Insight Guides Explore Andalucia & Costa del Sol (Travel Guide eBook)
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About this ebook
Insight Explore Guides: books to inspire your on-foot exploration of top international destinations.
Experience the best of Andaluc a with this indispensably practical Insight Explore Guide. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see attractions like Seville, Granada and Marbella Old Town, to discovering hidden gems, including the Almeira Province, the easy-to-follow, ready-madewalking routes will help you plan your trip, save you time, and enhance you rexploration of this fascinating region.
Practical and packed with inspirational insider information, this will make the ideal on-the-move companion to your trip to Andalucia
Features concise insider information about landscape, history, food and drink, and entertainment options
Invaluable maps: each Best Route is accompanied by a detailed full-colour map, while the large pull-out map provides an essential overview of the area
Discover your destination's must-see sights and hand-picked hidden gems
Directory section provides invaluable insight into top accommodation, restaurant and nightlife options by area, along with an overview of language, books and films
Inspirational colour photography throughout
About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer offull-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrasebooks, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs.Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus onhistory and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool toinspire your next adventure.
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Insight Guides Explore Andalucia & Costa del Sol (Travel Guide eBook) - APA Publications Limited
How To Use This E-Book
This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With top-quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.
Best Routes
The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also excursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.
We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.
Introduction
The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.
Directory
Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.
Getting around the e-book
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.
© 2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd
Table of Contents
Recommended Routes For...
Exciting cities
Families
Moorish treasures
Panoramic views
Picturesque pueblos
Surf, sand and sunshine
The great outdoors
Wine lovers
Explore Andalucía
Geography and layout
History
Climate
Population
Local customs
Politics and economics
Landscape and wildlife
Food and Drink
Eating hours
Breakfast
Soups
Paella
Seafood
Dessert
Vegetarians
Tapas
Menú del día
DRINKS
Wine
Beer
Coffee
Shopping
Where to shop
Markets
What to buy
Typical souvenirs
Crafts
Food and drink
Wine
Ham
Olives and olive oil
Entertainment
Finding out what’s on
Theatre and film
Music and dance
Flamenco
Bullfighting
Activities in Andalucía
Beaches and watersports
Underwater
Skiing
Golf
Hiking
Activities for children
History: Key Dates
EARLIEST TIMES
THE MOORS
THE AGE OF EMPIRE
18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES
2OTH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT
Seville City Centre and Santa Cruz
The Catedral
La Giralda
Archivo General de Indias
The Alcázar
The Alcázar’s gardens
Santa Cruz
Seville along the Riverside
From Las Setas de Sevilla to the river
Puente de Isabel II
Tobacco factory
The Parque María Luisa
Doñana National Park and Huelva
Seville to Parque Nacional de Doñana
Columbus territory
Along the coast
Monasterio de La Rábida and Muelle de las Carabelas
Palos de la Frontera
Moguer
Huelva
Niebla
La Palma del Condado
Four Towns: Carmona, Écija, Osuna and Antequera
Carmona
Écija
Osuna
Fuente de Piedra
Antequera
Dolmens
Costa de la Luz
Jerez de la Frontera
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
El Puerto de Santa María
Cádiz
Orientation
Plazas, towers and museums
Two cathedrals
Vejer de la Frontera
Tarifa
The White Towns
Arcos to Grazalema
Zahara de la Sierra to Ronda La Vieja
Zahara de la Sierra
Olvera
Setenil de las Bodegas
Ronda La Vieja
Ronda
Ronda’s new town
Ronda’s old town
Gibraltar
Town Centre
Upper Rock
Marbella Old Town
Heart of the old town
Plaza de los Naranjos
Main church and the Museo del Grabado Contemporaneo
Plazas Castillo and Santo Cristo
Leaving the old town
Málaga City
The Catedral and Museo Picasso
The fortifications
Along the waterfront
The Thyssen Museum
Caminito del Rey
Desfiladero de Gaitanejos
