Ronda is a fascinating city with an equally fascinating history.  A Moorish stronghold for centuries, it later became essentially a haven for bandits.  They would loot the surrounding countryside and then return to their nearly impregnable location in Ronda and dare the authorities to try and get them out.

From the Parador in Ronda, you could drive out to some of Spain's most typical "white villages" - Setenil, Grazalema, Gaucin, Olvera, Ubrique, Zahara de la Sierra,  - and many others - each a dazzling drop of ancient culture in these rugged sierras.

Interesting excursions from Parador Ronda:

• The Baños Arabe:  these public baths which were already in use in the 13th century - are still functioning!
• Plaza de Toros:  this is reputed to be the oldest bullring in Spain. There is also a fine museum dedicated to the history of bullfighting there.
• Casa del Rey Moro (House of the Moorish King):  Parts of this are now closed, but an unusual walk will take you down 365 steps - through a kind of 'mine' - to the river below.  This is how the city accessed the water during times of seige.

Interesting day trips from the Parador of Ronda include:

• The Parque de Grazalema: Wildly beautiful natural surroundings amidst the rugged mountains of the area. Lots of great hiking opportunities.
• A drive in any direction will bring you to wonderful "white villages" so typical of this part of Andalucia. Stop and walk around. Have a glass of wine and a tapa on the main plaza - this is as close as you'll get to what Spain was like 3 or 4 centuries ago.
• Drive down to the little town of Gaucin - called,  "the balcony of Europe," because of the views you can have there. On a clear day, you can see across the straits of Gibraltar all the way to Africa!
• The Costa Del Sol is near enough for a day trip.  Estepona is nice, and a bit less built up than the towns and cities further along the coast.

Source: http://www.spainparador.com/Parador-Ronda.htm

This recently opened farmhouse B&B, half way between Granada and Córdoba, is proof that you can go green without sacrificing luxury. The traditional "cortijo" has under-floor heating and king-size beds topped with Egyptian cotton sheets in the six bedrooms – plus a log fire in the lounge and swimming pool and hammocks in the grounds. However, the Biomas boiler runs on recycled olive pellets and solar panels heat the hot water.

Casa Olea, near Zamoranos, Priego de Córdoba (00 34 696 74 82 09; casaolea.com)

Double room - 79 Euro.

Sourced from: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/hotels/the-big-six-andalucian-boltholes-1928089.html

Clive Ridout, a Welsh chef and his Japanese wife, Maki, converted this finca into a charming four-bedroom guesthouse. Outside, there's a vine and jasmine-draped arbor and pool, while Clive runs contemporary Andalucian cookery lessons. Finca Las Encinas, Los Juncares, Iznajar, Córdoba (00 34 629 61 07 83; finca-las-encinas.com ).

Doubles room - Lucena - €70, including breakfast.

Sourced from: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/hotels/the-big-six-andalucian-boltholes-1928089.html

Source: http://finca-las-encinas.com/index.html

The walled town of Trujillo stands on a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside between the Tagus and Guadiana rivers. If you're arriving by car you'll spot from miles away.

Like so many of its fellow towns and cities in the region of Extremadura, Trujillo has a wide and varied history, which is visible in the buildings and artifacts found throughout the city. With a history that dates back a full 600 years before the birth of Christ, it has much to tell.

It's a good idea to park on the outskirts of the historical centre on arrival as much of the town is restricted to traffic and parking is discouraged. The Plaza Mayor is the start of any historical visit to Trujillo which has a statue of Francisco Pizarro in its centre. The 16th century Iglesia de San Martin on the square contains the various tombs of local noblemen and is worth a visit along with the Palacio de la Conquista and the Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos.

Romans, Visigoths and the Moors had settled in the town before the Christians reconquered it in 1232. One of the outstanding features of the city is the 10th century castle which was built by the Moorish armies on Roman foundations. The castle stands in the upper town offering great views across the plains below.

