Southern Spain Day Trips.

The Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque", from the Arabic مسجد "Masjid") is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Córdoba, Spain. It was originally built to be a mosque and was at one time the second-largest mosque in the world.

The construction of the Mezquita (originally the Aljama Mosque) lasted for over two centuries, starting in 784 A.D. under the supervision of the first Muslim Emir Abd ar-Rahman I, who used it as an adjunct to his palace and named it to honor his wife.

The building is most notable for its giant arches, with over 1,000 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite. These were made from pieces of the Roman temple which had occupied the site previously, as well as other destroyed Roman buildings.

Mijas is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, in Andalusia, southern Spain. It is a typically Andalusian white-washed village located at a mountain side about 400 m above mean sea level, in the heart of the Costa del Sol region. There are some local history museums and many souvenir shops, Mijas also has seven golf courses (four more are under construction). Like much of this coast, it continues to grow in urban development, although at a somewhat more low-key pace. In addition, there are several places to explore the countryside from horseback.

The municipality includes: Mijas Pueblo (the hillside village), Mijas Costa (main commercial and residential area adjacent to (but not strictly part of) Fuengirola), La Cala de Mijas (separate village and small resort by the sea to the west) and Las Lagunas (largely suburban and mixed commercial to the north of Fuengirola).

Gibraltar's terrain consists of the 1,396 foot (426 m) high Rock of Gibraltar and the narrow coastal lowland surrounding it. Most of its upper area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 230 Barbary Macaques, commonly known as 'apes', the only wild monkeys found in Europe.

Gibraltar is also a popular shopping destination, and all goods and services are VAT free. Many of the large British high street chains have branches in Gibraltar, including Marks and Spencer, BHS, Dorothy Perkins, and the supermarket Morrisons.

The Bay and Straits of Gibraltar with their large population of whales and dolphins, give tourists a chance to see these beautiful Mammals close up in their natural surroundings.

The Alhambra (Arabic: الحمراء = Al-Ħamrā'; literally "the red") is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, in southern Spain (known as Al-Andalus when the fortress was constructed), occupying a hilly terrace on the south-eastern border of the city of Granada. It was the residence of the Muslim kings of Granada and their court, but is currently a museum exhibiting exquisite Islamic architecture.

Moorish poets described it as "a pearl set in emeralds," in allusion to the brilliant colour of its buildings, and the luxuriant woods round them. The park (Alameda de la Alhambra), in spring is overgrown with wild-flowers and grass, was planted by the Moors with roses, oranges and myrtles.

Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous Nerja caves, discovered in 1959, and now Spain's third most-visited tourist attraction (after the Prado in Madrid and the Alhambra Palace). These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of potholes stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and Granada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe. Visitors to the caves will be able to view the remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja.

Frigiliana is a town situated only 6 from Nerja and has its own olive oil production facility and is also the site for the last cane molasses factory in Europe.

The Rio Guadalevín runs through the city of Ronda, dividing it in two and carving out the steep El Tajo canyon upon which the city is perched. Three bridges, Puente Romano ("Roman Bridge", (Puente San Miguel), Puente Viejo ("Old Bridge", also known as the Puente Arabe or "Arab Bridge") and Puente Nuevo ("New Bridge"), span the canyon. The Puente Nuevo Built in 1793 is the tallest of the bridges, towering 120 meters above the canyon floor, and all three serve as some of the city's most impressive features.

Another important site in Ronda is the Plaza de Toros, the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain that is still used, albeit infrequently. The partially intact baños árabes ("Arab baths") are found below the city and date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles resided in Ronda for many years, and both wrote about its beauty, contributing to its popularity.

Sevilles cathedral was built from 1401–1519 after the Reconquista on the former site of the city's mosque. It is amongst the largest of all medieval and Gothic cathedrals, in terms of both area and volume. The Alcázar facing the cathedral has developed from the city's old Moorish Palace; construction was begun in 1181 and continued for over 500 years, mainly in Mudéjar style, but also in Renaissance. Its gardens are a blend of Moorish, Andalusian, and Christian traditions.

The Sevillana dance, commonly presented as flamenco, is not thought to be of Sevillan origin. The Seville oranges that dot the city landscape, too sour for modern tastes, are commonly used to make marmalade. Holy Week and the Seville Fair, "La Feria de Sevilla" (also Feria de Abril, "April Fair") are the two most well-known of Seville's festivals.

Tangiers lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel.

Most visitors to Tangiers will tell you that shopping in the bazaars and souks is one of the most entertaining things to do of an afternoon. Stalls selling Pottery, Leather, Persian Rugs and Spices are abundant.

The Caves of Hercules, though having nothing to do with the mythical figure, are worth a visit. You will need to hire a grand taxi or travel by mini-bus as the caves are some 18km outside the city. Both are available at the port gates. Camel and horse rides can also be arranged at the beaches around the Caves of Hercules area.