This classic white hilltop town is well worth a visit. 10 km inland, perched high above the steep gorge of the River Barbate, Vejer is virtually unknown by foreign tourists.

     This stunning castellated town is a magical place to explore, its quiet cobbled streets meandering through a charming jumble of secret corners, hidden patios and delightful houses. Hidden behind ancient walls, it has a magnificent church. Great care has been taken to preserve this beautiful town. The town square, shaded by vast palm trees, has a wonderful old fountain with traditional ceramic Andalucian frogs which spout water high into the air.

     The recently restored 17th Century Franciscan Convent OHospederia de Convento San Francisco, now a restaurant, is also worth a visit. The town has been officially declared an Historical Artistical Monument of National importance.

 

     Tarifa is a very attractive fortified town with a distinctly African feeling. Its magnificent white sandy beaches are famous for having some of the best windsurfing conditions in Europe, making it a true surfers paradise.

     There is an impressive view of the shores of Morocco (just a few miles across the Straits) from the Miramar Gardens next to the Town Hall at the top of the town and you can cross with a high speed Catamaran to Tangier in only 35 min. You can also do whale watching.

 

     When you first see the Rock of Gibraltar, whether it is from the air, from the sea or from either the Costa del Sol or the western end of the Bay, it is its impressive stature, towering isolated above the surrounding countryside, that causes the greatest impact. It has had this effect on people for many thousands of years. Gibraltar is a beacon which signals the position of the Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow neck which separates Europe from Africa and provides the only link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is also a combination of geographical location, climate and a unique history, together with the preservation of areas of habitat, that has made it a tiny paradise for wildlife.

 

     Cadiz was founded over three thousand years ago and is the oldest inhabited city in Europe. Since then, it has experienced many changes, with eras of expansion and decline. A seafaring, trading town, particularly lively and vigorous, Cadiz surprises and appeals to the visitor at first sight due to its particular urban design which is so rational, with straight, narrow streets, towering facades with fine wrought ironwork and gardens of great botanic variety by the sea, which surrounds and encompasses the town making it almost an island.

 

     Just across the bay from Cadiz, this pretty, old town earned its prosperity by exporting sherry to Britain. The locally produced “fino” is very light and dry and most of the bodegas offer free tours and tasting to visitors.

     The town centre is a delight to wander around, particularly in the evenings with cobbled streets lined with orange trees and typical Andalusian architecture with lots of wrought iron and intricate tile work. There are two beaches just outside the town.

 

     Jerez de la Frontera is the home of Sherry and is also world famous for its magnificent dancing horses, which you can see at the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art. On Thursday morning there is a spectacular display of dressage. This elegant town is the gateway for Cadiz and many beautiful “white towns”. Sleepy by day, at night time it is the place to shop, eat, see and be seen.

     It became famous throughout the world for its sweet wines named after the town, which the British pronounced "sherry" and it is called "de la Frontera" because it once stood on the frontier between the Moorish and the Christian realms. Jerez is also famous for its brilliant singers and dancers of flamenco.

     The distinctive wine in Jerez has been exported for centuries, it was even praised by Shakespeare. It is distinctive because the strong sun gives the grapes a high sugar content. You can take a guided tour of the many Jerez bodegas.