The top 25 water parks in Spain

Spain offers visitors thousands of things to see and do, and one of the most popular attractions are the water parks, which provide family fun for thousands of holidaymakers every year.

The best 25 water parks in Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava, Ibiza, Tenerife, Costa Dorada, Mallorca, Madrid,

Lanzarote, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Menorca include:

1. Aqualandia Water Park, Benidorm, Costa Blanca

2. Aquapolis Water Park, Torrevieja, Seville and Costa Dorada

3. Parque Aquatico Water Park, Mijas-Costa, Costa del Sol

4. Aqualand Water Park, Torremolinos, Costa del Sol

5. Aqua Brava Water Park, Las Garrigas, Costa Brava

6. Aqua Diver Water Park, Costa Brava

7. Marineland Water Park, Costa Brava

8. Aquaola Water Park, Granada

9. Aqualandia Water Park, Talamanca, Ibiza

10. Aqualandia Water Park, Mallorca

11. Marineland Water Park, Mallorca

12. Hidropark Water Park, Mallorca

13. Aqualand Water Park, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

14. Ocean Water Park, Gran Canaria

15. Aqua Centre Water Park, Menorca

16. Aqualand Water Park, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

17. Octopus Water Park, Tenerife

18. Waterworld, Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava

19. Aquapolis Water Park, Madrid

20. Aquasur Water Park, Madrid

21. Aranjuez Water Park, Madrid

22. Aqua Lanza Water Park, Costa Teguise, Lanzarote

23. Marineland Water Park, Catalonia

24. Aqualeon Water Park, Costa Dorada

25. Illa Fantasia Water Park, Barcelona

All the water parks in Spain provide rides, attractions and slides for visitors of all ages, and most have special play areas and scaled-down slides for the smaller kids. If you are planning to travel to Spain during the summer months, you can even book tickets online for most of the water parks, which will save you time and money when you arrive.

Costa del Sol places to visit

The Costa del Sol is one of Spain´s most popular tourist destinations, and with 320 average days of sunshine every year, the region attracts thousands of tourists every year from around the world.

For many, mention of the Costa del Sol conjures up visions of suntanned bodies on the beach, luxurious hotels set in tropical gardens, golfing and glitzy marinas lined with millionaires' yachts, lively restaurants and swinging discos in other words, the high life, where you might rub shoulders with celebrities. Indeed, the Costa del Sol can offer all of this though, since its popularity took off in the 1960s and it became the 'in place' for the jet set, it has had its ups and downs. However, in recent years it has regained its position as a top year-round destination.

The ambience is cosmopolitan and expatriates from all walks of life have settled here with a particularly high concentration around Torremolinos, Marbella and Fuengirola.Although the scene has changed with the times, the 'beautiful people' still come here. The tendency is now to seek more seclusion, however, with much of the entertaining and partying taking place in private But the Costa del Sol still exudes an aura of glamour, which serves as a continuing magnet to visitors. Its mild, sunny winter climate, unrivalled in Europe, is an additional attraction.

From the late 90s onwards there has been an effort to encourage visitors to look beyond the beach only holiday, and to sample the more rural pleasures of the hinterland. The Costa del Sol is an excellent gateway to the beautiful interior of Andalucía with its enchanting white towns and villages dotted about the countryside, peaceful landscapes and its real jewels, the historic cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada.

Costa del Sol information

The Costa del Sol is now officially within the province of Malaga, but this book covers a more extended area, including the provinces of Granada and Cadiz, and the hinterland.
The Costa del Sol covers nearly 300km of the Mediterranean coast.

Average temperatures: spring 20°C, summer 28°C, autumn 18°C, winter 13°C.Average sea temperatures: 15°C in January, 24°C in August.A minimum 8 hours' sunshine is expected daily for 320 days a year.Most rainfall is likely to occur between December and March.The famous sweet Malaga wines are produced in Los Montes de Malaga Antequera, north of the city, and in La Axarquia, to the east.

Olive groves are a feature of the Andalucía landscape. Olive oil, which is refined in Malaga, rates among Spain's leading exports.Oranges, lemons, and acres of vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and potatoes are cultivated along with wheat, sugar-cane, tobacco and cotton.

Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, marjoram, thyme and rosemary are among the herbs which flourish here.The uplands of the Guadalquivir are famous for black fighting bulls and thoroughbred horses.

Long sandy beaches stretch along the western Costa del Sol; east of Malaga you will come across smaller beaches and rocky coves. The Costa del Sol has over 500 golf courses. There are some 20 tennis clubs and most top grade hotels have tennis courts. This stretch of coast boasts over 10 marinas. Many resorts offer sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing (top spot Punta de Tarifa) and scuba diving.

Parasailing, hang gliding and delta winging are also widely available in resorts.Skiing in the Sierra Nevada, Europe's most southerly ski resort, is an increasingly popular winter sport.
Stables offer horse rides along and behind the coast.


Costa del Sol life


Life on the Costa del Sol is generally a relaxing affair with priorities leaning towards sunbathing, swimming (perhaps), drinking and eating, with a siesta occupying the greater part of the afternoon. The more energetic may want to go sailing or waterskiing, while others might opt for golf or tennis. In the evening, after a late dinner, the dedicated will enjoy dancing in a club or disco until the early hours.

10 Costa del Sol things to do

• Dance until dawn in Puerto Banus. Take your pick from dozens of discos, bars and clubs, admire the yachts and enjoy some of the finest restaurants in Spain.
• Visit Malaga and do an evening round of the wealth of tapas bars centered in the old town.
• Walk up to the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro for the panoramic views over Malaga and the bay.
• See a flamenco show in Malaga or inland in Sevilla.
• Have an evening drink on Marbella's promenade and watch the sunset, taking in a wide view of the Rock of Gibraltar and coastline of Africa.
• Take a trip to Ronda, which is one of the most fascinating towns in Andalucia. Stroll around the old town and enjoy the views over the gorge and surrounding countryside.
• Drive up to Mijas-Pueblo, which is just ten minutes inland from Fuengirola. Whitewashed houses cling to the hillside, and donkey taxis will transport you around this typically-Andalucian village.
• Book an excursion to the Alhambra Palace in Granada, which is said to be the 8th wonder of the world. This fascinating fortress has stood since the 1400s and is a magnificent monument from the times of Moorish rule in Spain.
• Take a trip to Gibraltar for the day. Only an hour´s drive by hire car or coach from Marbella, Gibraltar is a fascinating place to see. British shops, bars and restaurants mingle with casinos, waterside cafés and excellent hotels. Take a rock tour and visit the Barbary Apes who inhabit the upper regions of the rock.
• Take a trip to the Nerja Caves, which were uncovered in the 1950s by accident and are home to some of the world´s most incredible stalagmites and stalactites.

