19 Mar Andalusia Road Trip 2023 – Between Faith, Light and Places I Would Return To Anytime
Five years passed since my first trip to Andalusia.
Back then, I discovered something that stayed with me ever since: a region full of light, history, contrasts and emotions that are very hard to explain.
This time, the trip had a very clear purpose.
I wanted to experience Semana Santa properly.
In 2018 I stumbled into it by accident. In 2023 I planned everything around it. And, maybe even more important, I wanted to show it to my fiancée.
The route stayed almost identical: Sevilla → Córdoba → Ronda → Cádiz.
But the experience was completely different.
A Journey in Three Chapters
Looking back, my trips to Andalusia feel like three very different chapters.
In 2018, it was all about exploration.
I arrived without a clear plan, discovering everything for the first time, trying to understand the rhythm of the region and what makes it so special.
In 2023, things changed.
This time I came with a clear purpose: to explore again, but more importantly, to document Semana Santa — which is why many of the photos in this article are connected to this celebration, moments and emotions that I wanted to capture as honestly as possible.
And then comes the next step.
In 2025–2026, the journey becomes something else entirely.
It is no longer just about visiting or documenting. It is about creating — returning to the same places with intention, building photographic series and pushing the experience further.
The same region.
Three different ways of seeing it.
Sevilla – The City That Changed Everything
I always thought Barcelona was my favorite city in Spain.
Until Sevilla.
Back in 2018 it shocked me. In 2023 it went far beyond anything I expected.
This time I did everything differently.
I bought tickets online, I didn’t rush between landmarks and I didn’t feel that pressure to “see everything”. I already knew the routes, the distances, the rhythm of the city. The trip became a balance between visiting landmarks and fully experiencing Semana Santa.
And maybe that made all the difference.
The Alcázar, the Cathedral, the streets, the light — everything felt familiar, but somehow better. The spring sun was incredible, the light was perfect and the entire experience was elevated by something simple: I wasn’t alone this time.
Yes, the city was crowded. It had to be.
But what surprised me most was that the crowds were not overwhelming. The heavy congestion was only on the routes of the processions. Outside of that, Sevilla was still breathable, still walkable, still enjoyable.
And at some point, without even realizing it, I had a simple thought:
I could live here.
I also revisited restaurants I already knew and tried new ones, and I was extremely impressed by everything I found. All of them will be updated in separate reviews.
Semana Santa – Something You Don’t Just Watch, You Feel
The biggest difference compared to 2018 was simple:
Then, I arrived without knowing anything. Now, I planned everything.
I followed the processions, I searched for the best spots for photography and I positioned myself carefully. For the first time, I didn’t feel like an outsider watching something.
I felt part of it.
And Semana Santa is something you have to experience to understand.
It is strange in a way. The processions are solemn, almost heavy, yet visually overwhelming. Colors, garments, decorations, structures — everything pulls your attention.
But beyond that visual spectacle, something else happens.
You notice the contrast.
On one side, the locals — for whom this is deeply personal, deeply religious.
On the other side, the tourists — watching, admiring.
And yet, somehow, the event brings everyone together.
You see silence. You see respect. You see people lowering their voices, slowing down, observing.
And you see devotion.
Moments like these stay with you.
Like when you look beneath the masks and catch a glimpse of the eyes.
Or when children walk around offering candies.
Or when some of the nazarenos avoid the camera, while others are completely used to it.
It’s a mix of intimacy and public spectacle.
And it’s captivating.
I truly believe this is one of those experiences in life you need to witness at least once.
Córdoba – A Small Jewel You Always Return To
Córdoba is different.
It’s smaller, calmer, but just as powerful.
From the famous Mezquita to the flower-filled streets, the city has a charm that is impossible to ignore. This time I had the chance to revisit the Alcázar and to see again the night show — something I really wanted to share.
It felt personal.
We also managed to catch two Semana Santa processions here, continuing the experience from Sevilla, but in a slightly different rhythm.
We didn’t focus too much on food in Córdoba, but we tried both a place I already knew and a new one — both worth mentioning in future reviews.
And if I had to sum it up: Córdoba is definitely a place I would return to.
But then again, this applies to almost every place in Andalusia.
After three trips totaling close to two months in this region, I can say this:
I would repeat this entire route without removing anything.
And I would still add more.
That’s how much I like this place — the cities, the food, the people.
Ronda – Silence, Depth and a Different Kind of Beauty
Ronda is not just about the bridge.
It’s about the entire city hanging on the edge of that cliff. Houses that seem to fall into the void, streets that open suddenly into breathtaking views.
But what impressed me again was something else.
The processions.
If Sevilla is spectacle, Ronda is silence.
Here, everything feels more intimate, more simple, more profound. The decorations are less extravagant, the atmosphere is quieter, and the experience becomes more internal.
It’s something you have to see to understand the difference.
For me, this was also a return to one of my favorite restaurants in Andalusia, and an opportunity to explore streets I had missed before.
Trying to get ahead of a procession for better photos, I ended up discovering new corners of the city.
And sometimes, that’s how the best moments happen.
Cádiz – The Feeling You Can’t Replace
Cádiz is the place I think about at least once a week.
And I think that says everything.
There is something about this city — the old texture, the worn buildings, the rhythm. You can see time passing here. You can feel how old it is.
But more than that, Cádiz has a feeling.
Sitting on the beach.
Eating chicharrones or tapas.
Drinking a tinto de verano while watching the ocean.
Sunset or sunrise — it doesn’t matter.
Very few places in the world can give you that.
And Cádiz is one of them.
Final Thoughts – A Journey I Would Repeat Anytime
This trip was different.
Not because the places changed.
But because I changed the way I experienced them.
From rushing in 2018 to understanding in 2023.
From observing to participating.
From visiting to feeling.
Andalusia is not just a destination for me anymore.
It’s a place I return to.
And if I had the chance, I would do this exact trip again — without changing a single stop.
Only slower.
This trip came five years after my first time in Andalusia. Back then, I explored the region in a series of articles starting with Seville and continuing through Cadiz, Cordoba and Ronda and Granada, Nerja and Malaga.
If you’re planning a trip through southern Spain, you can also check my complete Spain Travel Guide where I’ve gathered all my experiences across multiple trips.
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