The Inland towns of Andalusia

Alora

Alora lies north of Fuengirola, on the road to Antequera. Most villages and all the towns of southern Spain have a castle in the vicinity, but the one in Alora is unusual, filled with the town cemetery. The town itself cascades down the slope from the fortifications on the ridge.

Andujar

This town lies east of Cordoba in an area noted for its sunflower and olive oil crops. Many houses date from the 15th Century and 16th Century. The church of Santa Maria has a painting, Christ in the Garden of Olives, by El Greco. About 30km (19 miles) north of Andujar is a 13th Century sanctuary, Santuario de la Virgen de la Cabeza. During the Civil War the sanctuary was used as a refuge and was largely destroyed. It is now an important place of pilgrimage each April.

Antequera

This is one of the finest of the smaller towns north of MaIaga, a fair-sized town close to a soaring rock, known as the Lover´s Rock (Peiia de los Enamorados). It is now a market town, but visitors are mostly attracted by the prehistoric dolmen burial chambers in the Cuevas de Viera, Menga and Romeral, the parador, and the narrow streets in the well-preserved Moorish Quarter. The nearby rock formations, known as the Torcal de Antequera, are full of interesting wildlife, including many types of butterflies and wild orchids.

Benadalid

Set under the sierra, south and west of Ronda, Benadalid is a large village. The cemetery is set in the centre of the ruined castle, and is completely surrounded by crenellated walls. Seen from the road on the opposite hillside, Benadalid glitters in the sunshine and is a fine example of an old Moorish settlement.

Casares

This is said to be the most picturesque village in the province of Malaga. It lies in the Sierra de Bermeja, 12km (7 miles) from Estepona, and is a jewel ofa place full of white houses, flower-decked streets and tiny plazas, with the mountains as a perfect backdrop.

Cazorla

The province of Jaen gets far fewer tourists than the parts close to the coast but this little village in the Sierra de Cazorla is well worth seeking out, for it has two castles and is set in spectacular scenery.

Galaroza

This minute village in the Sierra de Aracena is another good walking centre, with splendid trails leading into the surrounding hills and valleys.

Gaucin

Set on the main road running from Ronda to Gibraltar, Gaucin is one of the finest of the White Towns, and was once a favourite weekend retreat for officers of the Gibraltar garrison. From here there is a good walking trail to Castellar de la Frontera and Jimena de la Frontera.

Gaudix

The province of Almeria is rather short of tourist attractions, but the cave dwellings at Gaudix, which are still inhabited by modern troglodytes, are famous. This town, under the Sierra Nevada, boasts a cathedral and a fine Moorish castle.

Grazalema

Another attractive White Town, Grazalema lies to the west of Ronda on the road to El Bosque. Set under the rocky bulk of the Serrania, this is the place to buy woollen cloaks or zerapes, ponchos, or the brightly coloured blankets (jarapa) for which the weavers of Grazalema are famous in Southern Spain. It is also very photogenic and has a very good, inexpensive hotel.

Jabugo

Jabugo, in Huelva province, close to Almonaster la Real, is famous in Spain for producing the finest mountain ham, jamon serrano. Hams hang everywhere in Jabugo and make a very good present.

La Calahorra

This castle is one of the finest sights in the Sierra Nevada. Sixty kilometres (40 miles) east of Granada, it is actually a palace, built in the early 1500s, just after the Reconquest, in the Renaissance style. Distance lends enchantment and, close to, the palace is seen to be in some need of restoration.

Lanjaron

This spa town lies in the hills of the Alpujarras, close to Granada, roughly between the Sierra Nevada and the sea. Lanjaron is noted for good restaurants and pure water, with much of Spain's mineral water coming from here. It has a number of inexpensive hotels, and is a good base for exploring the hill country of the Alpujarras.

