CASTRIL

Situated 157km north-east of Granada City, Castril is surrounded by beautiful unspoilt countryside. The town is dominated by La Pena - a large crag around which the town is built.Inhabited by the Romans and later the Moors the place where the town now stands was given to Hernando de Zafra (secretary to the Catholic Monarchs) in 1490. It was declared by him a 'Carta Puebla' which meant that people could come, build houses and settle the whole area

The town is typically Spanish and consists of pretty white-washed houses built around narrow winding lanes. The main hub is centred around the Plaza Hernando de Zafra and along Calle del Carmen with many other smaller beautifully maintained squares dotted around.

Located just behind the Iglesia Nuestra Senora de los Angeles are the gardens of La Lonja - a small garden area that also provide stunning views across the rest of the town.  Due the natural beauty of the surrounding area rural tourism is also on the increase.Embalse de Castril is just outside the town with its crystal clear water and the stunning gorge walk is an absolute must to do.

GALERA

Galera's history goes back some 4,000 years to the Copper Age when the land was farmed by early settlers.

Over the centuries different cultures have occupied the surrounding area including Agarics, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs, each one leavng its stamp on the town today.

Evidence of Galeras rich cultural and historical heritage can be found in the Galera Archaeological Museum which contains objects and artifacts belonging to to almost all the periods of historical development in the surrounding area.

From the Plaza Mayor there are numerous sign-posted walking routes that lead through the streets of the pretty old town area and past the remains of the ancient Ibero-Roman city of Tutugi.

The town is famous for its pretty cavehouses which are cut into the hills of the town and at night from a distance the towns lights look like an old spanish galleon.

GRANADA CITY

Granada sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada between the Darro and Genil rivers.Said to be one of the most beautiful cities of Spain it is a city of extremes. The location gives the city summers of 40 degrees plus and below zero winters whilst it's rich and eventful history leaves it's imprint throughout a modern vibrant city in it's architecture and culture. The excellent road links provide easy access to the cities of Sevilla, Malaga and Almeria from Granada,with the Mediterranean coast is less than an hours drive south.

Nowadays Granada is an important commercial city for Spain,but area was first settled in the prehistoric period, later becoming a Roman colony known as Illibris. After the Moorish invasions of the Peninsula during the 8th Century, Granada was given its current name. Under this Moorish domination, Granada became the most advanced city in Europe, a centre of excellence for Islamic arts and culture. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Catholic Monarchs and this has left a distinct Arab flavour to the city.

The publication in 1832 of Washington Irvings romantic 'Tales of the Alhambra' first put Granada on the tourist map and it hasn't looked back since. It is an unforgettable town with an impressive mix of old and new, on the plain is the modern city of Granada with it's rigid street layout whilst the surrounding hills are home to the districts of the old town with their steep, narrow and winding streets and white-washed houses. At the heart of the city you'll find a lively centre with just about everything expected to be found in a modern day city,at the same time walking through the city's streets takes the visitor past many splendours that serve as a reminder of Granada's rich past.

Granada is also home to the third largest university in Spain. The University of Granada was founded under the initiative of the Emperor Carlos V in 1531 and has become one of the top universities within Spain. For the culture seekers, numerous events take place in the city throughout the year and its many museums and monuments include the Museo Casa de los Tiros,the cathedral de la Anunciacion and of course the famous Alhambra Palace, the number one tourist attraction in Spain.(pre booking a visit to the palace is required).

Head away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre to the Albaicin area.The original setting for the 8th Century Moorish Court. Situated on the hill opposite the Alhambra Palace (and accessed just off the Plaza Nueva), the Albaicin is made up of cobbled streets and quiet plazas lined with white-washed houses where you will find numerous Morrocan tea-shops, restaurants and gift shops. This area of the city was recently declared a World Heritage Site and anyone wandering through its charming streets could easily forget they were in a thriving metropolis!

