Spain Tourism Guide - Rural Spain Andalucia

Ronda Andalucia Outdoors Rural Tourism Spain

The town of Ronda, a ready-made picture postcard day trip or Inland Andalucia walking base, sits 2428ft/740m above sea level on a dramatic rocky outcrop encased by the Serrania de Ronda. Of all the stunning pueblos in Andalucia, Ronda ranks as the most spectacularly situated, with a long history as a Spanish bullfighting centre - Ronda's Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest bullfighting rings in Spain.

Ronda has packaged its many attractions well to serve tourist day trippers. Historic attractions include a striking 18th century viaduct bridge, pretty tree-lined avenues and parks, Baroque chapels, Arab Baths and the panoramic views from Alameda del Tajo park particularly take your breath away. Ronda has been fascinating visitors long before the rise of the coach tour. Both Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway were fascinated by Ronda, especially its bullfighting history. Two of Ernest Hemingway's novels - For Whom the Bell Tolls and Death in the Afternoon have Ronda in mind.

Around Ronda - Alora, Ardales, El Chorro & Campillos Rural Andalucia Spain

Into the Andalucia interior north west of Malaga, and east of Ronda you're in prime Andalucia walking and climbing territory. The landscape is challenging here to say the least, as well as breathtaking. Alora is at the centre of several Andalucian mountain ranges including the high peaks of the Sierra de Huma. Alora and just further north the pretty village of El Chorro sit close to the renowned Camino del Rey (King's Path) gorge.

This area is a popular central base for walking and climbing in the area. A number of Cueves/caves are situated just to the west of El Chorro village. Further into the interior, north west of Alora, Ardales is another superb Andalucian walking and interior touring base, with a selection of museums, a castle and a number of prehistoric Caves nearby. Pushing further north of Malaga and Ronda around Campillos the landscape becomes a little tamer. Low hills and broad plains afford excellent ground for farming, with both grain and olive groves grown here in abundance. Just near Campillos sit a collection of shallow lakes and reservoirs (Dulce, Salada, Capacete and Camunas to name a few). These wetlands areas, dry for a large part of the year, are protected and now a national park. The Romans favoured the area around Campillos, and a number of Roman archaeological sites are in proximity to the town including the Capacete Castillon de Gobantes. Closer to Ronda to the east, if you're looking for a peaceful base with easy access into the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, then choose El Burgo. El Burgo also boats a number of historic sites including a 16th century medieval fortress.

Guadalest & Alcoy Inland Costa Blanca Rural Tourism Spain

If you've car rental from Alicante Airport then the drive alone up the CV70 from Benidorm to Guadalest is one of the drives of your life. You're pushing up through the stunning Sierra de Aitana mountains on-route. The village of Guadalest, sits high on a peak carved into a rocky outcrop to great effect. Popular for day trips up from the resort (the drive takes less than an hour), this inland Costa Blanca town is one of the most stunning surrounded as it is by the Sierra de Aitana, the Sierra de Serrella and the Sierra de Xorta. The Moors did the hardwork initially here, building irrigation channels and terraces. The dramatic fortress and castle at Guadalest is Moorish. Within the town, which caters well for tourist visitors, there's a selection of museums including an ethnographical museum, alongside numerous restaurants, cafes and delightful arts and crafts shops. Numerous walking paths stretch out from the town (see the Guadalest webguide right for maps). Nearby accommodation bases include Alcoy and Benimantell.