Cordoba was founded by the Romans but eventually became the capital of all of Islamic Spain.

I found the people of Segovia to be very friendly and helpful. If I had to choose between a visit to Avila or Segovia, I definitely would pick Segovia and leave Avila for another visit.

Really cool cathedral and another castle.

Source: http://www.travelinginspain.com/segovia.htm

Avila is noted for its tall city wall which encircles the entire old city. We were unable to do justice to Avila, only spending an evening in the city. Avila is pleasant, but the people we encountered in Segovia were friendlier.

The village is surrounded by high mountains of which the Atalaya and Verde mountains dominate a landscape of pine and oak trees; the habitat of eagles, mountain goats and wild boars. In the river valleys grapes, olives and tropical fruits are grown. Nearby there is the protected area of the Acantilados de Maro Nature Reserve.

Canillas de Albaida has Moorish origins from the 13th century. Its Arabic name meant 'The White One'. The Islamic past is reflected in the layout of the streets and squares, and in the use of terraces for cultivation. The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Expectación, standing in the main square, was built in the 16th century. There are also two shrines, the 16th century Santa Ana and the 17th century San Antón.

Hote: Finca El Cerrillo - http://www.rusticblue.com/zx116.htm

Most people would consider Grazalema to be the showcase ‘white village' in the area. It has a spectacular mountain perch and lots of bars and restaurants. It was once famous for its cottage weaving industry. Just one mill remains which makes beautiful blankets with designs similar to those of the Moorish period.

A pretty village located on the banks of the Segura river, Rojales has been able to keep its traditional Spanish feel, despite the onslaught of tourism and property development. With a history stretching back to the Arab Occupation, Rojales still has evidence of irrigation systems put into place by the Moors during their time in the area. Worth visiting while in Rojales are the Water Wheel, the Azud, the Charles III bridge and the Gasparito Wells, also worth a look are the cave houses at El Rodeo, where a regular craft market is held.

Located on what was once the most important Roman road in Spain (the Via Augusta from Rome to Cadiz), Los Montesinos is a traditional Spanish village with a modern feel. Nowadays Los Montesinos has a sizeable British expat community and a number of British bars and restaurants aimed at its British residents, these mingle nicely with the traditional Spanish ones giving the village a cosmopolitan aura. Los Montesinos is right in the middle of citrus farming country and its surrounding roads are lined with orange and lemon groves, the village originally took its name from a family of noblemen who governed the local people many centuries ago.

Stylish San Sebastian (Donostia in Basque) has the air of an upscale resort, complete with an idyllic location on the shell-shaped Bahia de la Concha.  The natural setting - crystalline waters, a flawless beach, green hills on all sides - is captivating, but the city itself has plenty to offer.  Head to the buzzing Parte Vieja for tempting tapas bars and restaurants showing off the best of Basque cuisine.

Gaudi's masterpieces: La Sagrada Familia, Le Pedrera, Casa Batllo.  Stroll down Passeig de Garcia to reach Placa de Catalunya and the old quarter.  Head down La Rambla and duck into the Barri Gotic for a glimpse of the cathedral and a wander of the city's ancient, twisting lanes.

Visit Museu Picasso and the Esglesia de Santa Maria del Mar in El Born.  Stop off for tapas and wine at La Vinya del Senyo before heading to the waterfront.  End the day with a meal in La Barceloneta.

Despite being Andalucía's fastest-growing town - it overtook Córdoba in the big three Andaluz tourist attractions, behind Sevilla and Granada, in the early 21st century - Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Visitors make a beeline for the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m chasm below, for its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.

Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today glimpsed once a year at the spectacular Feria Goyesca. Held at the beginning of September, here fighters and some of the audience dress in the manner of Goya's sketches of life in the region. Legendary Rondeño bullfighter Pedro Romero broke away from the prevailing Jerez 'school' of horseback bullfighting in the 18th century to found a style of bullfighting in which matadores stood their ground against the bull on foot. In 2006 royalty and movie stars were helicoptered in for the Goyesca's 50th anniversary celebrations in its small bullring, while thousands jammed the streets and parks outside. Otherwise the bullring, Plaza de Toros, is now a museum, and visitors can stroll out into the arena.

