It’s a land which has both spawned and inspired great writers, poets, actors and painters. Andalucia
gave birth to Pablo Picasso and the 17 th century royal painter
Velasquez and it held an enduring fascination for novelists Ernest
Hemingway and Laurie Lee. It’s the setting for the most performed and
famous opera of all time, Bizet’s Carmen. And it’s a unique place where
east meets west in an exotic melting pot of Jewish, gypsy, Moorish and
Christian cultures.
Andalucia and its Arabic background
After the Moors invaded Spain in the 8 th century the region became the
mighty kingdom of El Andalus and the capital of Cordoba was transformed
into a centre of unimaginable wealth, sophistication, culture and
learning unrivalled anywhere in either the western or Islamic eastern
worlds.
According to Islamic legend, the people of El
Andalus asked Allah for five favours – clear blue skies, seas full of
fish, trees laden with every kind of fruit, beautiful women and a fair
system of government. Allah granted them everything except the last
favour on the basis that if all five gifts were bestowed, the kingdom
would become an unearthly paradise.
Landscapes of Andalucia
And Andalucia
is just about as close to paradise as it’s possible to get. It’s a
region blessed with achingly beautiful countryside, majestic mountains
and a 900 kilometre coastline which has made it one of the world’s
favourite holiday destinations.
Whether you’re into inflatable banana boats and all night laser discos
or magnificent Moorish architecture and medieval villages seemingly
frozen in time, Andalucia has an irresistible allure.
