Casa Carla Andalucia

Number one on your Andalucia sightseeing list may well be a white village; head for Valle de Abdalajís (15 minutes’ drive), or Álora (half an hour), which sits above the lush Guadalhorce Valley, surround by orchards, citrus trees and vegetable gardens. Magical Ronda (90 minutes) may be further afield but a visit is rewarded by dramatic views over its famed gorge and a sneaky stop off at a tapas bar. The beaches of Torremolinos, Fuengirola and posh little Marbella are all around an hour’s drive away. If that doesn’t appeal, spend a day in the big city: Málaga (55 minutes) is home of a Roman amphitheatre, the Moorish Alcazaba and a trio of exceptional art collections including the Museo Picasso Málaga. When you’d rather do your exploring on foot, follow trails to bizarre limestone formations in the Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera (40 minutes). If you’ve got a decent head for heights, try out the Caminito del Rey, a clammy-palm-inducing walkway built into the walls of the Garganta del Chorro gorge (also 40 minutes).