A few other delights of Andalucía
Andalucía offers so many visitor attractions - from the beaches of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic to the historic towns and cities of the interior. Here are three other options.
Córdoba
Córdoba was founded by the Romans and because of its strategic importance as the highest navigable point of the Guadalquivir River, it became a port city of note, used for shipping Spanish olive oil, wine and wheat back to Ancient Rome. The Romans built the mighty bridge crossing the river, now called El Puente Romano. But Córdoba's hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus, and this was when work began on the Great Mosque, or Mezquita, which – after several centuries of additions and enlargements – became one of the largest in all of Islam. When the city was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, the new rulers of the city were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns and creating the extraordinary church-mosque that can be seen today. Córdoba's other treasures include the Alcázar, or Fortress, built by the Christians in 1328; the Calahorra Fort, originally built by the Arabs, which guards the Roman Bridge on the far side of the river from the Mezquita, and the ancient Jewish Synagogue, now a museum. Córdoba's medieval quarter, once the home of the Jewish community, is called La Judería (The Jewry), a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, shady flower-filled courtyards and picturesque squares such as La Plaza del Potro. In early May, homeowners proudly festoon their patios with flowers to compete for the city's "most beautiful courtyard" contest.
Getting There: Córdoba is about 94 miles from Seville. The most common points of entry for travellers to the city are , Málaga, Seville and Granada airports. Most American flights go to Madrid, and the other cities are mainly served by British charter companies such as EasyJet. From Madrid's Atocha railway station, high-speed AVE and Talgo trains run many times a day along the Madrid-Córdoba-Seville lines. Schedules can be found on the Spanish national rail company’s website: www.horarios.renfe.es/.... Travel time from Madrid to Córdoba is about 1 hour 40 minutes and from Seville under an hour.
Granada was first inhabited by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. One of the most brilliant jewels of its architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th Century. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudÉjar" style. The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicín, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicín, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.
Getting There: There are international flights to Granada from only about six locations. There are many more flights to Málaga so people tend to fly there and then get a bus or hire a car. It takes about 90 minutes from Málaga to Granada by road. There’s a bus every hour from the bus station and the cost is 9 Euros. A taxi’s about 100 Euros.
Málaga
Málaga is the major coastal city of Andalucía and is a genuine and typical Andalucían city with an historic charm. Tourists who, in the past, headed straight for the Costa resorts are gradually appreciating it. The historic city centre is fascinating, with it’s majestic, if peculiar, unfinished Gothic Cathedral surrounded by sun-baked ochre buildings, narrow pedestrian streets and atmospheric bars. The Moors occupied the city until the mid fifteenth century, after which it grew to become one of the foremost merchant centres in the entire Iberian Peninsula. This illustrious past has left its imprint on the historic centre, particularly around La Alcazaba, a fortress, which dates back to 1065 and is now a fascinating archaeological museum. Also worth a visit is the nearby castle, which was rebuilt by the Moors and is today a traditional parador (state hotel) with superb panoramic views. During the nineteenth century, Málaga was a popular winter resort for the wealthy because of its elegance and sophistication. The flora-flanked park on Calle Alameda dates back to this era and is recognised as being one of the most celebrated botanical collections in Europe. During the winter, open-air concerts are held here every Sunday, which makes a refreshing change from the bucket and spade scenario on the coast. Pablo Picasso is the city’s famous son (not counting Antonio Banderas!) and a museum dedicated to his work was opened in 2003.
Getting There: The busy airport at Málaga, which is about 5 miles west of the city, has links to about 120 international destinations. Eighty per cent of international traffic is chartered flights, mostly from the UK. The airport is busy all year round, but particularly from June to September. Trains from the airport into Málaga city run every half an hour and cost a little over 1 Euro. There’s also a regular airport bus. A cab ride will cost between 12 and 15 Euros.
