North Africans--some call them Moors--crossed into Spain in the year 711 and stayed until Ferdinand and Isabella kicked them out in 1492. During this extended stay, they created a delicate, poetic architecture, unique in the world. Much of what is most beautiful in Spain today is the inheritance of this Islamic culture, and is still there for all of us to ooh and ahh at in a region called Andalusia.
I can't encourage you enough to visit Andalusia, and to go now, in the fall. Summer tends to be too hot; the fall weather is ideal. The highlights are Cordoba, Seville, and Granada. You can also head down south to the Costa del Sol and hang out in Marbella, with a side trip to Ronda. I'd make Cordoba a side trip. Stay long enough to visit the fabulous, 8th-century mosque, so huge it contains a 16th-century baroque cathedral within its walls, and the city's ancient Jewish quarter; and then head for south to Granada, home to the Alhambra, the greatest monument of Islamic Spain. Keep in mind that if you fly from North America to Madrid, you can return home via Malaga.
For something a little more in depth, you should visit read our coverage on Andalusia and the Costa del Sol in our free online destinations section. Any of the following tour operators are recommended to help you plan your trip on any budget, from shoestring to luxury.
- Abreu Tours (800/223-1580, www.abreu-tours.com)
- FreeGate Tours (888/373-3428, www.freegatetours.com)
- Petrabax Tours (800/634-1188, www.petrabax.com)
- Spanish Heritage Tours (800/456-5050, www.shtours.com)
- TourCrafters (800/482-5995, www.tourcrafters.com)