All head to the Culinary Festival in Antequera

By foreigners living in inland Andalusia, Antequera is often seen as an epicentre.

For beautiful Antequera, on and against its rocky hill, has got it all, the location, beauty, history and amenities of a city. 

And today, September 25th, it's the start of the yearly culinary festival.

For the next 4 days, Antequera will attract over 15.000 extra visitors, coming from all directions to enjoy the ambiance, drinks and delights of this 'tapa festival'.

It takes place at the Plaza de Toros, which will be turned into a sea of bars and restaurants that are open every day from noon through to 16:30 and again from 8 PM until midnight.

With this festival, Antequera wants to become a reference for Andalusian and Spanish gastronomy. That there's a need for this event is proven by the over 10.000 visitors of its very first edition in 2013.

If you go to Antequera this weekend, don't miss it! 

And let us know your comments or review. It will definitely be posted here.

The dates for 2015 are not yet known, but when they are, we will for sure keep you informed in this page.

Right at the main motorways between Málaga and Seville or Cordoba, Antequera is very easy to reach. If you've never visited this beautiful small city, it's really a recommendation.

Disfrutalo!

(Enjoy)

Flamenco explained to foreigners

If you're ever so lucky to be present at a gathering where Flamenco plays a role, treat it with utmost respect.

For Flamenco is not just some type of folk music. It is very much alive, and deals with life itself. The experiences and emotions we share as a group, woven into an art form. 

Ever since the late 18th century, it has been handed over, by generation after generation, who all improve it and adapt. Flamenco deals with 'duende', that heightened sense of awareness that is so important in Andalucian speech and culture. 

An expression of Flamenco can include canto (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dancing) and palmas (handclaps) and, as in jazz, the art can sit in the improvisation and artful balance. 

In Western European ears Flamenco music can sometimes seem repetitive or even painful. If that is the case, we're most probably dealing with the Fandango.

For Flamenco music falls apart in different 'palos' or styles, that are classified by rhythmic pattern and chord progession. For example the Rumba and the Buleria are 2 palos any ear does love, and that have almost become synonymous with what we often call 'Spanish music'.

Though the precise origin of the word 'Flamenco' is disputed, there's a main theory that states it comes from the musicians of Emperor Charles the Vth. When he came to his palaces in Andalucia he brought his own musicians with him from Ghent in Flanders, which triggered the expression: 'Playing music à la Flamenca' (the flemish way) or 'as a Flamenco' (someone from Flanders). 

In 2010 UNESCO declared Flamenco intangible cultural heritage of humanity, or a musical pendant of a monument.

All over inland Andalucia you will find villages with their own 'Peña Flamenca', which is a bar/club for lovers and practisioners of Flamenco music. The music you hear here can be a world away from the more touristy form at the coast or specifically organized shows.

Epressions of flamenco are very popular, accross all ages, and is not the monopoly of the Roma people ('gypsies'). Many, and especially the most famous singers, do come from the Roma community though.

With as most famous and reverred singer, Cameron de la Isla, a name that simply everyone knows, from every person in Andalucia to all the Flamenco schools in Japan (where, by the way, there are more Flamenco schools than in Spain). 

Paco de Lucia though might be a name that sounds more familiar to you.

For more information, visit this page on Wikipedia. 

For when you decide to buy property in inland Andalucia, Flamenco might become a part of your life.

The beauty of October in Andalucia

Are you visiting Andalucia in October? 

An excellent idea. No month can be so pleasant as this one. 

Every year millions of visitors land in one of the main airports of Andalucia, mainly in Málaga airport with Seville as a more distant second. 

Most of them do so in the summer months. Whereas those who live in Andalucia would probably say: "Come in October".

For here we are in the outskirts of summer. The heat is gone and the sun becomes bearable, agreable. You can walk around in T-shirt and shorts, without sweating or carrying your sun-block with you or waiting for the sun to set before you decide to go out.

Little wonder this is the season of city-trips. Exploring Seville, Cordoba, Granada or Ronda becomes more relaxing than exhausting. And then, obviously, there's that great luxury of having beaches to yourself, rather hearing the sound of waves than of noise.

Somewhere around November the temperature of the air tends to sink below the temperature of the sea water, and this creates a sort of own, regional 'El Niño' effect, often resulting in heavy rains or the chilly and grey days as anywhere else in Europe.

Before that time though, it's Indian Summer, a time to breathe and relax, until the sun goes down in a golden light.

Fancying a city trip in October?
Longing to hike in green valleys or rocky ones for that matter? 

'Otoño' or autumn is your season! 

Welcome to Inland Andalucia

This will become the blog for all things inland Andalucia.

What it is like to live, work or travel in our gorgeous region. 

Photo by Mario Perez, a photographer from Seville.

Travel information, history, weather, travel tips, highlights, opportunities, language tips, traditions, real estate...  

If it's about inland Andalucia we'll cover it.

Dear reader, we hope you like it, that you will connect with us, or provide us with travel tips. 

Or, alternatively, you let us know what you would be most interested in.  

Thank you for your visit, and bienvenido a Andalucia! 

InlandAndalucia.Com
The property specialist for inland Andalucia