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Salobreña
The rock of Salobreña, which the villa overlooks, has been a natural stronghold since pre-Roman times, protecting the coast, tropical plain and the access to Granada. However it is the influence of 8 centuries of Moorish rule until the Catholic Reconquest in 1492 which have left the strongest mark. Visit the Moorish castle, church and museum or discover hidden-away handicraft shops, galleries and bars amongst its mediaeval streets. There are many places close by for a leisurely lunch or dinner, particularly around El Peñon, a rock formation jutting into the sea overlooking a picturesque cove with its beach ringed by sugar cane. For golfers there is a course nearby on the coastal plain with a spectacular club house restaurant right on the beach.
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The Rock of Salobreña
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Costa Tropical
Explore this particularly attractive stretch of coastline where the Sierra Nevadas meet the Mediterranean, along a road that twists around scenic headlands and picturesque coves. The tropical climate supports some unique European agriculture such as the Chirimoya (custard apple) and sugar cane. Apart from Salobreña, the main towns of the Costa Tropical are Motril (Spanish shops), Almuñecar (Spanish resort with good aqua park), La Herradura (upmarket cove near to classy marina) and Nerja (English resort with famous caves and promenade). They also provide markets, bars, restaurants and nightlife to enjoy before heading back to the tranquillity of Villa Vista to chill out by the pool or take a well earned rest on the terrace!
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The Tropical Plain
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The Moorish Cities of Andalucia.
Take the scenic drive along the motorway via 'Suspiro del Moro' (lit. the Moor's sigh) into Granada. It was from this pass that the last Moorish King in Spain took a final, tearful look at the city as he went into exile after the Catholic Reconquest. "Don’t weep like a woman over what you couldn't defend like a man" was his mother's uncompromising response. Certainly we can understand his sadness at abandoning the beautiful Alhambra palaces - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But Granada has more to offer than history and Moorish architecture. It also has modern shopping complexes and cosmopolitan restaurants. If you could ever tire of Granada then how about visiting the two other great Moorish cities of Andalucia - Cordoba and Seville. Alternatively, see the extraordinary cave dwellings at Gaudix or the ‘cowboy country’ near Almeria.
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The Alhambra, Granada
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The Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Sierra Nevada national park is close by and provides spectacular scenery as well as a home for important fauna and flora. The mountain peaks of Mulhacen and Veleta at 11,200ft (3,400m) are the highest in Spain with views of North Africa in the distance. They also provide Europe's most southerly ski resort at the extensively equipped Sol y Nieve (lit. sun and snow), which hosted the 1996 World Cup and is bidding for the 2010 Winter Olympics. It is open from December to April and here you really can ski in the morning and swim in the Mediterranean after lunch. If you’d rather tour than tire then explore the surrounding foothills and valleys, such as the Alpujarras, renowned for 60's hippies and the 90's best seller 'Driving over Lemons'. The Lecrin valley with Lake Beznar is another popular area as well as the Guajares villages. But for a really spectacular drive take the old road from Almuñecar to Granada.
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Sol y Nieve ski centre
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