Inland Costa del Sol

For those who feel like taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the Costa del Sol, there are many possibilities. The inland areas offer a variety of landscapes, from olive groves in rolling hills, to dramatic mountain ranges with snowcapped peaks. In a very short time you can leave behind the heat of the coast and lose yourself in the tranquil surroundings of inland Andalucia.

Costa del Sol parks

Within reach of the coast are a number of protected areas and nature parks. With landscapes of wild natural beauty and a wealth of flora and fauna they make an ideal destination for the nature lover seeking peace and quiet. Among these are the Parque Natural Montes de Malaga, north of Malaga; and south of Antequera, the Parque Natural Torcal de Antequera, which features weird and wonderful rock formations. Further west, from the Marbella area, you can easily reach the National Game Reserve near Monda, or the Parque Natural Sierra de Las Nieves, south of Ronda, with its rugged cliffs and great ravines.
Further west are the nature parks of Grazalema and Los Alcornocales, both areas of natural, unspoilt landscape. South-east of Granada and easily accessible from the eastern section of the Costa del Sol is the Parque Natural Sierra Nevada, famed for its striking scenery and diversity of plant and animal life.

Hiking and Horse riding

The nature parks are wonderful areas for hikers and usually have marked trails for visitors to follow. Information on walking trails can be obtained from local tourist offices. The region of Las Alpujarras with its varied scenery also provides excellent walking terrain. With its long tradition of raising and riding horses, Andalucía provides an ideal backdrop for long distance trekking. Stables are plentiful and horses can be hired to explore the coast and its hinterland.

Accommodation inland Andalucia

Mountain refuges and country houses in traditional Andalucía style make it possible to stay in some of these remote areas. Often located in wild, mountainous terrain and offering magnificent views, they are usually located near access roads.

Bird watching Andalucia

Spring and autumn are good periods to watch the European bird migration, Using Spain's southern coast as a resting place, hundreds of species of birds stop here on their journey between Africa and northern Europe. Early morning is a good time to see new arrivals and vantage points are Punta Marroqui at Tarifa, Calahonda, east of Marbella, and Benalmadena.
The nature reserve at the mouth of the river Guadalhorce, located just east of Torremolinos, not far from Malaga airport, is another good place for bird watching. An area of exceptional beauty, however, is the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. Located off the N334 west of Antequera, it is known as the Pink Lagoon, afte; the large colony of pink flamingos which comes here every year to breed. The best time to see these spectacular birds is from the end of January to June.

Costa del Sol history

In the 18th and 19th centuries a number of writers, romantics and intrepid travelers discovered for themselves the attractions of Malaga and wrote about it. Hans Christian Andersen, who stayed here towards the middle of the 19th century, wrote of the joyous way of life. Lord Byron, George Borrow and Richard Ford were among others who contributed to discovering Malaga as a winter holiday destination. Later, the interior of the region attracted writers and poets such as Rainer Maria Rilke, Gerald Brenan, Laurie Lee and Ernest Hemingway. Federico Garcia Lorca, poet and playwright, came from rural Granada.

Picasso and Malaga

One of Malaga's most famous sons is the celebrated painter Pablo Ruiz Picasso who was born here in 1881. He began to paint at the age of seven, later joining the School of Fine Arts in La Coruña and moving to Barcelona in 1895. A new Picasso museum is scheduled to open in Malaga in late 2002 or early 2003.

Marbella celebrities

By the 1960s the tourism industry had developed along the Costa del Sol and the Marbella Club, creation of Alfonso de Hohenlohe, began to attract the rich and famous. Marbella acquired a reputation as a playground for the jet set. Since then the area has seen a flood of personalities, adding their mark to the star-studded scene.

Costa del Sol golf

Given its emphasis on sport, especially golf, it is not surprising that the Costa del Sol continues to receive its fair share of sports personalities In the world of golf, Severiano Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazable are frequent visitors. Tennis stars Bjorn Borg, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Conchita Martinez and Alberto Beresategui visit the area, and former champion Manolo Santana runs a tennis club near Marbella.

Seville Cordoba and Granada

One of the most passionate and beautiful cities in Spain, Seville offers visitors plenty of things to see and do. From its incredible baroque cathedral to its cobbled streets and tapas bars, there is something for everyone in this vibrant city.Seville's main shopping street is the Calle Sierpes. This is the place for fashionable clothes as well as more typical fare, from fans to ceramics. Martian offers a pleasing display of Sevillian ceramics and poltery. Zadi has a serious collection of fans, mantillas and Lladro porcelain, while the old-fashioned Marquedano stocks a classic range of Andalusian hats.

To the east, the Plaza de Jesus de la Pasion is the city's matrimony corner, with several jewellery shops. Beyond the northern end of Calle Sierpes you come to the Plaza del Duque de la Victoria, with Spain's largest department store, EI Corte Ingles.

Shopping Seville

the corner on Calle Alfonso XII Sevilla Rock sells Spanish pop and guitar music including flamenco and sevillanas. For ceramics, La Alacena (further down Alfonso XII, at No 25) has top of the range china and crockery from La Canuja factory (now on the Carretera de Merida). Puerta Triana (corner of Calle Santas Patronas and Calle Reyes Catolicos) has a less expensive selection of painted plates, bowls and jugs while across the bridge in Triana, Cenmica Santa Ana (Calle San Jorge ) is a rambling show room with enough antique and modern azulejos.

