Andalusia

Andalusia is the region in southern Spain. It has eight provinces, namely Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville. In this article I am going to share with you my observations about Andalusia and tips on how to experience the most of this region.

I had never been to Spain before Erasmus. I left my home excited to get to know a new country, language of which I knew only from songs and telenovelas. I did not know a lot about Spain. What I knew were mainly some stereotypes I learned at school, like for example, the Spanish like their siesta and wine, they are dancers, singers and they all play the guitar. I knew football is a big thing for them, as well as bullfighting.

During my first days in Andalusia I realized English was not gonna get me anywhere. It happened to me a few times that I got lost or I wanted to order something in a restaurant and no one understood me. Whenever I approached someone asking for directions they would be very friendly and keen to help. After telling them "no hablo español" ("I don´t speak Spanish"), they would repeat their instructions but this time very slowly with perfect articulation, which of course for me made no difference at all. Nevermind, I always found it very cute.

Tip: When you travel to Andalusia and you don´t speak Spanish, be prepared that generally people will not understand English or any other language. That means don´t forget your dictionary and learn some basic phrases, such as "café por favor" ("coffee please"), or "muchas gracias" ("thank you"). And even if you do speak Spanish, their dialect might not be easily understood. Andalusians speak really fast and with a strong accent.

Now, three years after my Erasmus and after I have seen other cities and provincies in Spain I can proclaim Andalusia to be my most favourite part of Spain. While I was living in Huelva locals would often tell me Andalusia is the best and the most beautiful region. I always thought "well I am sure every region would say the same". However, Andalusia indeed is peculiar. It is the region of mesmerizing nature, rich cultural inheritance and exquisite traditional cuisine. Whether you are nature lover, art lover, sightseeing person, sport person, or a shopping freak Andalusia has it all. What I love especially about it are its long sandy beaches and historical city centers.

Seville

Andalusia is the place where Flamenco originated. Flamenco is musical dance genre, kind of folk music, considered to be a significant part of Spanish culture. Seville is the centre of Flamenco and it is the capital of Andalusia as well. If you are passionate about dance and music you definitely need to visit Flamenco museum in Seville.

When I first visited Seville I felt amazed by its architecture. The sightseeing in this place is just pure pleasure for your soul. If you walk in the city centre on a warm sunny day, watching all the historical monuments and buidlings you might feel you travelled a few centuries backwards. Absolute must see in Seville is Alcazar palace. It is originally the Moorish fortress, and as such represents a unique blend of Spanish and Moorish culture. It is part of UNESCO inheritance.

Plaza de España. Photo taken by my flatmate Aneta Čepilová from Czech republic.

Me and my lovely flatmate Anna from Poland on our day trip in Sevilla.

Málaga

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Málaga is an important port city. It is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. If you are passionate about art I recommend you visit Picasso Museum there. Malaga attracts plenty of tourists mainly thanks to its beaches, historical sights, art, as well as good shopping.

Granada

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Granada belongs to the most visited places in Spain. It is famous for its busy historical centre with palaces from different historical epochs, cathedrals, and monasteries. A must see in Granada is the medieval Alhambra palace, featuring Moorish culture. If you are a nature lover, you might consider visiting Sierra Nevada. It is a mountain range which spreads across Granada and Almería. For those who cannot imagine winter without skiing, Sierra Nevada will be a perfect place for indulging. It has many ski resorts and the skiing season starts in November and ends in May. If you are more of a summer person, then you will love Sierra Nevada for its paragliding and hiking opportunities.

The rest of Andalusia is still on my bucket list. If you have any suggestions and recommendations on what to see there, please feel free to leave a comment. I will appreciate it a lot!

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