Costa Brava - Intro - Thomson Small & Friendly May 2012

TOP 3 ThiNGS To See & Do CoSTA Del Sol Serving up sandy beaches, stylish marinas and modern hotels, Costa del Sol has got beach holidays down to a fine art. 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. S tretched along Spain's southernmost coast, the Costa del Sol has long been its holiday Mecca. And once you see the beaches, you'll get why Brits arrive here in their droves every summer. Almost everywhere you go, golden sands rule the shores. 2. Seville 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. There's Marbella, whose silky sands run for a whole 25 kilometres, broken up only by marinas and fishing harbours. Then there's Torremolinos with its big, buzzing sweep of beach, and Fuengirola, with its five-mile, Blue Flag stretch. Close behind is Nerja, with its sandy bays and picture-postcard coves. And finally, there's Benalmadena, where a white-washed old town sits shoulder to shoulder with a cosmopolitan harbour area. Beyond the coast, you'll find the `real' Spain that is Andalucia. This rugged province is home to cities like Granada and Seville, with their Moorish palaces and fiery fiestas. And in the countryside, a quieter mood takes over. Wind your way through the hills, stopping off at the region's famous `pueblo blancos', or white villages, like Frigiliana and Mijas. 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. Click on thomson.co.uk FASTFACTS DeSTiNATioN AirporT ApproxiMATe FliGhT TiMe Key reSorTS Video tours, more photos, customer reviews and room upgrades online Malaga 2 hours 45 minutes from Gatwick Benalmadena, Torremolinos, estepona Visit your travel shop | Call 0871 230 2555 | Click on thomson.co.uk 124 Costa del sol Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. The cost of calls was correct at the time of publication. See page 3.

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