On a trip through Andalusia you will discover the region in its full beauty – colorful cities as well as quaint villages where you can find Moorish, North African and even British flair. The perfect place to combine your holiday with Woo Sports.
Located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, the climate in Andalusia is very mild. But Andalusia offers much more than sunny days and picture-book beaches: In the interior you will discover rugged mountain landscapes and the famous “white villages”, you can surf in Cádiz, ski in the Sierra Nevada and get to know Andalusian traditions: Both flamenco and bullfighting originate from Andalusia! We’ll tell you which places in Andalusia you absolutely have to see:
1. Cadiz
One of the most beautiful cities in Spain is located on the Atlantic Ocean in southwestern Andalusia: Cadiz is the oldest city in Western Europe and was founded by the Phoenicians in 1000 BC. Since then, Cadiz has been a strategically important city for the maritime nation and was used as a crossroads by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Visigoths, Moors and Romans. Christopher Columbus started his second voyage of discovery to America from here.
Today it is the old town that attracts many visitors: The historic part of Cadiz is enclosed by the sea and can only be reached by car, bus or train via a headland. Around the old town there is a fortification that protects the city from enemy attacks. Even today, fortifications are preserved, which you can look at. Besides the history of the city, the beaches of Cádiz and a colorful nightlife attract visitors.
2. Ronda
Andalusia is known for its white villages; Ronda, not far from Málaga, has always been considered one of the most beautiful. Ernest Hemingway once wrote about Ronda that “the whole town and its surroundings are a romantic setting.” That’s true: The city sits exposed on a rocky plateau, above the El Tajo gorge. This divides the new town, which dates from the 15th century, from the old town, which dates from the time of Moorish rule.
The old town, the Ciudad Vieja, charms with a mixture of North African and Spanish traditions and those famous white houses built close together. In the middle of it all, Ronda’s sights line up: the Casa del Gigante, the Archaeological Museum, the Church of Santo Espíritu and the Bullring, one of the oldest in Spain. Tip: The Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos, the “Road of the White Villages”, leads through a landscape north of Cádiz and to about 20 to 30 white villages.
3. Mijas
Just a few kilometers from the Costa del Sol, Mijas is also a white village, but unlike Ronda, it is located at the foot of a mountain range in close proximity to the sea. Visually, however, the village can easily compete, as the backdrop of white-painted houses built into a hillside and their red-tiled roofs is stunning.
Mijas is rightly considered one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia. But not only the architecture is typical, but also the Moorish old town center, countless donkey cabs that stand on every street corner, and the delicious gastronomy with the traditional Andalusian cuisine.
4. Almería
A completely different picture emerges in the port city of Almería. About 200 kilometers away from Málaga, here you have the impression of being in North Africa – thanks to narrow streets, white houses and wide palm tree avenues. The name of the capital of the province of the same name is derived from Arabic and means “mirror of the sea”.
Almería is a young city and was founded by the Moors in 955. You can see that today at first sight, because the city is dominated by the Alcazaba, the former Moorish fortress. From up here you have a great view over the city and you can also visit the Torre de la Vela, the Chapel of San Juan Evangelista, the Tower of Justice, the Tower of Homage, the bulwark El Espolón and the Tower of Mirrors.
5. Granada
Andalusia is the most populous region in Spain, with over eight million inhabitants, so there are several major cities. One of the most beautiful is Granada. Here you can get a good whiff of Arab air, because Granada is one of the most famous strongholds of Andalusian-Moorish culture. After all, the Moors ruled the south of Spain for over 500 years.
The traces of the past are visible everywhere in the city today, most notably at the Alhambra, a Moorish fortress built on Sabikah Hill and the most important example of Islamic architecture on European soil. Also exciting is Albaicín, the oldest quarter of Granada, which also dates back to Moorish times, and the Arab baths that are still preserved today.
6. Cordoba
The third largest city in Andalusia has a similarly long history. Next to the Alhambra in Granada, the mosque-cathedral Mezquita is the most important building in Andalusia and represents the heart of the historic city center of Córdoba. Here you will stroll through narrow alleys, between whitewashed houses and through courtyards decorated with flowers.
A highlight is the Judería, the former Jewish quarter, where you can still admire Moorish architecture. To this day, the Judería is considered the most important quarter of the city and was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1994.
7. Marbella
The modern contrast of Andalusia can be found in Marbella, also known as the jet-set metropolis of the Costa del Sol. Celebrities and aristocrats, rich and beautiful people meet here – and many tourists who want to inhale a pinch of luxury and lifestyle on vacation.
Particularly famous is the fashionable marina Puerto Banús, where luxury cars and yachts park in front of the posh boutiques of Gucci and Co. But don’t worry, this all sounds much more elitist than it is: the old town of Marbella is laid-back and ideal for a day of shopping. And even in Puerto Banús, there are affordable cafes and eateries on the harbor where you can check out the hustle and bustle in the front row, foot-free.
8. Tarifa
Tarifa is the southernmost city of mainland Europe. Here you can find the most beautiful beaches of Andalusia. If you don’t want to just lie in the sun, you should get on a surfboard. Since the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet here, as well as the Poniente and Levante winds, there are the best conditions for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
But it is also the location that makes Tarifa so special, because from here you can almost smell Africa. Only 14 kilometers lie between Tarifa’s beaches and Africa. If the weather is good and the sky is clear, you can see Morocco in the distance!
9. Gibraltar
Speaking of location, probably the most unique location of any place in Spain is also near Tarifa. Where the Spanish mainland ends, Gibraltar is a piece of Great Britain on the Costa del Sol. Although Gibraltar is located in Andalusia, it actually belongs to Great Britain – as a British overseas territory.
Today, you can be in Gibraltar from the Costa del Sol in no time and experience a little piece of Great Britain in the middle of Spain: There is fish and chips and you pay with British pounds (of course, the euro is also accepted). And from the viewpoint Europe Point you look directly to Africa.
10. Pampaneira
A trip to Andalusia would not be complete without a trip to the Sierra Nevada. One of the most beautiful areas in eastern Andalusia is Alpujarras, a high valley south of the Sierra Nevada, where you can discover picturesque mountain villages built into terraced hillsides.
The most beautiful village here is Pampaneira, which has received the “Conjunto Histórico Artístico” award for its exceptional architecture and preservation of traditional structures. The white houses with flat roofs and small chimneys create a very special image.
