Andalusia is Spain's most fiery point, made of warm light, rocky deserts, fascinating castles, and white villages. It is a land where time seems to have stood still, and where it is possible to rediscover the charm of an ancient country, full of secrets and mysteries, crossed by nomadic peoples and conquerors who left their mark in the most melancholic flamenco melodies and in the most audacious Moorish architecture.
The best way to get to know the area and discover some of its most beautiful cities is by taking a road trip. Let's imagine Malaga as our starting point - a location easily reachable by plane in less than a three-hour flight from Malpensa. It is famous for the Gibralfaro Castle, built in the 14th Century to protect the pre-existing city fortress of Alcazaba, its beach, the central market, and the Cathedral de la Encarnacion, known as "La Manquita" (The One-Armed Lady) because one of its two bell towers was never finished. Here you can rent a car and set off for Adra. In this case, it is more about the journey than the destination, provided you choose the old coastal road, the N-340, which winds along the Costa del Sol. Now with little traffic since the nearby motorway was built over 40 years ago, it offers a great experience, allowing you to pass through old tunnels carved into the rock on a winding and very enjoyable route. The estimated travel time is one hour and forty minutes: the keyword is relaxation. Along the way, take some time to visit Nerja, called the "Balcony of Europe" for its magnificent seaside lookout. It is one of the many pueblos blancos (white villages) in the country, so named because the buildings, developed along very narrow streets, are all white to retain as little sunlight as possible in areas where temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius. Back in your car, as you continue along the road, you can stop for a break in Salobreña and its Mediaeval castle, in the shadow of which the delightful historic centre unfolds. If you have the patience to walk uphill, a town dotted with bougainvillea and quaint corners will open up before you. Alternatively, just 7 km from Nerja lies the inland village of Frigiliana. Tucked between the sea and the Sierra de Almijara mountain range, its Arab roots are still evident in the well-preserved town centre. The charming Santa Fiora Botanical Garden is within walking distance, where you can find refuge from the summer heat.
If you love Andalusian architecture and villages nestled in the mountains, the Ruta de Los Pueblos Blancos (Route of the White Villages) is just for you. Cutting the region from East to West, this route allows you to visit the fascinating and otherwise hard-to-access inland area of Cádiz. Starting from Arcos de la Frontera, an ancient fortified village perched on a rocky ridge and dominated by an impressive castle, you'll pass through a network of Mediaeval streets and stunning Renaissance palaces. From there, you take the A-372, and in less than an hour, you'll reach Grazalema, the highest-altitude municipality
in the province, part of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and a meeting point for nature tourism enthusiasts. From here, heading north and getting onto the CA-9104, the landscape remains wild and barren around Zahara de la Sierra. From there, you take the A-2300, and then the A374 to head back South towards Ronda. This is one of the oldest and best-preserved Andalusian towns of Arab foundation, with its striking El Tajo canyon and the oldest Plaza de Toros in Spain, where bullfights are still held today.
At the foot of the Southern slope of the Sierra Nevada, the Alpujarras Road, the A-92, winds its way. It connects the city of Granada- the home of flamenco and the famous Alhambra, the most fascinating Andalusian palace complex - with Almería, an ancient city of Moorish foundation surrounded by mountains. Almería is famous for its Alcazaba, the largest fortress built in Spain by the Arabs, and for the Cathedral de la Encarnación, an imposing 16th Century religious building transformed into a stronghold. This road snakes through the mountains and allows you to get an up-close look at rural landscapes and Berber traditions. The route takes about an hour and forty minutes, but if you have time, the advice is to take a small detour along the N-340a to explore the Tabernas Desert. It is one of the few deserts in Europe and is particularly famous for being the set of numerous films, especially what are referred to as "Spaghetti Westerns" by Sergio Leone. Amid the ruggedness of its mountain ranges, which are very reminiscent of Nevada and Arizona, scenes from other famous films have been shot here, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Cleopatra, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and, more recently, Game of Thrones and Exodus. Here, alongside the pristine nature, those who wish can visit Oasys - Mini Hollywood, a Wild West-themed amusement park. It offers the chance to visit original film sets and watch gunfights, bank robberies, and can-can shows in full Far West style.
