Is it true that Andalucia in Spain has its own government

Asks Jasper

A. Yes, Andalucia is one of Spain's 17 autonomous regions, with its own parliament, president and Supreme Court.

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Q. Isn't Andalucia of Moorish origin

A. Yes, Andaluc�a was occupied by the Moors (a mixed race of Arabs and Berbers who crossed to Spain from North Africa) for seven centuries from 711 AD and the region today has an amazing mix of Moorish and Spanish architecture and culture, which makes it unique and an incredibly interesting place to visit. It is also the home of flamenco dancing and many great artists and writers including Picasso, Velasquez and Goya in the artist's camp, with Cervantes and Lope de Vega among its writers.

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Q. What are the main towns or cities within the region

A. The capital of the Andalucia region is the city of Seville, there is a full feature article on the Answerbank about Seville at Article.go id=1715.

The other main towns are Malaga, Granada, C�rdoba and Jerez de la Frontera.

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Q. What are the main sights to see in these towns

A. There is loads to do and see in all of these towns, an at a glance review of the best to see and do includes the following:

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Granada: This is one of the best cities in Spain and should be included in any visit to the region. One of the sights you have to see here is the Alhambra Palace, it is built on a hill overlooking the Sierra Nevada and is simply stunning. The Palace itself is made up of three groups of buildings - the Casa Real (Royal Palace), the Alcazaba and the Generalife Gardens. Other places of interest include the Cathedral which dates back to 1520, although it was not completed until the late 18th Century; Albaic�n, the old Arab quarter; and the Capilla Real, the mausoleum of Ferdinand and Isabella, the first Christian rulers of Granada.

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Malaga: if you are visiting any part of the Costa del Sol it is likely that you'll fly into Malaga airport and not take that much notice of the town until you return for your flight home - but this is a major oversight as it is not touristy like the rest of its surrounding coastline, but a fantastic Spanish city (as opposed to all of its English-influenced neighbours e.g. Torremolinos). It is home to an imposing cathedral called La Manquita that was built on the site of a former mosque and a brand new Picasso Museum that opens this year, 2002�- to celebrate the work of Malaga's most famous son.

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Overlooking the city are the Moorish citadels of Alcazaba and Gibralfaro that can be viewed from almost anywhere in Malaga, and there is also a great archaeological museum and castle close by, which were closed for renovation that the beginning of this year, and due to open again in time for the main summer season.

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C�rdoba: was once the heart of Moorish Spain and has many remnants of its past glory, it dates back to 765 when it was controlled by Abd ar-Rahman I who went on to govern most of Spain. The best place to visit here is the Mezquita Mosque as it is a fine example of Islamic architecture and is considered by many to be the most beautiful mosque ever built by the Moors. Other points of interest include the Episcopal Palace and Gardens; the Alc�zar de los Reyes, a fortified palace built by Ferdinand and Isabella; the Museo Arqueol�gico and the Museo de Bellas Artes.

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Jerez de la Frontera: is famous for its sherry and if you have time to visit the town you should check out the Arab Baths, the Cathedral, the Alcazar fortress and the Centro Andaluz de Flamenco, a fantastic museum (with dance school attached) dedicated to the history of flamenco dancing.

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Q. What is the best time of year to visit

A. Anytime of year is a good time as the weather is mild and temperate at the worst of times, the summer months can be very hot and busy. Between April and June is the best time to visit.

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Q. What is the currency in Andalucia

A. Like the rest of Spain it is now the Euro, and was formerly the peseta.

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By Karen Anderson