Andalucía Bound
@andalucia-bound.bsky.social
Inspiration and practical advice for visitors to Andalucía. Suggested itineraries, places to visit and in-depth information about Andalucía's history and culture.
Website: https://andalucia-bound.com/
Website: https://andalucia-bound.com/
The drive itself takes around 3 hours, but you could easily spend the whole day on the trip if you make a few stops.
Another option is to spend a night in one of the villages along the way. If you do, our Zuheros and Luque day trip has ideas for even more things to do in the area.
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Another option is to spend a night in one of the villages along the way. If you do, our Zuheros and Luque day trip has ideas for even more things to do in the area.
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Day Trip Itinerary: Zuheros and Luque – Andalucía Bound
The neighbouring villages of Zuheros and Luque are within easy reach of Córdoba, on the edge of the Sierras Subbéticas UNESCO Global Geopark. See the rock formations up close at the Cueva de los Murci...
andalucia-bound.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The drive itself takes around 3 hours, but you could easily spend the whole day on the trip if you make a few stops.
Another option is to spend a night in one of the villages along the way. If you do, our Zuheros and Luque day trip has ideas for even more things to do in the area.
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Another option is to spend a night in one of the villages along the way. If you do, our Zuheros and Luque day trip has ideas for even more things to do in the area.
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The final leg of our journey to Granada takes you past Moclín, another picturesque village crowned by a romantic castle. There are fantastic views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the village is the starting point for the popular Gollizno hiking route down into a dramatic gorge.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The final leg of our journey to Granada takes you past Moclín, another picturesque village crowned by a romantic castle. There are fantastic views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the village is the starting point for the popular Gollizno hiking route down into a dramatic gorge.
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The first thing you see as you approach Alcalá la Real is the Fortaleza de la Mota standing high on a plateau above the town. Originally a Muslim fortress, it developed into an important frontier town, which exchanged hands several times in the 13th century.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The first thing you see as you approach Alcalá la Real is the Fortaleza de la Mota standing high on a plateau above the town. Originally a Muslim fortress, it developed into an important frontier town, which exchanged hands several times in the 13th century.
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Continuing towards Granada you reach the castle of Alcaudete, which was held by the powerful religious-military Order of Calatrava during the Middle Ages.
In more peaceful times, it was converted into a Renaissance palace.
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In more peaceful times, it was converted into a Renaissance palace.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Continuing towards Granada you reach the castle of Alcaudete, which was held by the powerful religious-military Order of Calatrava during the Middle Ages.
In more peaceful times, it was converted into a Renaissance palace.
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In more peaceful times, it was converted into a Renaissance palace.
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Next you reach the 9th-century Moorish castle in Luque, which has been lovingly restored. Nearby is the picture-postcard village of Zuheros, with some lovely hiking trails in the mountains behind it.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Next you reach the 9th-century Moorish castle in Luque, which has been lovingly restored. Nearby is the picture-postcard village of Zuheros, with some lovely hiking trails in the mountains behind it.
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Coming from Córdoba, the route takes you past the Robert Capa monument in Espejo, which commemorates his photo The Falling Soldier, perhaps the most iconic photograph taken during the Civil War.
The monument also has great views of Espejo castle and the surrounding landscape.
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The monument also has great views of Espejo castle and the surrounding landscape.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Coming from Córdoba, the route takes you past the Robert Capa monument in Espejo, which commemorates his photo The Falling Soldier, perhaps the most iconic photograph taken during the Civil War.
The monument also has great views of Espejo castle and the surrounding landscape.
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The monument also has great views of Espejo castle and the surrounding landscape.
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It was once frontier country between the Christian Kingdom of Castile and the Muslim Kingdom of Granada, and more recently it marked the boundary between the Republican loyalists and the Nationalist rebels during the Spanish Civil War.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
It was once frontier country between the Christian Kingdom of Castile and the Muslim Kingdom of Granada, and more recently it marked the boundary between the Republican loyalists and the Nationalist rebels during the Spanish Civil War.
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We’ve often driven to Córdoba from Granada, particularly over the past few years while researching our audio tours there. It’s a fantastic route which skirts the Sierras Subbéticas UNESCO Global Geopark, with great mountain views in all directions.
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December 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
We’ve often driven to Córdoba from Granada, particularly over the past few years while researching our audio tours there. It’s a fantastic route which skirts the Sierras Subbéticas UNESCO Global Geopark, with great mountain views in all directions.
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Here are some more photos of a previous visit to Pampaneira.
December 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Here are some more photos of a previous visit to Pampaneira.
Our website includes a brief introduction to Andalucía's most important festivals and public holiday, including the zambombas.
