Yoga and the peace of nature in the mountains of Andalucia

Yoga and the peace of nature in the mountains of Andalucia

Who doesn’t deserve a little bit of ‘me time’? Who doesn’t want a few days away from the hustle and bustle of normal life to relax, reset, rejuvenate, refocus? Read on to find out what a yoga retreat at La Cazalla can do for you.

In troubled times, some tree appreciation

In troubled times, some tree appreciation

At a time when the world is focused upon climate change, and during the month our trees hang with their annual bounty of fruits and nuts, we felt inspired to write a blog in appreciation of trees. Trees don’t only provide health benefits by producing oxygen. Scientists have demonstrated a link between trees and reduced instances of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, stroke, and diabetes. Looking at trees calms us and has a positive effect on mood, self-esteem, stress, and depression. So take a break from your screen and look out of the window or go for a walk, and truly admire the trees around you. Or to thoroughly immerse yourself, book a stay at our luxury villa rental in Ronda and relax in our secluded country home, surrounded by sunshine and trees.

Marvellous May in Andalucía

Marvellous May in Andalucía

With an average temperature of 17°C/63°F, 10 hours of sunshine a day, and the last of the glorious spring flowers splashing colours across the meadows, May has always been one of our favourite months in Ronda. It’s the perfect temperature for outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and yoga, and during the evenings, it’s warm enough to dine outside on the jasmine-fragranced terrace. It’s just heavenly.

Additionally, there’s just so much going on in and around Ronda in May. There’s the MotoGP in Jerez, the Battle of the Flowers in Córdoba, the 101km endurance race, and the Ronda Romántica festival, to name just a few of May’s annual events.

Cycling holidays in Andalucía

Cycling holidays in Andalucía

This summer we had a self-described ‘serious’ road cyclist stay with us during one of our summer of love celebrations and he couldn’t praise the local cycling highly enough, declaring it ‘a cycling gem’. In fact he felt that La Cazalla would be an ideal base for a holiday with his own cycling club, which led us to thinking about what kinds of experience we could provide for groups of cyclists. We are always responsive to new ideas from our guests and love bringing like-minded people to the region so that they too can enjoy everything the amazing Serranía de Ronda has to offer.

A One Day Trip to Granada

A One Day Trip to Granada

The beauty and intricacy of the Alhambra Palace, glowing warmly in front of its backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains; the winding cobbled streets and colourful bazaars of Albaicín; the humbling magnificence of the Cathedral; and the dazzling glory of the Basilica of St John of God. These delights and more are why you simply must visit Granada. Wake up with the valley's birdsong and take the easy two-hour drive from La Cazalla and spend your day soaking in the multicultural ambience of the city.

Jerez: city of horses, flamenco and wine

Jerez: city of horses, flamenco and wine

What more could you want?! The ancient port city of Jerez in neighbouring province Cádiz is well worth a visit during your stay at La Cazalla de Ronda. Just under 2 hours drive from our luxury villa rental in Ronda, Andalusia is a city famous for its Carthusian horses (considered to be the purest strain of Andalusian), flamenco and, most of all, its sherry wine.

Five of the Most Picturesque Towns to Visit from Ronda, Andalusia

Five of the Most Picturesque Towns to Visit from Ronda, Andalusia

What's the first image that comes to mind when you think of Spain? Blue skies? Beaches? Flamenco? Bullfighting? Paella? If you Google 'Spain' in images, actually the photos are predominantly of fantastic architecture and little white houses cascading down mountainsides. These are the pueblos blancos (white villages) and their strategically-defensive hill-top positions, narrow cobbled streets and brilliantly-white casas reflecting back the bright Andalusian sunshine make for interesting and picturesque places to visit. Here are five of our favourites within a short drive from your base at La Cazalla, our secluded luxury villa rental in Ronda:

A One Day Trip to Córdoba

A One Day Trip to Córdoba

A lovely family that stayed with us recently remarked upon how much they had enjoyed their day trip to Córdoba, so we thought it might be helpful to write a one-day walking guide to this ancient city. Cordoba is such a diverse city, where east truly meets west: the typical Spanish narrow streets, lined with white houses decorated with colourful flower pots, are surrounded by exquisite gems of Islamic architecture, remnants of a time when Muslims, Christians and Jews once lived peacefully side-by-side.

Flamenco

Flamenco

Andalusians have a reputation for being passionate, and according to award-winning flamenco dancer Sara Baras from Cádiz, passion is "the most important thing in flamenco". You don't have to understand Spanish to be able to appreciate this Andalusian art form. Flamenco shows are generally intimate, close-to-the-stage affairs. As the lights dim and the guitarist plucks the introduction, there's the click of heels and fingers, a swish of skirt, the song begins, and the raw emotion in the singer's voice will make your hairs stand on end.

A One Day Trip To Seville

A One Day Trip To Seville

Seville: romantic, lively, passionate and historical, and being located along a flat plain on the Guadalquivir River, the city is entirely walkable for a perfect day of exploration. Seville is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its Old Town, with an area of 4 square kilometres (2 sq mi), contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies.

5 white villages in Andalusia perfect for a slow tourism experience

5 white villages in Andalusia perfect for a slow tourism experience

Dazzling in the bright Andalusian sunshine, the pueblos blancos (white villages) perch precariously on the mountainsides of southern Spain and are a delight for the discerning traveller seeking an authentic experience of the region. Tourist towns they are not, and wandering peacefully through their narrow streets with splashes of brightly-coloured potted flowers is a salve for the soul in this age of instant gratification and constant stimulation. Relax. Take a seat alongside the older town caballeros admiring the view and discussing the weather, and immerse yourself, slow-tourism style. Sample our five favourite interesting and lesser-visited white villages in the Serranía de Ronda: