I absolutely loved La Carboneria in Seville - great flamenco in a casual environment.  I was in Seville for 2 weeks and went there as often as I could. 

In Cordoba I loved the arabic baths.  So relaxing.  Also, Cordoba is a great place to try gazpacho.  It's like nowhere else I've ever tried!

Posted Jun 24, 2011

Went two summers ago and southern Spain is lovely!

I especially enjoyed an olive oil orchard tour and tasting; Cerveceria International (I'm a beer lover); the bullfights (had to do it -- it's part of the culture; be sure to sit in the shade); drinking Tinto de Verano or a pitcher of Agua de Sevilla (if you want something a little more potent);and the Alhambra (of course!).

I didn't need the touristy gypsy dancing -- if it had been more authentic/ less crowded it would have been great.

Here's a website with 85 fabulous things to do in Sevilla: http://www.exploreseville.com/51things.htm

Enjoy!

Posted Jun 15, 2011

The Alcazar in Sevilla is a must-see!

Posted Jun 16, 2011

The Mezquita in Cordoba is incredible! But wander away from city center & visit side streets. Cordoba is known for its patio gardens so peek inside courtyards. Visit Sinagogue in old Jewish quarter. Also the Museo Taurino, Bullfighting museum, which isn't really my thing but gives you a better understanding of the sport from Spanish perspective. Alhambra is a must in Granada but also see the Bano Real.

Posted Jun 15, 2011

Julia, I agree with the others and can only stress that the major sights in the three cities are fantastic. Sevilla: old Jewish quarter, pueblos blancos (white villages) on the road to Marbella. Cordoba: mix of moorish and Christian with the great mosque and cathedral. Granada: the Alhambra!!!

Posted Jun 16, 2011

I will also have to chime in about the main attractions being must sees.  Alcazar in Sevilla, the Alhambra in Granada.  One note about the Alhambra is that there are set entrance times and we noticed a few people getting disappointed when they discovered they weren't having luck walking up and getting in.

As for the non-obvious, the river boat tour in Sevilla is good as a way to get some overview.  A bus tour is actually probably better since you can get your see a lot of different neighborhoods and go back to what was interesting later.

In Granada, there are some nice and lively dining options on Calle Navas.  Keep walking down the street as some really good finds are found throughout.

If you are taking the train, then a stop in Antequera can be interesting since its not a main tourist destination.  But its hard to say its worth it if time is limited.

Posted Jun 21, 2011

I recently went to Spain. We flew into Barcelona and rented a car (there was three of us, so it was cheaper to rent the car than to pay for trains). We were in Spain for ten days and went from Barcelona, to Valencia, to Granada, to Madrid. We then flew back to Barcelona from Madrid right before our international flight back to the States.

Granada - We stayed at Pension Antares, which is walking distance to alot. We went to Alhambra for about 4 hours. Make sure you factor in your general admission time for the Nadrid Palace. We started from the back near the General Life gardens and worked our way to the front. It was fun. Make sure you get a map before entering. We also walked up to Mirador de San Nicolás for views of the Alhambra.

We also found that Granada's tapas and drinks were cheaper than in Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid. We liked the variety of tapas. Not to mention in most places you receive a free tapas with a purchase of a beverage, which is how it used to be. You should also try a calicasa if you like to drink, which is a mixture of house alcohol from large wooden barrels behind the bar.

Make sure you try some ham and take pictures of how they age their ham!!!

Have a great time.  Granada was a better fit for our short time in Spain, but I really wish I could have made it to Sevilla. Granada was my favorite out of the places I visited because of the bars with real tapas and the calicasas.

You can view my photos for pictures of Granada and the Alhambra at http://www.flickr.com/photos/angela11anderson/sets/72157626520172040/

Posted Jun 29, 2011