Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/604887
AndAlusiA In the southern region of Spain, it's easy to imagine the caravans of royals and Romani making their seasonal progress from the Mediterranean seaside through groves of oranges and olives. In the dust of one of the only semi-deserts in Europe, the Tabernas, one can picture them making camp and making merry to the sounds of flamenco and poured sherry. It was from here, this land of 300 days of sunshine, that Christopher Columbus departed for the New World— and where visitors can find a taste of the old one. Provincial towns, exotic Moorish influence, towering mountains, and fantastical beaches are all part of the journey when visitors escape to Andalusia. The capital of the region, Seville, lures visitors to the western boundaries with views of the River Guadalquivir below. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Alcazar Palace—one of the best examples of Mudejar architecture—and the Cathedral, which houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus in the depths of its 12 th century mosque foundations, are another draw. In Granada, the exotic architecture reaches even greater heights with the Moorish masterpiece the Alhambra, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one that lights the hilltop of la Sabica in a golden glow before the Sierra Nevada. To the south, the Costa del Sol's Malaga and Marbella live up to their sunny name, with blue Flag beaches as stunning as any skyscraping creations of man. In the city of Marbella, an exclusive haven for the European elite, nightlife glitters as much as the sea and delectable cuisine dazzles, but differently than the inland province of Cordoba's does. There, the Mediterranean diet reigns, fitting hand in hand with this countryside port city's love of gardening. Effusions of plant life bring vibrancy to squares such as la Plaza del Potro, only minutes from the Great Mosque, Mezquita, Alcazar fortress, and medieval Jewish Quarter. 66 | Andalusia