Andalusia

Andalusia is made up of eight provinces, which stretch from the southeast to southwest of Spain, each named for its capital: Cadiz, Cordoba, Jaén, Huelva, Almeria, Malaga, Granada and Seville.

Once the poorest region of Spain, Andalusia, and in particular the provinces of Malaga, Granada and Seville, is today one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, thanks to its sandy beaches, its beautiful countryside, spectacular mountain ranges, fabulous monuments and enthusiastic locals who live life to the fullest and are known for their exuberance, warmth and hospitality.

Andalusia is also the cradle of flamenco and bullfighting, which can be best enjoyed in the countless ferias in the region.

The most unique feature of this enchanting region are the remains of its Moorish past. The Moors were a mixture of Berbers and Arabs who entered Spain from North Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar and occupied the peninsula, which they called al Andalus, for over seven centuries, since the year A.D. 710 when they disembarked for the first time in Tarifa. In the space of just four years they had conquered practically the whole country, although they soon withdrew to the southern part of the peninsula, where they established, in the cities of Cordoba, Seville and Granada, one of the most sophisticated civilizations of the Middle Ages. Each of these Andalusian capitals has spectacular remains of their monuments, the most unforgettable of which is, without a doubt, the palace of the Alhambra in Granada.