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The Moors were a mixed race of Berbers
and Arabs that occupied Spain (Al-Andalus) for almost eight hundred
years. They developed the most sophisticated civilization in the
Middle Ages, centred in Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Every city,
town and village, is a wonderful mixture of Christian and Muslim
influence. Granada preserves the most beautiful Moorish monuments,
the Alhambra palace, being the largest and most sensual building in
Europe. Seville boasts the most spectacular of all Gothic cathedrals
and largest church in the world.
The white towns surrounding Ronda, offer an unspoiled view into
Andalucía life with their surrounding natural beauty, delicious
home-cooking and stunning appearance-clustered beneath
Moorish/Christian castles and churches.
The mountains in the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Morena offer good
trekking and skiing, while the coast between Tarifa and Cadiz on the
Atlantic has some of the Best beaches in Spain. Tarifa itself, with
its high powered wind, is the Best spot for surfing and wind surfing
in Spain.
You may wish to avoid the most developed resort areas on the
Costa del Sol such as Torremolinos and Benalmadena (although they
are unrivalled for family holidays with well developed facilities
and amenities), as it is hard to find peace and natural beauty,
without paying a high price. But Marbella and the exclusive Puerto
Banus can offer the most sumptuous luxury at very affordable prices.
Finally, Spain’s largest and most impressive nature reserve, Coto
Donana, can be found near Cadiz.
Although unemployment in the province is the highest in Spain
(about 20%), it is still known as one of the most high-spirited
regions of Spain as it is home to flamenco dancing, bullfighting and
a gigantic April carnival (Semana Santa)
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