Marbella Old Town

Until the 1950’s, Marbella, although steeped in the history of the various civilizations which had left their mark in the town, Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Moslems, was a small whitewashed fishing village. Today, partially flanked on one of its sides by an old Arab wall, oblivious to the glitzy, glamorous, modern resort city which has grown almost protectively around its ancient nucleus, lies the old town; immaculate in the blinding whiteness of its walls, colourful and fragrant from the blooms adorning the windows, balconies and facades of its narrow cobbled streets lined with restaurants, cafes and boutiques. At the heart of this charming labyrinth lies Orange Square, a plaza planted with fragrant orange trees and colourful flowers surrounded by whitewashed houses and historical buildings dating back to the 15th century.

Towards the middle of the last century, investors realised the true potential of Marbella. Endowed with sun, sea, picturesque inland villages, friendly locals, culture, the delights of Mediterranean cuisine and the abundance of fresh produce and seafood, added to the passion and colour of its folklore; all the ingredients were there to create a leisure haven. It was not long before Marbella became a favourite with the wealthy and noble families of Northern Europe, the rich Arab nations and famous Hollywood celebrities. It soon became a playground for the rich and famous with a large concentration of world class golf courses, luxury hotels and resorts and luxurious cruise ships and yachts berthed in its marina.

Puerto Banus

Puerto Banus

Puerto Banus is Marbella’s picturesque marina, which is filled with multi- million dollar yachts. It’s a playground for the rich and famous, and until quite recently was extremely exclusive as it was a favourite hangout for royalty and other dignitaries. It isn’t difficult to spot celebrities whilst strolling in Puerto Banus.

Puerto Banus has a wealth of pubs, clubs, restaurants, as well as world class shopping facilities and casinos. All of the designer names have a place in Puerto Banus, although you can also find the traditional, smaller boutique style Spanish shops. The beach at Puerto Banus is 1 km. in length and is a very popular fine sandy beach with all facilities and amenities as well as Jet Ski hire and many other water sports.

Hotels

The Urban Villa

The The Urban Villa is a small boutique hotel with 6 suites, a swimming pool and a terrace offering spectacular panoramic views over Marbella, the coast and the surrounding coutryside.

Parador de Malaga Golf

The Parador Malaga Golf is a 4 star contemporary Parador with 88 rooms, a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course.

Hotel Claude

The Hotel Claude Marbella is a 3 star boutique hotel with 7 rooms located in a 17th-century building, near Plaza de los Naranjos, in the historical centre of Marbella.

Marbella’s Beaches

Marbella boasts 30 km. of beaches, spanning from Guadalmina in the west to Las Chapas in the east. The beaches range from pebbly, through dark sandy, to fine golden sand, but generally are all very well appointed, offering excellent services. The best beaches in the area are those located to the east of the city such as Las Chapas, Artola, Cabopino and Calahonda. These beaches are all fine golden sand, have a variety of sporting activities on offer and a wide dining and wining selection. Cabopino is the only nudist beach in the area.

The beaches located within the Marbella urban nucleus are all quite busy in the summer months; these are all dark sandy beaches with beach bars, restaurants, sun lounges, beach umbrellas, showers, and many other services and amenities.

The city beach in the San Pedro district to the west of Marbella is dark sandy with some rocks, it has a magnificent promenade. It has beach bars, restaurants, showers, public toilets and access for the disabled, parking is no problem and the beach is moderately busy.

Costa Del Golf

Marbella Golf and Country Club

With its excellent sunny weather allowing golfers to play all year round, the Costa del Sol has become the Costa del Golf, with 60 impressive golf courses located between Malaga and Sotogrande. There are world famous courses such as Valderrama and La Quinta. With its excellent courses located in stunning locations, Marbella attracts the international golfing elite.

The Marbella Golf and Country Club, considered one of the top courses in Spain, is just five minutes away from the city centre, designed by Robert Trent Jones senior, it is a 6, 000 metre long 18 hole links course with a par of 72 with a stunning mountain backdrop. The Atalaya Golf and Country Club is the official headquarters of the European PGA. It is composed of two 18 hole par 72 courses, its fairways are guarded by eucalyptus, olive and pine trees. Marbella is by far the most popular golfing destination in Spain with a wealth of impressive courses along the Costa del Sol.

Marbella’s Weather

The sun shines upon Marbella for over 330 days a year, almost guaranteeing that if you holiday in the area around the summer months, you will not catch one single day of grey cloudy skies. Summers are long with mild, pleasant temperatures all year round, rarely rising above 30ºC during the hottest months of July and August or falling below 13ºC during the coldest months, when the rest of Europe is braving rain and snow. Most of the rainfall falls between the months of November and February.

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels in Marbella
Boutique Hotels in Andalucia
Paradores of Andalucia
Malaga City Guide
Tarifa Guide
Cadiz City Guide

Photo Credits:
Marbella Old Town by HerryLawford
Puerto Banus by Chris Robertshaw

View from Santa Catalina Castle, Jaén

As is true for most Spanish cities, Jaen’s beginnings go back to time immemorial, but like all its Andalusian neighbour capitals, its first urban settlement can be traced to the Phoenicians, to continue with the Romans, and Visigoths, until the Muslim occupation. Each civilization left its influences and imprints thus creating rich cultural tapestries. Jaen played a very important part in the Christian reconquest, as at Las Navas de Tolosa, in 1212, the Christian troops coming from the Kingdoms of Castile, and Aragon, which were later to unite under the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, joined their armies to fight against Moslem rule.

