If you want to enjoy an excursion from Marbella, take a day to visit Mijas-Pueblo, Ronda, Gibraltar, Seville or Granada, which are some of the most beautiful regions of Andalucia.

Ronda
Famous for its spectacular 100 meter  deep gorge, El Tajo, Ronda is one of Andalucia´s most visited towns, and lies just 60 minutes away from Marbella by coach. Split between the old Moorish town and El Mercadillo, a more recently built section, Ronda continues to attract visitors from all over the world. The two parts of town are linked by the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), which was built in 1751, and took 42 years to complete. But aside from the oldest bullring in Spain, some of the best tapas bars in Andalucia, and a stunning parador which seems to cling to the side of the gorge, Ronda´s rich history is both colourful and intriguing.

One of Andalucia´s most important and traditional events is the Feria Goyesca de Pedro Romero, held in Ronda each year in September.

The celebrations take place in and around the Real Maestranza Bullring. The Goyesca tradition began in 1954 when Antonio Ordóñez, a great friend of Ernest Hemingway, and also a great bullfighter, decided to celebrate the birth of Pedro Romero, the founder of modern bullfighting. Traditional 18th century costumes are worn by the fighters, which are typical of the dress worn during the times of the great Aragonese painter, Francisco de Goya, and continue to be a major part of this event. Culturally, this is one of Ronda´s highlights, and features bullfights, a dazzling costume display and an exhibition of beautifully decorated carriages.

Mijas Pueblo
Mijas Pueblo  is perched high above the bustling resort of Fuengirola, and is one of the most charming white villages of Andalucia. Only 30 minutes by road from the Marbella, as you make your way up the winding roads towards this pretty village, you will notice the white-washed houses in the distance, almost clinging to the hilltop.

Shops, bars, and quaint cafes with the most stunning views abound in Mijas, and there are plenty of resting places and view-points dotted around the cobbled streets.  The Muralla Gardens is well worth a visit – this has been very cleverly designed so that flowers are in bloom all year round.  The Mijas Bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, and visitors can go inside and view this fascinating arena for just €3.

Local shops offer beautiful ceramics, leather goods, paintings and jewellery and there is also a wonderful fresh flower market in the village square every Saturday.  Horse drawn carriages can also be hired during the Summer months from the Plaza de Pina to chauffeur you around Mijas for approximately 12 Euros.

The Folk Museum is also worth a visit, showing the trades and history of Mijas.  Also above the village is the Shrine of the Calvario, built in 1710.  The Shrine can be seen for miles around and you can gain access by climbing the winding path from the village.  Although only open on Good Friday, each year, the stunning views from here are worth the walk any time of the year. One of the most charming of the ´white towns´, Mijas-Pueblo attracts visitors from all over Europe.

Gibraltar
The famous rock of Gibraltar is just one hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus, and if you want to explore a little piece of England on the Mediterranean, there is no better place to visit.

Situated on a narrow piece of land linked to the end of Spain, the rock of Gibraltar is 426 metres high and covers an area of 6 m2.  The thin coastal strip of land to the west overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean, and the east side with its sheer, steep cliffs overlooks the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar´s history evolves from its strategic position at the southern-most tip of the Iberian peninsula, where Europe meets Africa, and still remains to be an important base for the British Navy.  The territory shares a border with Spain to the North.  Gibraltar was granted by Spain to Great Britain in perpetuity in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht, and although Spain insists it should be returned to them, it remains British territory. The British Government has vowed to respect the wishes of the Gibraltarians, who oppose any proposals for shared sovereignty with Spain.

The rock is home to many historical sites and places of interest, that tourism boosts the economy, and many cruise ships also dock here regularly, bringing visitors from all over the globe.  Gibraltar has become a popular holiday and business travel destination over the years and has the added bonus of tax-free shopping.

Seville
Seville is an exciting and passionate city which continues to attract visitors from all over the world.  You don´t have to be a lover of architecture or history to enjoy Seville, but you will be blown away by the city´s elegance, charm and underlying sensuality. You can reach Seville from Marbella in just under two hours.

