Open to Spanish Experience – Discovering Andalusia

While Catalonia and Madrid are more popular in the eyes of foreigners, the largest Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia has a special allure for travelers too. The perfect weather, excellent food, culture and landscapes are treasures they take away with them, plus the desire to return. Blending tradition and modernity, Andalusia is one of the best representatives of the Spanish lifestyle and a fine introduction to Spain itself. Can’t wait to see the Spanish experience for yourself? Then take a look at the highlights of this wonderful land of contrasts.

Soaking up the climate

If you like it hot, you’ll love Andalusia. The weather here is positively warm, but the mountainous areas can get chilly in the winter. Yet at the same time, it’s home to Europe’s only desert, to the wettest town in the Iberian peninsula, and to the driest location in Europe. But outside of these anomalies, you can expect average annual temperatures of 66 °F and up to 3,000 hours of glorious sunshine a year. Only Miami comes close to that!

Embracing the culture

Andalusian towns and cities are known for their laid back atmosphere and cultural agenda. The arts play an important role in Andalusian culture, particularly when it comes to music and dance. Think polka-dot dress clad flamenco dancers and passionate guitar players. Singing, dancing, and performing are seen as opportunities to celebrate life, and trust us: Andalusians love to celebrate! Proof of that is that there are fiestas and festivals almost every month of the year. Don’t miss the April Fair in Seville, Cadiz’s Carnival, or Cordoba’s International Guitar Festival.

Foodies will love Andalusian. Fried fish, cold meats, chilled soups, and a never-ending selection of tapas await you here. Have a sweet tooth? Loaded with almonds, honey, and spices, Andalusia’s Arabic-inspired desserts are simply mouth-watering.

Image by _lamji_, used under Creative Commons license

A trip to the top destinations in Andalusia

There are some cities you just can’t miss in Andalusia. Malaga and Granada are two of them.

Malaga

Impressive architecture, a gorgeous natural setting between the sea and the mountains, and superb shopping opportunities are the highlights of this Andalusian capital to enjoy after you’ve booked your flights to Malaga. Once in town, visit the medieval Moorish castles, check out the dozens of museums and art galleries, or head to sun-drenched beaches like San Andres or El Palo.

Granada

The Alhambra’s palatial Moorish architecture defines Granada, which should be on everyone’s bucket list. With its mildly surreal location on the edge of the hills, the Alhambra is one of the most outstanding things you’ll ever see. But this UNESCO site is only an introduction to Granada’s wonders. The Sierra Nevada mountain range lies a few miles away, providing a respite from the heat, enchanting landscapes, and is packed with traditional whitewashed villages where you can sample authentic Andalusian cuisine.

Of course, this is just a taster of what Andalusia has to offer, so book your next holiday to Spain and treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime. – Travel Feeder

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.