The Islamic rulers were defeated, opening the way for the reconquest of the rest of Andalusia. History was to repeat itself centuries later, when another location in Jaen, Bailen was the battle ground which saw Napoleon’s invading army defeated in the early 19th century to leave Spanish soil forever.  As in other cultural aspects, architecturally, Jaen is also a graceful mixture of the magnificent Arab architecture and the styles of Christian Spain.

Santa Catalina Castle, Jaén

Jaen sits sheltered at the foot of a hill on which summit the castle of Santa Catalina sits proudly dominating the ancient city. Today the castle is an elegant and stately Parador Hotel, but it began as an 8th century Moorish Fortress built by the same Arab King responsible for the building of the Alhambra in Granada. The castle underwent a s significant transformation when King Ferdinand of Castile captured the castle in 1246. The castle boasts five towers and the Chapel of Saint Catalina is located in one of them. The castle and parador have a view over the Guadalquivir valley to the ridges of the Sierra Morena. General Charles de Gaulle stayed in the parador while writing his memoirs.

Hotels

Parador de Jaén

The Parador de Jaén is a 4 star Parador Hotel with 45 rooms set in an 18th century castle on top of an escarpment with spectacular views over the city of Jaén.

Parador de Ubeda

The Parador de Ubeda is a 4 star Parador Hotel with 36 rooms located in a former 16th-century palace in the historical centre of Ubeda which is approximately 40 kilometres from the city of Jaén.

Jaén Cathedral

Jaén Cathedral

A cathedral in the Spanish renaissance style which is centrally located opposite the Town Hall and the Episcopal Palace. The cathedral was built over the ruins of an ancient mosque, with construction beginning in 1249. Because it suffered damages on several occasions, it was also rebuilt several times with its final consecration carried out in 1724. Jaen capital has a wealth of other magnificent monuments, churches and museums which are worth visiting.

Sierra de Cazorla, Jaén Province

One of the many wonders of Jaen province is Spain’s largest Natural Park, along a mountain chain with natural lakes and streams defining the border between Granada and Jaen at the foot of these mountains, there are four lakes, as well as valleys, mountains, gorges all teeming with wildlife. There are several scenic villages in this area known as the lakes district. The area also has great botanical importance with many different varieties of pine trees and other native species.

Next to the Cazorla National Park, lies the Castril Park a vast area of protected space with impressive peaks, wonderful waterfalls, and where wildlife abounds.

Olive Oil Museum & Visitor Centre

Jaen is the World Capital of Olive Oil. The province of Jaen, produces over 25% of the total Spanish olive grove surface and 42% of the Andalusian, producing around 45% of the national olive oil. Jaen alone produces an astounding 20% of the world’s total olive oil production. Jaen is to construct a tourist centre tracing the history and culture of olive oil in the region. The project is known as “Almazara Escaparate”. The centre will be situated in the historic old quarter of the city and will consist of an open museum space, with lecture hall dedicated to the study of olive oil in collaboration with the nearby university. The exhibition area will showcase various olive oil based products which will be available for sale and a restaurant with scheduled tasting. An important aspect of the centre is a section dedicated to exalt the various health benefits of olive oil consumption and the Mediterranean diet.

Jaén’s Weather

Being an inland city in Spain’s sub tropical south, summers in Jaen are very hot, with temperatures in August often exceeding 40ºC, so this should be taken into consideration if planning a trip during the summer months. The differences in temperatures are greater than in the coastal areas of Spain, so winters can be cold, when minimum temperatures in mountain regions may fall below 0º C. With a typical subtropical climate, there is scarce rain in summer and humid and moderate winters. As it is an inland city, there can be temperature difference of 10 º C in the same day, especially in summer, which means summer evenings will be considerably cooler than its days.

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels in Andalucia
Paradores of Andalucia
Malaga City Guide
Tarifa Guide
Cadiz City Guide

Photo Credits:
Jaén Panarama by Min Master
Santa Catalina Castle & Jaén Cathedral by JuanJaén

Plaza Corredera

Cordoba is a cultural and historical wonder. Whether strolling through its narrow streets and alleys lined with immaculately whitewashed houses ablaze with the colour of the blooms from the pot plants adorning its balconies, windows, and walls; or, awestruck and humbled  while visiting its legacy of cultural  monuments, visiting Cordoba is like entering through a time tunnel taking us back through successive civilizations to times immemorial, and over a bridge spanning from East to West uniting Islamic, Jewish and Western culture and creed.

Córdoba’s History

To most of us, Cordoba’s past means its Islamic heritage commencing in the 8th century AD, but the history of Cordoba goes back to a past lost in the annals of time. Through the ages, it has been chosen successively by Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians becoming an important mining centre in the Bronze Age. It was named Corduba many centuries later by the Romans who chose it as the capital of their province Hispania Ulterior, which covered much of present day Andalusia.

With the Middle Ages, came the Islamic conquest, which saw Cordoba become the capital of the independent Emirate of Damascus, flourishing to become the cultural beacon of the Western world. Few beacons have ever shone as bright, enlightening the world in the fields of medicine, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, philosophy, arts. By the 11th century, it was not only the most populous city in the world but also the cultural centre of Europe and one of the most advanced cities globally, being also the political, financial and economic centre. This World Heritage city was also the cradle of eminent doctors, philosophers, mystics and poets, and could boast having the largest library in the world.

