Seville and Andalucía

t Córdoba, crowned by the silhouette of La Mezquita.

Staccato handclaps and strumming guitars. Moorish monuments, bejewelled with glinting azulejos. Gleaming glasses of sherry savoured beneath heady orange trees on shaded patios. Whatever your dream trip to Seville and Andalucía includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.

Think of Andalucía and the high-rise resorts along the Costa del Sol – the sunny coast – may be the first thing that comes to mind. But venture away from here and you’ll find empty, windswept Atlantic shores, undulating hills awash with olive trees and rugged mountain ranges clothed with pine forests. This diverse landscape offers a whole host of adventures, from kitesurfing to skiing, golfing to horse riding.

Southern Spain’s monumental cities and enchanting pueblos blancos, too, are not to be missed. Endlessly romantic Seville – the capital of the comunidad autónoma – is a bewitching labyrinth of geranium-filled streets and orange-scented plazas. As the ancestral home of tapas, the city is firmly on the foodie trail. Andalucía’s Moorish past is writ large upon the cityscape, particularly at the Real Alcázar – a stunning fusion of Islamic and Christian architecture. The spirit of al-Andalus is also strong in Córdoba, particularly as you walk beneath the hundreds of striped arches in La Mezquita, its striking mosque-cathedral, and in Granada, where the beguiling Alhambra stands proud above the town below.

So, where to start? We’ve broken Andalucía down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge and colourful comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether you’re staying for a weekend, a week or longer, this Eyewitness guide will ensure that you see the very best that the region has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Seville and Andalucía.

1 Picking ripe green olives.

2 A typical street scene in Seville, with a moped parked outside a church.

3 A whitewashed square in Mijas on the Costa del Sol.