La Herradura - Costa Tropical

The Costa Tropical's unique coastline, just 19km, is different to any other part of southern spain where rugged hills thrust up steeply from valley floors or plunge spectacularly into the sea. It is in the province of Granada with three main coastal towns of Motril, Salobrena and Almunecar.

La Herrdura is situated between Nerja (15km) & Almunecar (8km) on the Costa Tropical. It is under 1 hour to Malaga airport & just a little more to Granada. There are a couple of newsagents, 3 or 4 small supermarkets, 2 banks, ironmongers, hairdressers, pharmacies, art gallery, many bars/restaurants. There are Diving schools, paragliding, dinghy and windsurfer rental. A large catamaran with crew is also available for hire.

Almunecar

Almunecar is the most important resort in Granada province & has been significantly developed over the last few years but not to the extent of resorts on the Costa del Sol. It retains a pleasantly laidback atmosphere & the old town , founded as a fishing settlement by the Phoenicians in the first millennium BC, remains delightfully untouched. This is a good sized town with a large variety of shops & a street market every friday. They are very fond of their fiestas and at Easter they have a huge parade.

Marina del Este

Marina del Este is situated between La Herradura & Almunecar. The Marina has a number of Bars and Restaurants, a small beach, and a Tennis Club.

Andalucia

It is often said that the rich tapestry of Spain originates from this one province of Andalucia. Birthplace of Flamenco and Bullfights, of Velaquez and Picasso, it is a land of orange blossom, snow white Pueblos and ruined castles. Here under the burning Andalucian sun lie the magnificent remains of almost 1,000 years of Moorish rule. Artists, poets, seekers of harmony in life and art, the Moors left to Andaluciaa remarkable heritage which includes two of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the Mezquita in Cordoba and the Alhambra in Granada. Andalucia has an enormous diversity of landscapes with beautiful beaches set against the imposing mountain backdrop of the Sierras. The snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada are clearly visible from the coast and at 3,000 metres boast a very long skiing season.

Cordoba

Cordoba (215 km) under Moorish rule was once the largest and most civilised city in the western world, and the Mezquita or Great Mosque still represents the zenith of Moslem architecture.

Granada

Granada (75 km) is a must, it has the wonderful Alhambra Palace, often hailed as the most exciting, sensual and romantic of all European monuments. Set on a wooded hill above the city, it was built in the 14th century by the sultans of Granada. It represents the splendid climax of Moorish art but, much more than this, it also reveals the brilliance and spirit of their culture at a time when the rest of Europe was only just emerging from the Dark Ages.

Seville

Seville (295 km) has been ruled in various stages in history by the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and finally reclaimed by the Christians in the 13th century. It is reflected particularly in the architecture with buildings of Moorish, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque style. Andalucia's capital city is now a compact maze of streets with a fascinating selection of places to visit. If you don't feel like driving all the way, there is a good rail service from Malaga.