Hotels

Hospes Palacio del Bailio

The Hospes Palacio del Bailio is a 5 star luxury boutique hotel with 53 rooms and an outdoor swimming pool set in pretty gardens surrounded by orange trees, situated in a 16th-Century palace in the centre of the old city of Córdoba.

Ayre Hotel

The Art Deco Ayre Hotel is a 4 star contemporary hotel with 156 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts, located in a quiet residential area of the city.

AC Córdoba Palacio

The AC Córdoba Palacio is a 4 star contemporary design hotel with 162 rooms and a rooftop swimming pool located on Paseo de la Victoria, just a 5 minute walk from the old city centre.

Córdoba Mosque (Mezquita) & Cathedral

Córdoba Cathedral

You will need at least two hours to become acquainted with what is, without a doubt the undisputed jewel in the city’s crown. The Mosque at Cordoba was the most important and impressive monument in Western Islam, as well as one of the world’s most fascinating monuments. It was built over a Visigoth Christian church and its construction began in 780 AD.

In the 16th century, after the Christian reconquest of Spain, a Christian Cathedral of plateresque style was built as an insertion inside the massive mosque. As you walk in from the sunlight and heat of the exterior to the cool and dim interior through a courtyard planted with orange trees and presided by a tower which has alternated from minaret to Christian bell tower, you’ll be impressed at the sheer vastness of the expanse of the red tiled floor.

The mosque has 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble and granite, the striped red and white effect of the arches is achieved by alternating brick and stone. Towards the centre of the mosque, you’ll find a hallway lined with very large pillars. Beyond those pillars, you will walk from the dimness of the mosque into a brilliant white and golden light, and as you walk into that light you will find yourself transported into a magnificent cathedral with every surface intricately engraved in the rich plateresque style. The effect of the contrasts between both styles of worship is fascinating.

Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter & Synagogue

Just a five minute walk north of the mosque, you will find the Jewish quarter, where its a pleasure to stroll through its medieval narrow streets and lanes lined with whitewashed houses which provide one of the most iconic and picturesque  images of the city. The Jewish community in Cordoba thrived under the religious tolerance, turning Cordoba into the most important centre of Jewish learning and culture in the world. Cordoba’s Jewish quarter is also home to the only synagogue in Andalusia which is one of the only three synagogues in Spain. The splendid synagogue is carved with Moorish Andalusian style decorations and Hebrew texts.

Rome is often called “The Eternal City”; Cordoba goes a bit further, because it’s as universal as it is eternal. Cordoba is a trip in both time and space. As you stroll through its narrow, blindingly white streets, adorned with colourful blooms; as you gape in awe at its monuments, legacy of a glorious past bridging culture and creed; as you sample a cuisine as rich and varied as its heritage; as you sip a glass of Moriles in a fragrant shaded terrace watching the world stroll past; as you visit its flower filled patios or enjoy its fiestas and festivals, you’ll fall in love with the soul of Cordoba. For, indeed, Cordoba has a soul, and soul, like a good Moriles improves with age. Cordoba is as deep and as discreet as it is old and wise.

Córdoba Weather

Córdoba Mosque (Mezquita)

Córdoba enjoys a Mediterranean climate; it is very warm and dry in summer, as this sunny inland city is amongst the warmest in Spain. During the summer months which are from June through to September, temperatures can rise above 35ºC. Winters are mild without extremes of temperature with daily highs averaging 18ºC and nightly lows averaging 10ºC. Most of the rain falls between the months of November to March. Possibly the best months to visit Cordoba are the Spring months of April, May and June, because you will most likely enjoy mild sunny weather as well as an impressive display of a city ablaze in blooms of every colour and delicate fragrance.

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels in Córdoba
Boutique Hotels in Andalucia
Malaga City Guide
Tarifa Guide
Cadiz City Guide
Córdoba Tourism

Photo Credits:
Plaza Corredera by rafael cros
Córdoba Cathedral by El coleccionista
Córdoba Mosque by pedrik

The Alcazaba, Malaga

Even in the bronze age in the 8th century BC, the Phoenicians were attracted by its natural harbour and its rich deposits of silver and copper, founding the city of Malaka; which was later to become an important centre in each of the succeeding civilizations, Carthaginian, Roman, and Islamic. So, in between all the fun of the sun, sand, sea and surf, beach activities, festivals and ferias, tapas, sangria and flamenco, you might be able to fit in some tours of Malaga’s rich culture and heritage.

Malaga Attractions

Roman Theatre

The ruins of the Roman theatre which was built during the 1st century AD during the Empire of Augustus, and used until the 3rd century AD, lie in the western part of the city, at the foot of the Alcazaba Fortress.

Alcazaba Fortress

Situated on a hilltop near the centre of the city, this huge Moorish palace fortress, residence of the city’s Moslem rulers was built in 1100 AD over a Roman fort, overlooking the harbour.

Gibralfaro Castle

Moslem fortress built in the 14th century AD to defend the Alcazaba. The castle was built over a Phoenician lighthouse on the site of the original city. Situated above the Alcazaba and connected to by a path to its eastern end.

Hotels

Molina Lario

The Molina Lario is a 4 star contemporary design hotel with 103 rooms and a rooftop swimming pool.

Room Mate Larios

The Art Deco Room Mate Larios is a 4 star boutique hotel with 41 rooms located on Marqués de Lariosn in the centre of Malaga.

Room Mate Lola

The Room Mate Lola is a 4 star boutique design hotel with 50 rooms located on Casas de Campos in the commercial centre of Malaga.

