Costa Del Sol - Spain - Thomson Simply Travel The Collection Summer 2012 (December Edition)

At a glance Costa del Sol With a scalloped coastline of bays and coves, and cities like Seville and Granada in easy reach, the Costa del Sol is an explorer's playground. Sunday flights to Andalucia Stand... on the 18th-century Puente Nuevo, or `new bridge', and look down the 100-metre gorge that splits Ronda in two. Ronda, by the way, is the birthplace of bullfighting and hosts the Corrida Govesca every September. Experience... village life in whitewashed Mijas, in the hills above Fuengirola. One of Andalucia's prettiest pueblo blancos, it's only 15 minutes from the coast, and on a clear day you can see all the way to north Africa. T he Costa del Sol is without doubt one of the world's most high profile coastlines. But it's beyond the touristfocussed resorts that the real prizes lie. Consider Nerja, for instance. Set on a cliff, backed by the Sierra Almijara mountains, this picturesque town has held tight to its Spanish charm, with quiet bays, a cobbled old quarter and café-flanked promenade among its pulls. Beyond the coast, into the craggy Sierras and rolling valleys, you'll find tiny pueblo blancos, or white villages. Just seven kilometres inland lies one of the region's most mountainous villages, Benahavis. Its high restaurant count has led to it being described as the dining room of the Costa del Sol. Also inland lies beautiful Frigiliana, a classic pueblo blanco with houses cascading down the hillside. Another temptation on the map is El Gastor, which has the Sierra de Grazalema National Park on its doorstep and the Moorish town of Ronda just 20 minutes' drive away. In terms of must-visits, the Costa del Sol puts Cordoba, Seville and Granada into the daytrip bracket. These are the places to see Andalucia's Medieval Islamic architecture, a legacy of the Moors, who occupied the area for over 700 years. Granada's Alhambra Palace and Cordoba's Mezquita top an impressive list of architectural masterpieces. As for Seville, it sums up Andalucia's romance. Think streets lined with orange trees, cobblestone squares and cubbyhole tapas bars. Plus you can stop off at the Alcazar Palace, one of the best surviving examples of Mudejar architecture, and the Gothic cathedral which houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Taste... sherry in one of the bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera, a town that's world famous for its sherry and brandy production. Afterwards, head to the Royal School of Equestrian Art to see the dancing horses. Venture... underground to see the Cuevas de Nerja, a series of huge caverns. They're home to prehistoric cave paintings and the world's largest stalagmite, 32 metres high. Sevilla Osuna Los Palacios y Villafranca Sierr a Granada de Antequera El Gastor da Alm i jar a Villamartín Jerez de la Frontera Ronda de Ron ia n rra Se Málaga Alhaurin el Grande Frigiliana Nerja Torrecilla Marbella Estepona Gibraltar ltar ibra of G Strait Ceuta M ed it er r e an an Sea Andalucia 20km MOROCCO Climate Average daily maximum temperature (ºC) Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 22 25 28 31 31 28 Oct 24 36

Spain (6 pages)… Costa Del Sol