Places to Visit

Granada

Approximately an hour and a half from Villanueva de la Concepcion, to the east, Granada is situated on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The city can be reached by road (A92) and signposting is good to the Alhambra Palace which is reached via a ring road (cicunvalacion). We would recommend, however, avoiding driving into the centre of Granada itself. If you wish to visit the old town we would recommend parking within the Alhambra Palace car parks and picking up a taxi (of which there are many) and being dropped off to allow you to wander these narrow streets.

If you would rather avoid driving at all,we would suggest letting the train take the strain! Trains depart Antequera and can make for a very relaxing day trip. Timetables and pricing can be obtained by clicking the Renfe link below.

Renfe Train Timetables and Costs

The city has had a colourful past and many inhabitants during its history. 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.
Although the city and especially the old town are worthy of visits the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra Palace, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C.
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 hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, 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 Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.
The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.
There is no reference to the Alhambra as being a residence of kings until the 13th century, even though the fortress had existed since the 9th century. The first kings of Granada, the Zirites, had their castles and palaces on the hill of the Albaicin, and nothing remains of them. The Nasrites were probably the emirs who built the Alhambra, starting in 1238.
During the 18th century and part of the 19th, the Alhambra fell into neglect and was to see its salons converted into dungheaps and taverns,occupied by thieves and beggars. As the crowning blow, Napoleon's troops, masters of Granada from 1808 until 1812, were to convert the palaces into barracks. During one retreat they mined the towers and blew up part of them. Two of them, the Torre de Siete Suelos and the Torre de Agua were left in ruins. And so the incredible neglect continued, until 1870 when the Alhambra was declared a national monument. Travellers and romantic artists of all countries had railed against those who scorned the most beautiful of their monuments. Since that date and up to now, the Alhambra, protected, restored, cared for and even improved, has been preserved for the pleasure and admiration of all.

Ticket information

Upon entry to the Alhambra you will have been assigned a time slot for the Nazrid Palaces. If you fail to enter during this half hour time slot you will be denied entry to this stunning complex. It therefore makes sense to enter the Alhambra well before your assigned time. You can then visit other sections of the Alhambra beforehand. To visit everything at a leisurely pace will require at least 3 hours.
The number of admissions per day is limited to protect the monument. Therefore if you have not booked in advance it is imperative to turn up early in the day, especially during high season, to guarantee entry. Queues will start well before the 8.30 opening time.
By far the best way to ensure entry is to book tickets in advance by visiting the Alhambra website below.

Alhambra - Information and advance tickets

Seville

Seville can be reached by car or train from Villanueva de la Concepcion. By motorway (A…), picked up at Antequera, it is likely to take around 2 hours to reach, although you could easily spend the following 2 hours trying to find a suitable place to park!
We would, again, recommend taking a train from either Antequera or Bobadilla which arrives at Sevilla (Santa Justa) in approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. A short taxi from the station gets you to the centre of Seville with everything within a reasonable walking distance.
According to legend, Sevilla was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation. It was called Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya by the Moors.
It has hosted two international exhibitions (1929 and 1992) and is the administrative capital of Andalucía. The city lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is one of the largest historical centres in Europe.
Some of the many attractions include the Moorish minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom), and the Alcázar Palace and gardens.

For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Sevilla is universally famous for being a joyous town. While the Sevillians are known for their remarkable ability to party, the city itself is striking for its vitality. It is the largest town in Southern Spain, the home of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro.
Flamenco plays an important part in the city’s history and if you visit Seville we would suggest that you take in a Flamenco show if at all possible. Many will see this as a “tourist attraction” which should be avoided. We disagree.
The Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped streets, flowered balconies, richly decorated facades and hidden patios has a dual personality – by day it is cool, shady and tranquil. By night the atmosphere changes to one of fiesta. Sevillanas don’t need much of an excuse to party and most nights of the week a stroll through Santa Cruz will get you in the mood for ad hoc flamenco provided by the locals.

Cordoba

Cordoba was founded by the Romans and due to its strategic importance as the highest navigable point of the Guadalquivir River, it became a port city of great importance, 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 Cordoba'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 we see today.
As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba's treasures include the Alcazar, 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. Cordoba'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.

The Mezquita dates back to the 10th century when Córdoba reached its zenith under a new emir, Abd ar-Rahman 111 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.
There is no charge for the entrance to the Patio de Los Naranjos which is a large outer courtyard where you can rest from the Cordoba sun before entering inside the other sections of the mosque. The entrance tickets are sold from a kiosk here.
TICKET INFORMATION
Entrance tickets to the Mesquita (6euros) are available from the kiosk within the Patio de Los Naranjos. Entry to this large courtyard is free and provides an ideal place to rest before and after your tour of the Mesquita.

Malaga

Málaga is the major coastal city of Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism untouched by tourism and, to a large extent, the passage of time.
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 famed for its elegance and sophistication. The impressive 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 of course!) and there are several galleries showing his work, including the 16th century Museum of Fine Arts, adjacent to the Cathedral.
His birthplace in Plaza Merced is today an archive of his life and works and open to the public; the entrance is absolutely free (so are all the services: Documentation Centre, exhibitions, museum, video projections...).
As well as being a cultural centre, Malaga is also a great place to eat out. The Malagueños love their food and the bars and restaurants here are where the real social life takes place. The choice is unlimited and, on the whole, reasonable with some bars offering a menu of the day with bread and wine for as little as 6 euros. Tapas, small portions of many different dishes is an Andalusian tradition and a wonderfully inexpensive way to try a variety of local food.
The best known local fare in Malaga is "pescaito frito", an assortment of fried fish, including small sardines and red mullet, best washed down with a glass of ice cold fino at one of the many old fashioned bodegas in town. But it is El Palo, to the east of the city which is a typical fisherman’s village and the place to go if you want that veritable "catch of the day" freshness.
Malaga is always closed for the siesta period, so this is a perfect time for a long relaxing lunch.
These days, Málaga prides itself on being a modern city with the heart of commerce dominated by Calle Larios which is the local Bond Street equivalent. This is the recommended place to start exploring the city as it is surrounded by attractive small streets and plazas, as well as the magnificent cathedral (Renaissance cathedral with a Baroque façade and choir by Pedro de Mena) which offers daily guided tours. Garden lovers won't be disappointed in Malaga either. In the centre of the city is the beautiful Alameda Gardens, and just outside on the way to Antequera one finds the extensive Jardines de la Concepcion.
Málaga airport is of course on of the major airports in Spain due to the number of tourist arrivals on charter flights from Northern Europe using Malaga airport as a gateway to the Costa del Sol.