Malaga Cathedral

Malaga Cathedral

Near the Alcazaba, and built over the site of a mosque between 1528 and 1782, the Catholic Cathedral is built in both Renaissance and Baroque styles. There a 13 side chapels each dedicated to a particular saint, all with impressive artwork.

Pablo Picasso Museum

Malaga is the birthplace of the greatest artist of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso, so it is befitting that one of the only three museums worldwide dedicated exclusively to the artist be in his city of birth. The museum has 285 works of art covering a wide range of styles, materials and techniques, spanning his long career from his student beginnings to the works of his later years.

Malaga Weather

Blessed with 330 days of sunshine per year, Malaga’s climate is Mediterranean sub-tropical with long warm dry summers with average maximums of 25.5ºC in August, and very mild short winters averaging minimums of 11.9ºC in January, making Malaga’s winters the warmest in Europe. Precipitation falls mainly during the winter months, with 50% of the total rain received, falling between the months of November to January. Watersports may be enjoyed throughout the year as the average yearly sea temperature is 18ºC, rising to 24ºC during August.

Malaga Beaches

Malaga’s beaches are about a lot more than just sun, sand, sea and surf. Malaga’s beaches are also about a zest and Spanish passion for life; about “chiringuitos” or beach bars where you can indulge in a variety of local tapas, summer wine and sangria; about leisurely strolls or “paseo”, so popular with the locals, along the wide, modern, lively seafront promenades lined with a diverse and fabulous choice of seafront restaurants, shops and ice-cream stalls; Malaga’s beaches are also about “pescaito frito” freshly caught fish and seafood, salted and deep fried in the local liquid gold, in true “Malagueño”style; fresh, tasty and crispy as you will only eat in Malaga, washed down with an ice cold beer, while sitting under a shady parasol just metres from the cool and shimmering waters of the blue Mediterranean.

With its wonderful weather, Malaga’s beaches are ideal for year round enjoyment of every type of water sport imaginable. Beaches in Malaga range from sandy beaches to secluded pebbly beaches but most of them are high quality, clean and unpolluted, boasting blue flag classification. Mentioned below is just a small sample of the urban beaches. If you like less crowded beaches, there is no shortage of these along the 150 kilometres stretch of Costa del Sol, with just a short drive from the city centre.

La Malagueta is not only the most popular beach in Malaga, being a favourite with locals, it is also quite possibly the best of the Malaga beaches, with a 2 kilometre stretch of golden sandy beach. The beach is very conveniently located close to the city centre. It is bounded by the “Paseo Maritimo” or promenade, lined with bars, restaurants and cafes. As the most popular and busy beach, it is well appointed with facilities such as showers, access for the disabled, parasols and sun beds. It offers a wide array of activities and is watched by lifeguards as well as frequent police patrols.

Las Acacias/Pedregalejo is another popular 1.2 km. stretch of beach also close to the city centre and the promenade. This wide sandy beach is divided into sheltered coves by rocky embankments and enjoys the same type of facilities and patrol as La Malagueta. It is at the chiringuitos along Pedregalejo that you may go on the “sardine route”.

El Palo: although this is also busy urban beach located at the easternmost entry to the city, it has a totally distinct character than the city centre main promenade beaches. As until quite recently this neighbourhood of fishermen still maintained its traditional way of life, it still enjoys an essentially fishing village atmosphere. It is here that you’ll sample the best “pescaito frito”. At El Palo, you may tour the chiringuitos for the “anchovy route”. Each summer, on the 16th of July, locals at El Palo still celebrate the “Virgen Del Carmen” when they take a statue of Our Lady Patroness of Fishermen; out to sea on a boat followed by the town’s fishing fleet for blessing to be followed by a full day’s festivities.

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels in Malaga
Boutique Hotels in Andalucia
Malaga Tourism

Photo Credits:
Malaga Panorama by Romtomtom
Malaga Alcazaba by Allie Caulfield
Malaga Cathedral by beamillion

Tarifa Town

The views across to the African continent just 11 kilometres away are spectacular, as are its many kilometres of white sandy beaches. Tarifa has been spared the fate of many coastal resorts along Spain’s Mediterranean Coasts which fell prey to the high density resorts of real estate speculators. Its unspoilt and pristine beaches, its virgin coastline and abundant birdlife attract nature-lovers and birdwatchers alike.

Tarifa was the first port of call for the invading Moors in the 8th century A.D., as it was through Tarifa that their invading armies entered the Iberian Peninsula. Indeed, the city is named for Tariq ibn Malik, who led a Muslim raid in 710 AD, one year before the actual Islamic invasion. Although much of what stands today of the town of Tarifa was constructed in the 18th century, the old historic quarter of Tarifa is entered through medieval gates on different sides, as the town is still mostly surrounded by walls.

The streets are narrow and cobbled with the typical flat roofed whitewashed houses with the traditional wrought iron grilles of Andalusian windows. Strolling through its narrow, cobbled streets and maze of little squares, the charming town seems designed  to provide shade at all times of the day to its narrow streets and courtyards lined with street cafés, shops markets.

Tarifa Weather

Tarifa enjoys a Mediterranean climate with influences of the Atlantic Ocean. Its summers are dry and warm and its short winters very mild. Most of the rain falls during the winter months so the summers are dry and sunny. Because it is on the Atlantic Ocean rain is quite abundant in the wet period from November through to February.

Tarifa Kitesurfing

Due to Oceanic influence, the annual variations in temperature are small with winters being much warmer than in most of Spain and summers not as hot as in other areas of Southern Spain. The average maximum daily temperature during the hottest month of august is 24ºC.

