Best known for its region´s superb olive oil and Renaissance architecture, Jaen has many little- known treasures waiting to be discovered by visitors to one of Andalucia´s least touristy cities. Close to the magnificent Cazorla National Park and surrounded by unspoilt countryside, it is set against a spectacular backdrop of mountains.
The most striking thing about the Mezquita is that, incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church (Cordoba's cathedral). What one sees from outside is confusing indeed: a huge, flat-roofed low-lying square building with a gigantic baroque church jutting up in the middle like a rather unsightly stone wedding-cake.
The archaeology museum on the ground floor. Some excellent glassware and jewelry are highlights and there is a good collection of amphorae as you'd expect from an historic port.
Museo Historico Municipal de Cádiz boasts a 19th century mural depicting the establishment of the Constitution of 1812. The real showpiece is a fascinating mahogany and ivory model of the city which dates back to 1779 and which is a fascinating duplicate of all the streets and the buildings much as they are today.
Probably the first glimpse of the pueblo from any direction will contain the church and fortifications built into a small rocky outcrop. The castle and compact pueblo are perched on a hill within the river basin, surrounded by the district's larger hills and mountains. The entrance of the village is dominated by the post-Civil War triple arched bridge that carries the Malaga-Ronda road across the Río Turón. El Burgo's streets are narrow and visitors should park at the entrance to the pueblo, very near to the petrol station.
On the south side of the main bridge by the pueblo that crosses the Río Turón, is a track that leads upstream. Just about passable by car this is a circular route that takes approximately two hours to drive (not recommended in rainy season) or six hours to walk and emerges two kilometres further down the Malaga road (see La Fuensanta).
For reasons lost to history, it was probably abandoned by the time Roman settlers arrived in the first century BC; few settlements larger than small pueblos flourished in these harsh conditions. The Romans probably built a (now lost) bridge across the Río Turón here to serve their road from Ronda to Malaga, and used it as a trading base and staging camp on to Ronda and elsewhere.
Guaro is a modest white village on the edge of the Sierra de las Nieves natural park. Thanks to its elevated position, at over 350 metres above sea level, the village offers privileged views across the surrounding countryside. Some of the best vistas are from its 16th century church of San Miguel, found at the top of the village’s narrow, winding streets.
The picturesque town of Arroyo de la Miel is one of the three districts that make up the town of Benalmádena. Situated between Benalmádena Pueblo and Benalmádena Costa, this lively town is full of winding backs streets and pretty plazas that adhere to the old village way of life.
Overlooking the sea, separating Arroyo de la Miel with Benalmadena Costa are the beautiful gardens of La Paloma Park which covers over 200,000 square meters with a central lake where you can see many different types of birds, which are well cared for in these very beautiful surroundings.
Benalmádena Pueblo is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaga. The town, which has retained the ambience of a sleepy white Andalusian village, is 280 meters above sea level. The old town is a maze of narrow, whitewashed cobble streets adorned with displays of coloured geraniums spilling out of wall-mounted plant pots.
As Salobreña expands outwards underneath the rock, new places are opening up all the time in the modern, attractive township which is being created. New and exciting Italian restaurant / pizzeria opened on the main road to the beach of Salobrena. Presenting a very wide range of daily homemade fresh italian Pastas and Pizzas. Open All Year Round.
Salobrena is a place to unravel the senses on the beach with the soaring sky and glittering ocean before you, and the gleaming white town behind you. Take the little local bus (it stops at various points on the promenade) to the top of the hill and explore the "casco antiguo" or old town with its Moorish Castle, 17th Century church.
Guided tours conducted by multilingual guides fully trained by the Tourist office education department in English, French, German and Spanish, have now been extended to cover other parts of the municipality, allowing visitors to discover Salobreña’s hidden secrets.
Wedged in between the impressive mountain ranges of the Sierra de Baza to the south and La Hoya de Baza and the Sierra del Pozo to the north, sits the proud and beautiful Andalusian village of Zújar. It is in the Altiplano region of the Granada Province, at a comfortable drive of approximately 110 kilometres drive from Granada City.
Of all the villages that make up the Huescar and Baza regions of the Altiplano area in the Granada Province, Cortes de Baza is arguably the most unspoiled of all. Its humble agricultural rural community and traditional way of life has remained intact despite modern advances and 21st century rural tourism.
To visit the village of Cuevas del Campo is to journey into the world of tranquillity and stunning natural countryside. It also gives you the chance to meet the friendly, welcoming people of this traditional, agricultural community. In the north east corner of the Granada Province and at around 130 kilometres from Granada City .
At 766 metres above sea level, the stunning little village of Castillejar is one of the six Andalusian hamlets that make up the region of Huescar in the north east corner of the Province of Granada. With a population of around 2,000, this idyllic haven is tucked away and yet easily accessible at just 15 minutes off the A-92 Mediterranean autovía (motorway).
The Altiplano region of Baza is one of the unspoiled jewels of Andalusia. Situated in the north of the Granada Province, is the town of Baza, the capital of the overall area of the same name. The other, smaller villages in the Baza area are: Benamaurel, Caniles, Cortes de Baza, Cuevas del Campo, Cúllar, Freila, and Zújar.
Freila is the smallest of the villages in the Altiplano region of Granada. At an altitude of 804 metres above sea level and with a population of just over 1,000 you can locate it in GPS zone 30S and the map reference is X:05 08 10 / Y:41 53 70. The municipality of Freila covers an area of approximately 74 m2.