On the east side of the Maestranza bullring, Jamon Reall Esther Fernandez Fdez. (Calle Lopez de Arenas 5) sells Extremaduran wines, meats and cheeses, marmalade and homemade wines and liqueurs (it also has a small bar where you can sample products); there's another branch, Jamon Real II, at Calle Pastor y Landero Being a university town, Seville has many good book shops. One of the best is Venice, across from the Old Tobacco Factory on Calle San Fernando.

Things to buy in Cordoba

The English word 'cordwainer' is derived from Cordoba and testifies to the city's long tradition of high quality leatherwork. In the area bordering La Mezquita you'll find studios and cobblers' workshops, such as the one at Calle Magistral Gonzalez Frances 7 which specialises in riding boots.

Silver filigree (filigrana de plata) is also common. Look out also for two distinctive types of ceramic plate: the green and white Caliphal pottery based on 10th century Arab designs, and the dark green pottery from Lucena. Montilla wines and anis flavored licor from Rute are other specialties’.

In the small shops and stalls on the Plaza de la Corredera you'll find tyresoled sandals, iron rings for hanging up flowerpots, barbecue utensils and wickerwork chairs, baskets, hampers and linen chests. Near the Ayuntamiento the guarnicioneria Rafael Estevez Lopez (Calle San Pablo 6) sells saddles, riding tackle and woolen blankets while the Zoco, the old souk opposite the Synagogue on Calle Judios 5, is the headquarters for Cordoba Association of Craftsmen, many of whom have their shops here. Il is a good place to browse for silver filigree, jewellery, leather work and ceramics.

Granada souvenirs

Granada's souvenirs play heavily on the city's Moorish past embossed leather, marquetry chessboards, inlaid furniture, and a distinctive blue and green pottery known as jajalauza are the most obvious examples. The Albaicfn is the best place to chance upon these but you'll also find them in the Cuesta de Gomerez at the foot of Alhambra hill. Woven products from the Alpujarras mountains are worth looking at the Tejidos Fortuny workshop (Plaza de Fortuny I) has attractive rugs and wall hangings.
Granada's main shopping area lies south and east of the cathedral. Calle Pescaderia has small friendly shops selling meats and cheeses and a stall opposite the Bar Boca has good jajalauza pottery. You may find interesting bargains in the Alcaicerfa (the old silk market). For a spot of self-indulgence, buy a box of mouthwatering cakes from Flor y Nata (Calle Mesones 51) or Lopez Mezquita.

Markets

Markets are the best place to buy fresh food from the countryside: honey, goats' cheese, spiced meats, snails, seafood, olives, nuts, bread and fruit. Produce markets usually start early and pack up around I pm.

In Seville every district hosts its own daily fresh produce market there is one in the Plaza de la Encarnacion and another across the Triana bridge (turn right), on the site of the old Inquisition headquarters. There is a small weekday arts and crafts market outside EI Corte Ingles in the Plaza del Duque de la Victoria. In the north of the city there's a centuries old flea market on Thursday in Calle Feria known as 'EI Jueves'.
Nearby in the Alameda de Hercules a similar bric-a-brac market takes place on Sunday mornings. At the same time there's a bird and pet market (including silkworms) in the Plaza de la Alfalfa, and a stamp and coin collector's market in the Plaza del Cabildo.
In Cordoba the main market venue is the Corredera. In the week a covered mercado sells fresh produce while stalls outside sell fabric, clothes, plants and household items. On weekends this becomes a flea market.

Granada's nicest market is in the Plaza Larga in the Albaicin, but you'll find a belter range in the Mercado de San Agustin on the southwest corner of the cathedral.
Eating and drinking in Seville Cordoba and Granada

In cities like Seville, Cordoba and Granada people never seem to stop eating. Mornings are when work gets done and breakfast is but a meditative moment. Anything goes as long as it's quick: coffee and brandy, chocolate and churros (extrusions of sweet battered dough), bread dunked in olive oil, toast and dripping all taken standing at the bar. By II am the mood shifts cake wards or to an elevenses ice-cream, but by noon the emphasis changes again as the bar staff start putting out their freshly made tapas.
By 7pm it's time for the paseo and an obligatory ice cream, after which the tapas appear again around 5pm. Restaurants are in action by 9pm but rarely full before 10pm at weekends they will still be serving new customers at midnight. After dinner, it is time for an oloroso, a sticky cake. Seville claims to have invented tapas (snacks and appetizers) and can even tell you the bar where this national custom originated:

EI Rinconcillo (near the Santa Catalina church, Calle Gerona 40) where the staff developed the habit of covering a glass of fino with a tapa (lid) of ham. Today tapas are found everywhere and can be anything from a saucer of spiced olives or some slices of jamon serrano (mountain ham) to a gourmet dish of oranges, onions and bacalao (dried cod), or a hot terracotta dish of paella.

A tapa or porcion is simply a taster, while a racion is a small dish, often cooked. Lunch is the best time for raciones the daily menu will be written on a board or the dishes just put out on the counter. Often the bill turns out to be as costly as a meal but the taste of fino and gambas (prawns), or a cerveza (beer) and boquerones (anchovies in garlic and vinegar), is quintessential Spain. If you're a serious tapas addict head straight for Seville to investigate Modesto (Calle Cano y Cucto 5) or the Hosteleria del Laurel (Plaza de los Venerables) in the Barrio Santa Cruz and Casa Manolo (Calle San Jorge) in Triana.

Most bars have an alarming array of mountain hams and spiced sausages suspended from the ceiling, all tagged like prize antiques. You could also try some salchichon (salami), chorizo (red spicy sausage) or morcilla (blood sausage) while habas con jamon (broad beans with ham) is a typical Granada dish. Gazpacho is another famous Andalusia creation, a chilled soup based on bread and olive oil and flavored with vegetables and herbs usually tomatoes, garlic and peppers. The Cordobans make their own, thicker version called salmorejo while ajo blanco is a white soup from Malaga based on garlic, almonds and fruit.