Desfiladero de los Gaitanes
Granada to Córdoba the Slow Way
Granada to Alcalá la Real
Priego de Córdoba
Zuheros
Baena and Cabra
Aguilar to Córdoba
Córdoba
The River
The Alcázar and its baths
Into the Judería
Calle Judíos
Picturesque lanes
La Mezquita
Building the mosque
Touring the mosque
Jaén to Úbeda
Jaén city
Beautiful Baeza
Plaza del Pópulo
Cathedral and Palacio de Japalquinto
Elegant Úbeda
Plazas del Ayuntamiento and de Vázquez de Molina
Beyond Plaza de Vázquez de Molina
Centro de Interpretación Olivar y Aceite
Through the Sierra de Cazorla
Cazorla town
Into the nature reserve
Torre del Vinagre
Collado del Almendral
Iznatoraf and Sabiote
Granada City Centre and Albaicín
City centre sights
Catedral and around
Plaza Nueva
The Albaicín
Coming back down
Along the river
The Alhambra
Introduction to the Alhambra
The road to preservation
Form and function
Entrance
Alcazaba
Nasrid Palaces
Mexuar
Serail
Harem
Partal and medina
Generalife
Palacio de Carlos V
The Alpujarras
Granada to Órgiva
The Poqueira Valley
Pampaneira
Capileira
Trevélez
Across Puerto de la Ragua
Guadix
The Costa Tropical
The resorts of the Costa Tropical
Salobreña
Almuñécar and La Herradura
Frigiliana
The Axarquia
The Desert and its Coast
Almería through the desert
Almería
Tabernas
Sorbas
Down the east coast
Mojácar
Carboneras
Agua Amarga
Rodalquilar to Pozo de los Frailes
Cabo de Gata
San José
Genoveses and Monsul
Coastal walk to Vela Blanca
Accommodation
Seville
Doñana National Park and Huelva
Carmona and Osuna
Costa de la Luz
The White Towns
Gibraltar
Marbella
Málaga
Caminito del Rey
Priego de Cordoba and Zuheros
Córdoba
Jaén, Cazorla and Úbeda
Granada
The Alpujarras
The Costa Tropical
Almería
Restaurants
Seville
Antequera
Costa de la Luz
The White Towns
Málaga
Córdoba
Jaen
Granada
Costa Tropical
Almería
Nightlife
Córdoba
Costa de la Luz
Granada and the Costa Tropical
Baeza
Málaga, Marbella and the Costa del Sol
Seville
A-Z
A
Addresses
Age restrictions
B
Budgeting
C
Children
Clothing
Crime and safety
Customs
D
Disabled travellers
E
Electricity
Embassies and consulates
Emergencies
Etiquette
F
Fiestas and festivals
G
Guides and tours
H
Health
Before you travel
Medical facilities
Sensible precautions
Hours and holidays
I
Insurance
Internet facilities
L
Language
LGBTQ travellers
M
Media
Radio
Television
Money
Cash machines
Credit cards
Currency
Taxes
Tipping
Travellers’ cheques and changing money
P
Post
R
Religion
S
Smoking
T
Telephones
Time zones
Toilets
Tourist information
Transport
Arrival by air
Arrival by bus
Arrival by car
Arrival by sea
Arrival by train
Getting around by bus
Getting around by bicycle
Getting around by car
Getting around by train
Getting around on foot
V
Visas and passports
W
Weights and measures
Women travellers
Language
Useful words and phrases
Directions
Travelling
Eating out
Days of the week
Months of the year
Books and Film
Books
Film and TV series
Recommended Routes For...
Exciting cities
Seville is full of interesting things to see and do (routes 1 and 2), but don’t miss Cádiz and Jerez (route 5), Málaga (route 9), Córdoba (route 12) and Granada (route 15).
Corrie Wingate/Apa Publications
Families
Have a thrilling day out with the kids exploring the vertiginous path through a gorge on the Caminito del Rey (route 10) or take Gibraltar’s cable car to meet the famous Barbary apes (route 7).
Shutterstock
Moorish treasures
Discover the amazingly ornate monuments built by Spain’s long-lost Muslim civilisation: the fortress-palace of the Alhambra in Granada (route 16) and the Mezquita (Mosque) in the middle of Córdoba (route 12).
Shutterstock
Panoramic views
Admire Seville’s rooftops from its two prodigious viewpoints (routes 1 and 2) or gaze out to Morocco from atop the Rock of Gibraltar (route 7).
iStock
Picturesque pueblos
Ronda and the White Towns (route 6) are exquisite, as are the villages of the Alpujarras (route 17). The neighbouring towns of Úbeda and Baeza (route 13) are triumphs of Renaissance architecture.
iStock
Surf, sand and sunshine
Take your pick of Andalucía’s coasts and beaches, from the developed to the deserted on the Costa de la Luz (route 5), the Costa del Sol (routes 8 and 9), the Costa Tropical (route 18) and the coast of Almería (route 19).
iStock
The great outdoors
Explore Andalucía’s extraordinarily varied landscapes and discover its wildlife in Doñana National Park (route 3), the Sierra de Cazorla (route 14) and the desert cape of Almería, the Cabo de Gata (route 19).
iStock
Wine lovers
This is the home of sherry, and touring bodegas (wineries) can be a great way to spend a holiday. You’ll find the best of them in Jerez de la Frontera (route 5) and Montilla (route 11).
