The aroma of acacias mixed with the smell of orange blossoms, the quiet sound of a guitar, the black piercing gaze of Granada rum, the narrow night streets of Cordoba, ornate, Moorish doors that keep the real Andalusian life under lock and key.

Apparently, the heat of the sun is unbearable, reflecting on the closed shutters of Seville. And smiles, lots of smiles during the evening. These are the most beautiful feelings that Aja, the travel editor of "L'Offciel Lithuania", the founder of the exclusive travel agency "Boutique Travel" experienced in Andalusia.
Spanish <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/discover-the-hotel-house-of-the-poet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andalusia</a> is a unique region where various cultures and religions are intertwined: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Berbers, Arabs, Jews, Christians, even the name of the region is of Arabic origin. Andalucia is now said to be the pure spirit of <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/mallorca-spain-restaurants-cafes-beach-locals-guide-artists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spain</a>: the extraordinary, vibrant traditions of this region embody the true face of the country, and the Moorish legacy makes it incredibly unique. It is here that you will find the smell of Arabic architecture, suffocating bullfights, sunny <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/ibiza/five-beaches-for-spring-sunshine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beaches</a>, passionate flamenco, white villages, mysterious houses in the rocks, colourful fiestas and religious processions, various tapas bars, sprawling vineyards and one of the oldest sherry wines in the world.
With the increase in the number of direct flights from Lithuania to Malaga, Aja invites you to discover Andalusia and plan a week or longer vacation in this Spanish region with the capital Seville. She says that if you fly to M&aacute;laga, you can go around Andalusia in five or six days, and at the end of the trip, treat yourself to a seaside vacation in the resorts of Sotogrande, Marbella, Benalmadena or Puerto Ban&uacute;s. The route could be: Granada, C&oacute;rdoba, Seville, C&aacute;diz, Michoac&aacute;n, Ronda, Tarifa.

After flying into Malaga and renting a car, you can go directly to Granada. In addition to night rums, strumming guitars, melodies, without the famous Moorish fortress Alhambra, without sensual flamenco, Granada is unique in its labyrinths of narrow, steep streets, which all seem to lead to the caves of Sacromonte, where gypsies used to live, and now theatrical flamenco shows are held in the evenings. "When I got there, I felt like I was in a movie, flamenco is alive there, not only in theatres," says Aja. In Granada, walking according to the map is quite a challenge, because the streets of the old city are so narrow and short that they are not even marked. The city can also be explored by city buses, it is strongly advised to avoid driving a car. Here you should see the Plaza de Bib-Rambla , the city cathedral and the royal chapel La Capilla Real .

Next, we turn to Cordoba , called the city of anise, famous for anise liqueur and cakes. Its fame was earned by silversmiths and tanners, but it is true that you will have to work hard to find the real products of C&oacute;rdoba craftsmen. Andalusia is famous for being a real mix of cultures. Here, Muslims, Christians and Jews live side by side, but perhaps the most notable contribution is the Arabs. For a while, the region belonged to the Arabs, and one of the cities, Cordoba, was their Muslim capital. That is why Andalusia has so many Arabic-style buildings, extremely narrow streets and goods brought from <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/hyatt-regency-taghazout-the-most-popular-seafront-resort-on-the-atlantic-coast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morocco</a>. The old town is simply fantastic, the third largest mosque in the world remains in C&oacute;rdoba. The most interesting thing is that it was turned into a Catholic cathedral in the 13th century, but it preserved a number of Arabic elements. The city is built on a sharp loop of the Guadalquivir River. It is a must to stroll through the stone streets decorated with wrought ironwork, which are too narrow for cars, to visit the bullfighting museum, the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos , the palace of the Catholic monarchs , and the Torres del Alminar tower , a 93-metre-high bell tower whose steep stairs lead to an observation deck with a magnificent view. city view.

The next day will be dedicated to exploring the old port of Seville, El Arenal, the magnificent bullring Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza , the Moorish golden towers built on different banks of the river. A metal chain built between the two towers held back enemy ships. In the old town of Seville, you have to walk through the old Jewish quarter, it is the most romantic place in the city: the cathedral and the royal palace are hidden in a labyrinth of narrow streets, many souvenir shops, tapas bars, wandering guitarists, paths of picturesque orange trees, squares and courtyards full of flowers, the Seville Cathedral and the city hall, where autodafe - public trials of heretics.

