Information about the Costa del Sol and Andalucia
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The Costa del Sol is in Southern Spain in the Andalucia region.
To give you a clue as to how far south it is the area includes
the southernmost point of mainland Europe, Punta de Tarifa,
which is only 14km from Africa.
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Brief History of the Costa del Sol and Andalucia
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It should be no surprise to learn that the region has a varied
and rich history with a large Moorish influence, as the Moors
invaded in 711 and it wasn't until the 15th century that the
Spaniards started to regain control of the region, finally
expelling the last of the invaders in 1610.
With the British taking control of Gibraltar in 1704, along
with the small matter of a French invasion of Malaga in 1804
that lasted a few years it is no wonder that the Costa del
Sol is a culturally diverse area.
More recently since the 1950's the Costa del Sol has become
a major tourist destination, and is now concentrating on developing
more marinas and moving away from the old high rise developments.
Nowadays, the Costa del Sol is the perfect holiday destination.
The climate is pretty near perfect, with hot, sunny summers
and mild sunny winters.
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What to See and Where to Go on the Costa del Sol and Andalucia
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As well as the option of simply sun bathing and making the
most of the weather, the region offers many places of interest
worth exploring whilst you are on your holiday.
There is plenty to choose from whether you are interested
in a golfing
holiday or other sports, keeping the peace on a family
holiday in theme parks such as Tivoli World or simply exploring
the fabulous scenery and history.
The following are a small selection of places you might
wish to consider visiting for a few hours or as Costa del
Sol day trips during your stay in the apartment in Torrequebrada.
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Benalmadena Marina
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Benalmadena Marina is excellent for night shopping and offers
very good restaurants, bars and clubs surrounded by the luxury
yachts moored at the Marina.
Tivoli World one of Spain's largest amusement parks is in
Benalmadena and will keep the whole family entertained for
hours.
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Fuengirola
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Fuengirola is a lively tourist resort with all the usual
attractions including a wide range of restaurants, bars, clubs
and shops to entertain the holidaymaker whatever your age.
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Mijas Village
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About 10km from the accommodation in Torrequebrada, Mijas
Village is a beautiful traditional Spanish village set in
the hills with picturesque streets and white-washed houses.
When you go to Mijas Village be sure to venture beyond the
main street and square into the old and winding streets to
catch a glimpse of rural Spanish life.
Mijas also offers fabulous views over the local countryside.
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Puerto Banus
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Puerto Banus offers designer shopping, night clubs, discos,
piano bars, restaurants and an unforgettable marina with huge
boats. The whole place buzzes with atmosphere day or night
time and it is the ideal place for doing some serious celebrity
spotting.
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Marbella
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Marbella offers the best of the old and the new. You can
wander along the seafront and around the harbour and admire
the huge yachts or relax on the beach. There is an abundance
of places to have a drink and eat along the seafront. Alternatively
you could explore the old town, Casco Antiguo with its little
squares and narrow streets.
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Malaga
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Malaga is the gateway to the Costa del Sol and the first
place most tourists see on their holiday. Malaga is a modern
city with all the usual attractions including a vibrant street
life and night life, but it also retains its historical roots.
If you like modern art, the "Museo Picasso Malaga"
(Picasso Museum) opened in October 2003. The museum is one
of only 3 musuems in the world dedicated to Picasso and has
over 200 pieces of his work on display.
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Ronda
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Set high in the mountains, a trip to Ronda provides a breath
taking ride to a Spanish mountain village which is steeped
in history. The town itself is divided into a new and old
quarter by a split in the El Tajo gorge.
Ronda is just the place for wandering around and seeking
out small tapas bars to try out the Spanish cuisine whilst
admiring the architecture and its dramatic location.
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Gibraltar
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Gibraltar is well worth a visit for tax free shopping, and
a tour around the Rock which should include meeting the Gibraltar
apes and looking at the caves and old military installations
in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. You can take also a cable
car ride for a view of the Bahia de Algeciras.
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Granada
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The main reason for visiting Granada is normally to visit
the Alhambra Palace. The Alhambra Palace is simply the most
famous example of the Moorish influence in Spain and is on
UNESCO's list of world heritage sites. For lovers of history
this is one place that shouldn't be missed, but remember to
leave plenty of time for this trip as there is so much to
see.
As well as the Alhambra it is also worth visiting the cathedral
and exploring the old Moorish quarter of Albaicin which is
opposite the Alhambra.
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Sevilla
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Sevilla is the capital of Andalucia. Despite its size Sevilla
is an ideal city to explore on foot and offers a rich choice
of art and monuments to visit that reflect its Roman, Moorish
and Christian history. The cathedral is a good place to start
from.
Sevilla is also crammed full of bars, restaurants and is
an excellent place for shopping with many, many shops to keep
even the most fashionable and dedicated shopper happy.
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