Alpujarras (Las), Granada

The southern foothills of the Sierra Nevada, just an hour and half from Granada, are the jewel in the province's crown. This is where you'll find the most attractive landscapes, the friendliest people, the tastiest food and the most interesting variety of leisure activities. Berber people from North Africa farmed the area during the Moorish occupation and they built an intricate system of terracing and irrigation that's still in use today. The pretty whitewashed villages with their distinctive flat-roofed houses cling to the hillsides among the olive, almond and chestnut trees. There's some great trekking here, as well as horse-riding, mountain-biking, para-gliding and alternative pursuits, like meditation and yoga. Try the local dish, plato alpujarreño, which includes all the traditionally cured pork products.