Cruise Holidays

An Advertorial Feature

Malaga is a popular departure point for cruise liners, with operators like Royal Caribbean, Star Clippers and Seabourn all setting sail from there to places such as the Canaries, Morocco and of course other Spanish ports.

If you’re planning to join a cruise, why not take the opportunity to build in some time beforehand in which to explore some quite spectacular places within driving distance?

Being a major city and thriving port, car hire is an easy and straightforward procedure in Malaga. Most of the main car rental firms are represented there. Just make sure you get adequate insurance (including Collision Damage Waiver), and absolutely insist on an air-conditioned car. It’s going to be very hot where you’re going.

Around 130 kilometres northeast of Malaga lies the historic city of Grenada, home to what is certainly the most beautiful and impressive Moorish palace found outside the Islamic world – Alhambra.

Alhambra, literally ‘the red one’, is a beautiful complex of buildings and gardens dating from the 14th century. Once inside its outer walls, the bustle of the city is forgotten as you explore its stunning palatial chambers, fine Moorish art and sculpture and gorgeous leafy courtyards, whose fountains and streams provide welcome relief from the relentless heat.

The heat is one reason to get there early. Another is the crowds. Although the authorities limit the number of visitors to 8,000 a day it can still get crowded. The best plan is to book in advance by phoning phone the Alhambra administration offices (+34) 958-220-912. Tickets (€12 each at the time of writing) can then be picked up on the day of your visit.

There’s an official Alhambra car park fairly close by, but wherever you park be warned that local youths may ask you for money to ‘look after’ your car. They do no such thing of course, but paying them a few Euros will help ensure they don’t damage it.

220 kilometres from Malaga and in the opposite direction is Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Another highly photogenic city, it’s no wonder film-makers have used buildings in Seville to represent everything from the officers’ club in Lawrence of Arabia to an other-worldly palace in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

The architecture is stunning wherever you go. Top of the sightseeing list has to be the Cathedral of Seville, one of the biggest medieval and Gothic cathedrals in the world. Don’t miss its bell tower – formerly a minaret when constructed by the Moors – it was built with ramps instead of stairs. This was to allow the person leading the call to prayer to ascend on horseback. We like his style.

If you stay the night – and you’ve come this far it seems rude not to – you must try sampling the many tapas bars around the city centre, then move on to the clubs to be found in Betis Street in Triana and in La Cartuja.

Salud!