By msotomayor12
It is obvious that each country has charming qualities that make it unique, but finding the real treasures within each leaves one completely enamored. Andalucía, Spain’s southern region, is full of gems that illuminate Spain’s history. Each city is aesthetically beautiful thanks to the mix of small city streets and the fusion of Christian and Islamic architecture. In other words, these are the best cities to rack up likes on Instagram. They’re also the cities I absolutely recommend one visits before they die. Here’s a glimpse of Córdoba, Sevilla, and Granada.
Córdoba
Even though its the smallest city in the Andalucía region, Córdoba is the home of the largest Mosque-Cathedral in Spain. Centuries ago, Muslims originally built the religious monument that consisted of an outdoor patio and a breath taking mosque that still stands. When one enters it, they see a “forest” of red arches and columns that seem to be never ending. Several prayer rooms are ornately decorated in traditional Islamic plaster, which are detailed with faded colors and intricate designs.
However, if one walks to the center of the building they enter a completely different world. When Charles V saw the mezquita, he felt that the only way to signify that Catholicism was the official religion was to build a chapel in the middle of it. White walls decorated with gold Renaissance details build the skeleton of the chapel. A large wooden choir and a three-story altarpiece are the touches that complete the wondrous site.
The town itself is filled with charming, quiet streets. Restaurants are located on either side and serve typical Andaluz food, including salmorejo and bull’s tail. After grabbing some lunch, one cannot leave Córdoba without seeing the Roman remnants, like the archway and wall witin the ancient city.
Sevilla
After an afternoon in Córdoba, we headed south to my favorite city in the world, Sevilla. I say this because the city is filled with everything I love. The city is built like the most beautiful laberinto (labyrinth) that you dream of getting lost in.
Everything about Sevilla is romantic. The extremely narrow streets are lined with tall apartment buildings, each decorated with rustic balconies and tiles. One can peer into the apartment’s patios, or open terraces in the center of the building. They are filled with flowers, fountains, and more Spanish tiles. With every twist and turn, tourists seem to find a dead end, but really there’s an almost invisible street leading you elsewhere. The streets are so narrow in this city to create some ventilation from the extremely warm weather, which is something this Florida girl does not mind.
All the rustic streets lead to the heart of the city, where one finds La Giralda and the Cathedral. La Giralda stands tall as the last remnant of the ancient mesquite, which was demolished to build the Cathedral. I absolutely recommend going to a nearby rooftop to enjoy food and drinks with an a breath-taking view. Better yet, climbing the 32 ramps to the top of the tower gives one a panoramic view of the city.
If you’re just as obsessed with tiles and Islamic architecture as I am, I recommend visiting El Alcazar. The expansive palace has rooms after rooms filled with incredible tile patterns. And if that isn’t you’re thing, stepping out into the gardens is worth it. There are waterfalls, patios, and mazes that leave you awestruck.
Another must see is Plaza España, located next to the King and Queen's former private park. This Sevillan landmark was built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Each city in Spain is represented with a tiled bench and a picture that most represents it. One can walk around the plaza and over its many bridges or take a boat ride through its slender stream. It's a beautiful location for a perfect date.
Remember how I said I left my heart in Madrid years ago? Well I’ve been so careless that I think I lost it again in Seville. It is so hard to describe just how beautiful the city is. It’s one of those places that makes you forget about any worry and instead, welcomes you to appreciate every minute of pure relaxation. Even though this was my third visit to Sevilla, it keeps on blowing me away with its charm. I guess another trip there is necessary!
Granada
Lastly, we took a day trip to Granada. In Spanish, Granada translates to pomegranate. When Isabel and Ferdinand took over the last non-Catholic city in Spain, they named it Granada to represent that it is one of the many “seeds” within the unified Catholic country.
The Muslim empire is still standing in Granada at La Alhambra, which translates to “red walls.” Before Isabel and Ferdinand conquered the last Muslim empire in 1492, La Alhambra used to be the Sultan’s palace. The miniature city houses a military base, remnants of civilian houses, the Sultan’s palace and summer house, as well as Charles V's architecturally perfect palace (circle within a square layout). The most impressive location is the palace. It is a time vortex that made me wish I were the Sultan’s wife so that I could experience the wondrous place.
The second stop in Granada was visiting the tombs of Los Reyes Catolicos. It is in this church where Isabel and Ferdinand, their daughter, Queen Juana la loca and her husband, Philip el hermoso.
Although I did not spend enough time to appreciate everything Granada had to offer, I loved its atmosphere. Near the Gran Via, or Main Street, everything looked so modern. However, if you take a turn past the Cathedral, everything suddenly feels like you’re in Morocco. Tiny thrift and souvenir shops sell Middle Eastern clothes, tapestries, and trinkets.
If it isn’t obvious enough from my experiences, Andalucía is the best place to visit in Spain.