Danger, not beaches, drew 19th century tourists to southern Spain. Andalucia was one of the notorious bandit areas of Europe, where encounters with latter-day Robin Hoods added drama to the romantic landscape. The remote mountainsides around La Alpujarra, Serrania de Ronda and Sierra Morena provided shelter for these desperados.

One of the least-known tourist attractions of 19th century Andalucía was the experience of being held up by one of the region's numerous bandoleros, (bandits). It is rumoured that when British and other northern European tourists began including Andalucía in their travel itinerary, some even went as far as to pay to have themselves 'held up' by a bandit and his gang.