On the edge of the Sierra Nevada National Park is a 6km-long vía verde (greenway) that follows an old railway line along the lush valley of the Genil river, between Güéjar-Sierra, 15km southeast of Granada city, and the Barranco de San Juan to the east.
Until the 1960s, the Aznalcóllar mines northwest of Seville - still in operation today - were linked to the Guadalquivir river in the city by a railway, now the 27km-long Vía Verde de Itálica. Between Sevilla and Camas the route is called the Vía Verde of Camas, which turns into the Vía Verde de Itálica between Camas and Santiponce.
In the Sierra Norte Natural Park is this 18km-long vía verde (greenway) that follows the Huéznar river and the course of an old mining railway. The trains carried iron (hierro) from the mine at Cerro del Hierro to the station of Cazalla-Constantina, located 6km from Cazalla and 8km from Constantina, which was on the mainline.
Starting in Alcalá de Guadaíra 14km south of Seville, this vía verde (greenway) covers 28km and ends in Carmona, running along the foot of a string of hills (alcores) after which the route is named. Dotted along the hills and located close to the greenway are several picturesque towns overlooking the fertile vega (plain).
Spain´s longest vía verde (Railway Path) at 91km, this route crosses the gently rolling campiña (countryside) between Valchillón, just southwest of Cordoba, and Marchena in Seville province, 60km from Seville. It passes through the valley of the Guadalquivir river, with its fertile plain and cultivated fields of cereal crops and olive groves.
If you see a flamenco show while you’re here, you may well be seized with the urge to buy a dress, along with all the necessary colour-coordinated accoutrements: jewellery, shoes, comb, shawl, flower and fan. There are countless shops in every town and city around Andalucia where you can buy all the gear.
Most cities now have indoor centro comerciales (shopping centres) with supermarkets, fashion stores, and cafes. The undisputed queen of these is La Cañada in Marbella, which is home to Andalucia’s only Marks & Spencers.
For a homesick expat, or a visitor in need of a familiar environment, there are a number of English clothing companies present in Andalucia. Most outlets are located either in city centres, or in shopping centres on the outskirts of cities.
This 49km-long route links the appealing border town of Ayamonte, on the banks of the Guadiana river that divides Spain from Portugal, and Gibraleón. It runs along a disused railway line that dates from the late 1930s.
In larger towns and cities, El Corte Ingles stores have large fashion departments, which stocks labels such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Pepe, Miss Sixty and Coast. They also have huge accessories areas, from tights and scarves to leather goods.
The most popular clothes outlets in Spain are Mango and Zara; every Spanish woman has several pieces from these stores in their wardrobe. They’re reasonably priced, reasonable quality, and fast to catch onto the latest trends. Larger towns and cities will have several branches; Zara also does interiors and children’s clothing.
The home of high-end brands in Andalucia is Marbella, and more specifically Puerto Banus. Gucci, Prada, Loewe, Versace – they’re all there.
Top local designers, Victorio and Luccino produce romantic confections, with frills galore and floaty, sexy fabrics. They are favoured by eccentric aristocratic the Duquesa de Alba, know for her flamboyant, hippie style. The duo, who are also a civil couple, designed the Duquesa’s wedding dress for her nuptials in Seville in October 2011.
Andalucians are well known for their style – think of Andalucian fashion, and you think of a woman in a swirling, spotty flamenco dress, with matching earrings and necklace, co-ordinating shoes and flower, and the finishing touch: a fan.
This half day ramble has an astonishing variety of scenery considering that you're never more than 5 kilometers from Frigiliana. From the village you drop down into the spectacular gorge of the Río Higuerón.
The landscapes of rural Andalucía are breathtaking and one of the best ways to appreciate their diversity and beauty is on foot. However it is sometimes hard to determine exactly where a path is located and if there is a public right of way. There are designated footpaths, as well as those inside the national and natural parks.
A guide to the Sierra Nevada, the only ski resort in Andalucia, is located at Pradollano in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, about 30 km south east of Granada city.
Cycling is a popular sport in Andalucia and it is not uncommon to see groups of cyclists out enjoying a weekend morning together as they tour the countryside. Equally in the last few years the number of cyclists in the cities and towns has increased, and so has the km-s of cycle lanes. Seville being a prime example.
Famous people who figured in the history of towns of Andalucia including Marbella, Torremolinos and Granada principally in the 1950s and 1960s
There are more gyms and fitness centres in Andalucía than ever before. Whereas in the early 1980s you’d have been pushed to find the odd male-dominated weights room, there are now many centres.
