DESTINATIONS ANDALUSIA SPAIN & PORTUGAL


dipping into the exhibitions inside; the one with ancient Roman mosaics is best. These are warm-ups, though,


SAMPLE PRODUCT


Super Break offers three nights in Seville, staying at the


four-star Silken Al Andalus Palace Hotel, from £246 per person. A three-night


break at the four- star Las Casas de la Juderia Córdoba starts


at £305. Both are based on B&B stays, with flights from Stansted in mid-May.


superbreak.com/ agents


Osprey Holidays offers a four- night twin-centre to Seville and Granada from £399, departing May 19. Price includes two nights at the H10 Corregidor in Seville and two at the Hotel Casa Del Capitel Nazari,


room-only, flights from Gatwick and a bus transfer from Seville to Granada.


ospreyholidays. com


106travelweekly.co.uk31 January 2019


ABOVE: Granada Tapas Tours


LEFT: Hotel Gar-Anat, Granada


for Córdoba is home to one of the most impressive buildings on earth. The a was constructed as the principal mosque during the Córdoba caliphate’s zenith. The oldest parts date back more than 1,300 years, and the whole place is a surreal, woozy maze of red and white arches. Hyper- detailed mosaics adorn the mihrab, then you get to the centre of the vast building to see the modern-day cathedral inside it, as if this was all perfectly standard. Once the sightseeing is over, you can head to the Hammam Al Andalus, an architecturally exquisite restoration of the city’s Arabic-style baths. Stay: The Hospes Palacio del Bailío is built around several orange and pomegranate tree-filled courtyards. There’s a pool in the central one, and gorgeous Mudejar-style decor inside. Rooms cost from €128 a night. hospes.com


 GRANADA With the Sierra Nevada mountain range as a backdrop, Granada is worth visiting on location alone. But its history also makes it a little bit special. It was the last bastion of Islamic rule in southern Spain, finally being reconquered in 1492. And the final holdout was the astonishing hilltop Alhambra complex, a mini fortified town in its own right, with lavish


gardens, palaces and ramparts. It’s justifiably popular, making buying


tickets in advan ce a near necessity – especially if you want to get into the Nasrid Palaces, which are generally regarded as the highlight of the visit. Otherwise, the beautifully kept


gardens are full of nooks and crannies, going from showpiece fountains to peaceful hedged alcoves within seconds. And the Alcazabar is a hugely intimidating defensive structure, with imperious views over the city and the Albaicín neighbourhood. The Albaicín is the historically Muslim neighbourhood, and it still has flavours of North Africa in its baffling maze. Hookah lounges, tea cafes and stalls selling colourful fabrics are par for the course in the main streets, while heading upwards will eventually


lead to the Mirador de San Nicolás. This is the best lookout for getting those photos of the Alhambra. The Albaicín is home to several


private palaces, of which the Palacio de los Olvidados is a good example. Inside it has been turned into a museum that focuses partially on the Sephardic Jews that once called Granada home, but mainly on the Spanish Inquisition and the torture methods used to extract confessions of heresy. This could be tackily done, but ends up fascinating. The other key attraction in Granada is the Capilla Real, where the monarchs who funded Christopher Columbus and united Spain – Ferdinand and Isabella – are buried in a predictably ostentatious marble mausoleum. Granada’s not all about the past though – it’s a great place for a ‘tapas crawl’. There’s a strong tradition of serving up a small dish with every drink ordered, so an evening meal can easily take place across several venues. The €40 evening jaunt around the


city’s tapas haunts with Granada Tapas Tours is a great way of getting to know Granada’s food scene. Different joints are visited each night, and the dishes are varied too. Granada may be historic, but things don’t have to remain the same. Stay: Keeping up the North African vibe, the Hotel Gar-Anat is one of several riad-esque hotels in historic buildings. It ladles on the charms, with quotes from poets all over the walls and beautiful wood carvings among its design touches. Standard rooms start at €119. hotelgaranat.com


PICTURES: MARTA DEL PINO; FOTOWORK.ES/ANTONIO AREVALO


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