Sevilla and Ronda, The Gems of Spain

The entire Andalucia region of Spain beautiful. The picturesque white houses surrounded by reddish brown dusty mountains is a typical sight in these parts. Two of my favorite places were Sevilla and Ronda, and these cities also turned out to be my favorite in all of Spain. 

(Photo: Royal Alcazar Gardens)

Sevilla holds a lot of history for Spain. The Royal Alcazar is Sevilla's most popular sight, but don't let the idea of a crowd deter you. When I visited, there was barely anyone around. The Alcazar was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen in my life. The tiles, carvings, paintings, woodwork, and architecture of the palace was breathtaking. Every inch of the place had incredible detail and this made it impossible to really absorb the intricacies of the Alcazar. You could easily spend a whole day here. The gardens behind the palace are 4 times as vast, and each new section of the garden transports you to a different country through the style the garden was created. Endless fountains, a maze, benches, walking paths, different plant life, and even peacocks exist! I highly recommend the Royal Alcazar to anyone visiting Sevilla. 

(Photo: inside the Royal Alcazar)

Another must see is the Plaza de España. It's difficult to describe how huge and marvelous the Plaza is, so you'll have to see for yourself. You can take a small rowboat in the tiny canal in between the plaza and the huge half moon shaped building in the plaza, which is a nice way to enjoy the scenery. Otherwise, there are plenty of benches around to soak up the Plaza, but you should really get up close to appreciate the intricacies. Like the Alcazar, there was a lot of detail put into the Plaza de España. D

There's also a great park nearby!

(Photo: Plaza de España)

Ronda is a small town easily accessible by train from Sevilla. Despite its small size, there's plenty to see and do. The famous Puente Nuevo bridge is amazing, but the best views of it are a short walk down the hill. The signs for the viewpoint aren't that obvious so be sure to ask your hotel or hostel reception for a map. There are also ruins of some baths you can visit, hanging gardens, churches, a small museum on the history of Ronda, and the bullfighting museum. Ronda is actually the birthplace of modern day bullfighting so this is a must see! 

 (Photo: Puente Nuevo)

(Photo: moonrise over Ronda)

Make sure to have some tapas while you're visiting Spain. There's a great place called Dos De Mayo in Sevilla where the atmosphere is lively, and the tapas are delicious! It's quick, easy, and very cheap too! You have to go to the counter to order and pick up your food, then pay at the counter after too, so this isn't your typical sit down restaurant. I highly recommend this place!