Tarifa Attractions

Castle of Guzman El Bueno: Although the origins of this fortress are Moslem, as it was built in 960 on orders from the caliphate of Cordoba, the fortress takes its name from the hero of the Christian Reconquest Guzmán El Bueno. In 1294, during the defense of the castle, Guzmán’s son was captured by Islamic forces and the attackers demanded surrender or the hostage would be killed. Guzman threw down his own dagger to the Moslem forces for the deed to be done.  His descendants were to become one of Spain’s most powerful families. It is believed that the Moslem fort was built on the ruins of a Roman fort because of the Roman influence of its structure. The fortress is open to the public.

Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia: Approximately 15km north of Tarifa, is  Baelo Claudia which was an ancient Roman town which now has the most famous Roman ruins in the area. The settlement was important along the trade routes between Europe and North Africa The ruins of Baelo Claudia, include an impressive temple, a forum and a basilica, as well as a large fish-salting factory, which show the importance of the town. There is a visitor centre housed in a building overlooking the sea; you go through the centre before entering the site of the ruins. It’s has interactive displays explaining the city’s geographical location, its shipping routes (both rivers and sea) and other communication within Hispania are very informative regarding the daily life of a Roman colony. As Baelo Claudia’s economy was based on fishing, the fish-salting factory was crucial to the colony’s success.

Hotels

Hotel Misiana

The Hotel Misiana has 12 stylishly decorated rooms and is located in the centre of Tarifa’s Old Town and just a few minutes walk from the beaches.

Hotel El Escondite del Viento

The Boutique Design Hotel El Escondite del Viento has 6 bedrooms and a contemporary interior with a roof terrace with views across Tarifa old town.

Chillout Hotel Tres Mares

The Chillout Hotel Tres Mares is a laid-back beach hotel with 24 rooms just outside Tarifa town centre.

Tarifa Beaches

Playa Chica: is the last of the Mediterranean beaches and the southernmost of the peninsula’s beaches, it is situated opposite to the island of La Paloma. There are showers and toilets, but there are no other facilities like kiosk or bars or equipment rental. Suitable for swimming and snorkeling with very clear water. The little bay is protected from the wind. It’s not suitable for surfing or kite surfing. Windsurfing is only allowed in the off season.

Playa Dos Mares: This 3 kilometre long beach is 5 kilometres out of Tarifa and is an  excellent beach for kite surfers and windsurfers alike; the beach is split into two areas, a kite surf zone, and a windsurf zone It also has a teaching area. There is no shortage of parking spaces. It has a beach bar, toilets and material for hire, as well as a school. This beach is not suitable for surfing.

Playa Los Lances: This beach is situated 7 kilometres from Tarifa. On strong Levante days this beach is protected from the wind by cliffs. As it’s not a large beach, kitesurfers might have problems starting and landing the kite for lack of space. In the winter time there are small but nice waves for surfing. Its suitable for both windsurfing and surfing and there’s equipment available for hire. There’s a surf school, beach bar, shower and toilet facilities and parking is available. One of the best surfing beaches in Tarifa.

These are only a small selection of the beaches Tarifa is famous for. For leisure or sport, Tarifa’s beaches are fabulous with incomparable views of the African continent and opportunities to spot whales and dolphins in the surf of the Straits.

Whalewatching in Tarifa

Whale Watching Tarifa

Another big draw for a lot of people coming to Tarifa is Whale Watching. The Strait of Gibraltar is an excellent location for Whale Watching because it produces a slow exchange of water from the saltier Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean to the  by way of an undercurrent with the Atlantic entering the Mediterranean on the surface. This phenomenon creates a rich ecosystem able to sustain numerous species of whales throughout the year, many of which follow these currents.

You are almost guaranteed to see Pilot Whales at any time of year but depending on the season it’s also possible to see the Common, Bottlenose and Striped Dolphin, and occasionally Killer Whales, Sperm Whales or Fin Whales.

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels Tarifa
Boutique Hotels Andalucia
Whale Watch España

Photo Credits:
Kitesurfing header by montuno
Tarifa Town by trendscout
Kitesurfing by serafinsanchez
Whale Watching by Whale Watch España

Cádiz Spain

It was named Gadir by the Phoenicians who were the founders of the first settlement in 1100 BC.  The Romans turned it into a thriving port and since then has been essentially a seafaring town with ties to Africa and The New World with trading between Cádiz and the rest of the world increasing during the 17th century, as the hub between Europe and the American continent.

Unlike other port cities, which are busy and sometimes dirty, Cadiz is easy-going, relaxed, welcoming and safe.

Cádiz Weather

The climate in Cádiz is one of the most pleasant in Spain with the city enjoying over 300 days of sunshine annually. It has a warm, temperate climate with very mild winters with temperatures ranging between 14º C and 20º C and averaging just over  25ºC in summer.

Cádiz Carnival

An ancient catholic tradition stemming from a pagan festival which celebrated the advent of spring, the Cádiz Carnival is held every year before the season of Lent. Shrove Tuesday, at the end of February or beginning of March sees Cadiz burst into a true celebration of life.

A kaleidoscope of colour, music and revelry as “Chirigotas” or groups of locals formed into satirical choirs, singing witty and funny songs mocking everything from celebrities to politicians and decked out in the most extravagant and colourful costumes, wander the streets like groups of troubadours, setting up in improvised locations entertaining passers by with their creative figures and burlesque song to the accompaniment of guitars and lutes. You’ll also see groups in extravagant costumes improvising street theatre.

