DK Travel : Andalucía and Costa del Sol

The diverse and politically semi-autonomous region of Andalucía has a population of some 7 million and embodies what is thought of as typically Spanish – an accurate portrait of the place and its people must include the bullfight, flamenco, gypsies, remote white villages, high sierras and mass tourism on endless stretches of beach. The memories you take with you after a visit here will be colourful, joyous, intense and deeply stirring.

Iznatoraf

This mountain eyrie of a place opens out onto 360-degree panoramas of the Cazorla highland. The best view is from the mirador above the cliff at the village’s northern edge.
Jabugo

The “home of ham” produces Spain’s most famous, known as jamón ibérico (cured Iberian ham), jamón serrano (mountain-cured ham) and pata negra , named after the black pigs that forage in the Sierra de Aracena.
Jaén City

This modern provincial capital is set off by the dramatically placed ramparts of the mighty Castillo de Santa Catalina (see Castillo de Santa Catalina, Jaén City), originally Moorish, and the immensity of its double-towered cathedral by Vandelvira (see Capilla Real and Catedral, Granada). You can fully experience the castle and its spectacular views of the city and surrounding olive groves, as it now houses a parador (see Paradors). Another rewarding stop is the Museo Provincial, especially to see the country’s finest collection of 5th-century BC Iberian sculpture.
Jamón Serrano

A complementary slice of ham laid over the top of a copa (glass) is said to be how the custom of tapa (which literally means “lid”) got started. The finest regional type available is mountain-cured ham, but there is also jamón York (regular ham), as well as other cured pork products, including a local tocino (bacon) and fiambres (cold cuts). These are often served with cheese and bread as a perfect complement.
Jardín Botánico La Concepción, Málaga

Just north of Málaga City lies this impressive botanical garden, the work of a 19th-century English woman, Amalia Livermore, and her Spanish husband, Jorge Loring Oyarzábal. The garden is composed of a collection of palms and exotic plants from around the world. The grounds are also embellished with charming touches here and there, such as a domed gazebo decorated with tiles and columns.
Jardines de Murillo

These formal gardens used to be the orchards and vegetable plots for the Alcázar. Donated to the city in 1911, they are named after Seville painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. A monument to Columbus features the bronze prows of the Santa María , the caravel that bore him to the New World in 1492.
Jardines de San Telmo

The park of this Churrigueresque palace is one of the city’s largest. The palace, built in 1682, is the headquarters of the regional government.
Jardines Neptuno, Granada

You can see a spectacular show of flamenco and Andalucían folk music here at the same time as dining on typical local dishes.
Jerez

Stroll through the Barrio de Santiago, the town’s gypsy quarter (see Jerez de la Frontera).
Jerez de la Frontera

The largest city in Cádiz province is synonymous with the production of “sherry”, which is simply a corruption of “Jerez” – itself a corruption of the original Phoenician name of Xeres (see Brandy de Jerez). Before that, it was part of the fabled Tartessian civilization (8th century BC). Sights include an array of religious edifices, various palaces and a rather academic archaeological museum. However, flamenco and horses also get the credit for bringing the city international fame. It has a renowned centre for equestrian art, Andalucían style, and is home to one of the largest remaining gypsy populations, a determining force in flamenco tradition (see Aspects of Gypsy Culture).