The first nucleus of a village, however, was formed during the Arabic era. It seems to have been founded in the late eleventh century and in the shadow of the Montemayor castle. This castle, built in the tenth century, is the most significant monument in this village. Parts of its walls are still in good condition, but what is known as Torre de la Reina (Queen’s Tower) is the most interesting part of the fortress. It is worth noting that as well as its impressive location, it had an underground passageway connecting it with the coast, through which the Arabs were able to transport soldiers.
A visit to the centre of the village is recommended for its characteristic pattern of winding streets, white houses and small, secluded squares. Two structures that stand out from others here are the eighteenth century Virgen del Rosario parish church and a sixteenth century palace. The former is a very simple structure with a single nave and the latter is of the Nazarite architectural style and built around a beautiful arched courtyard.
There are a number of watchtowers scattered about the municipality, some of them well preserved. They were built during the Nazarite era and centuries ago played an important defensive role. The most noteworthy are those of La Leonera, Daidín, Campanillas, Esteril and Tramores.
One of the most beautiful areas around Benahavís is Las Angosturas, a type of narrow canyon carved out by the centuries of flow from the river Guadalmina. It has recently been declared a Monument of Natural Interest, having a great variety of animal and vegetable wealth. Among the more common animals and birds to be seen here are rabbits, partridges and other bird species. One may also see, with luck, a rare deer species called the Moflón del Atlas, the only place outside Africa where this animal lives wild. Other animals here include the deer, fox, genet and mountain goat. The mountain landscape is also a perfect habitat for various species of birds of prey. The region is heavily wooded, with plenty of oaks, chestnut trees, pines, cork trees and arbutus, along with the typical Mediterranean herbs like rock rose, thyme and rosemary.
At the more southern point of Benahavís, discover the Charca de las Mozas, or Charca de los Novios (the bridal pond), as it is sometimes called, where the water runs fast and creates whirlpools.
Without doubt the most important aspect of Benahavís today is its cuisine; the village is known as the ‘dining room’ of the Costa del Sol due to its large number of restaurants, some of them among the best in Andalucía. The selection of food is wide, but the specialties of the place are pork products, lamb and game, all with one thing in common: well prepared and well cooked.
The village fair is held from 11 to 15 August. During this time there are well-attended activities culminating with a Rocío mass and a procession. The entertainment and religious elements are likewise joined in the Virgen del Rosario pilgrimage on 7 October, and the Semana Santa (Holy Week) is also a celebration with deep traditional roots in Benahavís.
Today Cádiz has a population of about 164,000 and is divided into two separate sections by the walls of Tierra Gate. One side is a modern industrial area, while the other includes typical white narrow streets, gardens and traditional small squares.
Cádiz is rich in history with various monuments, buildings and museums located throughout the city. The old central quarters are famous for their picturesque charm, and many of the buildings reflect the city’s overseas links. It is much smaller and less dynamic than many other Andalusian cities since tourism does not have a strong presence there. It does have a certain charm though, especially when the sun is setting over the Atlantic Ocean.
Cádiz is also close to the biggest National Park in Europe, Doñana, which has eagles, lynx, wild boar, deer and an innumerable amount of birds which use the marshes in the park as a migrating stopover or as a winter stay away from northern European cold weather.
The city contains many attractions to interest the visitor. These includes the beautiful Alameda de Apodaca, a viewpoint out across the sea, Genovés Park, the picturesque San Sebastián Castle, the delightful district of La Viña, the Plaza de España with its magnificent monument to the Cortes of Cádiz, the historic Church of San Felipe Neri, the Cádiz Art Gallery, which has a beautiful painting of the Immaculate Conception by Murillo, the Municipal History Museum, the Baroque Hospital de Mujeres, which has a work by El Greco of 'St. Francis in Ecstasy' and the Church of La Santa Cueva, containing works by Goya and for which Haydn composed a famous oratory. The Cathedral contains many interesting works of art, and contains the tomb of Manuel de Falla, one of Cádiz's most illustrious sons.
The Fine Arts and Archaeology Museum exhibits include a Rubens canvas and some exceptional glassware and jewellery.
