Spanish cuisine is famous for its variety and rich heritage (and especially for being such a treat for the palate), and Andalucia is no exception with its wines, sherries, and traditional dishes. This is a region where life is lived in the street all year round, and the best place to sample all its culinary charms is outdoors, amid the hustle and bustle of people, in bars and restaurants, or while enjoying the lively atmosphere of local fairs and festivities. Wander narrow streets and alleyways in the most historic and traditional quarters of its cities and you'll discover some of the best food and drink that Andalucia has to offer.

To eat: along the whole of the Andalucian coastline but particularly in Huelva, Cadiz and Malaga, visitors should make a point of trying the numerous variations of the delicious dish known as pescaíto frito, (platters of fresh fried fish). In the inland regions of Andalucia we recommend sampling such delicacies as bull's tail, salmorejo (a kind of thick gazpacho) from Cordoba, cured ham from the Huelva Mountains and the Los Pedroches valley, and the traditional Christmas confectionery from Estepa in Seville.

To drink: if you enjoy good wine, you'll have the chance to take part in tasting courses, visit wineries and vineyards, and see the inside of the cellars where the genuine fino sherry of Andalucia is made. It's always a magical experience to step into one of the characteristic wine cellars of Jerez de la Frontera, such as the Real Bodega de la Concha Gonzalez Byass or the Bodegas Real Tesoro y Valdespino, and to try one of their delicious pale dry sherries known as fino, while enjoying world-class equestrian shows. It's also well worth getting to know the sherries from other cities in the region of Cadiz, the famous Montilla-Moriles from Cordoba, or the sweet wines from Malaga.

Andalucia is synonymous with fiestas. People here live their lives in the street, making the most of the wonderful climate, the music and the special Andalucian lifestyle. Wherever you go, and whatever the time of year, you'll always find fun and entertainment in the open air.

- The April Fair in Seville and the Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera are outstanding examples of typical Andalucian fiestas. These traditional celebrations announce the arrival of spring and take place against a backdrop of flamenco, sevillana dancing and equestrian displays. Best accompanied with an excellent fino sherry!

- The decorated courtyards of Cordoba and the floral crosses in Granada. There can be few lovelier times to visit these two cities than in the month of May, when all the streets are garlanded with flowers.

Another way of enjoying the beauty, culture and nature of Andalucia is to visit one of its many spa centres or hammans. The benefits of the natural spring waters of Andalucia were known to the Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs, and today you too can take advantage of these invigorating resources.

Some spa centres that are particularly worth visiting due to their wonderful setting include the San Andrés spa, in Jaén and the Tolox complex in Malaga. You can also try some of the hammans in Granada, Cordoba and Malaga, where you'll be able to relive the sensations from the past of "Al Andalus".

The Andalucian coastline extends for over one thousand kilometres of spectacular scenery and is perfect for bathing, as well as offering a wide variety of accommodation options to choose from. It's home to some of the best holiday resorts in the world, but if you prefer a more alternative and authentic experience, you'll also find hundreds of small hotels and solitary beaches where you can enjoy the sea and the sun in your own way.

Glamour: the Costa del Sol offers the essential Mediterranean experience. It has warm, calm waters, and offers the jet set luxury which still makes Marbella and the surrounding area one of the most alluring places on the planet.

Exploring: the beaches of Cadiz and Huelva, with their fine white sand lapped by the Atlantic Ocean, have become one of Spain's most fashionable holiday destinations in recent years. In particular, the beaches of Tarifa, in the province of Cadiz, are a top destination for fans of windsurfing and kitesurfing thanks to the strong winds blowing from the Straits of Gibraltar. We also recommend the beaches on the coast of Almería, adorned with magnificent hotel facilities and offering a whole world of possibilities for water sports.

Andalucia contains the largest number of protected natural spaces in space. Its widely varying landscape offers everything from the snowy mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra Morena to the desert scenery of Almería, which was the setting for the famous spaghetti westerns. There's also the fertile farmlands bordering the Guadalquivir river, as well as wooded pastures, pine forests, wetlands and beaches, and the majestic olive groves of Jaén. This is why it's such a great place to enjoy sporting activities such as hiking, climbing and fishing.

Golf: if you're a keen golfer, you'll find Andalucia the ideal place to play. The coasts of Malaga and Cadiz are home to courses for all kinds of players, from complete novices through to the most expert and demanding golfers. The two major golf events in the region are the Volvo World Match Play Championship and the Andalucia Masters Golf.

Water sports: the whole of the Andalucian coast is suitable for any kind of water sports. We particularly recommend the beaches in Tarifa for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and the Cabo de Gata-Nijar nature reserve for scuba diving.

Skiing: the Sierra Nevada ski resort is the perfect place for skiing and snowboarding beneath the sun. The quality of the snow here, as well as the proximity to the city of Granada, makes this the ideal place for an exciting winter getaway.

The fact that so many European civilisations have at one time made their home in Andalucia is yet more evidence of the incredible blend and richness of its culture. Visitors will be enchanted by these numerous treasures, which are the remnants of thousands of years of Phoenician, Roman, Arab and Christian history. *We recommend

The Alhambra and the Albaicín quarter in Granada. Together with the Great Mosque of Cordoba, these are just some of the outstanding marvels left by the Arab people after their eight centuries of rule in Andalucia. What more can be said of these towering works of world culture? Simply that no one can afford to miss them.

Other examples of Arab art and history that we recommend are the Alcázar palaces in Seville and Cordoba, the Alcazaba fortresses in Almería and Malaga and the Parador Hotel in Jaén.

But Andalucia has a long and varied history: in addition to the heritage of the Arab world there are numerous other wonders to see, including the cathedrals of Seville, Almería, Cadiz and Granada, as well as monasteries such as La Rábida in Huelva, the site from which Christopher Columbus set sail on his expedition for America.