Ronda also holds a lovely “romería” pilgrimage each year. This is in honour of the Virgen de la Cabeza and is organised by the local Catholic brotherhood of the same name. For those wishing to see the lighter side of life in Ronda this is a wonderful way to participate in a local tradition that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Across the bridge, where an elegant cloistered 16th century convent is now an art museum, old Ronda, La Ciudad, sidewinds off into cobbled streets hemmed by handsome town mansions, some still occupied by Ronda's titled families. The Casa de Don Bosco is one such, its interior patio long ago roofed in glass against Ronda's harsh winters. Its small, almost folly-like gardens lose out, however, to the true star, a few minutes' walk to the furthest end of the Ciudad, the Palacio Mondragón. Clumsily modernised in parts during the 1960s, this still has working vestiges of the exquisite miniature water gardens dating from its time as a Moorish palace during Ronda's brief reign as a minor Caliphate under Córdoba in the 12th century.

The cobbled alley to the Mondragón leads naturally on to Ronda's loveliest public space, the leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, which boasts a convent, two churches, including the toytown belltower of the iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor, and the handsome arched ayuntamiento (council) building. Nearby calle Armiñan leads down to the spacious plaza of the traditional workers' barrio, San Francisco, with excellent bars and restaurants. Back from the Mondragón, the Plaza del Campillo overlooks steps that zigzag down to a dramatic eye-level through the Puente Nuevo. The town's pedestrianised 'high street', calle Espinel, opposite the bullring, is nicknamed 'La Bola' and is where Rondeños go for virtually everything.

Marbella is o­ne of the original Costa del Sol resorts, made famous by becoming Europe's playground for the rich and famous. Indeed, mention the name Marbella and it usually conjures up images of plush hotels, casinos, multi-million dollar yachts and Ferraris.

But today Marbella is not exclusively for the jet-set. Being o­nly 30 minutes drive to the west of Malaga airport and with the recent increase in airlines providing cheap flights, the resort is within very easy reach for most people and has become a popular destination for hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers each year.

Of course, the main resort of Marbella is predominantly hotels, apartment blocks and beaches but the older parts of town still remain and hold the traditional Spanish feel and atmosphere.

Exploring the back streets of Old Marbella will reveal stately buildings that date back to the 16th century or beyond, along with small traditional shops, cafes and galleries - a far cry from the modern Marbella just a stone’s throw away that most people o­nly know about and see.

Throughout the old town, small plazas lined with local bars and orange trees add to the traditional feel and are a great place to take a break and soak up the atmosphere before heading back to modern day life. To escape the hustle and bustle further, the Sierra Bermeja Mountains rise up behind the resort and are ideal for exploring by 4x4 or o­n foot; plenty of viewpoints provide opportunities to see the two and a half mile coastal spread that is Marbella.

The monastery is an outstanding repository of four centuries of Spanish religious architecture. It symbolizes two significant events in world history that occurred in 1492: the Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula by the Catholic Kings and Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas. Its famous statue of the Virgin became a powerful symbol of the Christianization of much of the New World.

Lots of Moorish architecture, amazing buildings and gardens.  Very highly recommended.

Villefranche-Sur-Mer looks awesome!

"Villefranche-sur-Mer is located about 6 km (4 miles) east of the city of Nice, separated by Mont Boron, Mont Alban and Mont Vinaigrier, and 10 km (6 miles) south west of Monaco." --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villefranche-sur-Mer

The charming village of Seyne les Alpes occupies a strategic position at the heart of the verdant Vallée Blanche. Seyne les Alpes is one of the "villages of character in the Alpes de Haute Provence", and is also classified as a "rural holiday village and snow village" ... In other words Seyne is a tourist village which is really worth the detour (even if the road leading up to it appears a bit long!). The surrounding natural character has preserved in authenticity and just incites you to explore on long walks where you'll discover a vast array of flora and fauna.

