Culture in Andalusia

Relaxation, ferias and unmissable activities
The hot sunshine in southern Spain shines down, making you feel lethargic and in need of some rest. Holidays are made for this! Your stay at Club Med Magna Marbella in Andalusia will be full of time to relax and explore. But you should also know that local life is pretty lively! All year round, festivals and commemorations are held. The region's two cultural icons, corridas and flamenco, are dynamic sports requiring precision that do away with any lazing about in a trice. During your stay at Club Med, you can try out various sports and be part of the fun that brings our Resort to life each day.
Andalusia has a strong multicultural history. With Arab influences and a clear Catholic tradition, the region is an architectural and cultural gem.

A region brimming with history and heritage
Andalusia is full of places to visit, including Seville, Granada, Córdoba and Málaga. To help you decide what you want to do during your holiday in Marbella, here are 5 unmissable excursions:

• Visit the Alhambra in Granada. High on a hilltop in Granada, this old fortress is the most popular place to visit in Andalusia. Comprising a citadel (the Alcazaba), palace and gardens, the Alhambra is one of the world's biggest fortified residences.
• Marvel at the Mezquita. Córdoba's mosque-cathedral is as incredible as it is unusual. Originally a Roman temple, it was a church and then a mosque before being consecrated as a cathedral. Go on a guided tour to learn about the Mezquita's mysteries and you'll also avoid the queues.
• Walk around the Alcázar. Visit Seville's fortified Muslim palace with its lush gardens, where each patio is more beautiful than the one before. Marvel at the indoor pools, the explosion of colour and the sophisticated sculptures.
• Rediscover Picasso at the Pablo Picasso Museum. Málaga was the artist's home city and its museum contains more than 200 of the artist's works. As well providing aesthetics to enjoy, it immerses you in the artist's life and work.
• Explore the Madinat al-Zahra ruins. Córdoba is home to the ruins of a city built by King Abd-ar-Rahman III.

Set your watch to Spanish time and settle in for some delicious food!
Every region has its own culture, and Andalusia is no different. During your trip to the Costa del Sol, meal times may be different to what you're used to. Although our Resort is happy for you to eat at your usual times, people don't tend to eat in Spain at noon, or at 7pm!
Often, locals eat lunch at around 4pm to 5pm, and have dinner at about 9pm to 11pm. It could be later during the summer, as traditionally tapas and cañas (beers) are also enjoyed. The main feature of Andalusia's food culture is sharing. Tapas is a tradition where everyone takes food from different plates to try all the flavours on offer.
This tradition is an easy way for you to try some Andalusian specialities: rabo de toro (oxtail in sauce), berenjenas fritas con miel (fried aubergines in honey) and fritura de pescado a la andaluza (a fried fish and seafood dish with Xérès sherry).

Club Med Magna Marbella:

• A fast-paced padel match with friends. Having trained up at our Resort's padel school, head out to one of the six courts and play a fun match. This is included in your stay!
• Archery in the mountains. See the mountains and local flora in Andalusia. With your bow in hand, explore the area and fire your best arrows.
• Go to amazing events. Dancing, circus shows, magic, DJs and live music all await. Your G.Os® will make the evenings full of fun. Head to the pool bar and get carried away with all the excitement.
• Golf or minigolf in Marbella. Avoid the sneaky minigolf traps, calculate the distances required on a big green and improve your swing during your stay on the Costa del...golf!