The local area is mainly agricultural and the climate sub tropical, sheltered from the northern winds by the Sierra Nevada and close to the coast of Africa.   This enables the growing of exotic fruits such as avacados, bananas, mangoes and custard apples as well as the citrus fruit family and only place in Europe where Sugar Cane is grown.

 

Eating out, there is an amazing number and variety of local restaurants and bars to enjoy. This is the only area now in Spain where the local bars still give a free Tapa (a bite of food) to be enjoyed when buying a drink.   Down at the Port there are restaurants specialising in wonderful fish and sea food.

 

If your choice is for sight seeing then the famouse Alhambra Palaces and Gardens of the Generalife in Granada must not be missed.  This is the most visited site in Spain so best to book your tickets on-line well before arriving in Spain.

The impressive prehistoric caves along the coast at Nerja, Almunecar with it`s Roman history, Tropical Bird Park, Aqua Park and large Friday Market are a ‘must’.

Salobreña with the Moors Castle on top of the white washed village houses and it’s child friendly seaside is only ten minutes by car from Cortijo Azahar.

Drive up to the Alpujarras and visit the area made famous by Chris Stewart in his book `Driving over Lemons`. This is a fascinating and beautiful region, steeped in history and seemingly untouched by time. It is an area full of white-washed villages, dramatic gorges, wonderful walks, amazing views, deep ravines, quiet old churches and village squares, bustling markets, and friendly welcoming people. The area contains many beautiful, and often remote, villages like Pampaneira, Bubion and Capileira all clinging to a hillside overlooking a dramatic gorge. There are also busy market towns like Orgiva and Lanjaron. The town of Trevelez is famous for its hams and for often being called the highest village in Spain. This seems to be an area that shows the more traditional Spanish way of life, away from the busy coastal resorts, and is in a beautiful setting with several mountain ranges and rivers.