Moorish Spain

SEND TO A FRIEND

22 APRIL 2005
Its glamorous coastal resorts are frequented by the likes of Sean Connery, Baroness von Thyssen and Adnan Khashoggi. But leave Spain’s Costa del Sol behind and head inland to the picturesque white towns of Andalusia. Here are four charming places you must visit – and fabulous places to stay

Spain’s Costa del Sol is an international playground that needs little introduction. But drive inland into the toothy peaks of the Sierras and you’ll step back hundreds of years. The pueblos blancos, or white towns, cling spectacularly to the mountainsides retaining much of their early Moorish flavour. These days, many of the village houses have been converted into holiday homes, offering luxury with loads of local charm.

Ronda
Only an hour from the coast, Europe’s own Grand Canyon cleaves the extraordinary town of Ronda, spanned by the 18th-century New Bridge that took 42 years to build. There’s a restaurant on a ledge just under the bridge where diners can feed the birds wheeling below them over the 360ft chasm they call El Tajo – the cleft. The town doesn’t rely solely on its bridge for appeal; in the rabbit-warren of streets you’ll find dignified old mansions, Roman ruins, a Moorish palace and shops selling fine wroughtiron, copperware and delicious jamon or ham. Ronda’s bullring is one of the loveliest and oldest in the country, while the prestigious Hotel Reina Victoria played host to Europe’s top society figures in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Where to stay: Drive through the chestnut forest a few miles outside Ronda and you’ll come across a peaceful country cottage, its terraced gardens planted with fruit trees, its interior whitewashed and simply furnished. This is ideal for a group of four to five friends who want to explore Ronda, then chill out in the hammocks on the shady patio, dip in the pool and barbecue under the stars.
Where to visit: If you want to mingle with the rich and famous – Sean Connery, Baroness von Thyssen and Adnan Khashoggi to name just a few – head for glitzy Marbella about 30 miles away, but don’t forget your credit card. Many of the mega rich stay on their sleek yachts in Puerto Banús marina nearby. The heaviest gold-chain brigade parade the harbour and hit the pubs and clubs there from early evening.