From Córdoba to Marbella: the heritage and landscapes of Andalusia

Ronda feels like a movie set. Beyond its famous bullring, it is the Arab baths, the splendid gardens of the former Moorish king's house, and the many Renaissance residences–plus its position on the very edge of a rocky plateau–that impress visitors. Overlooking the Tajo canyon and gorges, a majestic 18th-century bridge divides the city: to the south, the historic city; to the north, its modern sibling. With many viewpoints and breathtaking panoramas in every direction, Ronda is a village like no other.

Surrender to the seductive power of Marbella. Some fall for the timeless charm of its narrow streets, hidden gardens and the palaces in its historic center (casco antiguo); others prefer to stroll along its seafront promenades until late into the evening. Puerto Banús, on the edge of the city, is known as the Spanish Saint-Tropez, and is one of the most popular marinas in the Mediterranean, with 915 moorings. Stroll among gleaming yachts and buzzing café terraces, where it feels like summer all year long.

Holy Week in Seville is a truly unique experience, where the crowds’ palpable sense of excitement is matched by the elaborate religious processions–numbering around 60 in total–that make their way through the narrow, winding streets of the Old Town. To the rhythm of drums and the sound of trumpets, floats featuring figures of the Virgin Mary and Christ head slowly toward the city’s impressive cathedral. Accompanied by ceremonially robed ‘penitents’, it makes quite the spectacle.

Some destinations seem to have been created simply to watch the most spectacular of sunsets. Cape St. Vincent, just a short drive from the town of Lagos, is undoubtedly one of them. Here at the westernmost tip of Europe, classified as a nature reserve since 1988, the headland boasts a lighthouse built in 1904–on the site of a former chapel–atop a 260-foot/80-meter-high cliff that overlooks an iconic locale for waves and wind. In this stark, infinite setting, you may be only passing through–but you'll remember it forever.