From whitewashed mountain villages to flamenco dancing in dive bars, and from world-famous art in Picasso's birthplace Malaga to the scent of orange blossom in Seville, Andalucia is a region that never fails to enchant.

Andalucia, the diverse Spanish region between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, has it all: beautiful national parks, miles of sandy coastline, iconic architecture, gastronomic delights and thriving local culture - not to mention a string of Unesco World Heritage sites. Most visitors flock to Seville, Granada and Marbella for traditional tapas, flamenco and controversial bullfighting - but there is so much to discover beyond these magnificent cities.

From snow-capped mountains to hilltop villages and the only desert in Europe, there's an impressive variety of landscapes in Andalucia. If you're a thrill seeker, make a beeline for the Caminito del Rey, a hike along a suspended walkway that seems to be precariously attached to the walls of El Chorro gorge in Malaga. The foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range also offer some spectacular hiking trails. For a more leisurely stroll, there's the Sierras de Cazorla nature reserve, the largest protected area in Spain, and the Unesco-listed Doñana National Park, a haven of woodlands, rivers and wildlife.

Andalucia is home to a rich variety of historical monuments, museums and architecture. It has no less than seven Unesco World Heritage sites, including the majestic Alhambra in Granada, the Alcázar palace in Seville and the grand Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, a former mosque turned cathedral. Beyond the Moorish heritage of the region, the old towns of Úbeda and Baeza are home to remarkable renaissance-style palaces and churches. Visitors can uncover the fascinating history of the region at cultural institutions such as the Andalusian Flamenco Centre in Jerez, the Maestranza theatre in Seville and the Picasso Museum in the artist's home town, Malaga.