HUESCAR

This pleasant rural town is located in the north-east area of the Province.The surrounding area was first occupied by the Romans although the town itself was founded by the Arabs for whom this was an important military enclave.It is also home to Piedra de la Letera a cave where prehistoric relics have been excavated.

The main economy here is agriculture. The local lifestyle is that of an authentic, rural Andalucian town although rural tourism is on the increase due to the natural surroundings being picturesque and its developing cave district. The Sierra Montilla mountains provide a dramatic backdrop with La Sagra and its snow covered peak.

The abundance of wildlife including many species of bird native only to this area makes Huescar a birdwatchers paradise.Huescar is attracting more tourists and foreign residents seeking a slower pace of life away from the busy Costas,but dont be fooled into thinking this town is a quiet backwater as when the fiestas start everyone joins in making it a unique place to experience the hospitality and friendliness of the local inhabitants.

SIERRA NEVADA

Located within 45 minutes of Granada City along the A-395, Sierra Nevada is the most southerly ski resort in Europe. In 1996 it was chosen as the site for the World Ski Championships which gave the resort international recognition.

The 45 pistes of varying degrees of difficulty (including one floodlit piste for night-time skiing) with a length totalling 65km aswell as cross-country skiing circuits makes this resort challenging to skiers of all abilities.

Within Pradollano, the visitor will find everything expected from a good ski resort including a wide choice of bars and restaurants and a wealth of ski hire outlets.Although an obvious destination during the winter there is still much to be enjoyed during the summer months.

Being located within the Sierra Nevada Natural Park means there are a wealth of outdoor summertime activities to be enjoyed including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horse trekking and even hang gliding.

LAKE NEGRATIN

For those looking for something different why not head for Lake Negratin!

This is perhaps Europe’s most spectacular lake and with 32km of shoreline it has a lot to offer.

Flanked on one side by towering red cliffs and on the other by pine woodland overlooked by the majestic Mount Jabalcon.

At the beach and recreation areas (including a naturist beach) you can swim,fish and do other water sports while the lakeside restaurants are perfect for trying the local cuisine whilst admiring the turquoise waters.

At the far end of the lake in Zujar you can visit the thermal baths, said to have therapeutic qualities and used since Roman times.

You can swim all year round and still enjoy a constant 39 degrees.

SIERRA DE CAZORLA

Located in eastern Jaen province, it connects the Sierra Morena and the Subbética mountain ranges.

The highest peak in this immense park is Pico Empanada at 2,107m and the entire park is higher than 600m,with a total surface area of 209,920ha and covering almost a fifth of Jaen province, this is Spain's largest protected area and one its most extensive forested zones.

Two of the Iberian peninsula's most important rivers, the great Río Guadalquivir and the Segura, have their sources in the Sierra de Cazorla, amid some of the wildest landscape in Spain.

Recognizing its exceptional ecological importance, it was designated a Unesco biosphere reserve in 1983 and created a natural park in 1989. First impressions of the park may consist of barren rocky crests and vast pine forests, but the area's botanical importance within Andalucia is matched only by the Sierra Nevada, with a fifth of the vascular plants in the Iberian peninsula being found in the Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park.

It is also home to 51 species of mammals, 185 birds, 21 reptiles (including an endemic lizard), 12 amphibians, 11 fish and one of the highest number of butterfly species in the Iberian peninsula, with 112 varieties found here.

CAZORLA

Steeped in tradition,its origins stretch back six centuries before Christ, although it was officially founded by the Romans, who named it Carcesa.

Its splendour grew under Moorish and later, Christian control. Today, the town has a Medieval look about it, and boasts numerous springs, narrow streets and stone houses with balconies full of flowers.

There are two well preserved castles (the Moorish La Yedra and the Christian Cinco Esquinas), both of which are of great historical significance,these are testament to the town's former religious importance. Five convents can also be found amongst the ruins of the Santa María Church.

Nearby is the Herrerías bridge which, according to tradition, was built in one night with the aid of Divine Intervention, to enable Queen Isabel the Catholic to pass.