Tuscany isn't losing food-loving visitors to Cornwall, annhig might be horrified to learn, because Penzance isn't Padstow.>>

more fool them then, Flanner.

Take a look at Antequera - the so called heart of Andalucia or "the crossroads of Andalucía" - miles away from the tourist hordes. Pop about 40 000. http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry....era-spain.html

Almost right in the middle of the Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga rectangle. Here you'll find dolmens (some 5000 years old burial chambers), Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and Baroque bell towers. Antequera was the first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians in 1410.

I love the terrace in the corner of the peaceful square in front of the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, the first partly Renaissance-style church in Spain (built 1514-1550). Up here it's totally peace and quiet. Next to the recently excavated Roman baths beneath and looking up on the 13th century Moorish alcazaba/fortress. Great views over unique landscapes (the spectacular Torcal limestone mountain etc.). http://www.wild-about-travel.com/201...ing-antequera/

Regarding food and wine, take a look at "A tapas tour of Antequera": http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry.com/tapaspain.html

Ideal base to explore the beautiful and often mountainous Andalucian inland: http://www.rusticblue.com/andalucia_...a_axarquia.php
http://www.andalucia.com/province/ma...a-de-ronda.htm

And you are close to the Med and genuine Malaga city: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-breaks-travel

The Malaga region (of which Antequera, the Axarquia, the Serrania de Ronda and of course Malaga city is a part) is both very cutting edge and very traditional when it comes to food: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...taurants-tapas