GRAN CALAHONDA,
PORTICO 10, ATTICO A,
SITIO DE CALAHONDA,
MIJAS COSTA,
MALAGA
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Day Trips
If you feel like getting away from the typical hustle and bustle of the Costa to sample
what else Southern Spain can offer, just jump in the car and head out. Below are a few
suggestions of what is in easy “Day Trip” reach from Calahonda……………
Tarifa
Take the toll road to Algeciras, passing the imposing rock of Gibraltar and the bizarre
landscape of the modern wind farms on the way to Tarifa, Europe’s most southerly point.
Make sure to take a brief stop at the Mirador (panoramic point) before you reach your
destination to look-out over the Straights of Gibraltar where, only 11 kilometers away, is
the African continent.
Once a small fishing village, Tarifa has grown into one of
Europe’s premier windsurf and kitesurf destinations and
now attracts surfers from all over the world. It’s not just
surfers that flock to the area though, miles of un-spoilt,
white sandy beaches, clear blue Atlantic waters and a
stunning backdrop of rugged mountains have all helped put
Tarifa firmly on the map for anyone who loves the great
outdoors.
The town itself is an eclectic mix of historical landmarks such as the 10th Century Castillo
de Guzman, left by the Moors, the Inglesia de San Mateo, a superb example of 15th
century architecture (although the Baroque exterior was added later in the 18th Century),
narrow winding streets lined with funky craft stores and charming restaurants and the
modern world of high fashion surf gear and clothing stores that line the main road into
town.
Jerez
About a 2.5 hours trip past Algeciras and on the “Route of the Bulls” passing fields
where the famous “toros bravos” – brave bulls – graze, blissfully unaware of their fate
and the attention they will receive, and then through the vast vineyards which have made
the Jerez area famous.
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Once in the city, visit the bodegas
of Gonzalez Byas, founded by
Blake Byass in 1835, which are
undoubtedly the most important in
Jerez. 650 hectares of vineyards
produce more than 42 million
bottles of sherries, wines and
brandies each year. One bodega,
the Real Bodega de la Concha, was built by none other than Monsieur Eiffel (he of the
tower)!!
Whilst in Jerez, you must visit The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art (in
Spanish, Réal Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre) – one of the most famous in the
world, to watch the spellbinding demonstration of horse and rider in harmony though a
reprise of 18th century classical and country dressage set to music.
The School is devoted to conserving the ancestral abilities
of the Andalusian horse, maintaining the classical
traditions of Spanish baroque horsemanship. It prepares
horses and riders for international dressage competitions,
as well as providing education in all aspects of
horsemanship, coach-driving, blacksmithing, the care and
breeding of horses, saddlery, and the manufacture and care
of harness. The School is a riding school comparable to the
world-famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.
Like the Spanish Riding School, the Royal Andalusian
School is famous for its "dancing stallions" shows for the
tourists. The school is adjacent to the historic nineteenthcentury Palacio de las Cadenas.
Cordoba
About 3 hours away from Calahonda, Cordoba is one of Spain’s most historic and
beautiful cities, and can be said that it is the true heart of Andalucia.
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Capital of the western world in the 11th
century, Cordoba is not only a convenient
stop in central Andalusia, but the essence of
Spain – with Iberian, Roman, Visigoth,
Jewish, Islamic and Christian civilizations,
captured in its stones, its monuments and its
collective consciousness. Intimately linked
with the city's history and identity is the
Mosque of Cordoba (la Mezquita), now
Cordoba's Cathedral and one of Spain's most
visited attractions.
But there's more to Cordoba than just the Mezquita. It is a city which is meant to be
explored - its sights, its smells and its tastes savored at leisure. A little square trickling
with a fountain, an open doorway revealing a peaceful courtyard or a balcony
overflowing with bougainvilleas await just fifty steps away from the hurried itineraries of
coach tours.
This elegant city is large enough to offer visitors the variety of amenities they expect, yet
is small enough to walk everywhere. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984,
it's a city which has not lost its soul to modernity or to mass tourism, a place where you
can both relax and get the most out of your visit in an authentic setting. In its extensive
historic district and picturesque neighborhoods, you can get away from the crowds and
right into the essence of today's Andalusia. Here you'll find the traditions of southern
Spain are tastefully combined with modernity.
