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Sunday

Seven long centuries of Arab influence have left a deep mark on the vast territory christened in the Middle Ages as Al-Andalus. Following this legacy, the route starts on the Mediterranean coast. Malaga was once Moorish, and its Alcazaba is a beautiful example of this past. It was the palace of the Nasrid kings, and today houses the Provincial Archaeological Museum. Other places of interest are the Cathedral, the Cathedral Museum and the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Victoria. With one of the most important cultural offers and contemporary art scene in Spain, it is interesting to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, the birthplace and the Picasso Museum, where you will discover more than 230 works by the painter, the Centre Pompidou or the Carmen Thyssen Museum. The capital of Malaga is the perfect place to enjoy sport - at the Parador, you can play a few holes on its renowned golf course -, the sun, the white sandy beaches and the nightlife in the villages of the picturesque Costa del Sol. Stroll along the Malagueta beach, the most famous sandy area of the city, admire the Gibralfaro Castle and the Roman theatre, and walk from one end to the other along the pedestrian and commercial Calle Larios, the nerve centre of the city. And make the most of the occasion, because there are few pleasures like those offered by tasting the exquisite grilled fish skewers, an authentic Malaga speciality.

Monday

We enter the inland lands of Malaga, in the mountains. The romantic Ronda awaits us, the cradle of bullfighting dynasties and bandits. A town of immense beauty. In each of its streets, we will perceive the Arab heritage, as Izn-Rand Onda, which means “““City of the Castle” “”, was one of the capitals of Muslim Spain, leaving us monuments such as the Arab Baths, the Old Bridge, the House of the Giant and the House of Mondragón. But there is also a Ronda with places like the bullring of the Real Maestranza de Caballería, one of the oldest and most monumental in Spain, and where the annual Corrida Goyesca is held, or the imposing New Bridge, built in an impressive enclave to bridge a 120-metre deep cut and next to which the Parador is located, with unique views over the Tagus. ’Ronda’s natural surroundings are no less beautiful than the city itself, surrounded by the Sierra de la Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves and Los Alcornocales Natural Parks. Just 19 kilometres away is the picturesque village of Setenil de las Bodegas, with its unique streets under the rocks and its cave houses. Reservatauro, a theme park for the Mediterranean meadow, the fighting bull and the purebred Spanish horse, unique in the world, also deserves a place on your agenda. You can also discover how olive oil is extracted in a traditional olive oil mill, or visit one of the more than 30 wineries in the Sierras de Málaga/Serranía de Ronda DO. You ’can’t leave the Parador without trying one of the ’city’s great gastronomic highlights, emblematic of its Andalusian cuisine reminiscent of bullfighting: stewed oxtail in the Ronda style, without neglecting other hearty mountain dishes such as migas (bread crumbs), partridge pâté, sweet rice with oxtail, mushrooms and wild mushrooms, or roast shoulder of kid.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Without leaving the province of Malaga, the next stop is Antequera. Several civilisations have passed through its privileged geographical location, leaving an interesting cultural legacy. One of the most important monuments is the Menga, Viera and El Romeral Dolmen complex, which dates back to the Bronze Age. A walk through the old town is like travelling back in time. It is interesting to visit the churches of San Juan Bautista and San Sebastián or the Alcazaba. Other highlights include the Templete del Castillo del Papabellotas and the 17th and 18th-century mansions, all of which are characterised by their impressive Spanish Baroque style. In the central area you can visit the Royal Collegiate Church of San Sebastián, which dates from the 16th century. ’Don’t hesitate to visit the Convent of La Encarnación and then the Plaza del Coso Viejo, a beautiful bullring next to the convent. To recharge your batteries after this tour, we recommend you try one of the local specialities: porra antequerana, a cold, thick tomato cream, the sister cousin of gazpacho, not forgetting the molletes, a typical bread of Arab origin undercooked and protected by an IGP (Protected Geographical Indication). Just over 30 kilometres to the north of the province, in the Ardales Nature Reserve, you will find the spectacular Caminito del Rey path, a via ferrata formerly known as one of the most dangerous in the world, but now absolutely safe to walk. Watch out for the splendid view of the El Chorro gorge, where the Guadalhorce River flows 100 metres above sea level. Another must-see barely half an hour away is the unique karst landscape of El Torcal, with its amazing rock formations, abysses and caves.

Thursday

A good example of the Arab mark can be found in our next stop in Seville, the town of Carmona. Set on the fertile plain of the river Corbones, it is a city that stands out for its monumentality and the legacy of the different cultures that have populated it. Churches, palaces and walls form part of the important artistic heritage of its historic quarter, dominated by the imposing image of its fortress of Arab origin, the Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro, next to which stands the Parador, an Andalusian-style palace. A visit to the Puerta de Sevilla, the Roman Necropolis, testimony to a splendid past, the Mudejar quarter of San Felipe, the Jewish quarter and the City Museum, which allows visitors to explore its history, is a must. Its location, half an ’hour’s drive from Seville, allows you to enjoy the enormous monumental and artistic heritage of the Sevillian capital, such as the Real Alcázar, which Abd al-Rhaman III began to build in the year 913. Also of interest are the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Torre del Oro, as well as the numerous leisure possibilities that the Sevillian capital has to offer. A city that exudes light and magic, where religion and festivities are experienced with special passion - mark in the calendar the Holy Week and the April Fair -, and of which you will remember with nostalgia succulent tapas in the sunshine on the terraces and magical corners. Attention gourmets! The Arab influence is also evident in the desserts, and the confectionery reflects a long convent tradition. Highlights include torta inglesa, bollos de aceite(olive oil cakes), rice pudding, torrijas (French toast) with sweet wine and honey, homemade polvorones (shortbread cookies), almond cakes and the tasty chestnut stew with cinnamon. Irresistible!

Friday and Saturday

Heading towards Cordoba, halfway, we come across Ecija, in the Genil valley, considered one of the most important artistic centres in Andalusia, and whose stately past has bequeathed us a city dominated by its majestic Baroque towers and domes. We continue on our way to our destination: Cordoba, the legendary city of the Caliphs, which was the dream come true of Abd-al Rahman I, the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and centre of Western wisdom during that period. A World Heritage City, its mosque - with its colossal prayer hall with almost a thousand columns joined by horseshoe arches - is the most important monument in the Islamic West, and one of the most amazing in the world. Also of note are the Synagogue, the walls, the Roman bridge, the royal stables... or museums as interesting as the Julio Romero de Torres, the Archaeological, the Bullfighting and the Museum of Fine Arts. It is well worth losing oneself in the beautiful corners of one of the most complex and richest urban fabrics, with spaces full of charm and sensuality, and let yourself be surprised by the emblematic courtyards with their colourful floral explosion. Eight kilometres from Cordoba, you cannot miss the fabulous and mysterious city that Abd-al Rahman III ordered to be built at the foot of the Sierra Morena, the beautiful Medina Azahara, with a legendary name and history. ’Cordoba’s Parador is a haven of peace perched on a hill over the ruins of the place where Adb al-Rahman I had his summer palace, offering the best views of the city and a lush garden with the oldest palm trees in Europe. ’Don’t forget to treat yourself to some Cordoba salmorejo(tomato soup with bread), flamenquines (cheese-stuffed meat Rolls) and a delicious oxtail stew.