Unusual Andalusia – 15 Very Surprising Places –

Here are the most unusual places in Andalusia

In this article, you’ll find essential information for visiting an unusual Andalusia:

• A few words about Andalusia
• 15 unusual places to visit in Andalusia
• Art in surprising places in Andalusia
• An incredible agricultural tradition in Axarquía
• Two unusual visits to discover
• Map with the best unusual places in Andalusia
• Discovering a secret Malaga and Seville
• Practicing unusual activities in Ronda
• Some useful links
• The latest articles on authentic Andalusia

A few words about Andalusia

Andalusia is the southernmost region of Spain. Its history and geography are extraordinary. Numerous mountain ranges cross Andalusia, the most famous of which is the Sierra Nevada.

The coastline is also impressively diverse, with 500 km of shoreline along the Mediterranean and 350 km along the Atlantic Ocean.

It is made up of eight provinces: Almeria, Jaén, Granada, Malaga, Córdoba, Cádiz, Seville, and Huelva.

The different civilizations, history, geography, geology, climatic events, traditions, and customs have left a great wealth and shaped some very surprising and unusual places.

Insolite en Andalousie, les 15 sites à découvrir

1 – La Malaha

2 – Setenil de las Bodegas

3 – Guadix

4 – Castellar de la Frontera

5 – Macael

6 – Parauta

7 – Genalguacil

8 – Bolonia Beach

9 – El Rocio

10 – Tarifa

11 – Niebla

12 – Rio Tinto

13 – El Torcal

14 – Treasure Cave

15 – Fonda Casa Pepa

Note: Each site is briefly presented. If you’d like to learn more, simply click on the dedicated link to see all the information and photos.

1 – La Malaha (Granada)

This site is quite curious. It’s a salt marsh, but it’s far from the sea. In fact, it’s located 17 km from the Alhambra in Granada, in a semi-desert area.

This salt marsh has been exploited for around 2,000 years. It has been a source of salt for all the civilizations that have passed through Andalusia.

Among the most surprising stops on an Andalusian tour, a visit to this salt marsh in Andalusia, in La Malaha, will remain one of the most memorable.

2 – Setenil de las Bodegas, a very unusual village in Andalusia

CThis village in the province of Cadiz is one of the most curious you can visit.

The caves in the rock were originally used by the Romans to store wine. Later, it became a stronghold under Al-Andalus. This village fell into the hands of the Catholic Monarchs only after the seventh attempt at conquest.

During a trip to Andalusia, be sure to take the time to visit Setenil de las Bodegas, a fascinating village nestled beneath rocky cliffs.

3 – Guadix

Guadix is ​​one of the largest troglodyte sites in the world.

In fact, several thousand people still live among the approximately 2,000 cave dwellings.

Visiting Guadix is ​​one of the highlights of a trip to Andalusia, both for its architecture and its incredible natural environment.

4 – Castellar de la Frontera

Castellar de la Frontera is a uniquely beautiful village.

Indeed, it is the only village in Andalusia located within the walls of an Alcazar. It is also nicknamed Little Carcassonne.

Among the white villages of Andalusia, Castellar de la Frontera occupies a special place, thanks to its unexpected setting and landscapes.

5 – Macael

Macael boasts incredible marble quarries. The reserves are still enormous today, even though they have been mined since Roman Hispania.

In the town, marble can be seen everywhere, even on the sidewalks of the city center.

Few places will leave you as impressed as the marble quarries of Macael, a true open-air geological masterpiece.

6 – Parauta

Parauta is a unique village in the province of Malaga. Indeed, it lives on through the legend of the place.

If you wonder why there are chairs hanging from the facades of the houses, the simple answer is that it’s to allow elves and fairies to rest as they pass through the village.

Nothing prepares you for the surprises of this place. Visiting Parauta is like immersing yourself in an extraordinary setting with beautiful legends.

7 – Genalguacil

This white village is particularly beautiful. It also has something special about it: it’s the only museum village in the world.

Wandering its narrow streets, you can discover dozens of works of art.

If you like unusual villages, I highly recommend visiting Genalguacil, a hidden gem in the province of Malaga.

8 – Bolonia Beach

Bolonia Beach, near Tarifa, is exceptional in more ways than one. In addition to its cows that come to sunbathe every morning:

You can also enjoy a beautiful beach, an incredible Roman site, and a natural monument, the Bolonia Dune.

With its dune sculpted by wind and time, Bolonia Beach is one of the most surprising natural sites in Spain, a must-see.

9 – El Rocio

This village is known for its world-famous pilgrimage. With its sandy streets and lifestyle, which hasn’t changed much for centuries, it transports us to a Western atmosphere.

Indeed, the American Western as we see it has its historical roots in El Rocio. We must go back to the 15th century when many Spaniards set sail for the New World with Christopher Columbus.

They departed from the ports of Palos de la Frontera, Cadiz, and Seville, with their horses, their customs, traditions, and their clothing.

One of my favorite things about Andalusia is visiting El Rocio, a unique place that gives the impression of stepping back in time.

10 – Tarifa

Tarifa is a small town with a lovely hippie vibe. Among its assets: its incredibly rich history dating back to 711, its magnificent beaches, and its kitesurfing spots. It is recognized as the mecca of kitesurfing in Europe.

But Tarifa is also the southernmost point in Europe, allowing us to admire the African coastline, just 14 km away.

Finally, and this is undoubtedly the most unusual, you can swim in the Mediterranean and then in the Atlantic Ocean in just 2 minutes.

To do this, you just have to cross a path that leads to a peninsula.