Corrie Wingate/Apa Publications
Explore Andalucía
Andalucía is best known for the sun, sand and sea offered by its playground coasts, but that’s only the half of it. The region is also extraordinarily rich in scenery, wildlife, history, art and culture.
With its bullfights, white towns, fans, flamenco music, fiestas and Mediterranean beaches, Andalucía is, to many visitors, ‘typical Spain’. But it would be a mistake to see it as just a composite of these ingredients. This is a region made up of diverse landscapes – wild, open spaces and some of the highest mountains in Europe – and crowned by the vibrant cities of Seville, Córdoba and Granada, with their glorious Moorish monuments. Andalucía lies at a geographical crossroads: it is the gateway between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and the crossing point between Africa and Europe. The strategic importance of its location has given rise to a long and turbulent history. Over the centuries, the region has incorporated influences from many different sources, leaving it with an unparalleled heritage for the modern visitor to explore.
Málaga’s Teatro Romano
iStock
Geography and layout
Andalucía runs right across Spain from the Portuguese border and the Atlantic in the west to the eastern Mediterranean coast. It is separated from central Spain (to the north) by the mountains of the Sierra Morena; in the south, a mere 14.5km (9 miles) of water – the Strait of Gibraltar – lie between Andalucía’s tip and Morocco.
Andalucía is the second largest (but most populous) of the 17 autonomous regions of Spain, covering more than 17 percent of the country. It is sub-divided into eight provinces which are, going from west to east and north to south: Huelva, Seville, Cordoba, Jaen, Cadiz, Malaga, Granada and Almería. The coast of Malaga province is universally known as the Costa del Sol, a 180km (112-mile) -long chain of marinas, golf clubs and white urbanisations.
The routes in this book follow the provinces in this order as far as possible. Most of the routes – but not all – can be negotiated by public transport if you have time to wait for connections. Better, however, is to hire a car. Most visitors use either Seville (see routes 1 or 2) or Malaga (see route 9) as a base. All the towns and city centres described in the routes can be toured on foot.
History
Human occupation in Andalucía dates back to prehistoric times, evidenced by the Unesco World Heritage dolmens at Antequera (for more information, click here), Copper-Age Los Millares, and Palaeolithic cave paintings – some 25,000 years old. From the second millennium BC until the 8th century AD the region saw a wave of civilisations come and go: Iberians, Tartessians Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Visigoths. Then, in 711, the Iberian peninsula was invaded by an army from North Africa; this event was to leave an indelible mark on Andalucía. The Muslim rulers of Spain – known for simplicity as the Moors – created the extraordinary Mezquita (Mosque) in Córdoba (for more information, click here) and the palace of the Alhambra in Granada (for more information, click here), as well as the renowned White Towns (for more information, click here) and numerous bathhouses and fortresses. In 1492 the last Moorish outpost, Granada, fell to a Christian army, heralding a new era for Spain. Christopher Columbus’s historic voyage across the Atlantic turned Seville into a flourishing city, enriched by the wealth of the New World.
The good times didn’t last, however, and centuries of stagnation and neglect followed. Unlike the north of Spain, Andalucía did not develop industry to create employment. Poverty and lack of work forced large numbers of Andalucíans (Andaluces) to emigrate. The devastating effects of the Spanish Civil War (1936–9) only made things worse.
Then, in the 1960s, holidaymakers from northern Europe discovered the potential of the Costa del Sol, which had strings of magnificent beaches almost entirely undeveloped and unfrequented. Tourism was the making of Andalucía – although it also brought challenges with regard to environmental protection and water conservation. Only with the advent of democracy and devolved government, following the death of General Franco in 1975, was Andalucía able to attract investment for its infrastructure and to fully modernise.
Pretty in pink at Doñana National Park
iStock
Climate
Andalucía’s position at the southern edge of Europe gives it an excellent climate. Summers are hot, winters mild – and plentiful sunshine makes it possible to sit outside practically year-round. Swimming in the sea, at the region’s sheltered beaches and coves, is warm enough from spring through autumn.
However, there are considerable variations due to the size of the region, its mountainous character and the fact that it is bordered by both the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Summers can be