Magical Andalucía
Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world. The streets of Barcelona or Madrid are filled with tourist masses all year around, the beaches of Malaga are packed as hell. I was looking for something different. And that is how I ended up in Andalusia. This autonomous community in the south-west of Spain is home to many historical places like Sevilla, Cadiz or Ronda, and their atmosphere is hard to beat.
Ronda is a mountaintop city in Andalucia. As seen above, the city is set dramatically above a deep gorge (called El Tajo), which separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating back to Moorish times.
The Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace with an incredible garden. Even though the place is huge, I recommend that you buy your tickets well in advance, like 2-3 weeks before your stay, since it’s one of the most visited attractions of Seville.
Having the trade monopoly with America for centuries, these bricks and bells in Cadiz have really seen it all: they witnessed some of the greatest expeditions in history, including Christopher Columbus's adventures.
I had no specific plan in mind when I arrived to Sevilla, and you shouldn’t either. What I did was basically just taking the streets of the medieval city and getting lost without a destination. There are so many things to see on every corner of this city, that it worked out perfectly without a map and/or tripadvisor recommendations.
The Puente Nuevo is the newest and largest of three bridges that span the 120-metre (390 ft)-deep chasm in Ronda. When I visited the place, I read this quote that remember ever since: ‘Always focus on the powerful, euphoric, and magical parts of life, and the universe will keep giving them to you.’
The iconic facade of Plaza de Espana. It was built in 1929, when Seville hosted the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair, and because of that, the entire southern part of the city was redeveloped with gardens and grand boulevards. Today it is a beautiful meeting point in Seville, not too fair from other main attractions.
In Andalucia, you breath history and adventure on every corner. I totally understand why one of my favorite writers, Ernest Hemingway loved this place.
No visit to Seville is complete without a tapas experience! Tapas are essentially small plates of bar food. Originally, they were simple snacks served with drinks, but nowadays the concept evolved and tapas are more like micro-portions of refined restaurant dishes. Ideal to order multiple kinds and then share everything with 2-3 friends.
According to the legends, Cadiz was founded by Hercules, so it might be the oldest city in Europe. But one thing is sure: with its spectacular seafront, gardens and open squares, and the narrow alleys of the old town, it is a city not to miss.
Overall sentiment of how I feel about Andalucia. Amazing weather, kind people, and delicious food. I love everything about this region!
Santa Cruz is the the former Jewish quarter of Seville. Even though I visited the city in May, it felt like summer already, thanks to the orange trees, plus the bright white and orange painted houses.
Both geographically and geopolitically, Cadiz is out on a limb. The unemployment rate is one of the highest in Europe, more than 30 per cent, and the region barely gets a mention in the Spanish mainstream media. All in all, it is not a stereotypical, fully globalized tourist destination.