Going to Spain, asking for help...
 

Hi... I am new the these Spain threads and am planning to visit Spain for the first time in September. My husband's 40th birthday, so I wanted something festive and thought Carmen in Seville would be perfect. So I'm booked for four days in Casa Numero 7 and will try to get tickets. Before Seville, I'm not sure which area to visit. I thought of either staying in Andalusia or visiting Asturias. I do not want to visit a big city, so I'll save Madrid and Barcelona for another trip. Other than that, I'm wide open to suggestions, if anyone has any. I'm learning a lot from previous posts. Thanks.

We are also going to Seville in September and visiting Granada and the white villages. Seems like a good idea, as long as you are there, to stay in Andalusia.

I would go to Granada. It is a relatively small city with fun nightlife and visiting the Alhambra would be a trip highlight. I much prefer Granada to Sevilla

We were in Seville and other parts of Andalucia last month. Seville is a fabulous city, we actually preferred it to Granada or Madrid. I would highly recommend spending some time in or near Ronda. The countryside in this area is very beautiful. We stayed just outside Ronda in the village of Arriate at a new Andalucian style hotel, the Arriadh (very beautiful and relaxing).Also, Nerja is a wonderful, small scenic seaside resort town on the Mediteranean, a short drive from Granada.

Thanks so much for your quick responses. I'm looking into Ronda and Granada. I will look into Nerja too, as we love the seaside, but had heard negative things about Costa del Sol. Which is why I was looking into Asturias...which seems
unspoiled and beautiful in a mystic, windswept sort of way.

Thanks so much for your quick responses. I'm looking into Ronda and Granada. I will look into Nerja too, as we love the seaside, but had heard negative things about Costa del Sol. Which is why I was looking into Asturias...which seems unspoiled and beautiful in a mystic, windswept sort of way.

sorry for the duplicate...

We were very disappointed in Nerja. Yes, the view of the mediterranean is beautiful but the town itself is over-developed and no longer a charming seaside village.

We are doing the NW in July - Baiona, Atlantic beaches, and Santiago de Compostela as part of a Northern Portugal Pousada long week trip.
July in the Iberian South, we shall skip despite our (warm) DFW and Central MX lives.
Actually, the month of September is remarkably festive in San Miguel de Allende, MX, and an order of magnitude less expensive and tons of fun!
The weather there is like LaJolla in June -Sept after the dry season ends in May.

Chrisssy, to this day, one of the most memorable sights I have ever seen was the Mezquita in Cordoba.

My thoughts on Nerja - the eastern half of the town, near the Parador, is quite pleasant - no highrises, and some of the backstreets are still quite 'local'. The beach is beautiful. However, the more western part of the town (west of the Balcony of Europe) does have some highrises, and doesn't have the same charm as the eastern side of town. Once you head west from Nerja, it quickly becomes a concrete jungle. We did some great hiking starting at the Caves outside Nerja. There are great trails up into the Sierras, and free hiking booklets available at the tourist office.

How long in total is your trip?

I'm planning to leave for Spain on Friday, Sept. 3rd. That would give me five nights somewhere, then four in Seville.

You are right in your conception of Asturias being unspoiled and ?windswept?; if you were going for that, Galicia is even better, particularly the Costa da Morte (west of A Coruña). The Picos de Europa are another attraction in the region, very pleasant for walking, with spectacular scenery, and once you leave the lakes you wouldn?t see another person for the rest of the day. This area is my favourite part of Spain, and is very, very, different from the south.

Problem is that either Asturias or Galicia will be very difficult to get to from Sevilla as they are the complete opposite end of the country.

So you are probably better off staying in Andalusia. Definitely visit Granada for the Alhambra. Apart from that, you might consider Córdoba. It has an almost completely preserved medieval centre (the modern centre is entirely separate) and the Mezquita (the largest mosque in the world when constructed) is spectacular. The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos is attractive, particularly the gardens, and the old Jewish quarter is full of small little streets, artisan shops and restaurants. Best of all - it?s only 40 minutes from Sevilla on the AVE (although the train station is a long enough walk from the historical centre - get a taxi if you aren?t too cost conscious).

I?ve never been there but I?ve also heard good things about Extremadura from the ?unspoilt? point of view ? nothing like the ?green? north but it?s a bit closer to where you will be.

Pres de Ramparts de Sevilla, chez mon ami Lillas Pastia: sound familiar?? Bizet's Carmen is in French, although it takes place in Sevilla.

Does Sevilla's biennial Festival de Flamenco happens in even-numbered years? It would be the only thing that would attract me to Sevilla in September ('finals' are late September into October). Maybe someone else can answer that.

Asturias is distant from Andalucia but it, or neighboring Cantabria is where I would go. But I would correct you about your concept of the Principality of Asturias (i.e., "...seems unspoiled and beautiful in a mystic, windswept sort of way."). Windswept?? in Fall and Winter winds off el Mar Cantabrico batter the Asturian coastline; but the first half of September should be real nice.

Nedsireland, why don't you like Seville in September? Is it unbearably hot? I've noticed, btw, that Andalusia seems to be the new "in" spot right now, featured in all the magazines as "the new Provence" although it seems to me more like Tuscany.

The northern coast is appealing to me more and more, especially since food is a big part of any trip we take.

Food is a big part of our trips as well, and if that is the case, the Basque region and northern coast are for you!

I spent 17 days in Spain a year and a half ago and my favorite towns were Granada and all the towns in the Pueblos Blancos. We stayed in Arcos de la Frontera in a wonderful hotel called El Convento with gorgeous views over the valley and towards the bell tower. The patio was almost as big as our room! I found the people in the Pueblos Blancos and Granada to be much warmer and friendlier than those in Seville, although Seville is beautiful

Yes, I had the misfortune once to arrive in Sevilla in September when the temperature was 42-degrees (Celsius).

If food (and dining) is a significant part of your journey, I would begin or end your northern Spain itinerary in Bilbao. Thr Basque cuisine is exquisite!

I don't view Andalucia as "New Provence" or Tuscany. It is hot and dry: semi arid landscapes. In the north, Vizcaya westward thru Cantabria to the foothills of Asturias (the Picos de Europa are along the Cantabria-Asturias border) is like Dairy country: rolling hills like the Amish Country in Pennsylvania & like upstate New York

Thanks so much for your input, everyone. I'm leaning towards the north coast/Basque country but will check the logistics of getting down to Seville after. If it's too much, Granada and the smaller villages around Andalucia sound appealing as well and might be more relaxing overall. Is the food there good too?