Three weeks and 4000 kilometres later our road trip through Andalusía has come to an end. We knew from the beginning that this was never going to be long enough to fully explore this diverse, beautiful region of Spain. We cherry-picked some of the most amazing cities, adventures, white hilltop villages and national parks to explore. We also added a range of places to our bucket list for future adventures… and, as we travelled, the list grew with the names of places that deserve a second visit..
After driving on some of the most winding and narrow mountain roads I have ever experienced – my overwhelming memory is that of exquisite natural beauty! The forests and beaches, the quaint white hilltop villages scattered all over the hills like pearls in the bright sunshine and the endless olive groves. (When buying olive oil most people think of Italy or Greece. However, because a lot of Span’s olive oil is exported in bulk to other countries (e.g. Italy) for bottling and packaging, the true origin of the oil is often hidden. This export of Andalusia’s olive oil to Italy has gone on for centuries – at the height of the Roman Empire, as much as 4 million gallons of oil was transported each year from Andalusia to Rome.)
This was the Spain I had seen in movies and photographs…
However, Andalusia is so much more than just natural beauty and the gorgeous Mediterranean beaches it is so well known for. Sure enough, the national parks are beautiful and from Malaga eastwards the coastline is truly spectacular – driving along the Mediterranean highway is pure joy – with expansive sea views on the one side and rolling hills and craggy mountains on the other. The other highlights are the lovely towns that dot the landscape or literally seem to cling to mountainsides.
We the went exploring for the rich history of this region that lies embedded in the beautiful cities of Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz and others where, for example, the legacy of the Moors is still everywhere to be seen (the Moors ruled parts of Andalusia for 700 years from the 8th to the 15th century). A visit to Andalusia is not complete without visiting the Great Mosque of Cordoba or spending hours in the Alhambra in Granada. These two sites are the region’s most important and most-visited monuments – both are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
In addition to a hearty dose of history, we also found time for some adventure. Walking along the narrow pathways of the Caminita del Rey near Malaga was a once in a lifetime experience. This walkway, built between 1901-1905, pinned against the side of the mountain, was built to provide workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls with a means to cross between the falls, to provide for transport of materials, and to help facilitate inspection and maintenance of the channel. Once known as the most dangerous walkway in the world it was closed to the public in 1990. After some extensive restoration the trail re-opened in 2015. The fantastic views and “sheer enormity” of the experience overshadowed the scary moments!
Meandering through the small streets of many of the tiny hilltop towns – Pueblos Blancos or “white towns” as they are known because they are all painted in white – was great fun! Visit a beautiful town with us! Most of these towns are nestled against the sides of mountains and cliffs – the streets impossibly steep and narrow and the houses almost all overlooking the beautiful valleys down below. Driving and parking in these towns is not for the faint hearted! Just a suggestion – park outside the towns and walk the last few hundred metres! Some of these towns have a thriving local cottage industry and leather goods, ceramic wares, textiles, artisanal chocolates and local foods are just some of the products on offer. Exploring during a heatwave in 42 degrees Celsuis and higher is hard work so we felt compelled to enjoy some cold beers at pubs in many a town square!.
History. Adventure. Good Food. Beautiful scenery. Above all – the absolute silence and endless views we were privileged to experience while driving with wide-open windows through the Grazalema and Sierra Nevada National Parks will forever be etched in my memory…