8 Top Places to Visit in Andalusia, Spain

Palaces. A Fortress. Cathedrals. Flamenco dancing. And a touch of Star Wars. All of these things and more await you in a visit to the southern province of Andalusia, Spain. This region is rich in culture and architecture, and our 4 day visit made a lasting impression on Serendipity TravelingMom and her family. If you have ever wanted to experience the intersection of cultures and history, this is a place worth putting on your “must-do” travel list, and this is her 8 top places to visit in Andalusia, Spain.

To travel abroad is quite an enriching experience for everyone who goes, no matter what age. And it doesn’t matter how you get to go, as long as you take advantage of the opportunity to do so. My family and I recently resided in Spain for just shy of two months. My husband was the faculty member in charge of 37 students on a 6-week summer university program abroad. During this extended trip, we took a 44-dayexcursion to the cities of Granada, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Mérida. It was a power weekend for our eyes…and for our feet, to be sure. Read on for my 8 Top Places to Visit in Andalusia, Spain

8 Places to Visit in the Province of Andalusia

Our visit took us to the region/province of Andalusia in the south of Spain. From what I have learned, this part of Spain has had a heavy Arabic influence for many, many centuries. This was the part of Spain formerly occupied by the Moors, and you can see that influence in the architecture and design of the region. Here are the sights that made my Top 9 for a visit Andalusia.

1. La Capilla Real

We arrived in the city of Granada first and checked in at the beautiful Hotel Saray. Since we were a large group, we planned to do a LOT of touring on foot. In fact, the city ( and the others we would visit in this province) was very conducive to walking.

TravelingMom tip: Bring both athletic and walking sandals when navigating through the towns and cities. I used my Asics and my Teva sandals to keep my feet happy.

Our first stop was La Capilla Real, the Royal Chapel of Granada. Located next to the Cathedral of Granada, this is where the tombs of the Reyes Catolicos (Catholic Monarchs) are kept. We were in awe of the magnificent structure and marble detailing of the tombs.

2. A Flamenco Show

Our next experience would come later that evening. We dressed up for dinner and a spectacular Flamenco dancing show. This show was in a neat location, it was like a carved out cave! The food was great, but the show was even better. The troupe consisted of 3 musicians and 4 dancers, and they danced various pieces for over an hour. Their skill and flair (and the intensity of the sound)  kept us captivated for the whole performance!

As we finished our diner and show, we gathered outside for a late night tour of the city. There was much to see, even at night.

TravelingMom Tip: Even in the summer, the sun can go down as late as 10 or 11p. It’s wonderful for touring and making full use of a traveling day!

Before the city walking tour we got a view of the famous Alhambra (a palace and fortress complex in Granada), our next stop the following day:

3. Alhambra

The Alhambra is one of the sparkling jewels in Granada (in all of Europe as well). This World Heritage Site is part castle and part fort, and it is magnificent to see and experience. The complex is massive, and it took us about two hours to tour as a group. Here is where we got to see the influence of Arabic architecture in full effect. We enjoyed the fountains and other features that we saw, and it was awe inspiring to know that this edifice has been around since 889 AD.

4. La Mezquita de Còrdoba

The next part of our visit took us to Còrdoba via a two-hour bus ride.  We headed straight for another World Heritage site that is quite a sight to behold. La Mezquita de Cordoba has been both a mosque and a Catholic cathedral at different times in history. The fascinating part is that it now contains elements of both for visitors to see and experience.

5. La Plaza de España de Sevilla

Our next stop brought us to one of my favorite sites of our four-day adventure. We arrived in Sevia and kicked it off with a visit to la Plaza de Espana. It is a major plaza in Sevilla, the site on which the planet of Naboo of Star Wars: The Clone Wars was filmed. Our teens really got a kick out of that connection (and so did I) to one of our favorite movies!

6. Reales Alcázares de Sevilla

Spain has many castles, and this region is no exception. In Sevilla, we viewed the hugest door I have ever seen, the door to the royal palace of The Alcàzar of Sevilla. This palace is magnificent and full of history…and massive.

7. La Catedral  and La Tumba de Cristobal Colon

We visited our second cathedral of the trip, and we got to see something pretty cool. Cristopher Columbus has two burial sites, one in Spain and one in the Dominican Republic. The one in Spain sits in the Sevilla Cathedral, in a massive catafalque. It is a pretty impressive sight to see.

8. Mèrida

We spent our last day of our visit in the city of Mèrida. {Okay…Merida is technically not in Andalusia, but it is a very historic and interesting place in Spain to visit. And since my whole family enjoyed exploring a bit of Roman antiquity here, I shall include it to share with you.} Merida is home to a Roman amphitheater and theater. (My husband Art, the history buff, LOVED this part of the excursion.) We actually stood and sat in the ruins of the ancient amphitheater, which was a bit of a surreal experience.

 

The Arabic cultural influences and the architecture of antiquity are both enough reasons to visit this southern province of Spain. It is amazing to touch and experience structures that are thousands of years old!

Have you been to Andalusia? If so, what did you enjoy the most during your visit? I would love to hear about it in the comments!