SEVILLA
Sevilla is Andalusia’s largest city with a fascinatingly rich history, but it has been shadowed by Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia until recently. Now, it is blending its old-school beauties with the energy of the new generations. Its historic centre is dominated by Cathedral de Sevilla (the biggest Gothic cathedral of the world that was built on top of a former mosque) and labrynthine medieval streets full of aristocratic palaces designed in Moorish style for Christian owners. Some of the best flamenco clubs of the country are here, while a prestigious Bienal of Flamenco is also held every two years.
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Casa Numero 7
Small boutique hotel in the centre of Seville, in the old Juderia (Jewish quarter) next to Barrio Santa Cruz in the Old City.
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Corral del Rey
A very upscale boutique hotel in a historical building, with ethnic touches in its decor.
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El Rinconcillo
A historic tavern that has existed for 350 years, with a wood counter and tiled walls.
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Yebra
A simply chic restaurant that probably serves the best traditional tapas in town.
CORDOBA
This beautiful city, sprawling along the Quadalquivir River, is best to be discovered on foot. Let yourself get lost in the mazelike Old Town that still retains its old Moorish charm, check secret patios with blooming flowers hidden behind whitewashed walls and ornamental iron gates. Cordoba's unique Mezquita, a huge mosque with a Christian cathedral, is the jewel of the crown. The mosque’s “forest” of columns is truly spectacular! The area lying in the north-west of the Mezquita is known as “Juderia” (or the old Jewish Quarter). Courtyarded houses, narrow streets and a 14th century synagouge are to be seen here.
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Hospes Palacio del Bailo
This 16th-century palace converted into a hotel with an amazing spa pool. Just a short taxi ride from the town center.
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Hotel Plateros
A family run, simple and cosy hotel with 12 rooms in a restored 19th century building, tucked away at a tranquil little square.
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Bodegas Campos
The historic bar and restaurant owned by Campos wine company.
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Bodegas Mezquita
It is hard to notice this traditional bar, hidden among the tourist traps surrounding the Mezquita. It offers a huge variety of tapas at the bar, as well as formal lunches and dinners.
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Noor Restaurant
An elegant chef restaurant, good to understand the Andalusian gastronomical culture.
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Madinat Al-Zahra
The tenth-century palace city of Madinat al-Zahra is considered to be one of the most significant early Islamic archaeological sites in the world.
GRANADA
Granada is dominated by the fabulous Alhambra, the hill-top Moorish palace that has exquisitely been decorated, as well as the flamenco culture. The city also has a young vibe, due to its well-acclaimed university attracting students from all around Europe. Calle Elvira is one of the city’s most touristic streets, lined up with several Moorish or oriental-themed shops, cafes and restaurants. The uphill historical neighborhood of Albayzin is the main attraction of the city, with its maze-like streets and elegant Moorish villas (that are called carmén) with lush courtyards. A nice series of tiny streets starting from Calle Caldereria Nueva takes you upto the Mirador San Nicolas, which offers picture-perfect panoramas of Alhambra and the snow capped peaks of Sierra Nevada at the background. From here, you can continue your pleasant walk upto the neighborhood of Sacromonte, which is famous for its cave restaurants where some classical (though a bit touristy) flamenco shows are held. Some of the best flamenco singers and dancers have grown out of this gypsy neighborhood. While Jerez and Seville still argue over flamenco’s roots, Granada has already developed its own distinct style.
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Hotel Alhambra Palace
This hotel is actually one of the oldest luxury hotels of Spain, located within the city walls of Alhambra. Its terrace offers the best views of the Albayzin neighborhood.
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Hotel Casa Morisca
A15th-century house turned into a boutique hotel, offering rooms with original Moorish ceilings and amazing views of Alhambra.
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Alhambra
Due to the high demand, you should reserve your tickets online, way before coming to Granada. This 10th-century palace complex was built by the North African Nasrid dynasty and is notable for its detailed Islamic art patterns and its water architecture, or its amazing system of antique canals bringing fresh water from the Sierra Nevada.
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Peña de la Platería
Sitting on one of the terraces of Albayzin neighborhood, this flamenco bar and restaurant has been an institution since 1949. Every thursday, its small hall hosts different performances, while its spacious alfresco patio offers dramatic views of Alhambra at night. Make sure to secure your space by reserving beforehand.