Discover more than 500 Km of secured footpath for unforgettable hikes.

• Every tuesday downtown LAMASTRE, you will appreciate one of the most typical outdoor market in Ardeche.
• On saturday, taste our local products at the famous "terroir" market.
• Visit the picturesque charm of Macheville village (its church, the old town).
• Discover the "Doux" canyon (Tournon-Lamastre) on board of the Mastrou, a vapor train from the past century.
• Relax and swim in the Doux river at the ruins of the Retourtour Castle.
• Visit the middle ages Désaignes village and its Castle of the XIV century.
• Climb to the Gerbier de Jonc mountain at 1551m, and see the water border between the atlantic ocean and the Méditérranée.

Stay at Hotel du Commerce - http://www.hotel-lamastre.com/EN/index.html

Murat, on the eastern edge of the Cantal, is the closest town to the high peaks and a busy little place, its cafés and shops with a bustle uncharacteristic for the region.

Rather than any particular sight, it's the ensemble of greystone houses that attracts, many dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Crowded together on their medieval lanes, they make a magnificent sight, especially as you approach from the St-Flour road, with the backdrop of the steep basalt cliffs of the Rocher Bonnevie, once the site of the local castle and now surmounted by a huge white statue of the Virgin Mary.

Facing the town, perched on the distinctive mound of the Rocher Bredons, on your left as you approach, there's the lovely Romanesque Église de Bredons (July & Aug daily 10am–noon & 2.30–6.30pm; free), containing some fine eighteenth-century altarpieces. One of the finest of the old houses is now open to the public as the Maison de la Faune (July & Aug Mon–Sat 10am–noon & 3–7pm, Sun 3–7pm; Sept–June Mon–Sat 10am–noon & 2–6pm, Sun 3–5pm; €4), full of stuffed animals and birds illustrating the wildlife of the Parc des Volcans.

Henry Plantagenet lived here and Richard the Lionheart (probably) died here. Most excitingly though, Joan of Arc came here to persuade Charles VII (then dauphin) to toughen up and kick the English out of France. The rest is history, as we say. Don't miss the graffiti in the Caudray tower, carved by Templar knights awaiting execution.

Sitting high on a plateau, a huge castle dominates the entire town. The château Chinon was built on the site of a Gallo-Roman castrum as a fortified stronghold by Theobald I, Count of Blois in the year 954.

Apparently this is where the Luxton's come from.  Must go pay a visit.

A lively spa town on the eastern shore of Lac du Bourget, France's largest natural lake. Fabulous mountain views from the tree-lined promenade and chic marinas. The town centre boasts thermal baths, open air tea dancing and an opulent Casino - step inside just to see the Art Deco ceilings. For sports enthusiasts, there's a golf course, race course and sailing school.

Take a circular tour of the lake past historic Hautecombe Abbey or play 'spot the beaver' on a dinner cruise along the winding Canal de Savires which leads to the Haut-Rhône canal. Magic!

Just 70 miles from Calais by motorway and famous for its two huge cobbled squares, laid out in the 13th century to house regional markets. The 155 gabled houses and stone arcades which lined the squares were completely destroyed during World War One and painstakingly rebuilt in the 1920s.

Take the lift up the belltower for a panoramic view of the city, then visit the 14th century underground passages beneath the squares which became British Army HQ during World War One. Watch the history film in the town hall, then follow the steel dots in the pavements for a walking tour.

Surrounded by lush forests and seven green hills, Besançon in Franche-Comté has been voted France's greenest urban centre. Vauban, Louis XIV's architect, designed the huge hilltop citadel which dominates the town - great views from the ramparts over the river Doubs which loops round the old town below. The Museum of the Resistance and Deportation inside the castle walls is sobering but very moving.

