Best Places to learn Spanish in Andalucia
Friday December 02, 2022 | Spanish Language | Posted by studyspanishinspain

Best Places to learn Spanish in Andalucia
Andalusia is one the greatest centers of culture, learning, history, flamenco and cuisine. Many famous Spanish dishes were born here. Andalucia is full of culture, friendly people and it has an amazing coastline! So get ready to explore! Andalusia is the connector between Europe and Africa and the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This is a unique place for a Spanish course in Spain. What are the best places to learn Spanish in Andalucia? Check it out here.
Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is one of the best places to study Spanish. And it certainly is the best place to experience Semana Santa (the week before Easter) or to get lost in the Barrio Santa Cruz, have some tapas and watch a flamenco show. If you are looking for excellent cuisine, Seville is second only to San Sebastian for gourmet tapas in Spain.
The Cathedral and Alcazar in Seville are some of the Seville’s highlights, and they are right next to one another. The Cathedral is enormous and combines Christian and Moorish designs and architectural styles to create a distinct and one of a kind effect. Barrio Santa Cruz, Macarena, and Triana are some of the best neighborhoods to explore on your journey in Seville.
Seville is also one of the best places to see flamenco in Spain. Don’t forget that flamenco isn’t all about dancing! The performance also combines masterful guitar playing and passionate vocals that can really stir some deep emotions.
Read more about flamenco: What’s the Fuss about Flamenco?
Cordoba
Córdoba is one of the best places to learn Spanish in Andalucia. is a unique destination for a Spanish Course in Spain. While in Cordoba don’t miss the old mosque: the Mezquita de Cordoba, the largest mosque in Spain, and a World Heritage site. Historians say that Cordoba was once the biggest city in the world during Islamic rule in the 10th century. After the Reconquista, Cordoba returned to Christian rule (1236).
If you love the heat make sure this city is on your bucket list for a Spanish course in Córdoba. During the months of July and August, the average high temperatures float around 99 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. Don’t forget to try the Vino de Cordoba on a hot day!
As Cordoba is the first stop in Andalusia when heading south from Madrid, it also makes sense to base yourself in the city to help lessen travel time. The main circuit of Seville, Cordoba, and Granada takes just as long wherever you start from, but you haven’t had to travel as far from Madrid to start the journey.
If pressed for time, you can see the most important sights of Cordoba in a few hours, making it the perfect stop on the way from Madrid to Seville. If you are doing a language Spanish in Seville, visiting Cordoba for a day is definitely worth the quick 45-minute train ride.
Granada
While in Granada for a Spanish Immersion program or a visit, make sure you visit The Alhambra, the Moorish fortress, and palace and gardens compound positioned up on the hill overlooking Granada. While you are there, explore the two amazing neighborhoods that are on the hill opposite the Alhambra.
Take time to wander the narrow lanes that snake through El Albayzín, the old Moorish quarter that reflects the city’s medieval Moorish past. Enjoy the alleyways full of stunning whitewashed buildings. You can also get sneaking views of the Alhambra that peaks out from the houses.
Take a visit to the Generalife, a 13th-century leisure palace with gardens built on the slopes of the Hill of the Sun. Then, there’s the Sacromonte area, the old quarter with cave dwellings that people still live in. Some of these dwellings have flamenco shows.
And of course, for lunch, you have to check out the city’s famous tapas bars. Granada is one of the few cities in Spain where you still get your tapas for free like you’re supposed to.
While learning Spanish in Granada, you must visit the wine-growing and ham-producing region of Alpujarras, which is just a short drive from Granada. This mountainous area is home to small villages and is perfect for hiking or sampling the best ham in the country.
White villages in Las Alpujarras
Pampaneira is one of the main villages there. This village is full of Moorish history. The village was actually used for the Moors to stage their last rebellion in the 16th century before being kicked out of Granada. You can still get a strong sense of the Moorish traditions through the architecture and the names of the streets and places in the village. Make sure you visit Juan at El Secadero, where he sells Serrano ham and costa wine. If you would like to read more about this unique and historic place check out the books South from Granada by Gerald Brenan and Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart.
You can stay in the town of Motril, a cute place on the beach while visiting the likes of Alpujarras.
Cadiz
The city of Cadiz, also known as Havana of the East, is an unmissable, humble, historic and off the beaten path destination right on the Atlantic. Take a close up look at the buildings and you will see oyster shells in the stone. Take a walk around the edge of the city where you can see the eggshell blue water, the colourful plants around the walkways and the massive fortresses.
Cadiz is a great place to sample the famous fried fish of Andalusia. The ‘gaditanos’ (inhabitants of Cadiz) invented fried fish long before the British caught on. The old town area is beautiful, especially the La Viña neighborhood, where you can try local wines. Don’t leave until you try the chicharrones and the tortillitas de camarones.
Cadiz is considered one of the birthplaces of flamenco, so it’s a great place to go to one of the clubs called “peñas flamencas” where you can see impromptu flamenco in the Barrio de Santa Maria or in La Viña, where you can see kids playing football and singing amazing flamenco at the same time.
While in Cadiz to learn Spanish, make sure you visit Zahara de los Atunes, a wonderful little seaside resort town that was once a fishing village where there are strips of bars to try all the most amazing tapas. Make sure to try the tuna for which the town was named for. When the sun goes down, you can hear everyone cheering and don’t forget to look out to see the light coming from the coast of North Africa.
Tarifa
Another worthwhile destination in Cadiz is Tarifa, which is a town all about the water: particularly, watersports, visits to Morocco and whale watching. It’s not the only place you can cross to Morocco, but it has the quickest crossing and it’s the nicest place to depart from.
