castellar de la frontera
Approx
30 minute drive takes you to this hillside fortress. The castle itself date
s
back to the 11th century and encloses the old town. It is perched on
a 200 metre high hill overlooking the valley of the Rio Guadarranque and
from the battlements it is possible to see Gibraltar, Gaucin and Casares. Once
through the main gateway there is a maze of alleys and streets lined with whitewashed buildings.There a few bars and restaurants and some shops
selling
local craftsGibraltar
Famous
for the Rock and the Barbary apes.
There is a variety of things to see and do - visit the upper rock by cable car, see St. Michael's cave, the great siege tunnels and moorish castle to name but a few or even take out an excursion to see the dolphins in the bay and straits of Gibraltar. Or if shopping takes your fancy, Gibraltar is ideal to pick up your duty frees - but be careful what you bring back as cars are thoroughly searched at the border on your return to Spain
Morocco
For an insight into life in North Africa,day trips to Morocco make an good and
exciting day
excursion. Whether by foot or car, there are several ferries that run from Algeciras or Tarifa to Tangier.
Tarifa once was just a small fishing vilage and is the southernmost point of the European mass and has some historical interest. Due to the weather conditions all year round Tarifa or "windy city" as it is aptly named is ideal for surfers who can be seen along the 10km of white sandy beachesRonda
The beautiful, historic town of Ronda it is approx 50Km from Duquesa and well worth a visit. The town is famous for the picturesque gorge into the River Guadalevin - the ravine is spanned by the Puente Neuvo bridge. Drive to Ronda through the lovely countryside or take the train from Algeciras - this single track line was built over a 100 years ago by an British engineer and
stops off at several picturesque villages with their restored Victorian train stations en route.
Marbella and Puerto Banus
If you want to check out how the other half live these are the places to be or to be seen. The marinas are full of huge flashy yachts and people to match! At around 30 minutes drive from Duquesa worth a half day whether to visit the designer shops, sit in one of cafes on the front and watch the world go by or rub shoulders with the rich and famous.
Estepona
It has retained it's charm and character.A bustling market town with a lovely promenade and good selection of restaurants and cafesCasares
A picture postcard village with approx 3000 people living there. The houses are of the typical Andalucian stlye painted white to reflect the heat of summer and with small windows to keep the heat out.Also known as the "hanging village" due to it's hillside location.Only 10 minutes drive from Duquesa with lots of interesting little streets and an impressive Moorish castle and some lovely local restaurants/tavernsSelwo National Park
Selwo National Park is a great day out for the family. Approx 20 minutes drive from Duquesa, Selwo is an African adventure theme park which covers more than 100 hectares and is home to
free roaming animals from all over the world in natural habitats that have been recreated.Mijas
For another family day off try the Aquapark
Mijas.
Mijas is also another quaint Andalucian village worth visiting- there are donkey taxis ( burros ) to show you around
Granada
This is well worth a visit although travel time is up to 3 hours away by car. Granada is situated at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It was once the capitol of the moorish kingdom. The Alhambra palace - the "town with a city " is definitely worth a visit and the drive to Granada is spectacular. As Europe´s southernmost ski resort - why not try the pistes at Sierra Nevada in the winter months