Another popular base for walking holidays in Inland Costa Blanca is historic Alcoy. The Sierra Mariola Nature Park, the Carrascal de la Font Rotja and the Sierra els Plans and La Serreta are all prime walking territory on Alcoy's doorstep. The Font Roja Nature Reserve centre sits just outside Alcoy (see the More Alcoy Tourist Info weblink right for directions, and comprehensive details on Alcoy's surrounding Nature Reserves). Alcoy far from relies on tourism alone, it's workaday Spanish here with some thriving industry and a number of architecturally interesting bridges - the town is known for its bridges. Alcoy's archaeological museum on Placeta del Carbo (tel. 965 537144) is well worth a visit to find out more on Palaeolithic and Neolithic sites in the area. A particular highlight in the town is the Spanish Civil War converted anti-aircraft shelter situated underneath the now Alcoy Art School and Paseo de Cervantes (Spanish Civil War Anti-Aircraft Shelter, C/Alzamora, 1. Alcoy. Tel. 965 537153). Old air-raid shelters from the Spanish Civil war are beginning to be converted into museums in Southern Spain Republican strongholds (there's one in Cartagena too south of Murcia which is now a Spanish Civil War Museum). They reveal some of the hidden history of the Spanish Civil War, namely the bombing of strategic Republican towns and ports by Italian and German Aircraft.

The Cork Museum of Palafrugell, Rural Costa Brava Tourism Spain

The Cork Museum in Palafrugell is rather special, digging deep into the Palafrugell area's heritage in cork production, how it was obtained and the workers who worked in the cork factories.

The museum tour begins with a film from the 1920s which serves as a superb overview and introduction. You're then taken through exhibits on the craft of cork manufacture, with machines and fascinating detail on for example the manufacture of cork paper used to wind cigarettes.

A choral movement - La Taponera - was formed by cork workers in 1859 and you can hear traditional songs of the Clave choirs and see their banner which is on display. The involvement of skilled Catalan blacksmiths who designed many of the cork industry's machinery - they were pushing technology to the limits from 1919 to 1936 and the beginning of the Civil War. Many of the cork trees once prevalent in the area, especially around Girona, have been cut down since the 19th century. During the First World War and Spanish Civil war many were cut down for coal production and the post war Franco project Plan Badajoz saw many of the cork woods turned into irrigation land areas. The archive of images - nearly 4000 images and 50 films - held here at Palafrugell's Cork Museum are particularly fascinating.

Museu del Suro de Palafrugell, Tarongeta Street, 31 - E17200 Palafrugell. Tel. (0034) 972 307 825. (see the Cork Museum's webguide right for opening times & directions).

Tortosa & the Ebro Delta, Tortosa Tourist Guide Costa Dorada South

Tortosa is a historic centre south and inland of Tarragona, where the River Ebro converges before pushing out into the Mediterranean. Spain's longest river - the Ebro is also the only river to empty into the Mediterranean from its roots in the Cantabrian mountains. Not surprisingly Tortosa, on the banks of the converging River Ebro has long been a site of military defence and strategic wranglings from its foundation by the Iberians through to the Spanish Civil War and Tortosa's greatest tragedy and Republican defeat here by Franco's nationalists in 1938. Around 50,000 Republican troops were killed here, including large numbers of the International Brigades.

Tortosa is crammed with historic remains including the La Suda Castle. Its walls date from the 10th century, but before then this was the side of an old Roman acropolis. Modified extensively in the 15th century, it's a luxury Parador hotel today. The best views of the Ebro River can be seen from the castle, and you can drive up to the top. Tortosa's Santa Maria Cathedral dates from the 14th century and is essentially Gothic with a Baroque facade. The Bishop's Palace sits opposite with its Gothic arcades. Tortosa also has a selection of Modernista Buildings from the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Like Lleida they're often municipal buildings such as the Escorxador/the slaughterhouse but there are private houses too including Casa Grego and Casa Bau. Also, if you thought Girona was home to the only extensive old Jewish Quarter in Catalonia, then take a look at Tortosa's which dates from the 6th century.

South of Tortosa the Ebro Delta, Parque Natural del Delta de L'Ebre (weblink right) is the largest of Catalonia's wetlands at 320 square km. An important site for migratory birds, the Ebre Delta is a hub for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Lagoons and long isolated sandy beaches are a feature of the area. Visit the Park's information centre and Ecomuseum in Deltebre in the heart of the delta. (at Carrer de Marti Buera 22, Deltebre. Tel. 977 48 96 79.)