Right in the Andalusian landscape near Utrera (province of Seville) stands Torre de Lopera. This sturdy watchtower kept guard for centuries. From this lookout point, you could spot the Torre del Bollo and the castle of Las Aguzaderas. Handy when enemies approached. The tower sits on private property, so call ahead before visiting.

Las Cabezas de San Juan in the province of Seville made history on January 1, 1820. In this Andalusian town, Lieutenant Colonel Rafael de Riego proclaimed the Spanish constitution that had been sworn years earlier in Cádiz. This courageous moment ended the absolutism of Fernando VII and the Spanish Inquisition. Spain got its first constitutional monarchy.

The Castillo de la Duquesa sits on the coast of Manilva, province of Málaga, built in 1767 by Francisco Paulino from Seville. King Charles III gave him the honor of commanding a cavalry company for this. The timing was strategic: Spain wanted to recapture Gibraltar from England, and this anchorage needed protection.

Gualchos-Castell de Ferro combines the best of both worlds. Gualchos sits inland among the hills, while Castell de Ferro stretches along the Mediterranean Sea. This municipality in Granada offers 2 kilometers of beach, where you'll find alternating coarse and fine sand. The coastline extends over 5.5 kilometers with cliffs that attract fishermen like magnets.

Santa Cristina is the coffee brand of Málaga. For nearly 70 years, they've been brewing the best coffee for the city and the rest of Spain. From local family business to market leader – this is their journey.

Tharsis sits in the heart of Andévalo, between Huelva and the Portuguese border. Red soil, wide horizons and industrial heritage shape the landscape here. Since October 2018, this village has been an independent municipality within the province of Huelva. It has around 1,840 inhabitants and lies 48 kilometers from the provincial capital.

Bélmez de la Moraleda ligt midden in het natuurpark Sierra Mágina in de provincie Jaén. Dit kleine dorp heeft zo'n 2.000 inwoners en is omringd door olijfboomgaarden zover je kijkt. De economie draait volledig om die olijven, aangevuld met wat fruitteelt en schapenhouderij in de bergen.

For centuries, there was only one way to travel from inland Spain to the sunny south: on foot, horseback, or by cart over dusty roads. From Toledo, the routes split toward the Alcudia Valley, the Guadalquivir Valley, or the rugged Muradal mountains. Travelers heading to the kingdoms of Jaén or Granada had plenty of winding roads to choose from, but comfort was scarce.

The Castillo de Lopera is an imposing fortress in the Spanish province of Jaén. In 1240, King Ferdinand III granted the Order of Calatrava an extensive piece of land as a reward for their defensive role during the Christian reconquest. The result? This impressive 3,500-square-meter fortress, unique in the province.

Palos de la Frontera is located in the province of Huelva and played a leading role in one of history's greatest adventures. From this place, the ships La Pinta, La Niña and Santa María set sail in 1492 toward the unknown. Columbus set course for what would later turn out to be America, and everything changed.

The Corrales railway station, near Huelva, tells a remarkable piece of industrial history. This small building on the Odiel river formed the endpoint of an ambitious railway project that started in 1869. The line connected the pyrite mines of Tharsis and La Zarza with the port, transporting not just minerals but also people to the Huelva coast.

For centuries, there was only one way to travel from the Spanish interior to the sunny south: on foot, on horseback, or by cart along dusty roads. From Toledo, routes split towards the Alcudia valley, the Guadalquivir valley, or the rugged Muradal mountains. Those heading to the kingdoms of Jaén or Granada had plenty of winding roads to choose from, but not much comfort.

Belmez sits in the Valle de Guadiato, about 70 kilometers north of Córdoba. The Guadiato river flows right through the town. You can spot the castle towering above the white houses from far away. And down below? Just people living their lives in a town where history literally sticks out of the ground.

After an exuberant New Year's Eve filled with seafood, lamb, and sweets, Andalusians take it easy on January 1st. The day revolves around family, food, and relaxation. Nobody rushes. You kick off your shoes, sprawl on the couch, and let yesterday's leftovers make another appearance at an elaborate lunch.

Villaviciosa de Córdoba sits in southern Spain and offers a great mix of nature and culture. The village only exists since December 15, 1775, when it separated from Espiel. The name comes from the image of Nuestra Señora de Villaviciosa, brought by a Portuguese cattle herder from Vila-Viçosa. The village grew around the intersection of two important roads: the route from Córdoba to Extremadura and the connection from Madrid-Toledo to Sevilla-Cádiz.

Forget Santa Claus. In Spain, the presents arrive on 6 January, when the Three Kings stop by. Los Reyes Magos is the biggest children's holiday of the year. While we've already packed away our Christmas trees, that's when the real party starts there.

Looking for a place where you can taste the real Spanish atmosphere? Utrera, province of Seville, is your match. This town with 52,000 inhabitants sits right between the olive groves and orange orchards of western Andalusia. Foreign tourists? You'll hardly see any here. And that's exactly the charm.

Lopera sits in the northwest of Jaén province, right where Andalusia's rolling hills merge into a sea of olive trees. This compact town of 67 square kilometers sits at 276 meters altitude and lies about 54 kilometers from the provincial capital. The Guadalquivir flows through the northern part of the municipality, while the Salado stream meanders from south to north.

Puerto Serrano sits in the north of Cádiz province, nestled between the Montellano and Tamarillo mountain ranges. This white village of 7,000 inhabitants breathes tranquility. Orange trees surround the eighteenth-century mountain houses, and everywhere you look there's nature. The Guadalete river flows past the village and creates a landscape you won't soon forget.

The castle of Zahara de la Sierra, province of Cádiz, has towered over the Andalusian mountain landscape for centuries. The Torre del Homenaje – the main tower – dates back to the thirteenth century and combines European building styles with Moorish influences. Pretty impressive for that era.

Today's the day: Christmas Eve in Seville. And what timing to be here. The city has been bathed in thousands of lights since November 28 and stays that way until January 6. More than 80 streets got a festive makeover and every evening until midnight everything sparkles.