Torre Tavira is the tallest and most important of the city's 160 lookout towers. Once climbed it offers a dramatic panoramic view of the city.
Halfway between Cádiz and Tarifa is Cape Trafalgar. It was in this bay that Nelson fought and won the famous sea battle against the French and Spanish in 1805, losing his life but decimating the enemy fleet and ending Napoleon’s hopes of invading England. Perhaps inevitably, there is no monument to the great battle, just a rather forlorn lighthouse perched on top of a small, rocky peninsula surrounded by sand dunes.
Along the riverside, in the old part of Cádiz town, you can find many good restaurants and bars, serving all kinds of fish, shellfish or meat dishes celebrating the traditional Andalusian cuisine. Visit the area known as La Pescadería where there is a wide range of bars and pubs of varied ambiance. On top of that, the nearby beach has become a resort where it is possible to find almost everything: flamenco taverns, bowling alleys, skating rinks, pubs, restaurants, fast-food places and discos.
Ceuta covers an area of 19 square km, has 69.000 inhabitants and is separated from the Kingdom of Morocco by a small, fortified neutral zone. It offers good shopping for jewellery and electronic devices, etc. and can be an interesting stopover before entering the African continent. Be sure to check the ferry timetable before you leave.
An interesting landmark in central Ceuta is the old stronghold of colossal Royal Walls. The external walls of the former fortress are framed on one side by a waterway (Foso de San Felipe) that acts as a moat. The sturdy walls date back to the Portuguese and Spanish periods from the 16th to 18th centuries. The ensemble of thick walls continues to undergo a restoration program.
The complex, which includes the Museo Revellín de San Ignacio, is now part of the Museum of Ceuta. The flag of Spain flies at the corner point, a good spot to take a photograph.
The modern Plaza de Armas is a pleasant promenade that passes adjacent to the Foso de San Felipe.
Many other relics dot Ceuta today. There are the archaeological remains of a late Roman Basílica and necropolis dating from the 4th century. The Arab Baths are from the 13th century. The military fortifications of Monte Hacho, constructed from the 17th to 19th centuries, are majestically positioned on the hill.
Wander around town and you may run into other old remnants as well. These may not be the greatest ruins in the world, but they are still interesting to see, especially if you are not expecting too much.
The Alcázar (of the Christian Kings) features a castle, delightful gardens and a Moorish bathhouse. This is a very popular monument.
The castle is almost a perfect square in plan of 4.100 square metres. It was rebuilt in 1327 by King Alfonso XI. The castle walls connect the four (now three) corner towers by walkways or allures protected by battlements with prism shaped blocks. Despite originating from the Christian era, the gardens are typically Moorish in design with ponds, fountains and aromatic plants. Adjacent to the gardens are the Royal Stables which extend to encompass the Gardens of the Campo Santo de los Mártires.
Córdoba's old Jewish quarter consists of a fascinating network of narrow lanes, more atmospheric and less commercialised than in Sevilla although souvenir shops have emerged.
The Jews were established in Córdoba in roman and Visigothic times and formed a brilliant intellectual group when Hasfay Ibn Shaprut, Abdul al Rahmm III, Jewish councilor attracted intellectuals to the court. Maimonides was born in 1135 and a statue to his honour stands in Tiberiadus Square.
At the centre of the quarter is the Synagogue in Calle de los Judíos, one of only three originals remaining in Spain. A Mudéjar construction dating from 1315, it was converted to a church in the 16th century and then held the Guild of Shoemakers until it was rediscovered in the 19th Century. The interior includes a gallery for women and plaster work with inscriptions from Hebrew psalms and others with plant motifs on the upper part. Its main beautifully restored wall has a semi-circular arch where a chest with the Holy Scrolls of Law used to be kept. The Judería is now known for the jewellers and silversmiths shops
.
