READ ME! Without a doubt the south of Spain has so many awesome comunidades autónomas (autonomous communities) to check out but nothing is quite like the historical region of Andalucía. There is something unique about it. A total transformation of good vibes, relaxed feels, music, and of course lots of great food.
Expectations
When you travel to Andalucía, you will find good weather and a wide range of activities including cultural experiences, guided tours and some of the best seafood to eat! Some of the best provinces to visit include Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba, Málaga, and Cádiz among others. They are located within 4-5 hours of one another. All of these cities are very well connected and there are a slew of transportation options to choose from, including bus, train or car.
Breakdown of Provinces
All the provinces in Andalucía offer a historical and traditional insight into the past. As many know the Catholic religion dominates Spain but before that there were other major influences. Such as Roman and Moorish rule as well seen in much of the architecture. Each province is unique with some of their own traditional foods, monuments and of course slang. From the mountains down to the coast, you have the best of both worlds when exploring here!
5 Reasons
- History is all around. Take in the sites of the gorgeous Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás in Granada. This is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and can be compared to the size of a small village.
- Music is always in the air. Flamenco is the traditional style of folk music originating in this region around 500 years ago. It is a unique song and dance accompanied by a singer, guitar player and dancers, both male and female.
- Celebrations never end. There are a wide variety of Ferias (fairs) and Romerías (religious pilgrimages) throughout the year among others. Easter is very special as well. It´s the biggest religious celebration with the best tronos (thrones) that are seen during Semana Santa (Holy Week). These larger-than-life figures are paraded around the streets for up to 8 hours at a time and include live music.
- Cuisine for all types of eaters. A major agricultural region with temperate climates, Andalucía produces some of the best Mediterranean crops, such as avocados, mangos, olives, grapes, tomatoes, and strawberries to name a few. Notable dishes include salmorejo (tomato and garlic soup), pescaito frito (fried fish), Jamón Ibérico (Iberian ham), migas (bread dish) with meat, etc.
- Safe to visit. Most of Spain is safe with relatively low crime rates. As a female traveler I have never felt any sense of danger. As a reminder to any tourist in ANY country, it is always important to be aware of your belongings, pickpocketers and surroundings.
Helpful Tips
TIP #1
“Whenever I know I am going to travel somewhere for the first time sola I like to download google´s offline map of the area I will be exploring. ”
Get Inspired-From the mountains to the coast, nothing beats the vibes from the south!
TIP #2
“Brush up on travel Spanish, and interact with the locals.”
Prepare to sit back and relax while taking in the sites and sounds of the center. Why not practice a little bit of español while tomando un café in the center of town. If there was ever a time to learn it totally would be now!