In restaurants look for regional dishes large fish are often served with a saffron, paprika or tomato sauce while zarzuela is a fish stew with a spiced tomato sauce. Fried fish can be bought in takeaway freidurias. Desserts always include a choice of fresh fruit or ice cream but in better quality restaurants you'll be able to dither over tarta de almendras (almond tart), crema de membrillo con queso (quince jelly with cheese), pastel cordobis (puff pastry with candied fruit) or the tocino de cielo (caramel custard) from Cadiz.

Andalusia's most famous drink is sherry, a fortified wine from Jerez de la Frontera. Tthe Spanish will drink it with a meal and indeed whenever they can find an excuse. It is the classic complement to tapas. Fino is the most common drink a light, dry sherry, always served chilled. Amontillado is mellower with a nutty flavor and an amber hue. Oloroso is mature, dark and rich, often drunk as a dessert wine. Palo cortado is richer than amontillado but lighter than oloroso. You should also try manzanilla, afino made in Sanlucar de Barrameda on the Atlantic coast where the salty sea air gives it a distinctive tang.

Andalusian wines are few and come a poor second to their Sherries. Exceptions are the excellent strong white Montilla Moriles, produced in Cordoba (amontillado means 'like a Montilla'), and the sweet dessert wines made in Malaga from muscatel grapes. Brandies are also produced around Jerez, varying from the cheap, highly addictive Soberano to the luxurious Carlos I. There are also assorted firewater’s variously flavored with almonds, cherries, oranges, apricots and anis. Spanish measures of spirits are liberal, so take care.

The history of Seville Granada and Cordoba

The history of the Rio Guadalquivir, one of Spain's great rivers, reflects that of the south of the country. Now bloated with silt, it is a portly descendant of the fast flowing, frequently flooding Baetis (Blessed) river that the Romans knew. From the mountains of north-eastern Jaen, its waters wend their way westwards for some 600km (375 miles), carving an ever widening valley that culminates in Las Marismas. These broad marshlands stall its entry into the Atlantic beside the sherry town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. When their fleets arrived here in the 1st century BC, the Romans could sail upriver as far as Cordoba, a strategic point already colonized by Phoenician, Carthaginian and Iberian settlers.

The Romans and southern Spain

The Romans laid the ground plan of southern Spain, building roads, bridges and aqueducts. They established Cordoba, the home of Seneca and Lucan, as the capital of Hispania Ulterior, and redeveloped many of the prehistoric settlements built alongside the Baetis, including Hispalis (now Seville), Carmona and Wilica. The vicinity's numerous archaeological excavations have produced many an artifact that now graces the museums and stately homes of Seville and Cordoba. Of these the most famous is the gold jeweler that constitutes the Carambolo treasure in Seville's Museo Arqueologico. This incredible collection testifies to the wealth of the kingdom of Tartessus that flourished here in the 8th and 9th centuries BC. Near Santiponce (on what are now the western outskirts of Seville) you can wander amid the crumbling ruins of Roman Italica, birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, while at Carmona you can see the remains of the necropolis and amphitheatre.

The Visigoths in Spain

The fall of the Roman Empire led to the rise of the Visigoths, who set up their capital in Toledo. A number of Visigoth fountains, arches and columns can still be seen lurking inside Andalusia monuments constructed many centuries later. In AD711 the Moors principally Arabs and North African Berbers landed at Tarifa. This arrival marked the start of a phenomenal advance: in seven years the Moors conquered virtually the whole peninsula. What had begun as a daring foray was to result in eight centuries of Moorish rule and the flowering of a great civilisation.

The Moors called their new land Al-Andalus, and the river that fed it Guadalquivir (Great River). By the 10th century, Cordoba, the capital of Al-Andalus, had become the most important city in Europe. It was four times its present size, and had a university, libraries, public baths, workshops, street lighting and more than 1,000 mosques.

The greatest of these, La Mezquita, still stands as a testimony to this golden age, which reached its apogee with the construction of the palaces at Medinat al Zahra (now Medina Zahara, just outside Cordoba). Today their partly restored ruins barely hint at the opulence of a royal pleasure park that had its own zoo, mint, fabric factory and arsenal. At its centre stood a pool filled with mercury; when stirred, the sunlight's reflection would flash round the surrounding marble patios and the gold and silver tiles of the roofs.

The Moors in Andalucia

Fabulous wealth grew from the Moors' talent for irrigation in the rich lands of the Guadalquivir Valley. The Greeks had introduced the vine and the olive both cultivated intensively by the Romans but it was the Arabs who added the orange and the almond tree, along with rice, aubergines, saffron, cotton, silk farming, Merino sheep and herbs, spices and fruits. They also, like the Phoenicians before them and the British long after, exploited the mineral resources of the surrounding sierras.
Inevitably, it did not last. By the 11th century the refined glory of the Umayyad Caliphate had disintegrated into feuding taifas (factional kingdoms). These were easily overrun by the strict and austere Almoravids whose Berber armies were summoned to prevent a Christian reconquest. They in turn were succeeded by the more liberal Almohads, who established their capital in Seville the greatest of the taifas and bequeathed us the Giralda and Torre del Oro as mementoes of their reign.

The Decline of Andalucia

In 1212 the Christians defeated the Almohads at Las Navas de Tolosa in the Sierra Morena, a turning point in the 700-year Reconquista. By 1236, Ferdinand III had captured Cordoba, and in 1248 he took Seville. Ferdinand was aided by the complicity of the first Nasrid king, Ibnal Ahmar, who had retreated from Jaen to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and a new power base in the former Almoravid capital of Granada. As a result of a peace treaty with the Christians, the kingdom of Granada which covered the modern provinces of Malaga, Granada and Almeria survived as a vassal state for 250 years. The city flourished, not least due to an influx of Muslim refugees and artisans from other captured cities. Indeed the newcomers played a key role in building the Alhambra, the Nasrid dynasty's memorial to the swan song days of Al-Andalus. At the same time the Christian king Pedro the Cruel was also employing Moorish craftsmen to build another tribute to this fading world the Alcazar in Seville.