This carnival is possibly the most entertaining in Spain and totally unlike any other celebration in Europe. The costumes of the Cádiz Carnival are not the showy sequin and feather affairs seen in Rio.  In Cádiz, which has a reputation for being funny and witty, the focus is on satire with some very, very clever compositions regarding current affairs, politics, and the state of the nation amongst many other issues being mocked and satirised. Join the fun, you won’t find a shortage of wigs and hats on sale. Just follow the crowds to find the most popular “chirigotas”.

Hotels

Hotel Argantonio, Cadiz

The Boutique Hotel Argantonio has 15 elegantly decorated rooms and is located in the centre of the historic part of Cadiz.

V Hotel, Vejer de la Frontera (Cadiz Province)

The V Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in the beautiful hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera on the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz Province.

Cádiz Cathedral

Cádiz Cathedral

Manuel de Falla, the greatest Spanish composer of the 20th century and a native of Cádiz, lies in a tomb within the crypt of this most remarkable cathedral built in a combination of styles, with its Baroque interior, Rococo style ornaments and Neoclassical façade. The cathedral is one of the newest in Spain as its building didn’t begin until the 1700’s to replace the ancient cathedral which had been destroyed in a fire almost 200 years earlier. The cathedral holds a museum with treasures of gold and silver, as well as precious stones.

Cádiz Beaches

Lying on a peninsula on Spain’s Atlantic Coast, the many kilometres of fine white sandy beaches along the shoreline of the Cadiz province are known as The Costa de la Luz, or the Coast of Light. Along this coast, the sand is finer and a more golden colour than in the Costa del Sol and the beaches are wider. As this coast has not seen the development of other Spanish coasts, they are usually backed by sand dunes and trees rather than the high-rise developments so common in other Spanish shorelines.

Due to the strong Atlantic winds, the temperatures are milder and the intensity of the waves make Cadiz beaches a paradise for both windsurfers and surfboard enthusiasts alike. Tarifa, on the southern tip of the Costa de la Luz, with its strong winds is a Mecca for surfing and windsurfing, while Barbate, and further up the coast is popular with bathers due to gentler winds.

Costa de la Luz, Cadiz Province

A popular beach within the city of Cadiz itself is the beach of la Victoria with fine, smooth sand and steady waves suitable for all the family.  You may rent beach umbrellas and chairs and enjoy a variety of sports activities such as jet skiing. This beach is close to shops and restaurants. The beach at Caños de Meca is an excellent nudist beach within Cadiz Province. Located in a semi urban area, it is moderately busy and its waters are very clean. It has no amenities.

Cádiz Local Cuisine and Wine

Like the majority of Spaniards, people from Cadiz enjoy food. Gastronomy in Cadiz is typically Andalusian with strong influences of each of its cultural traditions, Phoenician, Roman and Moorish. Being a seaside port and so tied to the sea historically, the main ingredients are the local fish and seafood, for example a wide variety of fish, prawns, squid, and lobsters. Oxtail stew and rice dishes are very popular, while its desserts have a marked Moorish influence with the use of almonds, nuts and honey.

Cadiz is Sherry country, as this is the home of the most important producers of brandy and sherry in its four varieties: amontillado (darker and dry), fino (very dry and very pale), oloroso (full-bodied, golden in colour, medium dry and fragrant) and dulce (sweet).

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels in Andalucia
Cádiz Tourism

Photo Credits:
Cádiz & Cádiz Cathedral by Andy Cardiff
Costa de la Luz by Emilio del Prado

Salamanca Cathedral

Salamanca was founded before the Roman period but went onto become an important Roman outpost lying on the Roman road, Vía de la Plata, which connected Salamanca with Emerita Augusta (present day Mérida) to the south and Asturica Augusta (present-day Astorga) to the north.

Salamanca Cathedral

There are in fact two Cathedrals in Salamanca, albeit connected. On one side is the Romanesque style Old Cathedral (Catedral Vieja) which dates from the 12th-13th centuries, and on the other, the ‘New’ cathedral (Catedral Nueva) which dates from the 16th century.

Its main entrance consists of 3 arcs, each leading to the 3 naves of the church. The three arches and façade are intricately carved and, if you look closely enough, you can see a more recent addition in the form of an astronaut which was added during restoration work in 1992 as a symbol of the 20th century.

For the most spectacular views over Salamanca head for the Puerta de la Torre at the southwestern corner of the New Cathedral.

Salamanca Cathedral Website

Salamanca University

Salamanca University, Patio de Escuelas

The original Salamanca University is made up of several colleges including Escuelas Mayores, Escuelas Menores and the Hospital de Estudio which are arranged around the square known as Patio de Escuelas (School Terrace).  It was founded in 1218 and is the oldest and one of the most prestigious in Spain. Approximately 30,000 students attend the university itself but student numbers in the city are swelled further by the thousands of international language students that flock to Salamanca.

Alfonso IX of León is credited with founding the University of Salamanca when he granted it a royal charter in 1218 elevating it from a mere college into what was to become one of the most prestigious academic centres in Europe.

By the 16th Century Salamanca University had around 6,500 students against a total population of 24,000 and was becoming an increasingly important institution responsible for laying down the foundations of some of the most important European laws such as the right to life and the right to own property.

Today Salamanca University has more students from other regions than any other university in Spain and is an important centre for the study of medicine and humanities, particularly languages. In 2009 Salamanca University celebrated its eighth centennial.

