Andalucía Area Information
Andalucía evokes dazzling white towns, ancient cities, imposing mountain peaks, regiments of olive groves, golden sandy beaches, the scent of orange blossom, a temperate climate and the purest light.
From the seemingly endless stretches of golden sand that line the undiscovered Costa de la Luz to the unmissable meccas that bear witness to 700 years of Moorish influence, the region boasts a wealth of attractions that will not fail to impress.
Hilltop white villages of snaking narrow streets, hidden inner patios of abundant carnation pots, Islamic arches, formal gardens heavy with the scent of jasmine and orange blossom, breathtaking palaces, and above all, a warm, extrovert people who instinctively create an exuberant street life.
The historic hilltop town of Ronda offers the visitor tranquillity, a rich and diverse history and an authentic Andaluz atmosphere. Its eclectic mix of architectural styles stand testament to the diverse peoples that have fought over, occupied or simply visited the town across the centuries.
Home to picturesque 'pueblo blanco' streets, a profusion of wrought iron balconied houses and Spain's oldest and most splendid bullring, the Mercadillo quarter has its own special atmosphere.
Below the old city walls the pueblo-like Barrio de San Francisco hosts a colourful Sunday market. Our houses are scattered across the beautiful Serrania surrounding the town and all are within an easy drive.
Further afield through a landscape of craggy forested sierras lies Sevilla, a city that lives life to the full. The luxuriant jungle of botanical gardens that is the Maria Lluisa Park, the once Jewish quarter with its picture book wrought iron clad houses and the vast cathedral are just a few of the good reasons to visit.
Heading west you will find Arcos de la Frontera, an original frontier town from the old Muslim kingdom of Granada, whilst the vineyards and wineries that start in earnest after here leave no doubt that you are entering the world capital of sherry production - Jerez.
The stunning stretch of coastline known as the Costa de la Luz is perhaps Andalucía's best kept secret. This magnificent, unspoilt fringe of golden sand stretches practically unbroken from the Portuguese border to the Straits of Gibraltar.
Our property selection centres around the sleepy and unpretentious little town of Conil de la Frontera and its 18km sandy bay. Nearby Cadiz is one of Europe's oldest cities. Now a busy port, it is rich in Moorish style buildings arranged around narrow streets and alleyways that criss-cross the historic peninsula.
To the east, some dramatic scenery is formed by the deeply plunging gorge of El Chorro, which carves its way through breathtakingly pretty valleys of lush wooded slopes. North of here, Cordoba offers the awesome dimensions of the 'Mesquita' or Great Mosque and the myriad of white alleyways and flower filled patios that is its ancient Jewish quarter.
No visit to Andalucía would be complete without witnessing the spectacular sights of historic Granada. Nestling against a stunning backdrop of the often snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the imposing silhouette of its sumptuous Alhambra Palace towers above a delightful and intriguing network of ancient narrow streets that bear witness to the city's Moorish past.
A short drive south of here, tucked between the Sierra Nevada and the coast, the delightfully undiscovered Alpujarras is unquestionably picturesque, its valleys and hillsides being dotted with oasis-like white villages and criss-crossed by a network of ancient paths that make this area a delight to discover on foot.
Climate
Its temperate, almost sub-tropical climate makes Andalucía Spain's kitchen garden, producing an appetising variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs and olive oil. Spring arrives early and brings with it warm temperatures, making the months of April
and May a pleasant time to visit. Inland, summer temperatures frequently exceed 30°C, whilst sea breezes temper the heat on the Costa de la Luz.
Local Cuisine
Local specialities include scrambled eggs with wild asparagus and various flavourful game dishes. Finish off with 'pinonate' (a sweetmeat of almonds and pine seeds) or the exquisite 'pestinos de almendras' (almond pancakes).
On the coast, tuna is offered in any one of over 1000 different recipes while the 'caldillo de perro' (fish soup) is always delicious.
Meals can be complemented by a smooth glass of 'manzanilla' from Sanlucar de Barrameda, perhaps a sherry from Jerez or El Puerto de Santa Maria, or a glass of local wine from Chiclana de la Frontera. The light, white 'Tierra Blanca' is a perfect lunchtime accompaniment.
Fiestas
The exuberance of Andalucía is never more evident than at festival time. On the coast, in July, there are fiestas in honour of the 'Virgen del Carmen', patron saint of sailors and fishermen.The impressive nocturnal procession that takes place at sea in Barbate should not be missed.
Getting there
A wide range of scheduled, charter and 'no frills' flights operate from most regional airports to Malaga, which is 1.5 hours from Ronda, 2 hours from the Alpujarras and 2.5 hours from the Costa de la Luz.
Alternatively, Ryanair offer daily services to Granada, Jerez and Sevilla whilst other scheduled flights fly to Malaga, Granada, Sevilla and Gibraltar. Another option is the 18 hour sea crossing to Santander from where a 12 hour drive brings you to your destination.
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