The Mezquita dates back to the 10th century when Córdoba reached its zenith under a new emir, Abd ar-Rahman 111 who was one of the great rulers of Islamic history. At this time Córdoba was the largest, most prosperous cities of Europe, outshining Byzantium and Baghdad in science, culture and the arts. The development of the Great Mosque paralleled these new heights of splendour. Today the Mezquita can be visited throughout the year for a 6 Euro entrance fee. The approach is via the Patio de los Naranjos, a classic Islamic ablutions courtyard which preserves both its orange trees and fountains. When the mosque was used for Moslem prayer, all nineteen naves were open to this courtyard allowing the rows of interior columns to appear like an extension of the tree with brilliant shafts of sunlight filtering through.
Córdoba is particularly well known for its colourful patios which are opened up to the public in early May and may be visited according to pre-established routes. The patios are internal open courtyards that form part of the typical architecture of the Andalucian town house. Córdoba takes a special pride in its patios and decorates them with flowers.
A Patio Contest is held each year, in which home-owners compete for the prize awarded to the most beautifully decorated patio. The map provided by the Tourist Office will help you find the competing courtyards. This is not to be missed for those who love flowers and gardens or are just interested in nosing inside the patios of private houses. It is a serious competition and not an event put on for tourists or visitors from other towns: almost all the Patios are closed from 14.00 to 17.00 just when the day tripper would visit them.
200 million years ago the lump of limestone, which we call Gibraltar, was forced up from the sea bed when Africa barged into Europe and it now remains as a narrow peninsula stuck to the end of the Iberian Peninsula.
For the person interested in natural history, whether it is on land or sea, Gibraltar is incredibly rich and full of surprises at any time of the year. It is a combination of geographical location, climate and a unique history, together with the preservation of areas of habitat, which has made it a tiny paradise for wildlife.
Gibraltar has always been of special significance to the numerous peoples and civilisations which have visited or occupied it over the ages, from the Neanderthal period, through the Classical and on to the Moorish, Spanish and the present British occupations.
The Moorish occupation is, by far, the longest in Gibraltar's recorded history, having lasted from 711 to 1309 and then from 1350 to 1462, a total of 710 years and Gibraltar is reputed to have derived its present day name as a breakdown of Djebel Tarik, the Rock of Tarik.
The Moorish Castle Complex is made up of various buildings, gates, fortified walls and its most dominant features, The Tower of Homage and The Gate House. The former is an impressive sight, clearly visible to all visitors, not only because of its striking construction but also because of its dominant and strategic position. Little is known of its actual history but some chroniclers claim that its origins date to the 8th Century when The Castle, in its simplest form, is reputed to have been completed by Tarik. In the early 14th Century The Castle was rebuilt to its present form. It, therefore, stands now on the actual site where the very first Moorish fortification ever constructed on European soil stood.
After the Great Siege of 1783, development of Gibraltar's military defence began; a process that continued throughout the years until the Second World War. Visitors can appreciate the great feat of engineering achieved at the Great Siege Tunnels, as indeed in all the other tunnels and chambers that have been dug in the Rock.
The Military Heritage Centre is housed in one of the many chambers found in the Rock. In fact this particular Battery, known as Princess Caroline's Battery, is named after King George II's third daughter and was built in 1732. The armoury displays a selection of weapons used by the British Army in Gibraltar and there are also relics dating from the Great Siege of 1783 to the present day. In the Memorial Chamber, visitors have the opportunity to honour and remember all those men and women who have over the ages dedicated themselves to the service of the Nation in the Armed Forces. You will find the Roll Call of all the Regiments that have served in Gibraltar since 1704.
Europa Point is the southernmost tip of Gibraltar, and the home to the lighthouse. This lighthouse is the most southerly of all Trinity House Lighthouses, being the only one outside the United Kingdom.
St Michael's Cave has interested visitors to Gibraltar ever since the Romans. The Cathedral Cave was long believed to be bottomless, probably giving birth to the story that Gibraltar was linked to Africa by a subterranean passage over 15 miles (24 Km) long under the Straits of Gibraltar. During World War II the cave was prepared as an emergency hospital, but was never used as such. Whilst blasting an alternative entrance to the cave, a further series of deeply descending chambers ending in a mini lake were discovered and named Lower St Michael's Cave. The Cathedral Cave is opened to visitors and makes a unique auditorium for concerts, ballets, drama and presentations.