Salamanca University Website

Hotels

Parador de Salamanca

The Parador de Salamanca is part of the Paradores of Spain group and is a modern 4 star parador situated just outside the historical centre of the city.

AC Palacio de San Esteban

The AC Palacio de San Esteban is 5 star luxury hotel and former convent situated in the heart of the old town of Salamanca close to all the city’s historical attractions.

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca

Plaza Mayor, Salamanca

Plaza Mayor is the stunning main square of Salamanca and serves as the heart of the city in every respect with its restaurants, cafes and shops buzzing with activity throughout the day and night. It was finished in 1755 and for its first one hundred years was used as the city’s Plaza de Toros (bullfighting ring).

Casa de las Conchas

Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells) was constructed towards the end of the 15th century and into the 16th century and takes its name from the more than three hundred shells which cover its façade.  Today it houses the Salamanca public library and an information office.

Other Salamanca Attractions

Convento de San Esteban (Convent of St Stephen)

The Convento de San Esteban’s church has an incredible façade depicting the stoning of San Esteban as its central motif. Inside there’s also a small museum dedicated to the monks and their missionary work in the South America.

Palacio de Monterrey

Although not open to the public the façade of the 16th century holiday home of the Duques de Alba is stunning.

Convento de Santa Clara

This convent is now a small museum with beautiful frescoes and ceilings.

Museo de Salamanca (Salamanca Museum)

Salamanca Museum is located in the former residence of Queen Isabel’s doctor, and probably more worthy of a visit for its tranquil interior patios than for the collection itself.

Convento y Museo de Las Úrsulas

Gothic convent founded by Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca in 1512. Bizarrely part of the building is also rented out by the nuns to a nightclub called Camelot.

Transport

Salamanca Airport

Salamanca Airport is located around 14 kilometres from the city centre and offers mainly domestic flights alongside charter flights and a service to Paris.

Salamanca Airport – Aena Airports of Spain

Salamanca Railway Station

Salamanca’s train station is located on Paseo de la Estación to the north-west of the old town centre.

RENFE Spanish Railways

Salamanca Bus Station

The bus station is in the city centre on Avenida Filiberto Villalobos and offers services throughout Spain and some European destinations.

Salamanca Bus Station
ALSA Spanish Buses

Related Links:
Ávila, Spain
Burgos, Spain
León, Spain
Castilla y León Guide
Boutique Hotels in Castilla y León
Paradores in Castilla y León

Photo Credits:
Plaza Mayor Salamanca by paspalleteir@
Salamanca University by kyle.greaves
Salamanca Cathedral by arvy!

Ávila City Walls

Avila City Walls

Impossible to miss because they completely surround the city the medieval Walls of Ávila, built between the 11th and 14th centuries, are an imposing site. Their perimeter measures over two and a half kilometres round and has about 2,500 battlements, 100 towers, 6 doors and 3 secondary entrances.

Ávila Cathedral

The Cathedral of Ávila is believed to date back to the 12th century or earlier, depending on which account is believed. Either way construction continued into the 13th century with the first stages of the towers and aisles, in the 14th century with the completion of the towers, the cloister, the vaults and the flying buttresses and onto its completion by 1475.

Hotels

Parador de Ávila

The Parador de Ávila is part of the Paradores of Spain group and is a 4 star hotel set in a renovated former palace in the centre of the city.

Hotel Las Leyendas, Ávila

The Hotel Las Leyendas is a 3 star boutique hotel with 19 rooms situated in a converted 16th-century building within the historic city walls.

Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús

Avila Cathedral

Within Ávila City Walls

Apart from the Cathedral and the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús the other main attractions within the city walls are the Plaza de los Dávila, which has more than a dozen Renaissance houses, including the mansion of Los Velada, the Palacio de Los Valderrábano, Núñez Vela and Palacio de Los Dávila.

There’s also the 16th century Los Guzmanes Tower, now headquarters for the regional Government and the Plaza del Mercado Chico (the city centre) where you can find the Town Hall and of the 15th Century Church of San Juan.

Outside Ávila City Walls

Basílica de San Vicente

The Basilica de San Vicente or, to give it its full name, the Basilica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta, dates from the 12th century and is one of many churches in Ávila and one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Spain. Legend says Vicente, Sabina and Cristeta were martyred during the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and that their corpses were buried into the rock and later the basilica was built over their tombs.

Iglesia de San Pedro

Located outside the city walls in Plaza de Mercado Grande, The Church of San Pedro was built in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás

The 15th Century Gothic Monastery of Santo Tomás was the summer residence of the Spanish monarchs and despite not being within the city walls is one of Ávila’s most important buildings. The site is dominated by its church which has a single nave and the tomb of the Infante don Juan, son of the Monarchs. The convent area is situated around three cloisters with the former Royal quarters now occupied by the Oriental Museum.

Fiesta de Santa Teresa

Ávila celebrates its main fiesta, the fiesta de Santa Teresa, starts on October 15 with concerts, bullfighting, processions, food, drink and fireworks and Flamenco.

Map of Ávila

Related Links:
Burgos, Spain
León, Spain
Boutique Hotels in Castilla y León
Paradores in Castilla y León
Castilla y León Guide
Ávila Turismo

Photo Credits:
Ávila City Walls by Ignacio Gómez
Ávila Cathedral by Felikatus

León - Plaza Mayor

León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Romans and following various battles between Moors and Christians went on to become The Kingdom of León in 910 with an Empire stretching to the river Rhone. Modern day León saw dramatic population during the late 20 th Century and in 1983 the regions of León and Castile were brought together to form the Autonomous Community of Castile and León.