In 1492 the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella captured Granada, Columbus discovered the New World, and the Jews were expelled from Spain. By then the notorious Inquisition had been in force for 12 years (it was to survive until 1821), autosdafe (burnings of heretics) were a fact of Sevillian life, and conversos (converted Jews) were having their wealth confiscated for investment in projects such as Columbus's second voyage. In 1503 the monopoly of trade with the New World was awarded to Seville's Casa de la Contratacion, from which the city reaped great profits.

One of its employees, Amerigo Vespucci, gave his name to the new continent, Hernando Cortes sailed from Seville to ravage Mexico, and Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe. Conquisladores returned laden with gold and new curiosities such as peppers, tomatoes, quinine and tobacco.

Seville and the Moors

By 1588 Seville had a population of at least 80,000, and a stature equal to that of Venice. But from the end of the 16th century it embarked on a slow, glorious descent into decadence, a decline exacerbated by the expulsion of the moriscos (converted Moors) in 1610 and a terrible plague in 1649. During the 16th and 17th centuries Seville acted as a transit point for trade, administration and emigration. Its Lonja (Exchange), financed by a quarter percent tax on the import of silver, is now the Archive of the Indies, where you can see the signatures of these early colonizers.

Seville religion

These were heady days in Seville. Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), who served time in Seville's prison, recorded its colorful, roguish underworld in his novels; Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-82) painted the beggars and other characters that filled the city's crowded streets. The Church, its coffers filled to bursting by the activities of the Inquisition, acquired a wealth that enabled it to build for itself luxury city centre sanctuaries that to this day force pedestrians into circumnavigator detours.

At one point the city had more than 70 convents, a glut mitigated only by their decorations, which often featured paintings and sculpture by artists such as Velazquez, Cano, Zurbaran, Murillo and Leal - all members of what is now referred to as the Seville School. Their works can be seen in Seville's excellent Fine Arts Museum.

In 1717 the silting of the Guadalquivir forced the Casa de la Contratacion to be moved south to Cadiz, thus hastening official recognition of Seville's decline. Cordoba and Granada were now merely provincial backwaters in a demoralized country whose empire had been shriveled by the 1701-14 War of the Spanish Succession. In the 18th and 19th centuries Andalusia gained a reputation as the home of gypsies, brigands, majos (dandies) and matadors that enchanted northern Europeans.

Seville was seen as a city of aristocratic seducers called Don Juan and streetwise barbers called Figaro, while a sultry gypsy girl by the name of Carmen worked in the heat of its famous tobacco factory. In reality, however, Andalusia was a place of political chaos and deep poverty: by the beginning of the 19th century, 72 percent of the farming land in Seville was owned by an elite and invariably absentee landlord class that comprised barely five percent of its population.

Travellers in southern Spain

Poverty contributed to the appeal of southern Spain for the numerous aristocratic travelers who hired mules, boats and carriages to tour its provinces. They enjoyed its dilapidated state, exotic landscape and Moorish Oriental heritage. The Alhambra now a picturesque ruin inspired many a Romantic eulogy. Washington Irving swam in its ancient pools, Theophile Gautier cooled sherry in its fountains and hotels appeared on the hill. But it was the passionate, sensual lifestyle of the Andalusians that really set northern heart’s pumping.

Hans Christian Andersen, visiting Andalusia in the 1860s, admitted his disappointment that he had experienced 'just a little encounter with bandits'. One intrepid lady traveler, en route to the Sahara in the same period, confessed that, after hearing a guitarist in Granada, 'you are ready to make love and war'. Spain, which meant Andalusia to these visitors, was in vogue. This fashion as encouraged by the nation's victories in the Peninsular War (1809-14), its low cost of living and the growth of trade interests such as sherry. Granada and Seville topped the bill of places to see: 'Seville, the marvel of Andalusia, can be seen in a week' declared Richard Ford in his 1845 Handbook for Spain, a masterly work that did much to put Spain on the tourist map. Cordoba tended to receive, as it does today, a more perfunctory inspection.

By the end of the 19th century, Spain had lost virtually all of its remaining colonies, and it still lacked political stability. The nation remained neutral in World War 1 but in the 1920s it became bogged down in a war of independence with its onetime masters, the Berber tribes of Morocco. In an attempt to create a lasting order out of chaos, General Miguel Primo de Rivera assumed power in a semi dictatorship that had the concurrence of King Alfonso XIII: the pastiche pavilions built for the 1929 Ibero American Exposition in Seville are a legacy of his period of power.

In the 1930s Ernest Hemingway wrote Death in the Afternoon, a paean to the 'noble art' of bullfighting, but it was fighting of a different nature that characterized that decade in Spain. Almost one million people were killed in the Spanish Civil War (1936-9), including many who were executed at the start of the conflict in Seville, Cordoba and Granada, which were among the first cities to be taken by Franco's Nationalist forces. One such victim was the Granada born writer, Federico Garcia Lorca. Indeed many artists, writers and intellectuals volunteered their support for the Republican cause, but they could not stand between Franco and a fascist victory.

Spain and World War II

In the aftermath of World War II, in which Spain remained neutral, the country was left isolated and impoverished. Franco's dictatorship lasted until his death in 1975, a period of steady economic advance scarred by political and cultural repression. Many Andalusia’s migrated to the northern industrial cities or abroad, leaving the countryside deserted. Franco's acceptance in 1953 of American military bases in exchange for loans, along with Spain's subsequent admission to the UN, accelerated its economic recovery and led to the development of mass tourism during the 1960s.

In 1975, monarchy returned in the shape of King Juan Carlos, soon to be followed by democratic elections. In 1982 the Socialist PSOE party, led by the charismatic Sevillian lawyer Felipe Gonzalez, won a sweeping victory that paved the way for long overdue investment in the region. The great manifestation of this was Expo '92 in Seville, which brought new roads, high-speed trains and a building boom to the regional capital.

