Canary Islands, Morocco &
Southern Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a beautiful and scenic island which enjoys year-round sunshine and is dominated by Mount Teide. The mountain range runs through the centre of the island, with fertile valleys on the northern side. In the central part of the range is the gigantic natural crater of the Cañadas del Teide, about 14 miles in diameter. Santa Cruz, the island’s pretty capital, was originally a small fishing village but has now grown into a modern city, and also contains 16th-century civic buildings and ornate private mansions. Near the pier is the Santa Cruz Palmetum, a Botanical Garden covering an area of 29 acres, specialising in palms.

Santa Cruz de La Palma

Also known as ‘La Isla Bonita’ (the beautiful island), La Palma is typified by lush forests of pine, laurel and fern which contrast with the rugged splendour of the gigantic Taburiente crater. The island is dotted with attractive villages, which are a delight to discover, and the capital Santa Cruz also makes for an interesting day of exploration. Perched on the edge of the volcanic crater of La Caldereta, Santa Cruz comfortably blends modern architecture with old colonial buildings. Perhaps visit the fascinating Natural History Museum, stroll around the historic quarters and the Plaza de Espana or travel a few miles outside the city to the exquisite Church of Our Lady. If you enjoy shopping, you can find reasonably priced silver jewellery, leather goods and beautifully embroidered clothes, tablecloths and napkins, a speciality of the Canary Islands.

Arrecife, Lanzarote

The most northeasterly of the Canary Islands,
Lanzarote has embraced the tourism boom with a more laidback feel
than its popular sister islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Nature is still the biggest attraction on this small volcanic
island, which measures only 38 miles (60km) in length and 13 miles
(21km) across at its widest point.

Lanzarote's beaches are varied and dramatic,
including long stretches of golden sand, some good surf spots, and
some rugged, hidden coves. Camels are often used to transport goods
and sometimes tourists on this desert-like island, across the dry
volcanic ash that covers most of the landscape. UNESCO declared the
whole island a Biosphere Reserve in 1993, and visitors exploring
the dozens of enchanting and unique spots on the island will soon
see why.

Lanzarote's capital, Arrecife, is a small town on
the eastern coast, its harbour packed with fishing boats. Although
the town itself has little to offer in the way of sights or
nightlife, it does have a magnificent beach, El Reducto, which has
been granted Blue Flag status by the European Union. A promenade
runs along the beachfront around the San Gines lagoon with its fine
golden sand and placid waters.

Casablanca

Just looking at the city, there's no need to guess where the
port-city of Casablanca, meaning 'white house' in Spanish, got its
name. Made famous by the classic film, starring Humphrey Bogart,
this cosmopolitan, white-walled city is Morocco's largest and most
modern. Casablanca is not oriented towards tourists as much as
Morocco's other large cities, but under the hustle and bustle lies
a unique and charismatic history waiting to be discovered.

Founded by Berber fisherman over two thousand years ago,
Casablanca was used by both the Phoenicians and the Romans as a
port. The Portuguese then took over but after destroying the city
and rebuilding it, they abandoned it in the aftermath of an
earthquake. The city went on to be rebuilt as Daru l-Badya (Arabic
for Casablanca) by a Moroccan sultan, and was then given the name
Casablanca by the Spanish traders who used the port, and it retains
this function today as one of Africa's largest and most important
ports.

As a centre for trade and, consequently, the mixing of cultures,
Casablanca is unlike any other Moroccan city. Many women ditch the
conservative clothing and dress themselves in the latest designer
outfits. The infrastructure is modern and the city sophisticated.
Casablanca is where Morocco's youth move to make something of their
lives and is the centre for international trade and big business.
For a glimpse of its history, downtown is the perfect place to
admire the blend of French colonial architecture and traditional
Moroccan design.

Guadalquivir River, Spain

Seville

Spain's great southern city of Seville has a romantic past and a
rich Moorish heritage. Seville is the perfect setting for high
culture and romantic operas such as Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro,
and the romance is not just cultural: the poet Byron famously rated
Seville for its women and oranges. Modern visitors might add
flamenco, tapas and bull fighting to the list of attractions.

The soul of the city is best epitomised during its two
passion-filled grand festivals, the Semana Santa, held the week
before Easter, and the Feria de Abril, held two weeks after Easter
Sunday. Seville has an impressive collection of historical sights,
including its cathedral, which is one of the largest Gothic
buildings in the world. Having been occupied by the Moors for 500
years, the city also has a legacy left by the Arab kings in the
form of the Alcazar, a palace-fortress that is regarded as one of
the finest surviving examples of Moorish architecture.

Seville is the regional capital of Andalucia, which contains the
densely populated beach resorts of the Costa del Sol along its
southern reaches, and the mountain villages of the Sierra Nevada
range further inland, about 25 miles (40km) from the coast.

Seville

Spain's great southern city of Seville has a romantic past and a
rich Moorish heritage. Seville is the perfect setting for high
culture and romantic operas such as Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro,
and the romance is not just cultural: the poet Byron famously rated
Seville for its women and oranges. Modern visitors might add
flamenco, tapas and bull fighting to the list of attractions.