If you’re passing through the province of Cadiz, visiting Tarifa is an experience not to be missed, as this place is so unique.

11 – Niebla

Niebla is one of the most surprising little towns in the world. It is reached by taking a bridge that crosses the Rio Tinto (see below). Then, to enter the historic center, you must pass through one of the four gates in the 2 km wall that surrounds the town.

On site, observing the wall, it’s difficult to know exactly where you are.

Visiting Niebla allows you to discover another side of Andalusia, far from the big cities and mass tourism.

12- Rio Tinto: The Most Unusual Natural Site in Andalusia

The Rio Tinto River lives up to its name, as it runs red.

This place immerses us in a rather surreal setting, reminiscent of the planet Mars.

During your stay in the province of Huelva, you will be amazed by the Rio Tinto, a river of strange and fascinating beauty.

13 – El Torcal

Hiking enthusiasts traveling in Andalusia cannot miss a stroll in El Torcal Park. It is one of the most beautiful karst landscapes in Europe.

Landscapes sculpted by water, wind, and time offer a most curious spectacle.

If you love unusual landscapes, don’t miss El Torcal Park, one of the most amazing places to visit in southern Spain.

14 – The Treasure Cave

The Treasure Cave in Rincon de la Victoria is absolutely unique in Europe. It is one of only three caves in the world of marine origin. The other two are in Mexico and Asia.

Ocean currents have carved out magnificent galleries over time. There, you will also learn the stories and legends surrounding this place.

During your getaway to Andalusia, in the province of Malaga, explore this incredible cave, the Treasure Cave in Rincon de la Victoria (Malaga).

15 – Fonda Casa Pepa

At this hostel, it’s simple: you’ll feel like you’re having lunch at your grandparents’ house.

Here, there’s no à la carte or set menu, just a choice of two or three dishes depending on the day. You don’t even have to order drinks; the house drinks are automatically delivered to your table.

Lunch at Fonda Casa Pepa is a wonderful experience 🙂.

Art in Surprising Places in Andalusia

Here are two ideas for cultural visits in Andalusia that will surprise you:

Land Art in Zafarraya (Granada)

This is a magnificent land art space in Andalusia, in the province of Granada. It’s located in Zafarraya, on the road between Alcaucin, a white village in the Axarquia, and the beautiful little town of Alhama de Granada.

They are the work of the Impressionist painter Jes Gamart. To see them, you must go to the Área Recreativa de Las Parideras de Zafarraya.

Discovering this land art site in Andalusia, in Zafarraya, is also an opportunity to take a lovely stroll surrounded by nature.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Olula del Río

This museum is a most curious visit. It also houses a truly amazing photography center. Finally, in front of the museum, you can see the white marble sculpture: La Mujer de Almazora. This statue weighs 200 tons and is the largest white marble sculpture in Spain.

I guarantee you’ll find some wonderful surprises during your visit to this museum and all around it.

A visit to this museum in Olula del Río will offer you an extraordinary cultural experience.

An incredible agricultural tradition in Axarquía

The cultivation of Muscat of Alexandria vines in the province of Malaga goes back thousands of years. It was also recognized as a GIAHS – World Important Agricultural Heritage System – by UNESCO in 2018.

The grapes harvested and sun-dried on paseros are used to make the famous sweet Malaga wine, as well as raisins. Both benefit from a Protected Geographical Designation of Origin.

Don’t hesitate to take the unusual Ruta de la Pasa (Raisin Route) between August and mid-September.

Two unusual tours to discover

These two tours will introduce you to the traditional cultures of southern Andalusia.

Visit to the Ron El Mondero Factory

This is the only rum factory in Andalusia that uses locally produced sugarcane.

It must be said that this crop has almost disappeared.

Visiting Ron El Mondero is a wonderful, local, and unique tasting experience.

Visit to Manolo’s Tropical Farm

Manolo is a passionate man, just the way I like them. He’s a former barista who took over his parents’ tropical farm.

And while he continues to grow around thirty tropical fruits, he’s also taken up coffee farming, which is his passion. It’s also the northernmost coffee plantation in the world.

A visit to this tropical fruit plantation in Andalusia is like a sensory experience (visual, olfactory, and gustatory). You’ll see for yourself 🙂

Map with the best unusual places in Andalusia

Note: To see all the villages, you must zoom out of the map 🙂 . You can do this by clicking on the “-” symbol.

Full screen map

Discovering a Secret Malaga and Seville

Malaga, a city three thousand years old, is full of wonders to discover outside of the usual guided tours.

If you have a little time, I invite you to discover the secret things and places of Malaga.

Seville, the beautiful Andalusian capital

Seville is the city that requires the most time to fully explore, as it offers so many places to visit.

Of course, you’ll find many secret things and places in Seville, off the beaten track.

Enjoy Unusual Activities in Ronda

Ronda is an almost obligatory stop on any tour of Andalusia. Its incredible setting also allows for numerous activities.

It is undoubtedly the site that offers the most surprising activities to create unforgettable memories.

For those who can stay a few days in Ronda or its surroundings, here are some magnificent outdoor activities to enjoy in Ronda.

Some useful links for coming and staying in Andalucia for a few days

Staying on the Costa del Sol? Explore Andalucia with excursions from Malaga (Torremolinos, Estepona, Benalmadena).

If you’re planning to visit Andalucia, including Seville, you can explore Seville on a private guided tour.

Discovering Andalusia Off the Beaten Track.

Easy and economical bookings

• hire car

• train and bus ticket

Here are the latest articles on Andalusia