See & Do

Granada — The Soul of Andalucía

Just 50 minutes from La Casita Zagra, nestled in the foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, lies the spellbinding city of Granada — a place where history, art, and passion intertwine beneath the Andalusian sun.

Home to the world-famous Alhambra Palace, Granada is steeped in legend as the last Moorish stronghold in Western Europe. Its streets whisper tales of sultans and poets, of faith and conquest — a city where every stone seems to hold a secret.

Granada is the darkly romantic cousin of sunny Seville: a city of contrasts, alive with energy and mystery. Lose yourself in the maze of Albayzín’s narrow, winding streets, or wander through the Realejo quarter, where elegant old houses and hidden gardens meet bold street art and modern spirit.

This is a city of beautiful contradictions — elegant yet edgy, grand yet intimate, ancient yet vibrantly alive. Follow your instincts rather than your guidebook; Granada rewards curiosity. You might stumble upon a soulful flamenco performance that captures the essence of duende, discover a striking mural tucked in a back alley, or simply savour a glass of wine as a free tapa magically appears before you.

Granada isn’t just a place to visit — it’s a place to feel. A city that lingers in your heart long after you’ve left.

Córdoba — Where Cultures Converge

Just a short, scenic drive from La Casita Zagra lies Córdoba, a city that feels like stepping into a living tapestry of history. Once the dazzling capital of Moorish Spain, Córdoba was a place where scholars, artists, and thinkers from three great faiths — Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — lived side by side, leaving behind an extraordinary cultural legacy.

At its heart stands the breathtaking Mezquita, one of the world’s most striking architectural marvels — a vast forest of striped arches and columns that shimmer with centuries of devotion and artistry. Wander through its serene courtyards scented with orange blossom, then lose yourself in the labyrinthine lanes of the Judería, where whitewashed walls, flower-filled patios, and ornate doorways whisper of a time gone by.

Beyond its monuments, Córdoba invites you to slow down and savour the rhythm of Andalusian life. Linger over lunch in a shaded plaza, explore hidden artisan shops, or simply watch the golden light dance across the Roman bridge at sunset. In Córdoba, every corner tells a story — and every moment feels timeless.

Seville

Drenched for most of the year in spirit-enriching sunlight, Seville is a city of feelings as much as sights.

Like all great cities, Seville has historical layers. Roman ruins testify the settlement’s earliest face, memories of the Moorish era flicker like medieval engravings in the Santa Cruz quarter, while the riverside Arenal reeks of lost colonial glory. Yet, one of the most remarkable things about modern Seville is its ability to adapt and etch fresh new brushstrokes onto an ancient canvas. The capital city of Andulucia, Seville is famous for flamenco dancing. Major landmarks include the ornate Alcázar castle complex, built by the Moors, and the 18th century Plaza de la Maestranza bullring. Seville’s gothic cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb.

Iznájar

Located only 40 minutes from La Casita, Iznájar to all intents and purposes, overlooks an ‘inland sea’ some thirty kilometres long, and containing an estimated 900 million cubic metres of water.
The cobalt-blue water lake below has given further resonance to Iznájar’s unofficial title as the Mirador (viewpoint) del Genil.
In effect, Iznajar now offers the perfect setting for anyone wanting to live in the interior but still retain a ‘sea’ view’ and that includes its fabulous uncrowded beach, where you can swim and participate in all forms of watersports.
Situated near the southerly border of Córdoba province, it serves as a natural entrance to the Sierra Subbéticas Natural Park.
The Sierras Subbéticas is a stunningly beautiful, rugged park located in the heart of Andalucia between the three great cities of Cordoba, Granada and Seville. It is home to one of southern Spain’s largest breeding colonies of griffon vultures, as well as around 70 other bird species, like booted, Bonelli’s and short-toed eagles. It also has a rich variety of wildflowers.

Málaga — The Mediterranean’s Bright Soul

About 90 minutes from La Casita Zagra, Málaga awaits — a city that perfectly blends art, sunshine, and sea breeze. Once overlooked, this vibrant coastal gem has reinvented itself as one of southern Spain’s most exciting destinations, brimming with culture and Andalusian charm.

The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Málaga is a city of creativity and light. Stroll through the Museo Picasso or the sleek Centre Pompidou Málaga, then wander the elegant boulevards of the old town, where lively tapas bars spill onto flower-filled squares and the scent of jasmine floats on the air.

Above the city rises the ancient Alcazaba fortress and Gibralfaro Castle, offering sweeping views over the Mediterranean and the bustling port below. Down at the waterfront, the Muelle Uno promenade is perfect for an evening stroll, cocktail in hand, as the sun melts into the horizon.

Whether you come for the art, the sea, or the spirit of endless summer, Málaga is a city that glows with life — modern yet deeply rooted in tradition, cosmopolitan yet unmistakably Andalusian.

Andalucían Cultural Sites

The scent of orange blossom, the thrash of a flamenco guitar, the glimpse of a white village perched spectacularly atop a crag: memories of Andalucía stay with you like collected souvenirs.
Part of the fascination Andalucía holds for people, springs from its peculiar history. For eight centuries the region sat on a porous frontier between two different faiths and ideologies, Christianity and Islam. Left to ferment like a barrel of the bone-dry local sherry, the ongoing cross-fertilisation has thrown up a slew of cultural colossi: ancient mosques transformed into churches; vast palace complexes replete with stucco; a cuisine infused with dashes of North African spices; and a chain of lofty white towns that dominates the arid, craggy landscape, from the tightly knotted lanes of Granada’s Albayzín to the hilltop settlements of Cádiz province.
One of Andalucía’s most intriguing and mysterious attractions is the notion of duende, the elusive spirit that douses much of Spanish art, especially flamenco. Duende loosely translates as a moment of heightened emotion experienced during an artistic performance, and it can be soulfully evoked in Andalucía if you mingle in the right places. Seek it out in a Lorca play at a municipal theatre, an organ recital in a Gothic church, the hit-or-miss spontaneity of a flamenco peña (club) or the remarkable art renaissance currently gripping Málaga.