Majestic, inspiring and somewhat mysterious, the region of Andalucia’s rich history is ever-present today. Easy-to-drive highways link towns nestled in otherworldly terrain, passing by vibrant fields of sunflowers and mammoth wind turbines along the way. There are open-air flamenco performances to get your heart racing, a food scene to rival all others in Europe, and the Costa del Sol's beaches to rejuvenate at. I couldn't have asked for anything more. 

“You’re veering, you’re veering right!” squeals my friend Alisha in the passenger seat. It’s 3am and the two of us have picked up a rental car from the airport in Malaga, southern Spain. Coming from Australia, the terribly long trip has hindered my motor skills. I’m driving on the other side of the road, I’ve almost hit the bollards, but I’m ecstatic. A road trip of Andalucia was awaiting us; all we needed was a solid night’s sleep to get going.

Malaga – history, regality and the sea

The seaside city of Malaga is very accessible from other European countries. It marks the start of the Costa del Sol, a stretch of coast known as the 'coast of the sun'.  Here, we suggest you get your pincers on some pescado frito (fried seafood) and eat on the seashore. It’s a glorious place to be in summer – particularly strolling through central Malaga’s regal streets, which are luxuriously paved with marble and stone.

We arrived on 23 June, the day of San Juan (St John). The people of Malaga had united in the city centre’s streets, following men strenuously carrying a shrine of the saint, moving to the beat of a massive marching band. Religious devotion is strong in this part of the country, and whether you’re a believer or not, it’s a beautiful thing to see people coming together.