Get to the heart of Andalucia with Footprint's critically acclaimed, fully revised and updated 7th edition guide. Taking you through gleaming hill-top towns and on to quiet windswept beaches, while sampling some of the tastiest tapas and sweetest sherry on offer. Whether you want to experience authentic flamenco and fiesta's aplenty, or just sit back and relax, this guide covers it all.* Uncover the real Andalucia with fantastic, in-depth coverage of the ancient cities, Granada, Cordoba and Seville * Full coverage of the abundance of fiestas and flamenco festivals * Listings of adventure activities galore, climbing, sailing, surfing, riding, trekiing and many more * Eating, sleeping and drinking listings for every budget from paradores to paella stalls * Features information on how to get there and how to get around plus carefully planned itineraries to help you have the best possible experience whether you're travelling for one week or one month * The heart of the guide is broken in to the key regions of Andalucia and gives you comprehensive information on each of these regions * Each regional section has an overview map, local information on how to get around with transport and street maps where relevant, a short history of the region, thorough advice on what to see and do and a directory of key local information on banks, embassies, internet cafes, medical and services * Full-colour mini atlas to help you get your bearings and a distance chart to help you plan your journeys.From the pretty white villages steeped in tradition and age-old customs to the stunning beaches and fascinating culture, Footprint's fully updated 7th edition will help you get to the heart of this gorgeous region of Spain.

Being a 'local' instead of a tourist - having lived in Seville for a number of years - it has been a long time since I looked for or at a travel guide to Andalucia.

An initial glance at the contents to Footprint's Andalucia Handbook indicated that it would make a good travel companion for anyone planning an extensive trip through Andalucía. An impressive detail is that my travel idol, Michael Palin, commends the guide - if it is good enough for Mr Palin…

On further "investigation" this guide book is perfect for any type of visitor and provides itineraries of one and two week durations, as well as for an 'off the beaten track' month-long venture, offering invaluable tips for travellers that may not be accustomed to cultural differences - especially those associated with eating habits. These itineraries whet the appetite, inviting visitors to delve into the book and plan their adventure further. This can also be said for the wonderful photography. Although there are not a great deal of images, the ones chosen are representative of the most important highlights. No need for any more as the descriptions given make you want to venture to the places to discover them for yourself.

If you are a city hopper, beach bum or at home most in the country, this Footprint handbook has it all with beautifully written and in-depth descriptions of each town, city and village, including important facts about their history, architecture, and includes their corresponding maps. No stone is left unturned, describing places of interest, the best beaches and hiking itineraries, as well as annual events and festivities. Furthermore, there is a wealth of tips for hotels, bars, cafés and nightclubs for every type of taste and budget.

The most important aspect for me when discovering a new culture is its food. This guide is ideal for those who may not know the lingo, with tips for the best dishes in certain bars. There are no excuses for those who don't like to shy away from ham and cheese sarnies, as a detailed food glossary at the back of the book will help decipher any menu.

All in all, no trip to Andalucía should be made without this little travel companion. Although I am familiar with the region, it has definitely made me want to venture to some places that I have yet to encounter.

Finally, and importantly, as a "lightweight" hardback this book is an easily manageable size and will withstand serious manhandling, i.e. constantly being put in and taken out of bags, as is usual when exploring.

Review by Kim Causier 

Kim has been passionate about Spain and its language since her first overseas experience as a teenager. Since graduating from a Master in Translating in 2009 she has been living in the magnificent city of Seville where its fervour for tradition and spontaneous outbursts of song have captivated her. A Spanish-English translator by profession, but a keen free-time writer and novice photographer, she enjoys sharing her experience of life in the heart of Andalusia on her blog: http://becomingsevillana.blogspot.com