And yet, for all the high-tech facelifts, the romantic, rose in the teeth view of Andalusia persists. The Andalusia’s themselves foster this image in their patios, bars, peiias (clubs) and ferias (fairs), and in the countryside, where donkeys are still used to plough the fields. Andalusia will always be Spain spiced with the tang of North Africa, a mountain locked land racked by summer heat and fed by the waters of the Guadalquivir.

About Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca offers visitors a wide range of things to see and do. From the high rise hotels and fantastic entertainment venues in Benidorm to the quiet inland villages of the rural Costa Blanca, this region of Spain attracts thousands of visitors every year.Most visitors to the Costa Blanca head for Benidorm, knowing that the Mediterranean's biggest resort will provide an unforgettable holiday. Many tourists find everything they need in the coastal resorts an agreeable year-round climate, a good standard of accommodation and plenty to do.But the Costa Blanca has much more. A few kilometers from the tourist centers traditional Spain re-emerges, a country where historic towns are set amid superb scenery and the rural pace of life remains undisturbed. Finding this other side is a challenge and delight, and the memory of this will last long after the tan has faded.


Costa Blanca culture



It is a land of huge variety, with thriving ports, bustling cities and a vast agricultural industry. Life has changed immensely in the last 50 years, but its people remain fiercely proud of their region, their history, their traditions and their culture For most visitors though, the main attraction will be the beauty and fertility of the land. High sierras soar above terraced valleys planted with almonds, oranges and olives. Discover the vineyards, hidden upland streams, and vistas of buff, red and ochre peaks. Explore the still lonely coastal stretches, where pines shade rocky paths and the air is scented with aromatic plants. Gaze over the salt flats, haunt of wading birds, a flat and shimmering landscape backed by miles of rich market gardens. The sooner you discover this Costa Blanca, the more you'll enjoy this lovely corner of Europe.

Costa Blanca Information



The Costa Blanca officially lies along the coastline of the region of Valencia, but now includes the hinterland and the region of Murcia. At 325km, the Segura is Spain's eighth longest river.Espuna, with a height of 1,579m is the area's highest mountain.There is one regional park and several natural parks, including marine reserves, within the area.The northern part of the Costa Blanca enjoys 3,147 hours of sunshine annually, and the southern 3,098 hours.The annual rainfall ranges from 394 to 148mm and occurs mainly in the winter months.

People in the Costa Blanca

Most of the population of the area live in the cities and their suburbs.Only around 50 per cent of the area's inhabitants were born here of local parents.Over 70 per cent of foreign property owners are English or German.The main fruit crops are oranges, lemons, cherries, peaches, nectarines and loquats.Large amounts of almonds and olives are grown here and are important Spanish exports.Local produce includes rice, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, beans, aubergines and a range of salads, which are exported throughout Europe.Fruit and nut processing are major industries.Shoe manufacture is an important source of revenue.


Tourism in Alicante and the Costa Blanca


Holiday life on the Costa Blanca revolves around sun, sand and sea, with plenty of good food and a few late nights. If this is your first visit here, soak up the sun and the atmosphere, sparing perhaps a couple of days for exploring the beautiful inland mountains and one or two atmospheric towns. Once you have tasted the diversity of the region, you will probably return and gradually get to know the hidden corners, where traditional Spanish life has remained untouched by the glitz of the big resorts. Bottom: clean beaches lie within an easy stroll of Costa Blanca's modern hotels

Best things to do on the Costa Blanca

Take the scenic Costa Blanca Express between Alicante and Denia for great views and glimpses of small-town life; or hop on at night and have dinner up the coast from your resort.Take a boat ride for fresh breezes and a change of scene, to the offshore island of Abarca, Benidorm Island, or the islands in the Mar Menor.Go to a local market and admire the produce, smell the flowers and buy a picnic, a paella pan or a pair of locally made sandals.

Have a gastronomic day out sampling local wine, locally grown rice, almonds and honey, and turron, a super sweet nougat produced here to be eaten at Christmas.Take in a fiesta, be it the pre-Lenten Carnaval, the Holy Week processions, a Moros y Cristianos parade commemorating the Reconquest, or a summer firework display. Eat a traditional rice dish fish based on the coast. or with pork, game and vegetables inland. Top: the crags of Guadalest rise above the roofs of this picturesque village Above: an Alicante flower stall glows with warm southern colors.
Rural inland Costa Blanca

As in so many parts of Spain, tourism in the Costa Blanca clings to the highly developed coastal strip, leaving the hinterland virtually untouched. Less than 8km inland from even the busiest resort, Spanish rural life continues as it has always done. So if you crave tranquility you never have far to go, with the added bonus that this lovely coast is backed by some wonderful countryside.

Even beside the sea there are still undeveloped pockets where you can have a swim, rock scramble or a cliff top walk far from the sights and sounds of the 21 st century. There are some impressive pine studded cliffs and solitary coves south of Cabo de la Nao, with stretches of dune backed secluded sand between Alicante (Alacant) and Torrevieja, and remote, empty bays and beaches at Calblanque below Cabo de Palos, now a designated natural park. These coastal areas have an exceptionally rich spring flora; lavender, thyme, rosemary, white, yellow and pink cistus, and other aromatic plants carpet the cliffs from March to June. Some parts of the coastal water have remarkable submarine life, which flourishes on the expanses of sea grass, and includes the now rare turtle. The salt flats around Santa Pola and Torrevieja provide rich feeding for more than 250 species of birds, including good-sized flamingo colonies.

South of Alicante

South of Alicante the area behind the coastline is relatively flat and very fertile, planted with vegetable crops and huge orange groves, the landscape dotted with small farms and sentinel palm trees. The palms form a forest around Elche thousands of trees carpeted with cool greenery, where you can stroll in shady peace. South again, Murcia seems like one vast market garden, the upper Segura valley a rolling landscape of peach orchards, olive groves and rice fields interspersed with patches of woodland, steep escarpments and sleepy country towns, its quiet roads bordered with the vibrant colors of poppies, crown daisies and Bermuda buttercups This agricultural landscape provides shelter for a good range of birds and small mammals naturalists keen on insects and small reptiles will find fascinating life in the stone walls and long grasses bordering the well tended fields.

