Andalucia attractions

The Caliphate City of Medina Azahara, a new UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to the mid-10th century, when it served as the seat of power for the Umayyad dynasty in Córdoba. When the caliphate ended after a civil war in 1010, the city was laid to waste and forgotten until its rediscovery in the early 20th century.

Running along the east bank of the Guadalquivir River, El Arenal is part of Seville’s historic old town. As well as hosting upscale residential properties and atmospheric tapas bars, it’s also home to several important city sights, including Spain’s oldest bullring, a celebrated flamenco bar, and a smattering of museums in historic buildings.

The enormous prehistoric Nerja Caves (Cuevas de Nerja) boast extensive grottoes, archaeological remains, and the world’s largest column, rising 105 feet (32 meters) up. The cave formations look like organ pipes, and the area’s evidence of human habitation stretches back 25,000 years to the Paleolithic Period. Galleries display artifacts, paintings, and skeletons unearthed since the caves were discovered in 1959.

A 13th-century church with a crypt and a museum, the Seville Church of Santa Ana (Iglesia de Santa Ana) is as much an architectural landmark as it is a place of worship. This Catholic church is known for its Gothic-Mudejar architecture and its wealth of sculptures, paintings, and jewelry displayed inside. The church also offers regular mass services for visitors interested in attending services.

Situated in Seville’s Triana neighborhood, near the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the Castillo de San Jorge was the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition from 1481 to 1785. However, the 12th-century castle was demolished in the 19th century to make room for a market and, today, the underground ruins of the castle are home to the Inquisition Museum (Museo del Castillo de San Jorge).

With its history, culture, and sun-drenched beaches, Málaga ranks among the most popular destinations on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Situated close to Málaga proper, the Málaga Cruise Port also serves as a gateway to wider Andalucia with its wineries and whitewashed villages, as well as Granada, the region's capital.

Plaza de la Marina, also known as Marina Square, is in the historic heart of Málaga. Right in front of the port, the square was built in the late 19th century when the southern city walls were demolished. It’s the first thing you’ll see if you’re approaching the Port of Málaga.

An offshoot of the Parisian art gallery of the same name, the Centre Pompidou Málaga houses over 100 contemporary masterpieces by artists such as Kahlo, Picasso, and Magritte. Here, the exterior is as notable as the interior—Centre Pompidou Málaga is housed within a modernist multicolored greenhouse known as "The Cube."

Spanish architect Joaquín Rucoba built Málaga’s neo-Mudéjar bullring in 1874. Entrepreneur and former president of Málaga Football Club, Fernando Puche Dona, owns it today. The arcaded stadium has capacity for 14,000 spectators, with stables and training grounds for the horses, corrals for the bulls, and a mini-hospital.

El Pópulo is the oldest neighborhood in Cádiz—a walkable tangle of narrow lanes dating back to the 13th century. It’s home to major attractions such as Cádiz Cathedral (Catedral de Cádiz) and the Roman Theater (Teatro Romano) and serves as an appealing place to sip espresso or nibble seafood tapas at a café overlooking the waterfront.

Given that Cadiz is almost entirely surrounded by water, the desire to hit the beach is bound to strike at some point. When it does, the go-to spot is La Caleta, the only proper beach in the Old Town. This sandy stretch lines the western side of the city, nestled inside a natural harbor once used by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans.

Centered around three main pathways bordering the Paseo del Parque, Málaga Park stretches along the city’s seafront, from Plaza del General Torrijos to the Plaza de la Marina. The park is a popular stop on Málaga cycling tours, and horse-and-carriage rides also pass by gardens filled with roses, orange and cypress trees, and exotic plants.

Located in the heart of Seville, this former Jewish quarter is a labyrinth of narrow alleys, winding roads, picturesque landscapes and some of the region’s most iconic churches. Travelers flock to Barrio de la Santa Cruz’s maze of tiny atmospheric streets, an atmospheric respite from thexa0 Sevillian sunshine, and its lively town squares for community and culture.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Doñana National Park is one of the most important wetland preserves in Europe. With more than 300 species of birds calling the park home during various migratory seasons, Doñana is a biodiverse habitat spread out across nearly 1,158 square miles (3,000 square kilometers) and three regions of southern Spain.

The tranquil Hammam Al Ándalus Granada, located at the foot of the Alhambra and just past Santa Ana Church, is the place to relax after a long day of exploring the Alhambra’s gardens, palace, and fortress. The Arabian-bath setting has pools of different temperatures and a steam room for Moorish-style rejuvenation.

