Sightseeing in Andalusia - what to see. Complete travel guide

Travelers associate Andalusia with beautiful medieval fortresses and Arab towers, elegant cathedrals and marvelous mountain scenery. Andalusia is the sunny area of Spain rich in natural attractions; incomparable Seville is its capital.

Santa Cruz district, the old Alcazar fortress built by Arabs in the middle of the 14th century, The Giralda mosque, magnificent temples and monasteries deserve special attention. Fans of scenic walks would enjoy the island of La Cartuja located just off the coast of Seville. There is a beautiful park on the island, where the full diversity of flora and fauna of these places are represented. The Spain Square is considered the symbol of the capital; it is surrounded by a number of beautiful arches with coats of arms of Spanish provinces. Next to it there are many beautiful architectural complexes, such as the House of Pilate and the building of the military administration. Maria Luisa Park is next to the square; it is a great place for hiking, where you can hide from the hot sun.

In the piedmont region there is another attractive city, Granada. Its main attraction is the fortress of the Alhambra located on a steep ridge. The area in front of the fortress is adorned with beautiful fountains, pools and statues. The building has perfectly preserved to these times; it never ceases to amaze visitors with its grandeur. Near the castle there is Palacio de Generalife built in the 13th century. This attraction also strikes with its luxury, refinement of forms and unusual design of the surrounding area. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A trip to Andalusia should include a visit to Cordoba. The beautiful palace of the caliphs, gardens with fountains and amazing beauty of the mosque make excursions in Cordoba very diverse. There are several archaeological sites in suburban areas; findings of scientists can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba. Beach goers are attracted by the picturesque town of Malaga, which offers a rich cultural program in addition to its beautiful beaches. Those are several cities of Andalusia, which have to be included in the tour.

Besides invaluable historic monuments, Andalusia is famous for its popular beach resorts. The Costa de Almeria is distinguished by the most modern tourist infrastructure and a great variety of hotels. It is interesting to vacation here with children. At the coast, there are water sports centers, so active tourists often come here. Those who prefer vacationing in an uncrowded atmosphere should visit Costa de la Luz. There are wonderful beaches with golden sand. The travelers can combine their recreation with exploring interesting archeological districts. In this resort area, there are also prestigious golf clubs.

One of the most popular places for beach recreation is Costa del Sol. This region is famous for its mild climate. The sun shines 325 days a year here. Shallow and calm beaches are perfect for vacationing with young children. It is almost not windy and not rainy at the coast. Those who want to relax in an unusual exotic atmosphere should pay their attention to the district of Costa Tropical. It is characterized by the mild climate too. It has made this resort an excellent place for setting up orchards. Most of them welcome tourists now. They can go sightseeing here, as well as see and taste fruit right from the branches.

Andalusia has a lot of interesting national symbols. One of them is corrida. Many travelers think that this performance is quite cruel so they visit the corrida arena just once. There are such arenas in many big cities. They all are open for tourists.

The most famous food symbol of the region is cold gaspacho soup cooked of fresh tomatoes. Despite the fact that the recipe of this dish is quite simple, it is cooked differently in different cities. Fans of beer should certainly taste popular Cruzcampo beer produced at the historic brewery in Seville. It is also interesting to vacation in Andalusia in winter. On the territory of the region, there is a famous ski resort called Sierra Nevada. It suits professionals but there are also several routes for beginners.