Costa Blanca mountains

North of Benidorm the high sierras rise precipitously from the coast, wonderful mountain systems of great drama, the bare rock faces glowing with different colors as the light changes throughout the day. The lower slopes of these great mountain valleys have been intricately terraced since Moorish times and are planted, as they have been for centuries, with almonds, oranges, loquats, cherries and olives. Roads twist up through the mountains, sometimes clinging to the hillsides, sometimes allowing stupendous panoramas of valleys and further chains of peaks and rock faces. These hills are laced with ancient footpaths offering magnificent day-long hikes for discovering the wildlife, birds and flora. Foxes, rabbits and other mammals are hard to spot in daylight, but the soaring birds of prey, migrant wintering songbirds and prolific insect life add an extra dimension to walking in this superb landscape.Right in the south of the region lies another great mountain area, the Sierra de Espuna, a superb mountain chain covered with natural pine woods.

Alicante and Costa Blanca information

Long before the Costa Blanca was a famous holiday resort, it was home to many famous Spaniards from the world or art and nobility.This part of Spain has given birth to many eminent Spaniards, who have made their mark on local history. World famous are the writer Gabriel Miro Ferrer, who was born in Alicante and Murcia's most famous son, the 18th century sculptor, Francisco Salzillo. Salzillo specialized in life-size painted wooden figures, which adorn altarpieces and are used in religious processions throughout Murcia.

Rich and famous sons of the Costa Blanca

Today, tourism has changed the Costa Blanca forever, and the 19th and early 20th century travellers who explored this coastline would scarcely recognise it. One of the last people to write about the area before the boom was Rose Macaulay, who travelled along the coast and described sleepy villages which are now buzzing resorts and a landscape which has virtually ceased to exist. The luxurious villas, hidden in pine woods above the sea, are the retreats for northern European celebrities, business people, financiers, sportsmen and women and their families. Many famous people have found the area ideal for a second home, where they can escape the attention of the media which is an inevitable part of life in their own countries.

About Formentera

If you are looking for things to do in Ibiza and Formentera you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to attractions, events and beaches.

Swing a map of Formentera about half a turn and squint your eyes and you can convince yourself that the blueprint for the island was a seahorse. From the straight spine followed by the Via Major, the seahorse's rolled tail follows the eastern coastline from Punta Roja past La Mola to Punta Palmera, while the head points towards Cap de Barbaria. The usual explanation of Formentera's name is that it derives from 'wheat', the island having been one of Rome's granaries. Yet that seems so unlikely on this arid outcrop that many experts believe the name must derive from an ancient word for a headland, the two headlands of Barbaria and La Mola (the head and tail of the seahorse) being such prominent features of an otherwise flat island.

Formentera is a quiet, peaceful place, the ideal antidote to the hectic activity of tourist Ibiza. Come here to relax if you have been burning the candle at both ends on the larger island.

How to get to Formentera

Only 4km separate Punta de ses Partes, the most southerly point on Ibiza, from the northern tip of S'Espalmador, the island off Formentera's northern shore. Since the sea between S'Espalmador and Trucadors, Formentera's northern tip, can be waded on calm days, it might seem a simple thing to cross between Ibiza and the smaller island. Yet Es Freus, the passage between the islands, with its numerous islands, sand banks and strong currents, has always been a difficult passage for ships. Today's traveler has no such problems: numerous boats leave Eivlssa's harbor for Formentera every day during the summer months. Of these boats the most reliable are the scheduled services of Fiebasarrrasmapi, which include both passenger and car ferries, and the Umafisa car ferry. The Flebasa/Trasmapi passenger services are by fast catamarans which cut the journey time of the slow ferries (about one hour) in half. Tickets can be bought at the Estacion Maritima on Eivissa's harbor (on the side nearest the new town, not at the large building beside the monument to the Corsairs). at the harbourside at Estación Maritima at La Savina on Formentera, or on the boat itself. Check the return times of boats and remember to arrive early if you are planning to catch the last boat as it might be full. Those taking a day trip to Formentera from Ibiza at the height of summer would be advised to catch an earlier boat back, just to be sure.

Leaving from Eivissa, the boat offers a wonderful view of Dalt Vila and Ibiza's southeastern coast and soon passes the lighthouse on the islets of Penjats and Porcs to reach the long, flat S'Espalmador - its watchtower prominently visible. If you are travelling on the deck of the catamaran rather than in the comfortable seats inside, look out for seabirds: Cory's shearwater and the Balearic subspecies of the Manx shearwater are often seen on the journey.

Formentera beaches

Formentera is a quieter, more peaceful island than Ibiza, better for visitors looking for relaxing days on the beach, a good meal and an evening stroll rather than a hectic nightlife. It is therefore popular with families and has beaches to meet all expectations. Except at the cliff-bordered ends of the islands, it is possible to swim almost anywhere, check out the site for best beaches

10 things to do in Ibiza

If you are planning to visit Ibiza for the first time, here are some great things to do during your stay:

1. Take a walk around Dalt Vila. Before you start, it might be an idea to buy some espadrilles. The traditional Spanish ropesoled sandals. The whole history of the Pine Islands is set out in Eivissa's upper town.

2. Find a quiet section of coast and go for a walk. Near Cap de Barbaria, on Formentera, you can gaze out across the Mediterranean in the direction of Africa and imagine you are a Moor looking towards home

3. Take a boat trip around a part of the islands' coast and try to understand how it must have felt to see the islands for the first time.

4. Find a quiet inland village on Ibiza and stroll around. Admire the distinctive architecture and relax, the way the locals do.

5. Join in a ball page, the traditional island festival with music and singing, discover that the locals do occasionally let their hair down.

6. Buy a drink or a meal at El Corsario, Dalt Vila´s most famous hotel/restaurant.

7. Go for a swim. No visit would be complete without a dip in the clear, warm waters. If you really want to swim in style, take off all your clothes at one of the official nudist beaches.

