This impressive, solidly-built Moorish fortification, which played an important part in early Spanish history, has been recently restored. As the southern-most point of the peninsula, Tarifa was an important strategic entry point into Spain and the rest of Europe for would-be invaders, so good defensive structures were essential.
The village of Benoajan is rightly famed for the caves which are well signposted around the area. South of the village of Benoaján heading towards Cortes de la Frontera, a side road leads off on the right, serving as a carpark.
The entrance of this cave can be seen from the railway as it heads north from Benaoján station two kilometres away. It's called the cat cave as its entrance is said to look like a cat's head.
Like many large cities, Málaga has absorbed what once were nearby villages. Therefore, some of Málaga’s seaside neighbourhoods continue to carry on the customs handed down to them by the fishermen and their families who established them.
The number of people who wish to participate in an educational courses while enjoying a holiday break is increasing. Andalucia is an ideal venue for such courses.
Malaga has moved on from being the jumping-off point for holidays in the Costa del Sol. The city’s remarkable renaissance over the past decade has seen its status upped to Andalucia’s cultural capital, with an astonishing range of museums, as well as excellent tapas bars, cool roof terraces, and street-wise art in the form of graffiti, while shoppers will love the seafront Muelle Uno.
One of the most relaxing traditions of Arab Spain are the baths, or “hammam” as they are called in Arabic. With so many years of moorish rule and culture, the city of Granada was a natural starting point for the return of this long lost custom.
Malaga's largest park is the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park, which straddles the Malaga-Granada provincial border and includes the dramatically beautiful mountainous region of the Axarquía, with some superb walks.
The ruins of this 32 hectare city are located at 1.000m above sea level. This is an urban are that thrived in the first century AD when it had a population of 5.000. It was mentioned in Plini and, inscriptions to Geninn Oppidi, to the god Marse and to Victoria Augusta have been found. The city even minted its own money, which features bunches of grapes.
The Jerez Horse Fair, known as the Feria del Caballo, is traditionally held during the first or second week in May. It is an exciting and lively event that brings the entire city to the González Hontoria fairground, which covers an area of 52,000 square meters, giving ample space for the finest horses of Jerez, as synonymous with the city as sherry and flamenco, to show off to the crowds.
Andalucia with summer sunshine and mild winters is one of the best destinations in the world for sports and outdoor activities.
Whether you want high-adrenalin extreme sports adventure tour - on snow, ground or water; wind or gas-fuel-driven; to get about on two wheels or two legs; taking to the air; or calmer, but no less adventurous wild swimming, Andalucia has all the facilities and natural elements for you to indulge in your favourite activities.
Bullfighting as we know it today, started in the village squares, and became formalised, with the building of the bullring in Ronda in the late 18th century. From that time, it began to follow a particular sequence of events: the entrance of the bull, the picador, the banderilleros, and finally the matador (bullfighter). Many of the picadors' horses were injured in the early days, so these heavy horses now wear protection.
Ecotourism is an important movement in Andalucia with both companies and non-governmental organisations working to promote the concept both within this region and abroad. ANDECO, the International Network Organisation for Ecotourism Promoters in Andalucia, has been in operation since 1999.
The Telecabina takes you on an amazing 15-minute journey in a four-person cable car right up to the highest point on the Málaga coast at an altitude of almost 800m above sea level. From this superb vantage point, you not only have the most magnificent views of the Costa del Sol, but also the awesome panoramic vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountains (white with snow in the winter months), the Guadalhorce Valley and on a clear day you can see Gibraltar and the coast of Africa.
Selwo Marina offers a new concept in family entertainment, bringing together sea life and the Amazon in an unusual but happy combination. The Marina is a complement to Selwo Adventure wildlife park in Estepona.
Benalmádena's Sea Life Centre is a walk-through underwater park in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol, which takes you on an stroll along the seabed in a glass tunnel. You pass aquatic species from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Red Sea. It is an interesting and entertaining voyage of discovery for the whole family.
Selwo is a fascinating adventure in contact with nature. You can see lions, rhinos and giraffes; gnus, cheetahs, red pandas, meekats. Visitors are taken on a four-hour tour, on foot and in four-wheel drive trucks.