Jerez de la Frontera is the place most associated with zambombas, but they actually take place in many towns, including Córdoba and Antequera.
Jerez de la Frontera is the place most associated with zambombas, but they actually take place in many towns, including Córdoba and Antequera.
Festivals and public holidays - Andalucía Bound
Andalucia has a reputation for being fond of fiestas - with some justification - each town and village has its own festivals.
andalucia-bound.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Our website includes a brief introduction to Andalucía's most important festivals and public holiday, including the zambombas.
Jerez de la Frontera is the place most associated with zambombas, but they actually take place in many towns, including Córdoba and Antequera.
Jerez de la Frontera is the place most associated with zambombas, but they actually take place in many towns, including Córdoba and Antequera.
All set in a beautiful Baroque mansion. Highly recommended!
December 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
All set in a beautiful Baroque mansion. Highly recommended!
After the Romans, there were some Visigoth, Moorish and Christian exhibits, including a rather grizzly one of a woman who was hanged.
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December 5, 2025 at 1:33 PM
After the Romans, there were some Visigoth, Moorish and Christian exhibits, including a rather grizzly one of a woman who was hanged.
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There was an unusual gilded bronze railing which may have adorned a temple, as well as lots trinkets, oil lamps, etc.
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December 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
There was an unusual gilded bronze railing which may have adorned a temple, as well as lots trinkets, oil lamps, etc.
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Also a great collection of mosaics, as you would expect, including a Nereid riding a sea monster and the “gift of wine” - Bacchus’s gift to mankind.
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December 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Also a great collection of mosaics, as you would expect, including a Nereid riding a sea monster and the “gift of wine” - Bacchus’s gift to mankind.
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But the biggest highlights are from the Roman period, when Ecija (Astigi) was the capital of one of the four “conventus” in the province of Baetica.
Including a superb statue of a “wounded Amazon”, discovered as recently as 2002.
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Including a superb statue of a “wounded Amazon”, discovered as recently as 2002.
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December 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
But the biggest highlights are from the Roman period, when Ecija (Astigi) was the capital of one of the four “conventus” in the province of Baetica.
Including a superb statue of a “wounded Amazon”, discovered as recently as 2002.
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Including a superb statue of a “wounded Amazon”, discovered as recently as 2002.
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From the Tartessian period in the 1st millennium BC, there’s this amazingly intricate piece of gold filigree. Look at the level of detail!
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December 5, 2025 at 1:11 PM
From the Tartessian period in the 1st millennium BC, there’s this amazingly intricate piece of gold filigree. Look at the level of detail!
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If you’re wondering how Antequera might fit into a longer trip to Andalucía, take a look at our 10-day Nasrid Kingdom of Granada itinerary, which also includes Málaga, Granada and the villages of the Alpujarra.
Trip itinerary: Nasrid Kingdom of Granada - Andalucía Bound
Explore the key locations in the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, which held on as the last Muslim kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula until 1492.
andalucia-bound.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
If you’re wondering how Antequera might fit into a longer trip to Andalucía, take a look at our 10-day Nasrid Kingdom of Granada itinerary, which also includes Málaga, Granada and the villages of the Alpujarra.
The Menga and Viera dolmens are just a 20-minute walk (or a short taxi ride) from the town centre; if you’re travelling by car, there is a car park on site. The excellent interpretation centre gives the historical context for the dolmens and shows how they might have been built.
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December 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
The Menga and Viera dolmens are just a 20-minute walk (or a short taxi ride) from the town centre; if you’re travelling by car, there is a car park on site. The excellent interpretation centre gives the historical context for the dolmens and shows how they might have been built.
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Antequera’s impressive dolmen site consists of three separate megalithic monuments, the oldest of which is almost 6,000 years old. In 2016 they were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to their unique orientation towards two landforms: the Lovers’ Rock and El Torcal.
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December 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Antequera’s impressive dolmen site consists of three separate megalithic monuments, the oldest of which is almost 6,000 years old. In 2016 they were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to their unique orientation towards two landforms: the Lovers’ Rock and El Torcal.
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After spending the morning tramping around, you’ll need some lunch, and fortunately there are lots of good options. Our favourites include Mesón Juan Manuel, Mesón Adarve and the slightly more upmarket Mar de Gloria. Bar El Reloj offers simple tapas with fabulous views across to the Alcazaba.
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December 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
After spending the morning tramping around, you’ll need some lunch, and fortunately there are lots of good options. Our favourites include Mesón Juan Manuel, Mesón Adarve and the slightly more upmarket Mar de Gloria. Bar El Reloj offers simple tapas with fabulous views across to the Alcazaba.
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