Isla de las Palomas is a small island linked to the town of Tarifa by a causeway, which extends south into the Atlantic Ocean from the town. The island is the southernmost point of mainland Spain and the European continent, and only 11 km from the Moroccan coast.
The Alcázar Réal (Royal Palace) of Seville is one of the city’s most enchanting, and most popular, historic monuments. Along with the Cathedral and Archive of the Indies, it is recognised as UNESCO World Heritage. The word alcázar actually means fortified palace, and this one is hidden behind castle walls on Plaza del Triunfo opposite the Cathedral.
The name Alhambra comes from an Arabic root which means "red or crimson castle", perhaps due to the hue of the towers and walls that surround the entire hill of La Sabica which by starlight is silver but by sunlight is transformed into gold.
The Mezquita (Mosque) dates back to the 10th century when Córdoba reached its zenith under a new emir, Abd ar-Rahman III who was one of the great rulers of Islamic history. At this time Córdoba was the largest, most prosperous cities of Europe, outshining Byzantium and Baghdad in science, culture and the arts. The development of the Great Mosque paralleled these new heights of splendour.
Ronda is one of Andalucia's loveliest towns, steeped in history. There is plenty to see beyond the view from the bridge over the plunging gorge which divides the town. Below are the main attractions and things to see in Ronda, and when is best to see them.
Torre Alcon - in the sand dunes of Artola, a square tower near Cabopino marina.
Torre Ladrón - in the sand dunes of Artola, a square tower near Cabopino marina.
Torre del Rio Real - next to the A-7 coast road just east of Marbella town
The Rio Real watchtower is located near the south-western bank of the Rio Real, on raised ground. This land is now a bend in the A-7 coastal road. A few metres away, on its southern side, there were abandoned Civil Guard barracks. There is no documentation of a tower at the time of the Reconquest of Marbella in 1485, so it is assumed that this tower was built at the end of the 16th century as part of the Hapsburg defensive strategy, with later modifications.
This is a defensive watchtower from the XVI century. It takes its name from the Roman baths, which are about 50 metres to the west. It is one of a chain of towers along the coast built at that time to warn the locals of pirates and possible Moorish invasions from North Africa. It is slightly conical in shape, but less so than the others, and leads to a larger terrace, perhaps to accommodate larger artillery. Built of stone, not brick, it is 13m high and has a diameter of 8.3m at the base.
This is a defensive watchtower from the XVI century. It takes its name from the Roman baths, which are about 50 metres to the west. It is one of a chain of towers along the coast built at that time to warn the locals of pirates and possible Moorish invasions from North Africa. It is slightly conical in shape, but less so than the others, and leads to a larger terrace, perhaps to accommodate larger artillery. Built of stone, not brick, it is 13m high and has a diameter of 8.3m at the base.
The Atarazanas are Seville’s medieval Royal Shipyards in the Arenal district, formerly the port area. They are located about halfway between the Alcazar palace and the river, on the corner of calle Temprano and calle Dos de Mayo. The shipyards are currently closed to the public (January 2025), although long-standing plans for a cultural centre are predicted to be finished soon.
Torre de Perdigones is a 45-metre-tall square brick tower near the Puente de la Barqueta with a dual purpose for visitors: as part of the Macarena district’s industrial heritage, and also sd a camara oscura (and viewing point) providing superb vistas of Seville.
Seville has its fair share of magnificent family-owned palaces – In summer 2023, another such monument opened to the public for the first time: Palacio Bucarelli.
Playa el Cable (Cable Beach) takes its name from the overhead cable "El Cable Teleferico" runway that transported buckets of iron ore down from the Peñoncillo mine on the Sierra Blanca to ships moored offshore. If you look out to the sea you can't miss seeing the large anchor end tower of the line.
There are about 100 different watchtowers (Torre Vigia or Torre Atalaya or Torre Almenara) along the coast of Southern Spain. Some are of Moorish origins others from date from the later Christian re-conquest period. All with the purpose of looking out for invaders from the South. They have lasted the centuries with remarkable strength.
The square - or rather a traffic roundabout - at the start of the Golden Mile was named after one of Marbella's founders, local priest Monseñor Rodrigo Bocanegra (1908-1972).
The area of wine production known as the Serrania de Ronda forms part of the DO Sierras of Malaga, producing what are popularly known as 'the Ronda Wines'. Here modern bodegas at over 750m altitude in the Serrania de Ronda produce young red wines from Romé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Tempranillo. Their white wine varieties include Chardonnay, Macabeo, Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc.
From the outside of the Orquidario, the state of the art building complete with three glass domes is eye catching, and from the inside it is pretty impressive too. There is much to catch your eye from the moment you step inside, from the 30m high central glass dome (the other two domes are 6m and 16m high) to the stunning display of plants.
Madinat al-Zahra was declared a UNESCO world heratige site on 1st July 2018. We are in the year 400 of the Hegira, 1010 AD of our era. On the southern slopes of Jebel al-Arus, the Bride's Mountain, the marble, jasper and precious metals of the city of Madinat al-Zahra gleam in the morning sun among silver-leafed olive groves.
