A beautiful tour across the fascinating Andalusia, region of southern Spain

Tour organized by themselves, with the help of various ship log found on the Internet (thanks to Miki and Vale) and in the company of faithful Lonely Planet.

Cheap flights from Italy are also many car hire companies. Spanish people are very polite and always happy, especially us Italians, so we had no difficulty in turning.

Summer is very hot, especially in interior cities (Granada, Cordoba, Seville). We were left with a good supply of locally Polase and we spent more money on water in food. However many hotels consider August as "low season" and is therefore easy to take a star or two more, while remaining in an average budget.
However, parking is almost always paid (and not even cost a little), but the alternative is to leave the car in the suburbs and then move on foot or by public transport.

The Andalusian tourist office is very efficient and, upon request via website, e-mail several brochures for free. (Www.andalucia.org)

 

Orio al Serio - Granada

The journey Ryanair goes wonderfully, except that the check in are super tax with pounds and inches: lots of people queuing to pay the "overload", scenes from the circus who moves shoes and clothes from one bag to another. ..

Granada is a small town and very easy to turn on a human (or student looks really a college town).

The tourist route includes the Capilla Real and Cathedral (majestic), the Arab market dell'Alcaiceria (very typical), the Cartuja (hard to get that walk !!!).

Do not miss the Alhambra and Generalife gardens: Italy should book to avoid a long queue. Better to go in the morning (especially in hot weather) to avoid the hottest days.

For dining, many suggest the Bodega Casteñeta, but has disappointed us a bit '. Much more exciting is the pause in Calderería Neuve, where there are many Arab Teter (and eat bad)

Granada - Corboda

Along the way, someone suggested to divert to Ubeda and Baeza (two pearls Renaissance), but we prefer to shoot straight.

Cordoba is very small and probably turn it in one day. Given the heat and fatigue, over time, "advanced" we give ourselves a real bath Arabic hour and a half of pure relaxation, including hot tubs, cold and warm. I also give a relaxing massage. After relaxation, we give some further refreshment adjacent Teter.

Interesting to visit the Mezquita, the Roman bridge (to avoid windmills disappointing), the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and the alleys of course white and yellow (and narrow) the Jewish

Cordoba - Seville

This time we accept the advice of the guides and stop at Ecija, famous for the beautiful (and large) bell, but also for the storks.

Seville is a beautiful city, worth to take a walk to discover the hidden corners and famous monuments.

Among the monuments: Old Tobacco Factory (The setting of Bizet's Carmen), the beautiful Plaza de España (who knows if things will be built in Italy for Expo !!!), so beautiful Cathedral (with the alleged tomb of Christopher Columbus) and the Giralda (easy climb for all), the Alcazares Reales, Casa de Pilatos (typical Andalusian house), the Basilica de la Macarena (patron saint of bullfighters).

Instead we give the Bullring (arena), as many have it not recommended, since we spend from Ronda.

Among the things features:
- Soaking in a fountain of Plaza de España, in the hottest real cure
- Sweets of nuns, which can be purchased through the famous "wheel" we managed at the Convent of the Sisters of Santa Ines in Calle Maria Coronel

To eat, absolutely choose a round of tapas in Barrio de Santa Cruz, and if you can, a good stop at Las Teresas.

For a Flamenco show in non-touristy place (no dinner and chitchat), we booked a place in the courtyard of the cultural center La Casa de la Memoria (www.casadelamemoria.es)

Seville - Jerez - Cadiz

Left Seville and vitality to head towards the sea, but before we stop in Jerez de la Frontera to visit the famous cellars of wine and sherry.

There had also recommended the Real Escuela del Arte
Ecuestre Andaluza, but there are no shows or training every day and unfortunately there is nothing.

We visit the beautiful cellars instead of Tio Pepe, where there are guided tours in several languages and where there is also a tasting of some samples of sherry.
The visit was extremely interesting, while the quality of wine hardly be able to win an Italian. Some might get more satisfaction from the sherry, but ... We are not British.

Cadiz is a popular seaside resort, so the quality of the hotels down and prices rise. Fortunately, we stop only two nights (and maybe you could also jump).

Beach and sea are wonderful, but the temperature is acceptable and we will run away a good bath.

Much more interesting however is the Cathedral (especially at sunset).

Cadiz - Tarifa - Algeciras

On the road from Cadiz to Tarifa, who cares, you can see Cape Trafalgar (just one of Admiral Nelson)

Finding a room in Tarifa is not easy, especially if you have opted for a last minute, as we did. Algeciras is far less beautiful, but the hotel we happened is not at all bad.

However, Tarifa is the southernmost point of Europe, where they meet the Mediterranean and Atlantic, where you can admire the African coast. The sea is truly spectacular, but unfortunately the water is frozen, the Atlantic side, very windy, is particularly popular with surfers in Europe.

From Algeciras can take the ferry to Africa (Tanger above), but this time we go, there are other stages that await us.

Algeciras - Gibraltar - Ronda

For "trespassing" but we give ourselves a break on the rock of Gibraltar ... To avoid the tail leave the car in Spain and cross the border on foot, going right through the airport runway, along with other pedestrians, buses and cars.

Gibraltar is truly and completely English signs from the streets, the telephone boxes, moving menus and souvenirs. English and is also in the price: more expensive than Spain.

Thanks to cable (and after several feet of tail) we arrive at the top of the fortress, where you can admire a wonderful landscape, you can always take your eyes from the numerous monkeys.

About to avoid unpleasant incidents with monkeys (theft), it should not hold food or plastic bags.

Walk down to avoid (mostly for lack of time) that meet the various museums. And before returning to the Spanish side, we give ourselves a great fish and chips.

Ronda is a very little village, perched on the mountains, straight down crevasses. But it is also the cradle of the main families of bullfighters.

Attractions: Ponte Nuevo (top) and the Plaza de Toros (which can turn freely without a guide).

Ronda - Malaga

We chose a hotel Alhaurin el Grande: Very nice and cozy (with a swimming pool), but very difficult to find, even though I had printed the route from Google Maps.

However, it was a good base to visit a couple of niches neighbors.

Malaga
We visit the cathedral (manque), the Alcazaba (a bit 'disappointing), Gibralfaro (way to go by car or bus).
Do not miss to eat, Piglet (Cathedral area)

Marbella
Barrio historico very cute, but definitely not suitable for shopping, now that all the windows are branded.

To our great disappointment, the sea of this area is not at all beautiful and the beach is made of hot black sand. Luckily our little hotel had lost the pool!!