Malaga

Malaga is known as the capital of the Costa del Sol. Despite recent tourist developments there are still areas that provide a flavour of old Spain. Parts of Malaga are still rather fine, especially the Alcazaba, or Moorish castle, as are the plazas and promenades in the old heart of the city. Malaga also has some very good Andalusian restaurants, unspoiled by catering for the tourist trade and offering excellent value for money. An evening in Malaga can be a very enjoyable experience. The adventurous should explore El Perchel, which is the old flamenco district.

Matalascanas

This is the nearest resort to the wildlife reserve of the Doñana National Park , set on a long white sand beach between the Guadalquivir and the city of Huelva. Matalascanas is new, noisy and international- the Costa de la Luz´s answer to places like Puerto de la Duquesa and Puerto Banus.

Mojacar

This town is in the far east of Andalucia, near Almeria. It encircles the top of a hill a short distance inland from the coast. It is a classic moorish village with many white-washed houses, which provide excellent views of the surrounding countryside. In recent years it has become a popular base for holiday makers.

Punta Umbria

Set on the Atlantic coast 24km (15 miles) south of Huelva, the town's main attraction is a magnificent beach almost 20km (12 miles) long, very popular with the Spanish and almost always crowded at weekends. There is not a lot of nightlife, but agreeable bars and good seafood.

San Pedro de Alcantara

This is a new, or rather enlarged, town on the Costa del Sol, which is less spoiled than many of the others and handy for tours into the hinterland, such as the Serrania and Ronda. The old centre of San Pedro is very pleasant, with cobbled streets and plazas, and several good restaurants.

Setenil

This attractive White Town just north of Ronda is set into the Serrania, rather than against it. It stands amid orange and olive groves and is a good place to go for lunch when the centre of Ronda is busy.

Sol y Nieve

This town is called 'Sun and Snow´, and skiers enjoy the sun and snow of the Sierra Nevada. Snow and sun are the main attractions, for the resort itself. It is the best ski resort in Spain, set on the high slopes of the Sierra Nevada, 32km (20 miles) from the city of Granada. In summer it is a walking centre, and the views from the Mulhacen peak, or the terrace of the parador, extend on a good day to the shores of the Mediterranean or even across to North Africa.

Tarifa

Tarifa is not only a great windsurfing centre with a good beach, but has a fine old town, off the well-trodden tourist route but well worth visiting.

Torremolinos

Most of this stretch of coast, once a series of windmill towers, has been transformed into hotels, restaurants and bars. A brash tourist resort, it still has a few remnants of the old town left.

Trevelez

Set close to Lanjaron in the province of Granada, this picturesque White Town, set on a series of terraces running up the side of the Alpujarras, is the place for pottery and textiles.

Ubrique

Ubrique is another shopping centre, set in the Serrania between Grazalema and Jimena de la Frontera, at the foot of a steep hillside. It is a leather centre, the place to buy shoes and handbags and leather coats and jackets. Take a camera as well for the setting is superb.

Vejer de la Frontera

Vejer is a hill town as well as one of the finest and most picturesque of the Frontera towns. It has a Moorish castle, and from the walls there are panoramic views. It also hosts a summer-long series of fiestas and
pilgrimages.

Zahara de la Sierra

This is another beautiful hill town in the province of Cadiz. It has a medieval castle and is worth visiting if only for the wonderful countryside. Zahara de Los Atunes , near Cadiz, means the 'flower of the tuna fish', but it ought to be known for its wonderful unspoilt sandy beach, 9km (6 miles) long and backed by low hills and dunes.

An excellent road network in southern Spain makes it possible for visitors to make the most of the inland towns and villages plus enjoy a few days on the Costa del Sol beaches, all within the space of a few weeks. A holiday in the Costa del Sol or the Costa de la Luz doesn´t have to be confined to the beach or the hills, you can combine the two with some planning, and see the very best of inland and coastal Andalusia. The larger cities such as Seville, Granada and Malaga always attract tourists but if you head off into the countryside and rural areas of inland Andalusia, you will be pleasantly surprised. Hire a car at Malaga Airport and take your time to find the best parts of southern Spain at your own pace.