Jerez
Jerez, a nice and small city near Cadiz, is the capital of Andalucian horse culture, sherry and is, some say, the origin of Spanish flamenco. Jerez is all about sherry, and it makes sense because Jerez literally means sherry. While in Jerez you must stop in, and get a guided tour of, some of the fantastic vintage tabanco sherry bars. Make sure you hit up Bodegas Tradicion. Besides trying sherry you can visit their impressive art collection that includes paintings by Goya.
Besides sherry you can also see the Fiesta de la Buleria, which is a flamenco festival every August and September. This is one of the best places to see real, authentic flamenco.
Andalusia, coming from the Arabic word Al-Andalus, is a distinct and diverse region in southern Spain with a mind-blowing history. The region consists of eight provinces: Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, and Seville. With Seville being the capital of Andalusia. The region of Andalusia has a surface area of 87,268 km2 and represents 17.3% of Spain. The region is larger than countries like Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. The region has been sought-after by many different cultures throughout history and prehistory. For eight centuries, Andalusia sat on a fiery border between two faiths: Christianity and Islam. Andalusia underwent a melding of culture and religious tradition left behind ancient mosques transformed into churches, massive palaces with stuccowork and gastronomy rich with North African spices. |
Malaga
And last but not least: Malaga is certainly also one of the best places to learn Spanish in Andalucia. The province of Malaga is located in the south of Spain on the Mediterranean coast with over 160 kilometers of coastline. 14 districts are located directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The beaches in both the eastern and the western part of Malaga are so attractive they have made the Costa del Sol one of the top international destinations!
The city has a sleek port, a sensational culinary scene and a quickly growing hub of artistic and cultural attractions. Make sure you explore the attention-grabbing Pompidou Centre and popular Museu de Picasso, which celebrates Malaga’s most famous painter and the street art in the Soho district.
There are many newly opened art galleries in the city and food lovers are flocking to Málaga’s gastro market, Mercado Merced located in the center of the city. Malaga is famous for its fried fish, sweet wine, its Alcazaba, nightlife and the best weather of any city in Spain, which means virtually year-round eating and drinking outside on terrazas.
But one of the best aspects of Malaga is its new cosmopolitan feel and its ability to maintain its historic past and splendor. This is one of the oldest cities in Spain, and you can still walk the cobbled streets of the old quarter, visit its Roman Amphitheatre and the Moorish citadels of the Alcazaba Gilfarbaro. And after a long day of successful sightseeing, you can hit up the rooftop bars, fabulous boutique stores and nearby beaches.
If you want to learn Spanish in Spain and you want sun, food, and nightlife, Malaga is perhaps your best bet on the mainland for a Spanish language course in Malaga.
While in the Malaga province you should visit the city of Ronda. Ronda is famous for its bullfights (not for everyone) a deep ravine, and an old Islamic town. The bridge at Ronda is built over a ravine, and the view from the bridge is extraordinary. Getting to Ronda can be quite difficult, so if you’re staying on the Costa del Sol, you may want to consider a guided tour of Ronda. The city is quite remote and was built high up over the Tajo gorge. The city is very majestic due to its bridges and fantastic views. The city also has a nice wine museum and some interesting ruins of Moorish baths.
Learn More about in Andalucia
Nature in Andalucia
The Andalusia region is a favourite tourist destination in southern Spain. The region has almost 900 kilometres of coastline and two National Parks. Thirty percent of Andalusia’s land is environmentally protected. The region has the Iberian Peninsula’s highest mountain range and about 15% of its area is above 3,300 feet, or 1,005 meters above sea level.
Andalusia has an assortment of landscapes and geographical terrain that go from the Guadalquivir River valley through to the lush mid-mountain areas, volcanic landscapes such as the Tabernas desert the snow-capped peaks of Sierra Nevada. In just forty kilometres you can go from alpine mountain views to tropical areas on the banks of the Mediterranean.
Art / Architecture / Classics
The striking Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque architecture can been seen in the most important buildings throughout the region including the castles, fortresses, monasteries all the way to the commonplace family homes. Everywhere you look you will see the history of Andalusia written in the architecture.
Andalusia is also the native region of Velázquez, Murillo and Picasso, some of the most famous artists in Spanish history. Andalusia is therefore home to canvasses, sculptures, jewelry, archaeological remains, cathedrals, museums, churches, convents and palaces. The region is the perfect place for art lovers to discover one of the most important and influential regions of artistic development and art history.
Bullfighting, a controversial practice, has deep roots in the Andalusian culture. For three quarters of the year, there are bullfights held in many different bullrings to coincide with local fairs.
Flamenco, recognized as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, is an art form that combines dance, song and instrumental music, mostly with guitar playing. Flamenco originated with the Andalusia Roma (Gypsies) of southern Spain. The art form includes:
- cante (singing),
- toque (guitar playing),
- baile (dance),
- jaleo (vocalizations),
- palmas (handclapping) and
- pitos (finger snapping).
Andalucian Cuisine
Andalusian cuisine is a major attraction due to its fresh, local ingredients. You can find fish dishes in the coastal provinces and the highest quality meat dishes as you move inland. A huge variety of fruit, vegetables and extra virgin olive oil can be found throughout the region. Each town gives their own personal touch to the regional dishes that are packed with aromas, colors and flavors.
Once in Andalusia, you must try all of the local Spanish delicacies: ham, wine, olive oil, cheese, sole, mushrooms, jam, avocado, tomato, mango, langoustines, olives, anchovies, prawns and tuna.
How to arrive in Andalusia
Do you want to learn Spanish in Spain |
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