If someone were to ask me for a recommendation for a great trip in Spain, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to them one of my favorite things: the white villages of Andalusia, or "Los Pueblos Blancos." Andalusia (specifically the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga) is known throughout the world for its aesthetically-pleasing whitewashed buildings that encase narrow streets and contain brightly colored plants in the windowsills. In addition, while Cordoba is the most famous for its open-air 'patios' covered in beautiful flowers, there are plenty of them to be found in many of the smaller Andalusian cities.
From the bigger, tourist-ridden, beachside Marbella in the province of Malaga to the mountainous, small, fairly unheard of Vejer de la Frontera in Cadiz, the beauty and charm of Andalucia never ceases to amaze me:
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| Andalusian plaza (Marbella) |
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Whitewashed street (Ronda)
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| Flowery windowsill (Arcos) |
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| Andalusian Patio (Vejer de la Frontera) |
I think that in some of these towns anyone can become a photographer. Well maybe not.. but on top of the great photo-ops provided by the city itself, many of these towns are in or surrounded by mountains and cliffs, which provides for some seriously amazing views. Surrounded by all the valleys and hills and beautiful landscape, its almost impossible to take a bad picture of the scenery. Here are a few of my favorites:
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| Arcos de la Frontera, a city on a mountain. |
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| Ronda, surrounded by the greenest valleys. |
You are on top of the world!! Living here, I don't think I would ever get tired of participating in one of Spain's simplest forms of entertainment: "dar un paseo" (take a walk). Despite the hills and frequent wind, walking around in these cities can take your breath away and allow you to have a 'mountain-top' experience.
Finally, of the main things that make the smaller Pueblos Blancos so appealing to me is that many of them are fairly untouched by tourists and still full of old unchanged Spanish charm. You get to see things the way they have been for years, instead of how they have been altered to cater to the needs of hordes of tourists. It sometimes feels like life has frozen in time, and you have stepped back with it.
If you want a beautiful, unique Andalusian adventure, as well as an opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of big city travel, I recommend that you take a weekend, pack your camera and your walking shoes, and head to one of Andalusia's White Villages.
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In Arcos de la Frontera:
El guiri and la guiri. |