Take a river cruise or just stroll along the quaysides and soak up those elegant stone buildings. Feeling lucky? Then try a night at the Casino.

France's second largest city, founded 2000 years ago by the Romans at the point where the Rhône meets the Saône. Take in the view from the terrace of Notre Dame Basilica, then walk through the centuries from the two Roman theatres of Fouviere to the Renaissance old town with its Mediterranean colours, the 18th century boulevards to the 19th century silk weavers' district.

Don't miss the hidden courtyards and passageways - traboules - of the Old Town; the fountains of the Place des Terreaux; and the painted trompe l'oeil walls. Then sample some of the best gastronomic restaurants in France.

Voted the town where French people would most like to live, Nice has everything - 19 museums and galleries, 300 hectares of parks and gardens, and 10Km of sparkling Mediterranean coastline, not to mention great shops, restaurants and bars.

Don't miss the atmospheric old town and flower market off the fashionable Promenade des Anglais; the smart district of Cimiez with its Roman remains and Matisse Museum; and the spectacular coastal views from Castle Hill. For a great spring break, book in during the colourful annual carnival - February 21 to March 5.

Nestled in a circle of hills in the southern Drôme, Nyons is a bustling country town with a Mediterranean air. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, lavender fields and limes, it stages a twice-weekly open air market - a great place to pick up locally-produced olive oil and soap, herbs and honey.

There's a picturesque old town off the main square with Medieval towers and rampart walks, plus a fascinating 18th century oil mill and soap works overlooking the Medieval bridge. Tour the town's aromatic garden, the lavender distillery, and olive oil mills, and just breathe in that rich scented air.

Very visitor-friendly with a network of pedestrian shopping streets selling everything from high street fashion to haute couture, antiques to interior furnishings, rich chocolates to sumptuous patisseries.

Sit at a pavement cafe on the Place du General de Gaulle; stroll amongst the flower sellers and second-hand book stalls in the quadrangle of the Stock Exchange; and soak up the city's past in the museum of the Hospice Comtesse. The Fine Art Museum housing France's second most important art collection is far more manageable than the Louvre.

Transportation links from London to the suburbs, the countryside and even other nearby cities are easy, fast and reasonably priced. If you are looking for an alternative to London's hustle and bustle, and a chance to see England from a different perspective, these quick "away days" may be just the ticket. They're all reachable in about an hour by public transportation too.

1. Windsor Castle
2. Oxford, England
3. Ightham Village and Ightham Mote in Kent - A Great Day Trip for Walkers
4. Join a Grape Harvest in Surrey at Denbies Wine Estate
5. RHS Wisley Garden
6. Brighton
7. Bicester Village
8. Beaulieu

Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe. Every year the streets of West London come alive, with the sounds and smells of Europe’s biggest street festival. Twenty miles of vibrant colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems, hundreds of Caribbean food stalls, over 40,000 volunteers and over 1million Notting Hill carnival revellers.

Subtitled 'Or a curious and grotesque history of the anatomical model', this exhibition reveals how, in Victorian Britain and Europe, collections of anatomical models were used to titillate as well as teach the public. During the nineteenth century, museums of anatomical models became popular sightseeing attractions, enabling visitors to learn about the human body through displays that combined serious science with an element of fairground theatricality.  The show presents accurate specimens used for teaching, as well as models destined for less salubrious displays to examine Victorian attitudes to sex, disease and death.

Casa SaltShaker offers a unique dining experience in Barrio Norte.

In essence, you are being invited to a dinner party in theirhome, where you will be seated at one of their two communal tables, with other guests. The setting is casual, the food eclectic, the conversation lively - and generally in a mix of languages.

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 km² (4,085 square miles). It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, 3,650 meters high. When it is covered with water, the Salar de Uyuni reflects the sky.