At the Apes' Den (Queen's Gate) and in the area of the Great Siege Tunnels you have the rare opportunity to see semi-wild primates at close quarters. If you let them, these monkeys will be their captivating selves and show you aspects of their everyday lives.
The Apes are a species of tailless monkeys called Barbary Macaques. These Macaques can be found in Morocco and Algeria, with those in Gibraltar being the only free-living monkeys in Europe today. Please do not touch them; they may bite if frightened or annoyed!
Every corner of the Rock oozes with history and it could be worthwhile finding out a little more by taking a guided tour. You might learn, for example, about the spot where Admiral Nelson's body was brought ashore after his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, or of the tunnel from where General Eisenhower masterminded the invasion of North Africa in World War II.
The walls surrounding the city correspond to each chapter of its history: the most ancient being the Cadima Fortress from the period of the Ziries. However, the city’s real life stood not here but at its gateways, through which everything would pass, where merchants would meet and news be exchanged.
Granada has its usual quotient of churches, museums etc., typical of a southern European city. Granada, however, also has the Alhambra, which is a massive castle constructed over many centuries consisting of gardens, fortifications and sumptuous palaces. It was the home of many of the Arabic Sultans who ruled the whole province so for centuries it received the optimum in interior decoration and architecture. If you read the Koran it continually repeats the idea that heaven is a garden with running water. From this perspective you could say that the Alhambra is an Arabic attempt to create heaven on earth. Nowadays it receives 8000 visitors per day and is Spain's most visited monument.
The Albaicín is the old Arabic quarter located on the hill opposite the Alhambra. It is characterised by cobbled stoned streets with white washed houses. Despite several centuries of neglect and architectural barbarities allowed by the town council it still retains a strong Arabic feeling; (the Arabic population was ethnically cleansed just over 500 years ago). There are many squares with terrazas and places to laze about and have a bite to eat. The Albaicín is an oil painter's paradise and almost at every turn of the head there is an attractive view, almost always involving glimpses of the Alhambra. If you go to a shop which sells any of the typical ‘granadino’ pottery (white background with strong blue shapes) you will be sure to read the oft quoted refrain: ‘Give him alms woman, because there is nothing as bad as being blind in Granada’. Go to Mirador de San Nicolás and you will see what they mean.
The hill, La Sabica, preserves on its peak the Alhambra itself, while on its shady side towards the river Genil, it supports the barrio of the Churra, stretching towards the east via the fuente del Avellano and the cuesta de los Chinos.
On the opposite bank, towards the south, its slopes dip to the Antequeruela and then on to the Realejo and the Campo del Príncipe. Indeed, what would be Granada without its hills?
The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range occupies a considerable surface area of the provinces of Granada and Almería, with approximately 170,000 hectares being National Park, and includes 60 municipalities in the nature reserves of El Marquesado del Zenete, Valle de Lecrín, Sierra Nevada Poniente, the river basin of the Nacimiento River and la Alpujarra. The Mulhacén, at 3,481 meters is the highest summit on the Iberian Península but there are 20 others that exceed 3,000 metres, among them being el Veleta y la Alcazaba del Mulhacén.
Located in the foothills of the Cerro del Trevenque, and reached by a footpath with magnificent views, is the Botánico de la Cortijuela (Botanical Gardens), whose function is to generate, protect, conserve and investigate the flora of the mountain range. It also includes a nursery that encourages student studies.
The traditional ceremony of Granada is the Corpus Christi Parade where the streets are covered with flowers and people sing and dance all night. Granada's official festival lasts for eight days in June. It starts with the Eucharist Procession when a religious figure is carried from the cathedral through the city streets on the back of a carriage filled with flowers. The crowds throw herbs and flowers onto the ground as the procession arrives and then follow the funfair to Almanjar on the outskirts of town. Locals put on their traditional Andalusian suits and dresses, take their carefully groomed horses and carriages and set out to enjoy the stalls, rides, games and competitions. The wine flows freely and there's singing and dancin