Costa del Sol - Destinations - Thomson Gold February 2012

TOP 5 ThingS To See & do 1. Alhambra palace you half expect to see a gaggle of veiled girls fanning a sultan in this citadel-palace. Back in the 14th century, it was the heart of Moorish Spain, and so honeycomb ceilings and courtyard fountains are the order of the day. Throw in views of the Sierra nevada mountains and it's little wonder it's often called the eighth Wonder of the World. Torremolinos 2. Seville Benalmadena it's as if all Spain's stereotypes have been distilled and fortified here think matadors, castanets and tapas bars. And what's great is it's not laid on for tourists, so it all feels authentic. it's a city made for wandering, with orange trees lining the streets, cobblestoned squares basking in the sun, and sights like the Alcazar palace waiting to be admired. 3. ronda The town of ronda sits on a mountain plateau and is split in half by an enormous canyon it's as deep as 23 double-decker buses piled on top each other. The best views are from the puente nuevo Bridge, which spans the gorge. The town itself is a medley of Medieval streets and squares. in amongst it all, you'll find Spain's oldest bullring. Alhambra palace, granada WeATher reporT in July and August, average temperatures stick around the 29°C mark, and spring and autumn are mild and sunny with very little rain. Between october and november, temperatures hover between 16° and 19°C, although there's some rain between december and February. 4. Cordoba Cordoba is one of Spain's prettiest cities. its kingpin is the Mezquita, a, 1,200 year-old mosque that rivals the Alhambra as one of the country's greatest Arab legacies. Although now a cathedral, it lstill has a Moorish slant thanks to its prayer niches and minaret-like belltower. its highlight is the huge prayer hall, where 850 striped arches crowd together like giant candy canes. Average monthly temperature (°c) Jan 17 Feb 18 Mar 20 apr 22 May 25 Jun 28 Jul 31 aug 31 sep 28 oct 24 Nov 20 dec 17 Seville Priego 5. golf Granada Alhambra Ronda Mijas Marbella San Pedro Puerto Banus Estepona Manilva d sta Torrox Frigiliana Nerja Malaga Torremolinos Benalmádena Fuengirola The Costa del Sol isn't known as the Costa del golf for nothing. it's home to over 70 courses, from swanky Sotogrande in the west to the granddaddy of them all, the famous parador, just outside Malaga. each course has its own character and degree of difficulty, with everything from tricky doglegs and deep bunkers to test your skills. Mediterranean Sea el So l Gibraltar Punta de Europa 60km Co Fly from · london gatwick · Manchester Premium Class upgrades prices from £XXX* Visit your travel shop | Call 0871 230 2555 | Click on thomson.co.uk Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. The cost of calls was correct at the time of publication. See page 3. 17

Destinations contd… Costa del Sol