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.

Marbella Club Hotel, Marbella

Another of the “Leading Hotels of the World”, the beachfront rooms and suites harmonize with Andalucían-style villas enjoying private gardens and some with private pools.
María de Molina, Úbeda

The central courtyard, with its antique marble columns is exquisite, and the location is ideal. A gorgeous staircase leads to the upper floors.
Marinated

Anchovies, sardines and seafood all come marinated. You’ll see them sitting out on bars, possibly under glass, steeped in olive oil.
Mariscos

Berberechos (cockles), almejas (clams), mejillones (mussels), pulpo (octopus), sepia (cuttlefish) and zamburiñas (baby clams) are favourite seafood options everywhere in Spain. Roasted caracoles (snails), prepared with garlic, can be a rich but delicious treat.
Marsh birds

Watery areas abound in cranes, flamingo, gull-billed terns, purple gallinules, stilts, glossy ibis and redshanks.
Matador

In the final tercio the matador makes passes with the muleta cape, bringing the fight to its climax.
Mazagón

Huelva Province’s Costa de la Luz has several appealingly remote beaches, and Mazagón is one of them. Located 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Huelva City, this low-key resort is surrounded by pines and has lovely dune beaches. Deserted in winter, it comes alive in summer, mostly with Spanish families, but there’s plenty of empty expanse to find solitude.
Meats

The taste for cordero (lamb) and cabra (goat) can be traced back to the Moorish/ Jewish period. Rabo de toro (oxtail) is a popular dish.
Medina Azahara

The building of the first palace here dates from AD 936, commissioned by Caliph Abd el-Rahman III, the Emir of Córdoba and the man who brought the city to glory. He named it after his favourite wife, Az-Zahra (the Radiant). Though it is little more than a ruin now – sacked in 1009 and rediscovered only in 1910 – at one time this pleasure-dome incorporated a zoo, ponds and gardens, baths, houses, weapons factories and barracks, markets, mosques, a harem of 6,000 women and accommodation for 4,000 slaves. Decorated with ebony, ivory, jasper and marble, it even had a pool of mercury that created dancing lights on the walls and ceiling.
Medina Azahara, Córdoba

Sadly now in ruins, this one-time splendid palace epitomized the city’s glory in the 10th century (see Medina Azahara).

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under €50
- €50–€100
- €100–€150
- €150–€200
- over €200