8. Eat fresh fish at a beach restaurant. The islands are famous for their fish dishes and sometimes you can watch the fish you are going to eat being caught.

9. Take a stroll through La Marina in Eivissa to watch the comings and goings of they younger visitors as they seek out the latest Ad Lib fashions.

10. On your last night take a glass of sangria to a cliff top on the western side of the island and watch the sun setting over the Mediterranean.
Rural Ibiza

With mass tourism and the club scene filling several of the towns and most of the beaches it could easily be assumed that peace and quiet were the hardest things to find on Ibiza. In fact it could not be easier Just walk away from a crowded beach for a few minutes and you will be on a deserted section of coast, or drive for a few miles from any town and you will be in countryside that seems to have been untouched by time.

The coast of Ibiza

On Ibiza, and even more so on Formentera, wild flowers can be found clinging precariously to life in rocky crevices and other unlikely places. On the beaches and In the backing sand dunes there are sea daffodils and sea holly, but also some much rarer plants. The islands are the only place in Europe where a particular form of squill is found.

In the remaining wooded areas behind the dunes the woodland chiefly Aleppo pine those willing to spend time exploring will find many types of orchids. Mirror orchid, with blue flowers edged with brown, is relatively common, as is the sombre bee orchid (Ophrys fusca). By contrast, the bee orchid is rare and endangered.

The Mediterranean is home to surprisingly few seabirds and waders. The lack of tides and, therefore, an intertidal region, discourages wading birds, while the sea's warm waters are less densely packed with food than the colder waters of northern Europe. Nevertheless, the yellow legged gull will be easily recognized. However, if the gull you are watching has dark legs and a red beak with a yellow tip, then you could have an Audouin's gull in view, claimed to be the rarest gull in the world.

Formentera flora and fauna

Formentera is almost too small to have an 'inland' area, but inland lbiza is a real contrast to the crowded beaches. Here you will be able to find real peace and quiet and fascinating flora and fauna. At almost any time of year inland lbiza is colorful. In February, January's yellow mimosa is replaced by pink and white almond blossom, and bunch flowered narcissus. In March, spring arrives, heralded by lavender, rock roses, moon daises and the surprisingly beautiful yellow flowers of the prickly pear cactus. In summer, the bougainvillea, oleander and honeysuckle are brilliant against the blue of the sky, while the arrival of autumn brings violets, narcissi and squills. The winter months see the heathers blooming and then the bright fruits of the citrus trees.

Antonio Riquer and Ibiza

Antonio Riquer was the most famous of Ibiza's Corsairs a vigilante sea captain or a pirate, depending upon your point of view. His most famous action was the defeat of a feared Gibraltarian pirate called Miguel Novelli, who was nicknamed 'The Pope'. Riquer intercepted 'The Pope' as he was sailing from Formentera to attack Ibiza. Despite having a much smaller ship and being completely outgunned, Riquer's superior seamanship won the day, 'The Pope' breaking off the battle and fleeing just before his ship was about to be boarded or sunk. Riquer is remembered in a street name near Eivissa's harbour, his house in Dalt Vila is on the touristic route, and he was one of the main reasons the Ibizencos raised EI Obelisco a los Corsarios, the monument to the Corsairs on La Marina's sea front.

Hannibal and Ibiza

Although the Carthaginians probably originated in what is now Lebanon and had an empire which was vIrtually confined to the North African coast, they did colonize Ibiza. Legend has it that It was on Sa Conillera, the now uninhabited island lying off Ibiza's western shore, near Sant Antoni, that Hannibal, the most glorious Carthaginian general, was born. Hannibal is chiefly famous for crossing the Alps with his elephants to defeat Rome, but as important to him as his elephants were the lead pellets fired by his army's slingers. These pellets were formed from lead that had been mined on Ibiza.

Joaquim Vara de Rey Close to the Tourist Information Office in Paseo Vara de Rey is a statue of the man for whom the street is named. The General is Ibiza's most famous soldier. He died in 1898 defending Cuba, one of Spain's last American colonies, against an invading US army.

Places to visit in Ibiza

There are several Ibizas, each distinctly different. At the island's heart, though not at its centre, is Eivissa, the capital. Even here there are several different towns the old walled city of Dalt Vila and the Carthaginian necropolis beside it; the trendy shopping area near the harbor where visitors crowd to see the latest Ad Lib fashions; and the new town where more elegant shops and pavement cafes stand among the offices.

There are several coasts, too. Mass tourism has peopled some beaches with sun-worshippers and hotel developments have blighted the natural scenery. Yet within a few minutes' walk of these areas the visitor can be alone in coves as beautiful as any to be found on the Mediterranean coast.

Finally there is inland Ibiza, rural villages of white cube houses and black-shawled women, and upland areas where ancient vegetation still thrives. Here the plant lover can search for flowers found only on Ibiza, while the bird lover will delight in rare and exotic species.

Eivissa Ibiza

There are few more dramatic sites on the Mediterranean coast than that of Eivissa's Old Town, Dalt Vila, especially when viewed from the sea, its walls and bastions rising above the rugged coast and turquoise water.

Under Franco's centralist regime only Castillian names were allowed in areas of Spain that had their own language or dialect Then. and still occasionally. the town was merely 'La Vila' to the locals, 'Ibiza Town' to visitors.

However, democracy has allowed regional pride to flourish and many of the island's names are now both written and spoken in Ibizenco, a dialect of Catalan. In Ibizenco the town is Eivissa, a name that echoes the ancient names of the island the Carthaginian age, the Greek Ebysos. the Roman Ebusus and the Moorish Yebisah.

Eivissa is a marvellous place in summer. an exciting assault on the senses. Within its close confines it captures the essence of the island Dalt Vila. Sa Penya, La Marina and the local coast offering quite different aspects of Ibiza. Go to Dalt Vila for historical Ibiza, to Sa Penya's tight-knit streets for shopping and local colour, to La Marina or the harbour for the smell of the sea and to gape at the expensive boats, and to the nearby beaches for the modern, brasher Ibiza.