Tarifa has long been known as a culturally-blended town, through all its incarnations: frontier fortress, fishing village, trendy tourist town. All the peoples who have settled in or near Tarifa have left a mark, from ancient Roman soldiers to Moorish settlers, Jewish merchants and Celto-Iberians. The Moorish style of architecture is the most common here, but everything else blends in with these walls to create a singularly beautiful place to vacation. You’ll find virgin coastline, fine hotels, and tons of water sports to engage your interests.
Category: The Costa del Sol
As a tourist travelling to Costa del Sol in Spain, there are plenty of sights and attractions that you can visit. Some of the most popular ones include the following:
The Rock of Gibraltar
This is a must-see for any first-time visitor to Costa del Sol. The Rock is a huge limestone outcropping that stands at the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It offers stunning views of both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as being home to a number of interesting sights and attractions, including the Gibraltar Zoo, St. Michael’s Cave and the Great Siege Tunnels.
Ronda
This beautiful mountain town is located in the heart of Costa del Sol and is well worth a visit. Its main attraction is the 18th century Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), which spans a deep gorge and offers stunning views of the town and surrounding countryside.
Other attractions include the Plaza de Toros (bullring), which dates back to 1784, and the Iglesia Santa Maria de la Encarnacion, a beautiful church that was built in the 16th century.
Cordoba
This historic city is located in the Andalusian region of Costa del Sol and is well worth a visit. Its main attraction is the Mezquita, a huge mosque that was converted into a cathedral in the 13th century.
Other sights include the Alcazar, a royal palace that dates back to the 8th century, and the Roman bridge, which spans the Guadalquivir River.
Seville
The capital of Andalusia, Seville is located in southern Costa del Sol and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. Its main attractions include the Alcazar, a royal palace that dates back to the 14th century, and the Cathedral, which is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
Other sights include the Plaza de Espana, a huge square that was built for the 1929 World Expo, and the Torre del Oro, a 12th century watchtower.
Malaga
The capital of Costa del Sol, Malaga is a popular tourist destination for its many sights and attractions. These include the Alcazaba, a 11th century Moorish fortress, the Gibralfaro, an old Arab castle that offers stunning views of the city, and the Picasso Museum, which houses a large collection of the artist’s work.
Other attractions include the Cathedral, which dates back to the 16th century, and the Bullring, which is one of the oldest in Spain.
Celebrity watching at Puerto Banús
Just west of Marbella is Puerto Banus, and this is the place to be if you’re an heir or heiress to a large fortune, or just wish that you were. Yachts line the harbor, and you can watch them as you have a drink at an alfresca restaurant or bar in the area. They’re beautiful when viewed against the ocean and the mountains that form the backdrop of this town.
Málaga – City of flowers
Malaga is the home of Pablo Picasso (it seems like everyone claims Pablo Picasso) and the beautiful Antonio Banderas, also known as Zorro and Puss in Boots. But Malaga has a long and illustrious history filled with individualism and survival. Like every major city in Andalucia, it was occupied by the Moors until the 15th century, and later suffered from pirate attack, though not as much as many Andalucian coastal towns. It became a great merchant center, which can be seen if you look around La Alcazaba, the archaeological museum of the town that once was a Moorish fortress.
Three towns of Mijas
Mijas is more like three towns than one: Mijas Pueblo has the character of one of the Andalucian Pueblos Blancos, high in the mountains and whitewashed. Las Lagunas is the modern and commercial section of the town. And Mijas Costa is really a twelve-kilometer long stretch of villages down the coast. All three areas are governed from the town hall of Mijas.
Costa del Sol Inland – Tiny Andalusiona villages
Inland Costa del Sol offers a number of excellent destinations, including the following:
Continue reading Costa del Sol Inland – Tiny Andalusiona villagesAntequera – Ancient city of Andalucia
Antequera is situated centrally to most of the other Andalucian cities, and is an excellent alternative to Malaga for flights. It’s right on the railway from Granada to Algeciras, and the views of El Chorro Gorge from the rail line are breathtaking. The town looks like the typical medieval town of Andalucia from a distance, with high church spires and walls and towers of its Moorish fortress outlined against the horizon. Below, farmlands are irrigated by the Guadalhorce River, and asparagus, olives, and cereals thrive alongside sunflowers.
Spain’s gateway to Marocco – Algeciras
Stretching nearly to Gibraltar, Algeciras has long been an important port in Spain. It’s a popular crossroads for Moroccan workers on the way to and from France, Holland, and Belgium. Partly for this reason, there’s a strong Arab flavor to the city; many signs are in Arabic, and you’ll find excellent tea shops specializing in Moroccan mint teas. It’s not a pretty city, but it’s an almost fiercely individual one with a unique and vibrant personality. The restaurants here tend to be both excellent and inexpensive, and many have perfect views of the Rock of Gibraltar. And if you stroll the streets, you’ll find a number of quiet parks and plazas out of sight of the bustling city.