The mosque-cathedral, with its extraordinary mihrab , is without doubt a masterpiece of Muslim art. Construction was started in 780, on the site of the Visigothic church of St-Vincent. A series of new naves was subsequently added until 987, when it ..

The Nasrid palaces, which comprise three sections, are the Alhambra’s hidden jewel. The south wall of the Golden Room Patio provides a concise summary of Nasrid art. In the Myrtle Courtyard , admire the imposing crenellated Comares Tower , the ..

The view from the terrace of the church of San Nicolás is superb: the red and ochre Alhambra stands out on the lush hill opposite, with the snowy slopes of the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop. To one side, note the city’s new mosque and the Centre ..

With its fascinating architecture, sumptuous gardens and delightful water features, the Alhambra is the embodiment of refinement, where words fail to do justice to this paradise created by the Nasrid princes as the ultimate expression of a civilisati..

Spain's largest nature reserve extends over an area of 214 300 hectares. Its landscape is breathtakingly beautiful. Its villages, its unusual vegetation (one of the most amazing plants is the Cazorla violet), and its fauna (wild boar, deer) all contr..

Emblem of Seville; a masterpiece of Almohad art, the minaret (96 m) of the old mosque was built in the12C. In the 16C the Cordovan architect Hernán Ruiz gave it its current appearance of a belfry by adding the bell chamber and four upper rooms and by..

Modified and added to over the centuries, these stunning palatial buildings, first built in the 10C, are notable for their architectural diversity. Highlights here include Charles V’s room , originally built in the 13C by Alfonso X the Wise; superb ..

It is impossible to resist the charm of this district extending as far as the church of Santa María la Blanca with its maze of alleyways, whitewashed houses, hidden flower-decked patios and tiny squares. As the Jewish district during the Middle Ages,..

Set up in the old Merced convent, it is a panorama of Spanish painting from the Golden Age. In room V , a unique setting houses the masterpiece by Zurbarán, The Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas , and an extraordinary collection of works by Murillo , i..

Peter the Cruel's palace was built in 1362 by masons from Granada. As a result the decoration is highly influenced by the Alhambra. Notice the sophisticated ornamentation of the Patio de las Donacellas , the Sala del Techo de Carlos V , the Bedroo..

«Let us build a church so big that those who see it will think us mad», that is what the cathedral chapter decided in 1401 when the mosque had to be knocked down. It is one of the last Spanish Gothic cathedrals and its size makes it the third largest..

Early 16C Carthusian monastery, its church lavishly decorated with Baroque stucco (1662) and paintings. Of particular note are the Sagrario Chapel , decorated by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo (18C) and the Sacristy (1727-1764), a masterpiece of Span..

Jerez has an extraordinary architectural heritage. In addition to its incomparable cathedral and castle, there are its Reconquista churches in the medieval town centre. Plaza del Arenal and Plaza de Plateros are good places to pause prior to strollin..

The palace is accessed through a Baroque portico at the end of the courtyard. Built by Alfonso X, it was altered in the 18C with the addition of the Great Hall (fine tapestries from the Royal factory in Madrid illustrating the conquest of Tuins i..

Laid out over different historical periods and occupying 80% of the surface area of the castle, the gardens are terraced and pride of place is given to water features such as the Pool of Mercury and the gallery of Grotesques (17C), which take up ..

The Campiña lies between Seville and Cordoba, an attractively agricultural region of olive groves, wheat fields and vineyards. Its towns bear witness to 3 000 years of history, with some true jewels of bygone ages; the Puerta de Sevilla alcazar and t..

This mining theme park lies within the town and the surrounding area, and includes a recently built mining and railway museum . The tourist train operating here comprises several old-fashioned carriages. Enjoy unexpectedly beautiful views over thi..

This national park, one of the largest in Europe, occupies marshland at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river. It has a fragile ecosystem and is an ideal refuge for migratory birds. The park comprises three different areas: the salt marshes ( marismas ..

The marshland (marisma), situated at the mouth of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve. The habitat of swamps and sand, where the water level varies according to the tide (with a range that sometimes reaches 3m), pr..

This magnificent park, dotted with attractive villages and rocky outcrops affording delightful views, extends around the small town of Aracena, in the northern part of Huelva province. Its lush vegetation makes it popular with Andalucians. For more i..