Andalusia: A Road Trip from Cádiz 

 CÁDIZ 

School for a week here. Great choice – ocean, sun, beach, Spanish. Lots of Spanish flags here supporting the country staying together. (A different story in Barcelona where Barry spent the week). 

My home for a week in Cádiz… Right near the beach. Note some Spanish flags  flying. 

Local colour; friend Wolfgang checks out a grand door, bottom right . 

PUEBLOS BLANCOS ROAD TRIP BEGINS

Renting a car seemed the best option for exploring Andalucía and its pueblos blancos. Its Moorish history started in 711AD and lasted 500 years and left a distinct mark on the areas archetecture and culture. 

From Cádiz we headed southeast down the coast, briefly stopping at beautiful Vejer de la Fronte:

For my own future recollection a rough sketch of our path:

TARIFA, the southern most town in mainland Spain,  was a two day pit stop.

The  Tarifa castle (10th century) and Bolonia National Park‘s amazing sand dunes: 

Left: imagine this catapult and stone projectiles ramming your castle walls. 

Heading north through various sierras, we stopped at Alcalá de los Gazules:

… and arrived at the famed pueblo blanco: ARCOS de la FRONTERA built on top of a ridge.  

Middle row:our b/b and view of Arcos from it. Great spot with wonderful dinner.. Highly recommend! Fogón Del Duende.  

Arcos de la Frontera to Ronda is a spectacular drive. Sports car land:

Arrived at hilltop pueblo blanco RONDA with wonderful light and dramatic scenery. 

Stunning vistas and town sights and specialties:

Middle: famous bull ring at Plaza de Toro; left:  El Tajo (gorge); right: Puente Nuevo that was built across the gorge to join the old town with the new. 

Osuna 

This fascinating, less-visited town actually is an hour outside of Granada heading to Sevilla and is chock-full of  history. Example: it was the site of Julius Cesear’s last battle  (the town had sided with Pompeii against him) .  Osuna was strategically placed between Christian territory and the Moor capital of Granada and was the receiver of great investment by counts who became powerful dukes.  Some scenes in Game of Thrones series 5 are filmed here. 

Inside La Colegiata de Santa Maria demonstrates the riches of past times. Bottom right: Roman ruins.