Andalusia is the southern part of Spain. It has a heritage back to the Roman Empire, and a diverse scenery of deserts, beaches along the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz and the Sierra Nevada range, with Iberia's tallest mountains, and Europe's southernmost ski resorts, as well as summer hiking and eco-tourism.

Granada

Rich in history and culture, Granada is a very worthwhile city in Spain for a tourist. In addition to a rich multicultural history, the Alhambra and other monuments, a student- driven nightlife, and skiing and trekking in the nearby Sierra Nevada, Granada offers a break from the summer heat of other Andalusian cities such as Córdoba or Seville.

Nearby Almeria and Jaen

The word Almería is an Arabic word which means mirror of the sea. Like many Andalusian cities, Almería kept its Arabic name after it had been recaptured by the Spanish. The Alcazaba is an imposing Moorish fortress overlooking the city.

Jaén is called the world capital of olive oil, because the province produces 200,000 tons of oil annually. Around it, there are olive groves as far as the eye can see. The layout of Jaén is determined by its position in the hills of the Santa Catalina mountains, with steep, narrow streets, in the historical central city district.

A historical guide to Andalusia

Andalusia has a rich history, starting with pre-Roman Iberian and Phoenician cultures, followed by Carthaginian and then prolonged Roman rule as the province of Baetica. A major turning point was the 711 CE Muslim conquest, which established Al-Andalus, a flourishing cultural and economic center that lasted for centuries. After the gradual Reconquista, Andalusia was integrated into a unified Spain, eventually gaining autonomous status in 1982 after experiencing political upheavals in the 19th and 20th centuries.