Most British tourists who visit Spain choose resorts on the Mediterranean coast, the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Majorca) or the Canary Islands. However, there are many fascinating and beautiful destinations in other parts of the country. Andalusia, in the South of Spain, has many attractions for the tourist visitor. Seville, Granada and Cordoba are the largest cities in the region, but there are also many smaller towns which are worth visiting. Those who wish to visit this part of Spain can find many direct UK flights to Seville, the largest city and capital of the region. There are also a fair number of charter flights to Malaga.
The Andalusia region is in the southern part of Spain. This large and varied region contains ancient cities such as Seville, Granada and Cordoba, rugged mountains in the Sierra Nevada range, and excellent beaches on the Mediterranean coast.
In summer it can be very hot, and in fact the scenery inland is probably at its best in the spring before grass and leaves become parched in the severe heat. The area around Almeria is in fact desert, and the so-called spaghetti westerns starring Clint Eastwood were shot here.
For hundreds of years the south of Spain was ruled by various Moorish dynasties, who practiced the Islamic religion. These kingdoms were eventually conquered by the Northern Christian Spanish kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. This period of history is called Reconquista (reconquest) by the Spanish.
The oldest cities in the area contain a mix of cultural and architectural influences from both Islam and from Christianity. For example, in Granada the beautiful Alhambra Palace was first built for the Islamic ruler, the Emir of Granada. Similarly in Cordoba, the Mesquita Cathedral was originally an Islamic place of worship. In fact the Spanish word Mesquita simply means mosque. Both the Alhambra and the Mesquita are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Seville is both the largest city and the capital of Andalusia. During the time when the Spanish ruled in South America, Seville had a monopoly on trade with the New World. As a result the city enjoyed a great age of prosperity, during which vast quantities of silver and gold flowed through the city. Visitors will be interested in sights such as the Alcazar Palace, the Cathedral with its impressive bell tower (the Giralda), and the Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold), which at one time was used to store gold and silver imported from South America.
Spain is famous for its festivals (fiestas), and many of the best of these occur in the cities and towns of Andalusia. Some fiestas are of religious significance, occurring during Holy Week (Semana Santa), or on the day dedicated to a town’s patron saint. Other fiestas (Moros y Christianos, or Moors and Christians) are celebrations of each city’s reconquest (Reconquista) from the Moors. There are usually parades by companies of soldiers in period uniforms, followed by mock battles with lots of explosions and fireworks.
There is much to see and do in Andalusia, and it offers an alternative Spanish destination for holidaymakers from the UK. UK flights to the area serve both Seville, the largest city, and Malaga, which is a coastal city on the Costa Del Sol.