Next is a trip to the Cheres region. Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes. The land around Cheres is infertile, it is as white as chalk, but it is the land that helps withstand summers that heat up to 45 degrees Celsius and ripens grapes perfect for sherry. Many times in different corners of the world, attempts have been made to repeat the taste of this historic wine, but no one has succeeded. Just as champagne is to be found in Champagne, so the true taste of sherry is to be found in the province of C&aacute;diz, in the famous city of Cheres de la Fronteros, commonly known as Cheres.
Our next stop is Ronda, located in one of the most picturesque places in Spain. Standing on the edge of the abyss, Ronda looks like a white city suspended in the air from a distance. Due to its inaccessible location, it was one of the last bastions of the Moors. The old and new parts of the Ronda are connected by the Puente Nuevo, an impressive 18th-century bridge over the 98 metre-deep El Tacho gorge. On one side of it is the district of La Ciudad, a typical white Moorish town with narrow streets, dazzling white stucco houses decorated with ceramic mosaics, latticed windows. On the other side is the new town of El Mercadillo,&nbsp;with one of Spain's oldest bullrings, restaurants, bars, squares and churches. The Puente Nuevo bridge has become a symbol of Ronda, legends are created about it and it can be seen from afar, even before entering the city. It is true that another amazing news will await tourists near Ronda this year. "French design guru Philippe Starck, inspired by Picasso's art and bullfighting heritage, opens La Almazaros, a new mill, museum and event space that dazzles with bull horns on the facade and a Picasso-esque eye," reports Aja from Andalucia.

Michas (Mijas) is located 30 kilometers from Malaga, high in the mountains. All its houses are painted white, which is why it is called one of the "white villages" (pueblos blancos) that Andalusia is famous for. And the donkey became the symbol of Mijas by no accident, because a unique donkey taxi operates in the city, which you will not find anywhere else in the world. All donkeys are dressed in a special uniform and have individual license plates. Some donkeys transport tourists in carts, others "work individually" by carrying them in saddles. Of course, Mijas is unimaginable without bullfights, with a unique, oval-shaped arena - the only one in Spain.
When planning their first trip to Andalucia, people hesitate to include Tarifa in the itinerary. Andalucia is a jewel box full of incredible beauty, against which Tarifa looks like a very modest town. People come here to see Africa, stand in a spectacular place between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, take a ferry to Tangier in Morocco. However, it is possible that your first visit will leave an indelible impression, and you will realize that Tarifa is a place that you want to return to. The main attraction of Tarifa is Tarifa itself. There is an unusual atmosphere here, created by the collision of two waters, the proximity of Africa and the title of the capital of kitesurfing in Europe. The wind, the mountain range on the horizon, the whistling of the ferries, the colourful sails, the surreal mountain landscape with wind turbines and the cozy white Andalusian provincial town with a dramatic history - this is Tarifa.

Even in Andalus&iacute;a, which is thousands of years old, there can be a new place, and that is Sotogrande. As you approach the new resort, you'll have to stop at the barrier until the camera captures the license plate, and then you'll enter a completely different dimension. A real green oasis on the dry coast of Andalusia, you are surrounded on all sides by lawns, slender rows of tall palm trees, impregnable fences entwined with flowering vines, behind which luxurious villas hide. Its main resort and residential center is located along the Gwadyar River estuary, which has been converted into a luxury port. Boats and yachts are moored literally at the doorstep. Such an idyllic view of this place is not accidental. Sotogrande is very young, only 50 years old, and is the fulfillment of a rich family's dream... The founder of the resort, Joseph Rafael McMicking, was born in the Philippines, his mother was British of Basque origin. Having amassed a great fortune, he came to his ancestral homeland in Spain, where he wanted to build the city of his dreams, a meeting place for the world's aristocracy, for which he chose a small oasis at the mouth of a river near Gibraltar. Its territory includes 5 golf courses, a polo field, where the Santa Maria Polo Tournament has been held for 40 years. It's nice to walk around Sotogrande along the jetties in sunny weather, sit on the terrace with a cup of coffee, and if you don't have your own yacht yet, you can always rent one here.
Of course, the main star of seaside resorts in the province of Malaga is Marbella. Marbella has come a long way since the mid-20th century, from a humble fishing village to a mecca of beach clubs, golf and millionaires. Every summer, fun-loving vacationers arrive in Marbella, having trained their bodies all year for the Marbella beaches and armed with the latest designer collections. But despite its millionaire reputation, Marbella has an authentic Andalusian character. From the yachts of Puerto Ban&uacute;s to the charming, picturesque old town, Marbella seems to have it all.

The best beach clubs in Marbella
Nikki Beach and Ocean Club Marbella are Marbella's most luxurious beach clubs, world-renowned for their extravagant champagne parties, world-class DJs, beautiful clubbers and high-class nightlife.
El Chiringuito - Recently opened, the well-known Ibiza brand has already established itself in the top league thanks to its chic style, exclusive lounges and service, and a menu created by French chef J&egrave;rome Palayer, which includes lobster risotto, seared tuna straight from the grill and Nebraska entrecote.
La Sala By the Sea is one of the smaller beach clubs, but it has a pool, restaurant, beauty treatment rooms and... lots of parties.
Club Del Mar is definitely one of the best beach clubs in Marbella, but it's only open during the day, so it's perfect for those days when you already have plans for the evening. And it's one of the few places that has a caviar menu!
Purobeach Marbella - If you think that the best beach clubs should not only have a variety of places to eat, but also luxury shops, this is the place for you.

A Moorish Melody of Andalusia

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