Malaga city has one of the best combined offerings for visitors: great beaches, excellent tapas bars, good shopping, superb museums - so what better way to round off a day of culture, eating out and walks along the seafront than with a "gintonic" on a rooftop terrace? Many hotels in the city now boast these wonderful bars with fabulous views and lively atmosphere. Most have a contemporary feel, with sleek furniture, wooden decking and glass walls, for optimum vistas of the city.

The polo pony ranges from 14.2-16 hands (147-163cm) in height and is usually either thoroughbred or thoroughbred crosses. Polo ponies are selected carefully for their ability to move in quick bursts of speed, and their great stamina, agility and manoeuvrability. It is vital that the horse remains responsive under pressure and does not become excited or difficult to control.

Each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. The modern game lasts roughly two hours and is divided into periods of play called chukkas, of which there are four to eight, 7-minute chukkas. At the end of each 7-minute chukka, play continues for an additional 30 seconds or until a stoppage in play, whichever comes first. There is a four-minute interval between chukkas and a ten-minute halftime.

Polo originates from ancient Persia from the sixth century BC to the first century AD. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century, the game was eventually passed from Persia to other parts of Asia, particularly India, Pakistan and China.

Michelle Chaplow has lived and worked in Andalucia in Southern Spain for over 20 years as a freelance photographer specialising in travel and tourism having studied photography at Seville University. Her work has appeared in magazines, books and newspapers all over Europe, Australia, the United States of America and even China. In 1996 she was awarded a prestigious state contract by Turespaña, the Spanish Tourist Board. In 2001 she received an honorary mention for her continuous work in the field of photography in promoting Spanish tourism and the Ortiz Echagüe prize given by the Spanish Ministry of Tourism and Commerce.

Seville’s April fair has a long and varied history. Here are a few facts and figures associated with its past, and its present traditions. The first thing you'll see when you arrive at the Seville Fair from the city centre is the portada - the gateway, where you traditionally enter the fairground. Everyone gets their photo taken in front of the portada.

Car: don't even try to park near the Feria, unless you have a micro-car like a Smart which will fit into the smallest spaces. Instead, leave it at the Charco de la Pava car park, and catch the shuttle bus to the main recinto. Bear in mind that the police will be out in force with breathalyser checkpoints, so don't drink and drive.

As tourists approach the Seville Fair in simple shirts and trousers, cameras in hand and sunglasses ready for action, it might appear that all the natives are simply dressed in some traditional folkloric costume that only varies slightly in colour and cut from one person to another.

The Seville April Fair takes place in the Los Remedios neighbourhood in Seville on grounds covering 1.2 million square metres. Part of this area is set aside every year for the amusement park known as “Calle del Infierno” (Hell’s Street).

If you're a guest who has been formally invited to a caseta, once in your host will buy the first round of drinks and raciones - cheese, prawns, ham, 'pescao frito' (fried fish). Let him - it's tradition, and offering to pay will be considered bad form. Then you can order what you want, to share with your host if appropriate.

The Ronda Parador is an interesting mix of old and new architecture, with views of the busy and picturesque Plaza de España on one side, and the breathtaking gorge on the other, as well as the 18th century Puente Nuevo bridge that is adjacent to the building. This is an excellent, convenient base for exploring Ronda.

The most outstanding feature of this hotel is its location right inside the Doñana Natural Park, which is the protected area surrounding the Doñana National Park. It is perched on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

This hotel is a unique concept in Paradores as it is the only golf hotel in the chain. A comfortable, modern and cosy facility with banquet facilities and a lovely dining room, this Parador is right on the edge of the Costa del Sol with an undeveloped stretch of beach right in front of the hotel and a beachside promenade to the right (if you are looking at the hotel towards the sea) that now provides a thoroughly enjoyable walk to nearby Torremolinos.

The Parador in Córdoba is in the northern part of the city of Córdoba, and provides the perfect starting point for discovering the wonders of Córdoba province. It is built upon the ruins of the summer palace of Abderramán I. Nestled into the foothills of the Córdoban mountain range and surrounded by trees and greenery this location is reported to be about 4 degrees cooler than the provincial capital.

The Parador in Carmona occupies a 14th century Moorish fortress, known as an Alcázar in Spanish. Staying here is one of the best ways to get an intimate glimpse of Arab style architecture – the building is beautiful and the views are stunning.

The Parador in Cadiz, known as the Hotel Atlantico, is probably Cadiz's slickest hotel, and also the most vanguard of the state-owned Parador chain. A recently-opened fabulous contemporary building with one entire wall of glass, it makes the most of the breathtaking location and sea views across the bay to Rota.