Classic: Andalusia — icone e Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos

Founded by the Phoenicians almost three thousand years ago, Malaga is one of Europe's oldest cities and today a lively Andalusian capital that weaves together historic heritage, seaside life and a striking artistic vocation. The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, it honours his memory with the Museo Picasso Málaga, housed in an elegant palace in the old town. Above the city rise the Alcazaba, one of the best-preserved Moorish fortresses in Spain, and the nearby Castillo de Gibralfaro, which offers sweeping views over the port and the bay. At the heart of the old quarter stands the Catedral de la Encarnación, nicknamed "La Manquita" for its unfinished tower, amid lanes alive with tapas bars and flower-filled courtyards. Along the revamped Muelle Uno waterfront and the city beaches, the relaxed atmosphere of the South prevails. Between art, sunshine and Andalusian flavours, Malaga invites you to discover it slowly, step by step.

Nerja stretches along the eastern Costa del Sol, where the final ridges of the Andalusian mountains tumble down to the Mediterranean. Its emblem is the Balcón de Europa, a panoramic terrace jutting out over the sea, offering sweeping views of golden coves and cliffs. Just outside town lie the famous Cuevas de Nerja, spectacular caves full of stalactites and prehistoric traces. Between whitewashed lanes, fresh fish and intimate beaches such as Calahonda and Burriana, Nerja is the perfect retreat for those seeking the authentic flavour of seaside Andalusia. Golden light and the scent of jasmine welcome you to Granada, an Andalusian city where Moorish and Christian heritage intertwine in a timeless atmosphere. Its supreme symbol is the Alhambra, an extraordinary complex of palaces and gardens designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the refined Palacios Nazaríes, the Alcazaba and the enchanting Generalife gardens overlooking the city. Below it spreads the Albaicín, the ancient Arab quarter of steep lanes and whitewashed houses, whose Mirador de San Nicolás offers the most famous view of the Alhambra at sunset. Lower down beats the historic centre with the majestic Catedral and the Capilla Real, while the Sacromonte district preserves its cave dwellings and the city's flamenco soul. Granada is also a land of generous tapas, still served with every glass of wine. Among enchanted fortresses, water gardens and lanes suspended in time, Granada invites you to lose yourself between East and West.

The scent of orange blossom and golden light on the cobbled lanes welcome you to Cordoba, one of the most captivating cities in Andalusia, where the imprints of Romans, Muslims, Jews and Christians still coexist today. Its emblematic monument is the Mezquita-Catedral, an extraordinary mosque-cathedral famed for its forest of two-coloured arches, a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the entire historic centre. Around it unfolds the Judería, the old Jewish quarter of narrow lanes, flower-filled patios and craft workshops, crossed by the Synagogue and the Calleja de las Flores. Across the river stretches the Puente Romano, leading to the Torre de la Calahorra and offering the city's most famous view. Nearby stand the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with its gardens and, outside the city, the ruins of Medina Azahara. Renowned for its blooming courtyards, celebrated each May in the Fiesta de los Patios, Cordoba reveals itself on an unhurried stroll, amid history, fragrance and quiet.

Founded by the Romans and later shaped by centuries of Moorish rule, Seville is the pulsing heart of Andalusia, a city of golden light where Baroque splendour and the passion of flamenco blend into an unmistakable atmosphere. Its warm climate invites you to explore on foot, among flower-filled patios, the scent of orange blossom and squares lively late into the night. The monumental heart is the majestic Catedral de Sevilla, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Giralda bell tower, a former minaret offering sweeping views over the city. Beside it rises the Real Alcázar, a royal palace of sumptuous Mudéjar courtyards and lush gardens, while nearby the Archivo de Indias preserves the memory of the New World. From here the whitewashed lanes of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter, weave into a maze of shady streets, flowered balconies and hidden squares. Along the river stands the Torre del Oro, while the magnificent Plaza de España, with its sweep of brick and ceramics, is one of Spain's most spectacular settings, overlooking the broad Parque de María Luisa. The Triana district, on the far bank of the Guadalquivir, is the cradle of flamenco and traditional ceramics, with its lively market and riverside terraces. In the evening the city comes alive in its tapas bars, where you can savour jamón ibérico, pescaíto frito and chilled fino. The heart of Holy Week and the Feria de Abril, Seville enchants with its Mediterranean energy, among art, history and the unmistakable Andalusian duende, an invitation to surrender to its timeless charm.

Gateway to the Costa de la Luz and the heart of Lower Andalusia, Jerez de la Frontera is an elegant and lively city famed worldwide for its wine, horses and flamenco. Home of sherry, it guards historic bodegas where the celebrated fortified wine matures, to be sampled among century-old barrels. The city is also home to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, the renowned riding school that stages displays of equestrian dance. The old town revolves around the imposing Catedral and the Moorish-era Alcázar, amid lively streets and flower-filled patios. Considered one of the cradles of flamenco, Jerez pulses with cante and baile, especially during its traditional festivals. Between wine, horses and Andalusian passion, Jerez de la Frontera is an invitation to live the most authentic soul of southern Spain.

Steep lanes and whitewashed houses poised above a sheer drop to the Guadalete River make Arcos de la Frontera one of Andalusia's most spectacular pueblos blancos. Its historic centre, designated a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico, is a maze of steep lanes and whitewashed houses climbing to the top of the village. The heart of the town is the Plaza del Cabildo, set on a dizzying viewpoint and dominated by the Basílica de Santa María de la Asunción and the castle. Among the narrow streets you come upon noble doorways, Baroque churches and sudden views over the surrounding countryside, dotted with olive groves and vineyards. Set along the famous Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos, Arcos is an ideal stop for exploring the Sierra de Cádiz and savouring authentic rural Andalusia. Arcos de la Frontera reveals itself at sunset, when its white houses turn to gold, suspended over the void. Ronda rises on a rocky plateau cleaved in two by the deep gorge of El Tajo, and is one of Andalusia's most spectacular cities. Its emblem is the Puente Nuevo, a daring eighteenth-century bridge spanning the chasm and linking the old town to the modern quarter, offering breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside. In the Moorish-flavoured old town wind silent alleys, noble mansions and the Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor, built on the remains of an ancient mosque. Ronda is also a cradle of Spanish bullfighting, home to the Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest in the country. Surrounded by vineyards and the landscapes of the Pueblos Blancos, it is a destination uniting history, dizzying panoramas and Andalusian traditions, best discovered on a stroll at sunset, suspended between sky and rock.