From the outskirts the city of León doesn’t hold much allure but break through the outer apartment block skin and you’ll find a centre full of historical charm.

León Cathedral

León Cathedral or, to give its full name, Santa María de León Cathedral, is a French-style Gothic cathedral built in the 13th Century over the ruins of the city’s ancient Roman baths but wasn’t completed until the late 16th century.

León Cathedral

Also known as The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina León Cathedral has almost 1,800 square meters of stained glass windows dating from the 13th to the 15th century and are said to be among the world’s finest stained glass.

The main façade is flanked by two towers and has three carved Gothic portals and a large rose window.  Inside, the Main Chapel has an altarpiece dating from the 15th century and a silver urn containing the relics of San Froilán (León’s patron saint) and the 13th–15th century cloister.

The Cathedral also has its own Museum (Museo Catedralicio Diocesano de León) housing almost 1,500 works of art dating from pre-history to the 18th century.

León Cathedral Website

Hotels

Parador de León

The Parador de León is part of the Paradores of Spain group and is a 5 star hotel set in one of León’s landmark buildings the Convent of San Marcos.

NH Plaza Mayor

The NH Plaza Mayor is a 5 star luxury boutique hotel with 51 rooms situated in a 19th-century building on Plaza Mayor in the historic heart of León.

León Museum of Contemporary Art (MUSAC)

MUSAC - León Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León), better known as the MUSAC, opened to rave reviews in 2005 by Prince Felipe, and features contemporary art collections from the past 20 years. The building itself (designed by Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón) has been awarded a number of prizes for architecture including the 2007 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe award).

León Museum of Contemporary Art Website

Basilica of San Isidoro

The Basilica of San Isidoro located on the site of an ancient Roman temple and its origins can be traced back to the early 10th century when a monastery for Benedictine sisters was established. The basilica has a museum and library open to the public.

Casa de los Botines

Casa de los Botines was built between 1892 and 1893 and designed by Antoni Gaudí to reflect Leon’s medieval and Gothic styles.  Today La Casa de los Botines is the headquarters of the Spanish bank Caja España.

Transport

León Airport

León Airport is located around 6 kilometres from the city centre and offers mainly domestic flights alongside a limited number of European routes.

Aena Airports of Spain

León Railway Station

León has two railway stations, one on the RENFE line serving national and international destinations and one on the FEVE line serving local destinations.

RENFE Spanish Railways
FEVE Spanish Railways

León Bus Station

The bus station is right in the city centre on Avenida del Ingeniero Sáenz de Miera and offers services throughout Spain and some European destinations.

ALSA Spanish Buses

Related Links:
Boutique Hotels in Castilla y León
Paradores in Castilla y León
Castilla y León Guide
Burgos
Ávila

Burgos

Burgos has a number of historic landmarks, primarily the Cathedral of Burgos, Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales and the Cartuja of Miraflores.  There’s also the relatively recent addition (2010) of the Museum of Human Evolution which is already one of the top 10 visited museums in Spain.

Burgos Cathedral

Undoubtedly the city’s main attraction is its Gothic Cathedral which dates from the 13th century and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Although construction began in 1221 work continued sporadically for two hundred years with major modifications in the 15th and 16th centuries (including spires of the principal façade and Chapel of the Constable) and the 18th century when the Gothic statuary of the doors of the principal façade was also transformed.

Burgos Cathedral

Burgos Hotels

The Velada Burgos

The Velada Burgos is a 4 star design hotel with 64 rooms and a restaurant situated in an historic building in the historic heart of Burgos.

Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales

The Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales (Monastery of the Royal Retreats) lies on the outskirts of the city about 1.5 kilometers from the centre and was founded in 1180 by king Alfonso VIII. Construction started in a pre-Gothic style although it has seen numerous additions.  Its remarkable cloisters have been described as “unrivalled for beauty both of detail and design and perhaps unsurpassed by anything in its age and style in any part of Europe” (1911 Encyclopædia Britannica). There is still a community of nuns at Las Huelgas but tourist visits are possible through the the Spanish heritage organisation Patrimonio Nacional which maintains the property as a Spanish royal site.

Cartuja de Miraflores

The Carthusian monastery of Miraflores Charterhouse is sited around four kilometers from the historic city center and includes the marble mausoleum of King John II and of his wife, Isabella of Portugal.

Cartuja de Miraflores

Burgos Museum of Human Evolution

The most recent addition to the tourist map of Burgos is the Museum of Human Evolution which was opened in 2010 and founded here because of the nearby archeological UNESCO World Heritage Site site of Atapuerca located around 20 km east of the city.

Burgos Museum of Human Evolution

Burgos Transport

Burgos has an airport situated around 5 km from the city centre which has daily flights to Barcelona and some other domestic and European destinations.

Aena Airports of Spain

The city’s railways station is located in the north-east of the city and has direct services to many Spanish cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Salamanca and Bilbao and some international services including Paris and Lisbon. High speed AVE trains will serve the city from 2015.

Renfe Spanish Railways

The bus station is right in the city centre just a hundred of meters from the Cathedral and has direct services all over Spain and to a number of European cities.

ALSA Spanish Buses

Related Links
Boutique Hotels in Castilla y León
Paradores in Castilla y León
Castilla y León Guide
León
Ávila