Andalusia is home to some of the finest medieval Islamic architecture. It is also home to some of the best traditions and cultures of Catholic Spain
What comes to mind when you think of Spain? Great food and music, tapas bars, football, and a strong Catholic culture. Tucked away in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula, and across the Mediterranean from Morocco, lies Andalusia, a destination that is perhaps not on the average Indian tourist’s itinerary, but which, in many ways, is the embodiment of everything Spanish.
Andalusia is the second largest of the autonomous communities in Spain, and one that is economically poor when compared to the rest of the country. The birthplace of some of the best known aspects of Spanish culture, flamenco and bullfighting, Andalusia is home to people who are fiercely proud of their tradition, culture and way of life.
When compared to the tourist hotspots of Madrid (with its history) and Barcelona (with its art), Andalusia holds its own with some of the finest examples of architecture: Dotted in and around the dusty bull-fighting rings and airy cathedrals from a more Christian era, stand the remnants of the ancient Moorish conquest.
The Moors—medieval Muslim inhabitants of North Africa—had invaded Spain in the 8th century. Their empire stretched north as far as Asturias in northern Spain, where it thrived until the 14th century, when a Reconquista (or reconquest) led by the Christian kingdoms of the north pushed them south and finally out of Spain in 1492. But the Moors’ lasting influence remains not just in the name of the region—Andalusia is a derivative of the Arabic Al-Andalus—but also their exquisite hill-top fortifications in Granada, Málaga and Sevilla.
These architectural features are similar to Islamic monuments around the world, but what sets the Andalusian forts apart are their stark contrast to the architecture of Christian-inspired buildings—with their arched galleries, large facades and stained glass paintings—that make up most of Spain.
After feasting on tapas at the local bars, it’s time to watch football at 10 pm: A cold San Miguel, a cramped, partisan bar, the game flickering on a tiny TV in the corner is the way to do it. The food that accompanies the drink is a simple, spicy lamb sandwich. By midnight it’s time to hit the Chupiteria—a bar serving only shots: 300 different kinds of shots with every combination of alcohol you can think of. The chili sauce Sambuca (€2.50) is particularly good. Nearly everything in southern Spain is cheap, giving you more room to indulge yourself than you generally would on a European holiday.
(This story appears in the 01 November, 2013 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)