It´s true that temperatures can rise to over 40 degrees in Seville during summer time, but the atmosphere of the city during the hot season, and the open air bars alongside the river provide plenty of shade and refreshment.

Once the capital of Spain, Seville is only a two hour drive from Marbella, and boasts some of the most decadent and ornate buildings and monuments in Spain, including the incredible cathedral which dominates the city´s skyline. The Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede is the largest Gothic cathedral, and the fourth largest Christian church in the world.  The intricate detail and ornate stone work displayed in the Cathedral make it one of the most incredible examples of Sevillian architecture you are ever likely to see from this period of history, and it is hard to imagine how this stunning building was ever completed without modern machinery.

Don’t miss out on the tapas. The city is credited with the inventing these tasty morsels, and has more than a thousand bars where the choice of food, is virtually unlimited, from seafood to ham and sausage and the finest Manchego cheese you will ever taste. The Sevillians actually make a meal of the delicious tapas, moving from bar to bar and sampling different dishes.

Granada
Steeped in history and home of the world´s greatest monuments, Granada attracts visitors from all over the world. Just a 90 minute drive from Marbella, you can easily explore this great city in a day. The Alhambra Palace is a palace and fortress complex which heralds from the time of Moorish rule in Granada and was built by Yusuf I in 1348. Once the residence of Muslim rulers, this stunning building is now one of Spain´s most popular tourist attractions, and exhibits the country´s most famous Islamic architecture.  To fully explore the Alhambra, take a few days to leisurely stroll round the amazing gardens and fortresses. The Alhambra gets very busy, particularly during the summer months, and if your excursion doesn´t include entrance tickets, check out: www.alhambra.info for more information.

No trip to Granada would be complete without a visit to Albaicin, which is the old Arabic quarter opposite the Alhambra Palace.  Typically Andalucian in appearance, whitewashed houses nestle around cobbled streets, quaint squares and patios.  Visitors can stroll around the gift shops, where many local handicrafts are made and sold, or enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the many local restaurants.  Local ceramics and pottery is sold widely and most is handmade in workshops behind the houses. Handicrafts made of leather, cloth and wrought iron are also common here, and woven cloth and patchwork can also be found in the Alpujarra district nearby.

Tangiers, Morocco
How do you fancy spending a day in Africa? Coach excursions to Tangiers are very popular with tourists to the Costa del Sol, and pick-ups by coach from Marbella centre are usually around 6.30am. Situated at the crossroads of Africa and Europe, Tangiers is a fascinating city, and ferries travelling between Algeciras and Tangier, or Algeciras and Ceuta, take between 30 minutes and 1 hr 30 mins, depending on which sailing you take, and Algeciras is only an hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus.

Tangiers is one of the oldest cities in Morocco. The Phoenicians and Carthaginians established trading posts here, and the Romans later made it a capital city. Tangiers was occupied by the Arabs and invaded by Vandals and Visigoths, before the Spanish and the Portuguese controlled the town. In the early part of the 20th century, Tangier was an international city whose tax-free status and cosmopolitan image attracted European and American artists and writers.Although it has lost a little of its glamorous image, it is still a bustling city with an air of mystery surrounding it. For most visitors that arrive in Morocco by sea, it is their first point of contact with the country.

Moroccan cuisine has been influenced by many different cultures.  The food is a mix of Berber, Spanish, Corsican, Portuguese, Moorish, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and African cuisine.  Heavily influenced by the native Berber cuisine, the Arabic Andalucian cuisine, the Turkish cuisine and the Middle Eastern cuisines brought by the Arabs, as well as Jewish cuisine.  Spices are used in nearly all Moroccan dishes, and many of these, such as saffron and mint, are home-grown.  The most popular meat dish is chicken, often cooked in a tagine with various herbs and spices.  Couscous is the most famous Moroccan dish, and the most popular drink is green tea with mint.