

Andalusia
Sun drenched, arid, Andalusia, is the area in the deep south of Spain that borders Gibraltar and looks across the narrow straits of Gibraltar to Morocco and the continent of Africa.
It feels different from the rest of Spain and that is not only down to topography and climate.
In 206 BC Andalusia was invaded by the Romans and it became part of the Roman province of Baetica , one of the most prominent provinces within the empire. Remains of Roman buildings can be found in many cities around Andalusia, including Malaga, Seville and Córdoba which they made the provincial capital.
When the Roman Empire fell into decline, Andalusia was fought over by invading tribes from Northern Europe until the Visigoths came to power. Their rule ended abruptly in 711, when Moorish general Tariq ibn Ziyad invaded much of the Iberian peninsula from modern day Morocco.
For almost 800 years Andalusia was controlled by the Moors, who named the province Al Andalus. This time was a golden age for Andalusia, the Moors brought with them the new religion of Islam and with it many architectural and cultural innovations, as well as many modern ideas. The Moors were far more advanced than the Europeans of the time and brought with them knowledge of medicine, mathematics and maybe most importantly knowledge of hydrography and irrigation.
Under the Caliphate of Cordoba, the region and especially its capital became a powerful and influential force in Western Europe. Buildings like the Great Mosque of Córdoba and Alhambra were famed for their beauty and inspired several poems and stories. The Moors later ruled Andalusia from Seville, and last Granada, before the Christians reinvaded the territory in 1492, the same year that Christopher Columbus discovered the New World.
Following the departure of the Moors, Andalusia’s star shined less brightly and it returned to being a largely agricultural region. In the 20th Century travellers and tourists began to revisit Andalusia and appreciate it’s beautiful Moorish building, traditional white washed villages and it’s traditional way of Life.
It is the history, the traditions, the way of life and the deep peacefulness of the Andalusian countryside that have made us fall in love with Andalusia!
Málaga
For most travellers the chic coastal city of Málaga is the gateway to Andalusia. Back in the 20th century the accepted wisdom was to get out of Málaga as soon as possible, but the city has undergone an impressive artistic renaissance and is now, capitalising on it’s status as Picasso’s home town, a chic home for modern art. You can read our guide to Málaga here.
New Inspirational Traveller Tours
Welcome to the Inspirational Traveller Tours. We want to take you to some of the World’s more Interesting, Unusual & Adventurous places.
Our tours are fully immersive, we want you to experience the culture and flavour of the country. Our first tours are tours for painters of any level who want the time and space to let their painting skills flourish!
To find out all about Inspirational Traveller Tours please click here.
To read about about our Painting trip to Beautiful Andalusia in the South of Spain click here