A journey following the sun, from Andalusia to the Algarve

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.

This is a destination that evokes the impressive feats of human ingenuity on a truly monumental scale. Inside the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, you’ll walk amidst hundreds of columns and arches crafted from marble, quartz and granite. The intricate golden Byzantine mosaics of the Mihrab prayer niche are complemented by the remarkable choir stalls of the Gothic and Baroque cathedral. Tours of this colossal masterpiece include gardens filled with orange trees and trickling fountains.

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.