Seville

The capital of Andalucia and steeped in history and culture. The city is compact and most of the sights can be found in or near to the city centre. The most popular sights are the cathedral and La Giralda, the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Plaza de Toros (Seville's 18th century bullring) and the area along the riverfront known as El Arenal. El Arenal was once the home to the port of Seville.

In this area you will find the bullring, the Torre del Oro and many bars and restaurants. The Santa Cruz district, the old Jewish Quarter, is a warren of narrow alleys and patios.

It has long been regarded as the most picturesque part of Seville. You will find many of the better known sights in this barrio (district). Please note that the city can become very hot in the summer months and it is probably best avoided in July and August

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  Malaga:

When arriving at Malaga airport, most people turn right and head for the Costa del Sol and forget that Malaga the city even exists! It's a city with a thriving port and traffic clogged streets but there is another side to Malaga. Exploring the honeycomb of Malaga's back streets and discovering an intriguing choice of shops, restaurants and tapas bars can be fun.

There is an historic side too with a fortress that dates back to 1065. Near here is a castle that was rebuilt by the Moors in the 14th century and is now a traditional Parador (hotel); worth a visit if only for the views.

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga and the city boasts several galleries that feature his work including the 16th century Museum of Fine Arts. Malaga is perhaps not my first choice of a city to visit, but if you have grown weary of the beach it's only 30 or 40 minutes away so you could go late afternoon and stay into the evening.

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Cordoba

Cordoba lies in the geographical centre of Andalucia. Known all over the world for its historical Arab and Jewish monuments, such as the famous Mosque, considered to be the best example of an Islamic church in the world; the Jewish district dating from the 11th century; the synagogue and the Roman bridge.

This was once one of the greatest cities of the western world and a stroll around the Juderia with its narrow cobbled streets, wrought iron gates and tiny workshops makes one think little has changed for a 1000 years

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Granada

Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada was once the capital of a Moorish kingdom. A visit to Andalucia cannot possibly be complete without seeing the famous Alhambra Palace, a Moorish royal palace straight out of One Thousand and One Nights. Try to get there early ahead of the coaches and crowds.

Nearby is the entrance to the Generalife - the country estate of the Nasrid kings. These gardens were begun in the 13th century, they have been continually modified over the years.

There is a lot more to Granada than just the Alhambra palace - the city offers many smart shops and a mouth-watering choice of good restaurants and tapas bars.
Please note: If you are planning a visit to the Alhambra Palace it is essential that you obtain your entrance tickets in advance as numbers are restricted each day

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Information from www.mijas-villas.com