Destinations

HISPANGLIA’S MAIN DESTINATIONS IN ANDALUSIA:

Málaga

It is said that Malaga is a treat that needs to be savoured slowly, strolling leisurely through the city’s streets and marvelling at its elegant buildings, soaking up the atmosphere of its fountain-studded gardens and investigating the centuries of history housed in its museums.

The province of Malaga enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year and has an average temperature of 18ºC, both of which explain why this is one of Andalusia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Besides the monuments steeped in history, the beautiful beaches, the delicious freshly fried fish and the bustling shopping areas, Malaga is also famous for being the cradle and inspiration of artists such as Pablo Picasso and actors like Antonio Banderas, who share the honour of being the city’s most famous sons.


Sevilla

Seville boasts one of the largest historical centres in Europe; part of the legacy left by the many different cultures that together have created the city’s great and ancient heritage seen today in its numerous well-preserved monuments and museums.

The cathedral, the Alcázar palace and the Archivo de las Indias have been declared Unesco world heritage sites. Located in the heart of Seville, these three buildings form a remarkable monumental complex. The cathedral and the Alcázar are exceptional examples of Christian and Moorish Andalusian architecture.

Seville’s cathedral, with its five naves, is the largest Gothic building in Europe and is also famous for housing the tomb of Christopher Columbus. After Columbus’s discovery of America in 1492, valuable documents detailing voyages and exploration from this time can be seen today in the Archivo de las Indias.


Granada

Granada is a city of contrasts, a symbiosis of cultures and the last Muslim city in Spain to fall to the Christians in 1492. Nestling in a deep valley and framed by the second highest mountain range in Europe, the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, it is famous for the Alhambra, a colossal palatial city used by the Nasrid Sultans as their residence between the 13th and 15th centuries.

Alongside Moorish Granada stand the architectural splendours of Renaissance and Christian Granada, a city chosen by the Catholic Monarchs as their last abode in the 15th century.

This city, with the magic of the Sacramonte gypsy quarter and the grand palace of the Alhambra, has inspired many illustrious poets and artists, so it will undoubtedly inspire your students, too!


Córdoba

This ancient city, founded by the Romans, is a living legacy of the diverse cultures that settled in it throughout history. Cordoba ‘s hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus in the Medieval Times.

The historic quarter of Cordoba, declared World Heritage Site by Unesco, is a beautiful network of small streets, alleys, squares and whitewashed courtyards arranged around the Mosque-Cathedral, which is a real symbol of the city and tolerance between different cultures and religions. Historians tell that when the city was recovered by the Christians in the 13 th century, the new rulers were so awed by the Mosque’s beauty that they left it standing, building the cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns.

The Jewish Quarter is also situated very close to the Mosque, a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, flower-filled courtyards and picturesque squares. In early May, homeowners proudly festoon their patios with flowers to compete for the city’s “most beautiful courtyard” contest.


Marbella

Marbella, the so-called ‘Spanish St Tropez’, is an upmarket tourist resort on the Costa del Sol and the favourite haunt of the rich, famous and beautiful. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Marbella is famous for its luminous blue skies and its incandescent light. It has a small historical quarter dating from the 16th century and imbued with a Moorish influence. This is a honeycomb of narrow streets with the Plaza de los Naranjos, attractively lined with orange trees, at its heart. This is the perfect place to sit and enjoy the sun on an outdoor restaurant terrace while discovering the delights of the local dishes. The lively streets of Marbella are full of vibrant colours, with exotic tropical plants, magnificent trees and bright purple and pink bougainvillaea set against dazzling whitewashed façades and a deep blue sky.