While Americans and others may celebrate Easter only on a Sunday, that occasion is marked in Spain by an entire week of festivities known as Semana Santa, or Holy Week. The Holy Week festivals that take place all over the country are especially marked in Andalucia. Here, the emphasis is less on doleful repentance and […]

Situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalucia, Granada is a smallish city of fewer than half a million. Yet there are more things to see and do here than in some cities ten times its size. Once part of the kingdom of Castile, it is now one of Spain’s best tourist […]

During the 10th century, Cordoba was the cultural center of Spain. Several cities in this ancient country might now claim that title. But, many sights in this Andalucian town show why Cordoba was – and still is – one of the leaders. The Mezquita of Cordoba is one that would easily make the list. Built […]

Europe is full of magnificent churches, cathedrals, and other religious structures. But few are as unusual as the famed Mezquita of Cordoba in the region of Andalucia. Begun at the end of the 8th century while Spain was under Moorish rule, it continued to evolve long after the Reconquest in 1236 AD. The result is […]

Europe has many awe-inspiring cathedrals. But throughout most of the continent, there is a kind of sameness to their designs. That shouldn’t be surprising since architects readily borrowed ideas from one another, and building technology was limited in the periods they were built, from about 1200-1800AD. But it is possible to see some truly different […]

Madrid, Barcelona. These are among the most well-known and sought after vacation spots in Spain. But there is another region, one on the Mediterranean that deserves equal time: Andalucia. Here, tourists will find a golden land, filled with things to do that even experienced travelers will find new and surprising. There is the mighty port […]

For those who enjoy touring religious and historical architecture, there’s no finer spot in Andalucia than Ronda. Filled with fascinating structures from throughout the town’s long history, the city is quite simply entrancing. Walk across the Puento Nuevo, completed in 1793 (during the reign of Felipe V) and head backwards in time. Stop at the […]