With Ben Burgess from Travel Counsellors
ben.burgess@travelcounsellors.com
Whether you are looking for a weekend break or a two-week stay Costa Del Sol is of often overlooked as a rowdy ‘Brit’s abroad’ destination, however there is so much more on offer.
Costa Del Sol provides us Brits with sunshine, a vast choice of stunning beaches and impeccable cuisine for those foodies out there ready to dive into the heart of the region.
When I think back to my visits I am drawn to the relaxing retreat with the charm of its white villages and outstanding gastronomy.
Two aspects I believe are often overlooked for this destination are the culinary delights amidst the cultural heritage of the region.
The cuisine on offer on the Costa del Sol is varied and diverse. Global cooking can be found in many establishments, but the Costa del Sol has its own culinary roots with the products used in provincial dishes reflecting the excellent Mediterranean diet.
Nothing typifies the Costa del Sol as its beach bars (chiringuitos) with classics such as pescaito frito (fried fish) and espeto de sandinas (sardines chargrilled on bamboo).
Another typical and well-known Spanish dish across the Costa del Sol is tapas. These small portions of the tastiest local dishes allow visitors to sample a range of different types of food.
To try the huge variety of dishes the inland offers, customers should try to visit one of the local food fairs which are held throughout the year and give a taste of many types of typical cuisine.
Most of the Costa del Sol’s cultural heritage in concentrated in three cities: Ronda, Antequera and Malaga. Ronda is the home of the El Tajo gorge.
From the impressive New Bridge, visitors can look across the incredible canyon the city is perched on from a height of almost 100 metres.
Antequera is a beautiful renaissance city and a stroll through the streets will reveal the years of splendour this town has enjoyed.
The nearby El Caminito del Rey (The King’s Path) is a pedestrian walkway almost three kilometres in length, running along the wall of a ravine.
Lastly, Malaga, Picasso’s birthplace, is home to a wealth of history, heritage and museums that don’t disappoint.
Explore the old town by foot allowing time to gaze at fine churches and cultural spaces like the Pompidou Centre and the Centre for Contemporary Art.
Ask Ben
When is Rio Carnival? – Carl, Crowthorne
Rio Carnival is held in February each year and likely the most popular reason to Rio.
One important thing to note is that Rio fills up very quick once dates are announced.
So it is important to get your booking in early.
Where was your last holiday? – Dianne, Wokingham
With its growing popularity we decided to try out Gran Canaria for ourselves.
Being relatively close to the UK, we had a great time away and most definitely be returning.
Have you got any questions for us? The team is here to help! We will even publish a couple of answers here each fortnight. Email us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Call Ben on: 0118 321 3540
Email: ben.burgess@travelcounsellors.com
Log on to: www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/ben.burgess
Facebook: @burgess.travelcounsellors
