The origin of the town's name is from an early Moorish invader, Tarif Ibn Malik, who led a raid in 710. Tarifa's African heritage can also be seen in its impressive walled fort, Castillo de Guzman, which was built over an alcazar constructed under orders from the Caliph of Cordoba.

Probably the most famous and recognisable patio of the Alhambra complex, the Courtyard of the Lions consists of a forest of elegant columns surrounding a fountain, and a small pavilion at each end (east/west), with a circular fountain.

Seville’s fair is officially known as the April Fair, but in fact, it  isn’t always been celebrated entirely in April, and sometimes even takes place in May. The date depends on when Easter falls, as the Feria takes place two weeks after Semana Santa (Holy Week). 

On New Year's Eve (Nochevieja), families gather together again, for a big meal - they have to be finished by midnight (or, if they've gone out, be back home), so that they can eat the all-important grapes, las uvas de la suerte, together.

Like most festivities in Spain, Carnaval has religious origins, in terms of its timing and character at least. Celebrated in the week before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, it was an opportunity to indulge all urges before the abstinence of the Cuaresma (40-day period) started.

Carnival is the biggest event in Cadiz's calendar, and the most important of its type on mainland Spain, just as the Feria is for Seville. People flood in from all over Spain, and beyond, to enjoy the noisy, colourful, festive atmosphere, singing competitions, concerts (rock, flamenco, samba), comedy, children's shows, parades, firework displays and street parties. Carnaval is also celebrated in towns and cities around Andalucia.

Seville’s April fair has a long and varied history. Here are a few facts and figures associated with its past, and its present traditions. The first thing you'll see when you arrive at the Seville Fair from the city centre is the portada - the gateway, where you traditionally enter the fairground. Everyone gets their photo taken in front of the portada.

As well as football, the British introduced golf to Spain, right here in Andalucia. In the late 19th century, the mineworkers in the British "colony" at the Rio Tinto mines in Huelva province, played a number of sports tennis, cricket, polo, croquet, football - and golf.

The origins of bullfighting are probably in the man v beast contests of the Roman gladiators. Even earlier, Palaeolithic paintings found in Spain depict men fighting bulls and other wild animals. In Greek legend, you have Theseus and the Minotaur, a half-man half-bull, while a Babylonian legend has its hero slaying a bull by thrusting his sword "between nape and horns". But there are also strong links with the popular Moorish pastime of rejoneando, where a rider would confront the bull using a (lance) in an arena (picadores in modern-day Spanish bullfighting). Portugal holds rejoneo bullfights where cavaleiros, who wear 18th-century dress and ride padded horses, are the stars, rather than the matadors, as in Spain. In Portuguese bullfights, the bull is not killed in the ring.

Do you want to find out some little-known interesting facts about Andalucia’s most famous towns, cities and pastimes? Which films were shot in Seville, why the Mezquita was built with its pillared arches, which Beatle loved Almeria, who brought golf to Andalucia?

No fewer than three Roman emperors were born just outside Seville. The Romans first arrived in Spain in 206BC, during a war against the Carthaginians, and stayed for 700 years battling the fierce Iberian tribes.

When you visit Seville, you will undoubtedly go out for tapas. These small, tasty dishes, now found all over the world, originated in Sevilla.

We bring you ten interesting titbits about the Andalucian capital, whether you´re visiting Seville for the first time, you´re already a seasoned expert, or you live here. Find out more about film, food, sport, history, religion and politics - plenty of key aspects of this historic city.

No Andalucian city is complete without its mighty Moorish fortress. Malaga´s Alcazaba is one of the mightiest and most extensive, and dates from the eighth century. It overlooks the recently restored Roman Amphitheatre just below, illustrating the city´s rich history. You can continue following the city´s fortunes over the centuries inside the Alcazabar, in the Archeological Museum, which houses Phoenician, Roman and Moorish artefacts.

Malaga´s astonishing reinvention of itself, from stopping-off point for beachgoers to artistic mecca of southern Spain, has been triggered by the Picasso museum and followed up by the  Centro de Arte Contemporaneo (CAC) de Malaga, Malaga´s Tate Modern. This has temporary exhibitions by cutting-edge international artists, such as Louise Bourgeois and Robert Mapplethorpe, as well as showing both up-and-coming and established Spanish artists (Chema Cobo), and a permanent collection.

Although its history dates back centuries, since the 1950s Malaga has been best-known as the gateway to the Costa de Sol. Many of the 16 million holidaymakers who arrive at the airport annually head straight for the beaches - all the better for those who come to enjoy this atmospheric city.

You can visit at least 100 sherry bodegas (wineries) in Jerez itself, Sanlucar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria the three points of the so-called Sherry Triangle", to see how the different stages of the production process - pressing, aging, mixing. Many sherry bodegas have strong British connections (see Fact III).

Well-known as the place where sherry that classic English tipple, is produced, Jerez is also equally famous both for its horses and its flamenco. Situated in the province of Cadiz, and larger than its capital city, it is only 20km from the coast, but has an aristocratic, anglophile atmosphere all of its own. A major event in Jerez's annual calendar is the colourful, lively Vendimia (Grape Harvest) Festival in September.

The Castillo Santa Catalina, one of Spain´s most magnificently-located paradors, is located on a spectacular site dating from the 10th century. The strategically crucial Moorish fortress was built by Ibn Al-Ahmar (Ibn Nasr, founder of the Nasrids of Granada).

Best known for its region´s superb olive oil and Renaissance architecture, Jaen has many little- known treasures waiting to be discovered by visitors to one of Andalucia´s least touristy cities. Close to the magnificent Cazorla National Park and surrounded by unspoilt countryside, it is set against a spectacular backdrop of mountains.