Andalusian Countryside

The landscape of rural Andalusia is unforgettably romantic. I especially recommend a visit to medieval Arcos de la Frontera, one of the so-called “pueblos blancos” (“white villages”), which caps a scenic crag above the Guadalete River an hour south of Seville. Carmona is perched on a steep, flat-topped hill above the plain of the Guadalquivir River and has a quietly aristocratic character. The handsome city of Jerez de la Frontera is renowned for its sherry bodegas. And 75 miles east of Jerez, the extraordinarily picturesque town of Ronda is situated 2,500 feet above sea level on either side of “El Tajo,” the dramatic 390-foot gorge of the Guadalevín River. In the sun-soaked Andalusian countryside, you are part of a romantic and timeless world, one that still revolves around bulls and horses. My favorite hotels reflect the traditions of this distinctive corner of Europe.