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Summer 2025 Newsletter
Summer in Andalucía is more than just a season – it’s a celebration of life, colour, and traditions under the southern Spanish sun. This is the season to experience the region’s essence – on long, sunny days, slow down with a late lunch on a terrace, an evening paseo as the sun goes down, or live music under the stars at an open-air concert.
We have chosen some of the most interesting destinations and summer activities for you to discover, including some suggestions for travelling with the family and some fascinating facts about the Costa del Sol resort of Nerja.
At the laidback resort of Tarifa overlooking the El Estrecho / Straits of Gibraltar to the Feria of Malaga, one of the region´s many summer festivals, Andalucía thrives outdoors in summer.
Browse our newsletter and explore Andalucia this summer.
If you have suggestions about places or events which you think we should feature, we’d love to hear from you and if you find this newsletter interesting, please share it with your friends.
Discover Andalucia
 Tarifa |
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Tarifa
Where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic—and adventure meets tranquility
At the most southerly point of mainland Europe, Tarifa looks across the sea to North Africa and the Rif Mountains. Surrounded by kilometres of golden sands and the unspoilt landscape of the El Estrecho Natural Park, Tarifa´s reliable breezes make it a kite and wind surfer´s paradise.
Tarifa is small historic old town with a fortified castle which reflects its strategic location as an entry point into Spain and Europe. A lively nightlife, great restaurants and food experiences contrast with the tranquil surroundings where nature lovers will find plenty to enjoy both on land and at sea.
For animal lovers there are Marine centres, Zoos and Wildlife Parks as well as the chance to see animals in their natural habitat. There are plenty of Natural Parks to explore, full of local flora and fauna, set in woods and mountains. Plan ahead to take a guided tour of the Doñana National Park where no cars are allowed or hop on a boat trip to spot dolphins or whales.
Horse riding, scuba diving and birdwatching are just some of the activities that Tarifa offers and for the more energetic wind surfing, kite surfing as well as wing foiling are available all year round.
Andalucia for Families
 From Beaches to Backroads – Andalucia Loves Families |
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Family Activities for the summer
Family Activities for the summer
There are so many fantastic locations for family holidays throughout Andalucia and things to do, you are spoilt for choice. To help with your planning we have selected some activities for the whole family to enjoy when you want to explore or have change from the beach.
These family-friendly suggestions will help to keep everyone entertained, from an exhilarating day at one of the region´s 13 waterparks to discovering film locations and an animal reserve at Mini Hollywood in Tabernas Almeria.
For animal lovers there are Marine centres, Zoos and Wildlife Parks as well as the chance to see animals in their natural habitat. There are plenty of Natural Parks to explore, full of local flora and fauna, set in woods and mountains. Plan ahead to take a guided tour of the Doñana National Park where no cars are allowed or hop on a boat trip to spot dolphins or whales.
Festivals in Andalucia
 Your very own drinking cup for the Malaga Fair and a lovely souvenir. |
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Feria de Málaga
Celebrations last eight days and nights from mid-August.
The Malaga Fair is one of the most well-known Ferias in Andalucia. This annual event marks the date, 19 August 1487, when the Reyes Catolicos (Catholic Monarchs) reconquered the city from the Moors for the Kingdom of Castilla.
Kicking off with the traditional firework display at midnight, this year taking place on 15 August, you can enjoy the Feria de Dia, or Feria del Centro, in the city centre until 6pm, with verdiales groups, ladies in flamenca dresses, horse-drawn carriages, and elegantly attired riders. Afterwards, the Feria de Noche with its bustling casetas, live music, and dancing lasts from around 9pm till dawn.
At the Feria de Noche you´ll need to be dressed up in order to be allowed access to the casetas where feriantes spend the night drinking Fino sherry and eating tapas as well as dancing sevillanas.
Celebrations take place throughout the city – be warned that many shops and businesses close for the duration of the Feria. It is well worth a visit if you are in Malaga.
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Marco Property Services
Costa del Sol Real Estate
The multi-national team at Marco Property Services is headed by Marco Rodriguez, well-known and respected in the Costa del Sol for his experience and professional approach to the real estate business.
Interview
 Francisco Alarcón |
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Francisco Alarcón
Interview with celebrated Spanish artist Francisco Alarcón
Scarlett Aernouts spoke to Francisco Alarcón, a multidisciplinary artist from Estepona, who works in painting, sculpture, and mural art.
Inspired by the Mediterranean light and landscape of his Costa del Sol hometown, Francisco explores themes of memory, nature, and human connection.
His vibrant, large-scale murals inject colour and identity into urban spaces, whilst his posters showcase deeply-rooted Andalusian traditions. Whether working on a public wall or canvas, his art reflects a dialogue with place, tradition, and transformation.
