Andalucía

For many of us, when we think of Spain, we’re really thinking of Andalucía. That’s no accident. During Franco’s regime, Andalucía’s culture was deliberately promoted as the face of Spain — flamenco, bullfighting, and all — often at the expense of other regional identities.

Partly because of that history, but mostly because of its pure magic, Andalucía captures the imagination like few places on Earth. It’s known for its white towns (pueblos blancos), flamenco, and those long, golden beaches along the Costa del Sol.

But Andalucía is so much more than the posctcards. It was once the heart of Islamic Spain, Al-Andalus, before the Catholic monarchs took over in the Reconquista. That clash of cultures still shapes it. Some of Andalucía’s most breathtaking monuments, like Córdoba’s Mezquita or Seville’s Alcázar, blend Islamic and Christian styles in ways that are utterly unique.

And this mix of history goes back so much further. Andalucía’s cities have been shaped by so many civilisations — Phoenician, Roman, Visigothic, Moorish — and you can still see those layers everywhere – no more so than in Cádiz, the oldest city in Europe.

Modern Andalucía blends all of this into a complicated masterpiece, with some of the best natural beauty in the country, and buzzing tapas bars spilling onto narrow streets, towered over by Gothic Cathedrals and ancient monuments.

On this page you’ll find my guides to Andalucía, one of Europe’s most magical regions.