Over 400 different species of marine life spread across 35 fresh and saltwater tanks call the Seville Aquarium (Acuario de Sevilla) home. Follow in the footsteps of Magellan as you venture from the Atlantic to the Amazon and marvel over sharks in one of Spain’s deepest aquarium tanks, before visiting the ethereal jellyfish exhibit.

Also known as Plaza de las Flores (Flowers Square), pedestrian-friendly Plaza Bib-Rambla is at the heart of Granada’s bustling street scene. In the center of the plaza is a 17th-century marble fountain featuring Neptune, and the bell tower of Granada’s Spanish Renaissance cathedral peers over townhouse facades with wrought-iron balconies.

Basílica de la Macarena, a neobaroque church in Seville, is best known for its 17th-century wooden sculpture of La Macarena, or the Virgin of Hope. The statue’s glass tears are meant to convey Christ’s mother in mourning. La Macarena is the patron saint of bullfighters, friend to gypsies, and star of the Easter Holy Week parade in Seville.

The Alcaicería was once a lively Arab bazaar and the center of the city’s Muslim silk exchange. The original gated bazaar was almost entirely destroyed by a fire back in 1843, and today the restored shops occupy a smaller space, dotted around Calle Alcaiceria, in the shadows of the Cathedral of Granada.

Formed more than 150 million years ago by the movement of tectonic plates, the landscapes of El Torcal de Antequera encompass stacked rocks and knobbly karst towers. In addition to its unique geology, the park is also celebrated for the diversity of its plants, which total more than 700 different species.

Located in the northwestern corner of Cadiz, Genovés Park (Parque Genovés) is a lovely green oasis by the sea. Built in the 19th century, it's the largest park in the historic center, and boasts more than 100 species of plants, complex topiary, a man-made lake with a waterfall and grotto, commemorative statues, and an outdoor theater.

Suspected to be the one-time residence of King Abomelic, the last Moorish ruler of Ronda, Mondragón Palace is an example of traditional Mudéjar architecture found throughout Andalusia. Perched atop El Tajo Gorge, the palace has been renovated many times over the centuries and today features a mishmash of architectural styles.

Pablo Picasso’s life in Spain spanned nearly all of the country’s corners, but his former family home in the heart of Malaga’s old town is where you’ll find the Pablo Picasso Birthplace Museum (Museo Casa Natal de Picasso). It houses over 4,000 pieces by some 200 artists, including Picasso, and artifacts from his early life.

This magnificent work of Spanish Mudejar and Italian Renaissance architecture, inspired by Pontius Pilot’s estate, was built in the early 16th century by the dukes of Tarifa. Today, it remains one of the city’s grandest mansions. The palace, often referred to as a mini Alcázar, serves as the permanent residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli.

One of Spain’s most prestigious galleries, the Museum of Fine Arts in Seville is regarded as second only to Madrid’s Prado Museum. Set in a former 17th-century convent, the museum draws visitors with its vast painting and sculpture collections from the 12th to the 20th centuries, including pieces by Murillo, Ribera, and El Greco.

One of Malaga’s top galleries, the Carmen Thyssen Museum houses the private collection of Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, a wealthy art collector. Occupying the converted 16th-century Palacio de Villalón and an adjoining modern annex, the museum rewards visitors with a host of magnificent Spanish art and other works, set in serene surroundings.

Seville’s second largest church, the Church of the Divine Savior sits on the site of what was once the city’s largest mosque. Come here to see layers of history, which range from the ruins of the old mosque in the orange tree-filled courtyard to the Baroque architecture of the 17th-century church.

Wrapping around Santa María Square, La Viña is a neighborhood of whitewashed homes and narrow lanes. Once a working-class bastion, the neighborhood now hosts a selection of tapas bars that are among the best in the city. The heart of the action is pretty Calle de la Palma, a cobblestone street lined with café tables, palm trees, and socializing crowds.

Set on the site of the 1992 Expo in Seville, Magic Island Park (Parque Isla Magica) brings 16th-century colonial Spain to life—complete with pirates, galleons, jungles, and swashbuckling adventure. Seven themed areas center on a lake, with highlights that include white-knuckle roller coasters like Anaconda and El Jaguar, the 223-foot (68-meter) El Desafio drop tower, and Iguazu, a high-speed flume ride through the Brazilian jungle.

Built on the remains of an old Moorish palace in Ronda’s old town, Casa del Rey Moro (House of the Moorish King is best known for its hanging gardens and water mine. Despite its name, the space was never inhabited by a Moorish king. Visitors are often most excited to see the 14th-century water mine, which was constructed to provide the city with a secret supply of water during times of siege.