MALAGA
Malaga, the southernmost city of Spain, may not seem attractive at first with its high-rises, but as the birthplace of Picasso, it has recently made a splash with amazing modern art museums like Picasso Museum, Centre Pompidou and the brandnew Thyssen Museum. The city is famous for its seafood as well. Make sure to visit the old fishing villages of El Palo and Pedregalejo, which now became part of the city’s suburbs. Both have seaside promenades, lined up with authentic marisquerias and chiringuitos (fish & seafood restaurants on the beach). Malaga is also a good base to explore Costa del Sol, which offers some of the most elegant touristy spots of Southern Spain.
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El Carligto
A dream house with unmatched natural scenery for short-term rentals, with four rooms on a former farmland near Malaga. The owners can also organize a culinary vacation for you led by a resident cook.
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Room Mate Larios
A well-fitted hotel overlooking the pedestrian shopping street of Calle Larios.
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Oleo
A good mix of Asian and Andalucian tapas in the CAC modern art gallery.
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Sollo
A well-bred Brazilian-Peruan chef showing its talent at his restaurant just outside Malaga.
MARBELLA & COSTA DEL SOL
Costa del Sol started to rival French Riviera in the 1950s, when Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg decided to build Marbella Club on the grounds of his family’s holiday villa. The poor Spanish fishing village of Marbella suddenly transformed into a world-famous resort, where Hollywood stars, Arab sheikhs and European jet set started to rub shoulders in this part of Southern Spain that is now called “The Golden Mile”.
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Finca Cortesin
Set on a 215-hectare estate, Finca Cortesin is a true destination in itself, with an award winning hotel, a championship golf course, a beach club and spa, as well as a high-end real estate project.
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Marbella Club
This classical jet set playground is still the place to be. Its MC Beach restaurant offers the best food and atmosphere in Marbella.
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Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa
The high-end hotel founded by the Spanish Prince has recently been refurbished with a brandnew Six Senses Spa. The original design recreates an Andalusian village made of villas, winding streets, botanical gardens, a plaza and 14 different restaurants all with distinct menus.
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Bibo
Andalusian brasserie and tapas from American chef Dani Garcia. Good food and casual atmosphere in Puente Romano Beach Resort.
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Casanis
A charming French restaurant in a picturesque tiny street of the Old Town of Marbella, ornamented with bougainvillea.
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Nobu Marbella
The Golden Mile welcomed a Nobu restaurant recently in the plaza-like food court of the Puente Romano golf resort.
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CADIZ, JEREZ & COSTA DE LA LUZ
Costa de la Luz is perhaps the most authentic and untouched part of Southern Spain, stretching from the Strait of Gibraltar upto the Portuguese border. Cadiz is the main town along this little-visited coast. The city gets an international mention only during the start of Carnival in Spain in February, and it is famous for the tradition of male choirs. This is also where the Spanish Constitution was written and signed in of 1812. Columbus's second and fourth voyages set sail from Cadiz harbour, where much of the 18th century maritime traffic between Europe and the Americas also passed through. The British discovered sherry here at Tio Pepe, a local bar that has been active since 1835, and made this drink famous world-wide. Near Cadiz, Sotogrande is the largest private residential development, where some of the most powerful families of Spain have summer houses. It is notable for its several golf and polo courses. Jerez de la Frontera, on the other hand, is an ancient town made famous by a Jack Niclaus golf course, which hosted Volvo Masters in the past. Make sure to visit the beautiful medieval “white towns” of Medina-Sidonia and Vejer de la Frontera. If you’d like to buy Moroccan antiques, the town of Tangier is just a 30-minute boat ride away from Tarifa, which is the southernmost town of Spain. Offering the views of African continent, this town is a heaven for windsurfers with its coastline and constantly windy weather. Gibraltar also deserves to be explored for a few hours. This little outpost along the Gibraltar Straight belongs to the United Kingdom and you need to enter with a passport.
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Casa La Siesta, Cadiz
A beautifully restored countryside boutique hotel with 7 rooms and 2 luxury villas, also ideal to be rented for special events.