Music in Andalucia
 Driving through sunflowers en route to the Tio Pepe Festival |
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Festivals and Concerts
Summer is the festival season with plenty of open-air concerts.
There is a varied programme of festivals and concerts this summer all over Andalucia. Here are a few of the highlights.
The Tio Pepe festival runs from mid-July until mid-August. Organized by the famous González Byass sherry company in Jerez, this is a wine and music event featuring international artists such as Carlos Santana, Jethro Tull and Gloria Gaynor. Set in the Bodega de las Copas wine cellars, the concerts offer a rich cultural experience surrounded by the history and tradition of Gonzalez Byass.
For the programme and reservations
 Summer nights at Starlite Marbella - A place where music, magic, and memories come alive under the stars. |
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The Starlite Festival takes place over three months and is a music and cultural festival held in Cantera de Nagüeles in Marbella, a unique venue where the stage is surrounded by high rock walls facing a large auditorium. Starlite has become an important social event. This year’s starry lineup includes global names such as Pet Shop Boys, Il Divo and Will Smith, as well as many Spanish artists including Fangoria and Nancys Rubias, Tomatito, and Fran Perea.
Music in Andalucia
 Joe King Carrasco takes his guitar into the audience as he performs in Cortes de La Frontera in 2024 |
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Pueblos Blancos Music Festival
An international music festival in the villages of the Serranía de Ronda.
There is a varied programme of festivals and concerts this summer all over Andalucia. Here are a few of the highlights.
The Pueblos Blancos Music Festival celebrates its seventh edition this year, offering a mix of blues, country, rock, pop, and jazz. This year, this free festival will take place from 31 July to 5 August in the picturesque villages of Ronda, Montejaque, Olvera, and Cortes de la Frontera.
The festival includes workshops and local community activities, as well as the concerts. Musicians participating this year include around 12 bands from Texas (the car number plate on the poster, “AUS ES”, is Austin España).
Find out more details of this free grass roots festival
Music in Andalucia
 There are so many great events, going on year-around, in Andalucia |
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Festivals and Concerts
Here are some more of the many music festivals this summer for you to discover:
Here are some more of the many music festivals this summer for you to discover:
Concert Music Festival, Sancti Petri, Chiclana
(Runs through to 17th August 2025)
El Argar Classical Music Festival, Antas, Almería
(2-3 August 2025)
El Festival de Rock del Zaidín, Granada
(11 to 13 September 2025)
Gastronomy in Andalucia
 The perfect tapa, salpicón de mariscos |
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Salpicón de Marisco
A seasonal seafood favourite
This refreshing summer dish is created using seafood – usually prawns, mussels and sometimes octopus - combined with peppers, onion and a vinaigrette dressing. It is served chilled, often as a tapa to accompany drinks.
Salpicón is an aromatic summer salad found throughout Andalucia and each family and tapas bar has its own favourite combination. Seasonal salad ingredients combine with seafood to create a starter or tapa with various tastes and textures.
Janet Mendel, our resident food contributor, has a recipe for salpicón in her book Tapas, a Bite of Spain. Janet has lived in Spain for over 40 years and has several successful cookbooks to her name. Try out her recipe below and adapt it to your own personal taste.
Learn more about this delicious treat….
#DidYouKnow
 Calahonda Beach in Nerja – a small, picturesque gem, a picture-postcard views and classic Mediterranean charm.© Michelle Chaplow |
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Nerja
Discover some fascinating facts about Nerja.
Discover more about the hill-top town of Ronda, the most visited Pueblo Blanco in Andalucia located in the province of Malaga.Located on the eastern Costa del Sol, Nerja is a relatively unspoiled seaside town
One of the main attractions are the prehistoric caves, which were formed five million years ago. The 4-kilometre-long cave system seems to have been inhabited in Neolithic times, according to the implements and pottery found there when it was discovered in 1959.
There are guided tours of the amazing limestone stalagmites and stalactites and the impressive central chamber Cataclysm Hall.
Nerja has plenty of beautiful sandy beaches and small coves for everyone, whether you want to do watersports or just relax on a quiet beach a few kilometres to the east.
Nerja has plenty of beautiful sandy beaches and small coves for everyone, whether you want to do watersports or just relax on a quiet beach a few kilometres to the east.
Rincon de Andalucia.com
 Alex Cutts capturing the beat and vibe of an Andalusian festival © Michelle Chaplow |
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Alex Cutts
Interview with our music festivals correspondent
Alex is travelling from Sheffield, UK to Montejaque in Cadiz to cover the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival for Andalucia.com. She is ‘embedded’ with the production team and will travel from village to village alongside the musicians, gaining a first-hand perspective of the concerts and with unprecedented access to interview the bands. Alex answers questions about her experience of attending festivals in Andalucia.