year destination in Europe.
Due to the abundance of facilities, wonderful climate, and hospitality of the people, this area is ideal for sport lovers. For example, the wide range of sports offered here is almost too numberous to mention. Golf, by far, is one of the most popular in Costa del Sol, boasting of some of the most superb golf courses in the world. For example, Costa del Sol was chosen to host the 1997 Ryder Cup in which the European players compete with the Americans every two years. Other sports, which are widely enjoyed in the Costas, are paragliding at Ronda la Vieja or Valle de Abdalajis, ballooning over Ronda, potholing in the Cueva del Gato, water parascending in Puerto Banus, diving, windsurfing, and off road adventures on the trails through the mountains through the mountains. Also, it goes without saying that the beaches are magnificent and the water warm, which makes it easy to enjoy these water sports or just sunbathe and relax.
There is also lots of sightseeing available as Andalucia has a rich history of many ancient civilizations left behind as ruins and historical sites. Some are listed here; Acinipo in Ronda, Bobastro near Alora, Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro in the City of Malaga. Visitors can travel along the Mudejar route in La Axarquia, see the dolmens of Menga and the figure of Efebro in Antequera. There are cultural attractions. Museums of Bellas Artes, Arte Popular, Diocesano, the house of Picasso, the Teatro Cervantes, the old Cathedrals and Castles and many other points of interest.
There are few other places with such an abundance and selection of restaurants. The Costa has everything from oriental cuisine, international food to the exotic tastes of Southern Spain. The Costa's typical dishes are seafood, particularly the "el pescaito frito" famous in the Carihuela area of Torremolinos.
It must be pointed out too that the nightlife in Costa del Sol is unbelievable. There are casinos, flamenco shows, Salsa Discos, and thousands of bars and terraces to while away the night.
All in all, let's not forget the renowned Parque de Attractions Tivoli, to the two gambling casinos, water fun parks, and a zoo and bullfights. It would be hard to believe that anyone could get bored in Costa del Sol.
You're unlikely to run short of sights to see and places to visit as you stroll the ancient streets of Seville. The place is full of historic palaces and monuments, fascinating museums, medieval churches and delightful, narrow, winding alleyways where you can shop, people watch or enjoy some traditional tapas. It's a film director's dream with its moat; bridges, fountains, and intricate ceramic tile work in the cloistered arcade. Tiled pictures depict each of Spain's provinces and it's a popular past time with Spanish tourists to pose for the cameras in front of their native province.
Seville has hosted two international exhibitions (1929 and 1992) and is the administrative capital of Andalucía. The quarter of Triana on the other side of the river, La Macarena, Santa Cruz and San Bartolomé, the street of Las Sierpes, plus La Maestranza bullring, María Luisa Park and the riverside walks are all representative images of Seville.
The impressive Plaza de España is a must - a huge, semi-circular meeting
and relaxation spot originally designed as the centerpiece of the 1929 Exposition
(Spanish-Americas Exhibition). Scenes from Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars II
were filmed in the plaza, which is one of the most glorious in Spain.
It’s imperative that you try to visit the old city, with the Cathedral and
the Giralda tower at its heart. (You can climb the steps inside the tower for
a magnificent view of the City) Very close by are the royal Mudéjar palace
known as the Alcazar with marvelous gardens and the Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped
streets, flowered balconies, richly decorated facades, hidden patios... Other
sights not to be missed are, In the old city, the Casa de Pilatos, a large sixteenth-century
mansion where Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance styles blend harmoniously amidst
exuberant patios and gardens and, crossing the Triana bridge over the large Guadalquívir
river, the lively popular quarter of Triana with charming narrow streets around
the church of Santa Ana.
Seville's bullring is one of the most impressive in Spain and is well worth
a visit. Its bullfighting museum is open every morning from 10am to 1.30pm (except
Sundays).
To the south of the city center, you'll find the 18th tobacco factory (the Real
Fabric of Tobacco), made famous by the gypsy temptress Carmen who seductively
rolled cigars on her thighs here in Bizet's opera. The neoclassical building,
once a cornerstone of the local economy, is now part of the University of Seville
but is open to the public.
For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Seville is universally famous for being a joyous town city not lacking in its vitality. It is the largest town in Southern Spain, the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro.
Location: Granada is located next to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Andalusia in the south of Spain. It is about 70km from the coast. Being in this position means that it is possible to go skiing and sun bathe on the beach in the same day.
Population: 250-350,000 depending on the source. Maybe the wild fluctuation is due to Granada being a student city with a large amount of people coming from outside to study.
Climate: The best time to visit Granada is in the spring and autumn when the temperature is just perfect with warm sunny days. During July and August it can be very hot and some days the temperature reaches 40C. Granada has a dry heat which is much more bearable than the humid heat which you will find in Barcelona. There is very little rainfall although every few years there are spells when it rains very heavily.
People: Spain is generally very monocultural in comparison to most of the other developed countries. During the years of Franco, there was very little immigration and 95% of the population is white Catholics. It is said that the granadinos are less friendly and lighthearted than the average Spaniard.
Geography: Granada is located just at the point where the Sierra Nevada Mountains meet the fertile plain of the Vega. Behind it are steep mountains and in front there is flat agricultural land.
The Alhambra: Granada has its usual quotient of churches, museums etc. typical for a Southern European city. However, Granada has the Alhambra, which is considered by some to be one of the 10 wonders of the world. In case you don't know, the Alhambra is a massive castle constructed over many centuries. It consists of gardens, fortifications and sumptuous palaces. It was the home of many of the Arabic Sultans who ruled the whole province so I suppose for centuries it received the optimum in interior decoration and architecture.
If you read the Koran, it continually repeats the idea that heaven is a garden with running water. From this perspective you could say that the Alhambra is an Arabic attempt to create heaven on earth. Nowadays it receives 8,000 visitors per day and is Spain's most visited monument
The Albaicín: The Albaicín is the old Arabic quarter located on the hill opposite the Alhambra. Cobble-stoned streets with white washed houses characterize it. Despite several centuries of neglect and architectural mistakes allowed by the town council, it still retains a a strong Arabic feeling There are many squares with terraces and places to relax and have a bite to eat. The Albaicín is an oil painter's paradise and almost at every turn of the head, there is an attractive view, almost always involving glimpses of the Alhambra.
Sacromonte, Flamenco and the Gypsies: The gypsies arrived about 600 years
ago and one of the places where they congregated was in the caves of the Sacromonte.
The mixture of Arabic influence combined with the particular lifestyle and temperament
of the gypsies created the Flamenco.
Nightlife: Granada is the opposite of most cities in that in the holidays it is much quieter than at other times. The reason for this is that the students go home to their pueblos and in the summer many people go to the beach. All Spanish cities have a vibrant nightlife usually involving consuming copious quantities of cubatas (spirits mixed with a long drink) and staying up late. Granada is no exception.
Hopefully, you will find Granada to be a fascinating and enjoyable place to visit.