If you are in Cordoba for a short time only, try the Cordoba historic centre walk. Instead
of driving to the historic centre, you might want
to get a taste of modern Cordoba, taking a stroll
through the Jardines de la Agricultura to Ronda
de los Tejares Avenue, south along Gran
Capitan Bulevard to San Felipe street, and
through the streets to the Puerta de Almodovar,
where you can begin your visit to the Jewish
Quarter, followed by the Alcazar and the
Mosque. (From there you can extend your walk
to Potro Square and return to the train station
via La Feria street, Capitulares street, Tendillas
Square and Cruz Conde street back to Ronda de
los Tejares). Alternately, you could walk
through the park from the RENFE station to the Puerta de Almodovar.
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If you want to see museums, you should plan to avoid Monday as they and other main
well-known attractions in Cordoba, such as the Alcazar, the Synagogue, the Julio Romero
de Torres Museum and Medina Azahara are closed.
Ronda
Despite being Andalucía's fastest-growing town - it recently
overtook Córdoba in the big three Andaluz tourist attractions, behind
Sevilla and Granada - Ronda retains much of its historic charm,
particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic
escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries
the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Visitors make a beeline for the
18th century Puente Nuevo “New Bridge”, which straddles the 100m
chasm below, for its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de
Ronda mountains.
Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today
glimpsed once a year at the spectacular Feria Goyesca. Held at the
beginning of September, here fighters and some of the audience
dress in the manner of Goya's sketches of life in the region.
Legendary Rondeño bullfighter Pedro Romero broke away from the prevailing Jerez
'school' of horseback bullfighting in the 18th century to found a style of bullfighting in
which matadores stood their ground against the bull on foot. In 2006 royalty and movie
stars were helicoptered in for the Goyesca's 50th anniversary celebrations in its small
bullring, while thousands jammed the streets and parks outside. Otherwise the bullring,
Plaza de Toros, is now a museum, where you can stroll out into the arena.
Across the bridge, where an elegant cloistered 16th
century convent is now an art museum, old Ronda, La
Ciudad, side-winds off into cobbled streets hemmed by
handsome town mansions, some still occupied by
Ronda's titled families. The Casa de Don Bosco is one
such, its interior patio long ago roofed in glass against
Ronda's harsh winters. Its small, almost folly-like
gardens lose out, however, to the true star, a few
"Tajo" from Puente Nuevo in Ronda
minutes' walk to the furthest end of the Ciudad, the
Palacio Mondragón. Clumsily modernised in parts during the 1960s, this still has working
vestiges of the exquisite miniature water gardens dating from its time as a Moorish palace
during Ronda's brief reign as a minor Caliphate under Córdoba in the 12th century.
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The cobbled alley to the Mondragón leads naturally on to Ronda's loveliest public space,
the leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, which boasts a convent, two churches, including the
toytown belltower of the iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor, and the handsome arched
ayuntamiento (council) building. Nearby calle Armiñan leads down to the spacious plaza
of the traditional workers' barrio, San Francisco, with excellent bars and restaurants. Back
from the Mondragón, the Plaza del Campillo overlooks steps that zigzag down to a
dramatic eye-level through the Puente Nuevo. The town's pedestrianised 'high street',
calle Espinel, opposite the bullring, is nicknamed 'La Bola' and is where Rondeños go for
virtually everything.
Visiting Ronda
By car or bus (about 45mins) from Calahonda, via San Pedro de Alcántara on the
A376/C-3. The route through the Sierra Bermeja mountains is dramatic, and in winter the
peaks attract low cloud and even snow. A gentler route leaves Málaga on the A357,
bypassing the interior towns of Ardales, Carratraca and Cuevas de Becerra. There's also a
more westerly and also very dramatic route from San Luis de Sabanillas near Estepona,
taking the A377 via Casares and Gaucín on to Ronda. There are several daily train
connections from Algeciras, Granada, Málaga and Sevilla, the last three changing at
Bobadilla. There are also bus services from all the above.
Seville
Seville is the very heart of Andalucian culture
with its Moorish influence and Flamenco
heartbeat. It is the setting for the opera Carmen,
about a woman who couldn't make her decision
between the officer Don Jose and the bullfighter
Escamillo. It is also the home of the mythical
Don Juan and birthplace of 2 Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian.
There is so much to do and see in Seville, that it would be impossible to it justice in just a
few paragraphs. Suffice it to say that any visit should include the Santa Cruz Quarter, the
Alcazar, Maria Luisa Park, the Avenue of the Palm Trees, the Expo 92 development and
parks, and the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Cathedral.
But, don't miss out on the tapas. Seville is credited with its invention,
and has more than a thousand bars where the choice of food is
virtually unlimited - from seafood to ham and sausage; vegetables to
cheese. The Sevillians actually make a meal of them, moving from bar
to bar and trying one dish at a time.
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