The Andalucía region in the south of Spain is special. About its places of interest, culture, traditions, customs and gastronomy Virgenextra.lt Laima Druknerytė and Mindaugas Stongvilas, who live there, say. For travel inspiration not only from Andalucia, also search this page Facebook and Instagram accounts.
It is most convenient to start the trip from the town of Antekera. Located in the center of Andalusia and closest to Málaga International Airport, this town is home to the first UNESCO World Heritage site, the dolmens of Antequera.
Laima Druknerytė / Virgenextra.lt photo. / Antekera dolmens
In fact, as many as five places are included in one line of the list: three prehistoric cemeteries built by human hands – dolmens (Menga, Viera and El Romeral Tholos) and two unique works of nature (La Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal de Antequera).
Scientists say that this is probably the first work of architecture made by nature and man’s hands, because all man-made dolmens are oriented according to natural landmarks.
Scientists say that this is probably the first piece of architecture made by nature and human hands.
From Antequera, we drive 90 kilometers east to Granada, where we will visit another UNESCO-listed site, the Alhambra of Granada, Generalife and the one in front of them on the mountain Albaicín district. This entire compound is significant for its Islamic cultural heritage value and is the most impressive on this list Nazari palace complex.
From Granada we move to Chaen province and just a good hour away we turn into another joint heritage site – Ubeda and Baesa, which are considered the pearls of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Both cities had special economic rights to trade with the New World, so it is not surprising that the accumulated wealth was reflected in the impressive architecture of the Renaissance period.
Laima Druknerytė / Virgenextra.lt photo. / Ubeda
From Baesa we turn northwest towards Córdoba, which is only 150 kilometers away. Here we can easily find another UNESCO heritage site – the historic center of Córdoba, which consists of the area around the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba: the Roman Bridge with Calahora tower, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, San Basilio and Moving districts.
Laima Druknerytė / Virgenextra.lt photo. / Baesa
Only 8 kilometers from the old part of the city is already the fourth object on the list – Medina Azahara – the ancient palace of the caliphate, the country residence of the rulers. Medina Azahara is considered one of the pinnacles of Islamic art, both for its structure and urban planning, and for the variety of materials, architectural solutions used, and the extraordinary richness and quality of decorative elements.
We turn to Seville, which is again only an hour and a half away. In the center of this city, we visit another UNESCO object, more precisely a complex of three buildings located around the Triumf Square – the Cathedral with the Girlda Tower, the Royal Alcázar palace and the Indian Archives.
Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic temple in Europe, Alcázar the palace amazes with the architecture and gardens of various eras, and the Indian Archives is unique in its historical significance.
From Seville, we drive southwest along the Guadalquivir River and after about half an hour we arrive at a true natural sanctuary – Doñana National Park. I quote the official reason why this park is on the UNESCO list:
“These exceptional large Mediterranean wetlands have been declared a World Heritage Site because they contain ecosystems that provide shelter for a variety of fauna. Donjana is the largest ecological reserve in Europe, and its wetlands are home to many species of waterfowl from the Arctic region in winter, estimated to be around 200,000 individuals each year. This protected natural area is vital for the diversity of its ecosystems.”
Laima Druknerytė / Virgenextra.lt photo. / Donjana National Park
While traveling along this spectacular route, you could also see some monuments of the last – the eighth – UNESCO protected object, which is defined quite abstractly – “Rock art of the prehistoric period of the Iberian Peninsula”.
Donjana is the largest ecological reserve in Europe.
Many prehistoric drawings left by our ancestors are found in caves all over the Iberian Peninsula. When traveling in Andalucia, you can find drawings simply in the open niches of caves or on vertical walls. The most unique ones are protected as cultural monuments, so it is not easy to see them.
So – gather a company of companions, click on this list and an impressive week-long trip is guaranteed.