The soul of the city is best epitomised during its two
passion-filled grand festivals, the Semana Santa, held the week
before Easter, and the Feria de Abril, held two weeks after Easter
Sunday. Seville has an impressive collection of historical sights,
including its cathedral, which is one of the largest Gothic
buildings in the world. Having been occupied by the Moors for 500
years, the city also has a legacy left by the Arab kings in the
form of the Alcazar, a palace-fortress that is regarded as one of
the finest surviving examples of Moorish architecture.

Seville is the regional capital of Andalucia, which contains the
densely populated beach resorts of the Costa del Sol along its
southern reaches, and the mountain villages of the Sierra Nevada
range further inland, about 25 miles (40km) from the coast.

Marbella

Málaga

Malaga has long been a popular holiday destination for British tourists. Located on the Costa del Sol, along the southern coast of Spain, Malaga enjoys yearly warm weather and sandy beaches perfect for those looking for some relaxation.

Almería

The Spanish province of Almeria is made up of about 200 miles
(322km) of varied, scenic coastline that attracts package tourists
to its developed resorts near the main towns, but also offers
idyllic spots for nature-lovers to explore unspoilt fishing
villages, long, sandy beaches and small, intimate coves which are
popular with nudists.

Enjoying a sunny and mild climate, Almeria lies southeast of the
Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean Sea, and still bears the
archaeological evidence of many ancient cultures, from the
Tartessos and Phoenicians, to the Romans and Visigoths, who were
drawn here by the natural beauty, and useful maritime geographic
location. The region retains an African flavour owing to its
proximity to the continent.

Inland, Almeria is rather barren, and boasts Europe's only
desert region around the village of Tabernas, which has been used
as the location for several western movies. In the east, the
lunar-landscaped Cabo de Gata-Nijar nature reserve, with its rugged
coastline, attracts hikers, birders, and scuba divers. Despite the
dry, inhospitable landscape, Almeria has developed a thriving
agricultural industry, and plastic-covered tunnel farms, packed
with fresh produce and flowers are prolific.

Most visitors flock to the holiday resorts to the east and west
of the lively capital city of Almeria, which boasts picturesque
squares, some worthy sights to see, cafes, a ferry port, and
marina. Lovely beaches, marinas, hotels, and sport centres provide
plenty to keep holidaymakers happy in the resort towns of Mojacar
to the east, and Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar, and Almerimar to the
west of the city.

Ibiza

Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands,
covering just 225 square miles (585 square km), but in recent times
it has become the best known of the archipelago and a hugely
popular destination for young revellers, middle-class European
package tourists, and gay travellers, whose collective character
imbue the island with a chic and trendy atmosphere that is well
expressed by its famously frenetic nightlife.

Ibiza has plenty to offer besides nightclubs, as its
jagged coastline contains dozens of dreamy white sandy beaches,
hidden coves and bays, villages of white-washed houses tumbling
down cliff sides, and a green, hilly interior landscape decorated
with fig and olive trees.

The island's main town is the port of Ciudad de
Ibiza, known as Eivissa to the locals and Ibiza Town to the Brits.
Located in the south, it is the centre of the island's nightclub
scene and has a lively marina and quaint old quarter with some
great restaurants. It lies close to the beautiful beaches of
Figueretes, Es Cavallet, and Ses Salines.

San Antonio is the main resort town of the island and
is somewhat blighted by high-rise hotels and apartment blocks,
though it is making efforts to clean up its slightly tarnished
image and its popularity is still legendary.

The main attractions for many British holidaymakers
are the two clubs of Es Paradis and Eden but there are also some
beautiful coves nearby with glorious beaches. It's best to get
there early in the summer months to reserve a spot. Just three
miles (5km) offshore is the 'satellite' island of Formentera, a
little haven reached by ferry, with less crowded stretches even in
the height of the sweltering summer season.

There is good public transport between Ibiza Town and
San Antonio, and to and from the main beaches and resorts. Taxis
are good value and the best way to get around in the evening,
although there is also a 'disco bus', travelling from San Antonio
to the main clubs in Ibiza Town during the peak season. Cars and
scooters can be hired by the day or week for those wanting to
explore the island. Ferries run from San Antonio and Ibiza Town to
nearby beaches between May and October.

Barcelona

The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an
atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with
provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval
romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the
fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of
Gaudi and his contemporaries.

The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic, both
offer breathtaking views over this attractive city. Its skyline is
perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still
incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's
huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of
the city's most appealing attributes, with museums containing
extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso. Barcelona
is also a shopper's paradise, with the city's flair for style
reflected in its numerous boutiques and markets, open late into the
evenings. As the sun sets, and the city's many bars and restaurants
open, the night truly comes alive. Dinner is served at any time
between nine o'clock and midnight, and the festivities around the
bars and nightclubs carry on well into the early hours of the
morning.

Barcelona is the commercial centre of the popular holiday region
known as the Costa Brava, the northernmost Mediterranean seafront
in Spain, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south. The coast is
dotted with popular resort towns, many retaining their age-old
charm, which can be easily reached from the city.