Festivals are probably not what comes to mind first when thinking about reasons to travel to southern Spain. And why would you attend a music festival during your short holiday time, you may wonder. After all, international or even Spanish stars can be seen at festivals anywhere around the world. Well, not all festivals are equal, we’d argue. Take Festival of Granada, for instance. Held every summer around historical venues of the city, it is a unique chance to immerse oneself into Granada’s heritage in an innovative context. I recall one June evening hasting through the Generalife gardens, just about sunset, afraid to miss the start of the concert. Something was pulling me back, the sun setting on the Alhambra in the distance…  May sees the Courtyard Festival of Cordoba. An ancient tradition of embellishing houses facades and patios has gained international attention and converted into a unique time of year to discover the old historical quarter of Cordoba. Awards are given to the winners by the Town Hall and the best singers and dancers act around the festival.