An expansive ancient town built in the 13th century, the Alhambra includes a military palace, private residences, convent, medina and elaborate gardens. Spain’s most popular tourism site and the inspiration for India’s Taj Mahal, the Alhambra is a feat of Arabic styling with abundant fountains fed by the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains. A limited number of tickets are released for each day, so it’s best to book well in advance. The best time to visit is early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the biggest crowds.

Andratx, on the western edge of the island, is home to the Camp de Mar beach, a favorite of bikini-wearing regulars like Claudia Schiffer. Port Andratx, once a small fishing village, is now an upscale seaside resort. Have a drink and watch the people and boats go by from a waterfront café.

Amphorae, jewelry, statues and coins belonging to visitors to the island 3,000 years ago are displayed in a Gothic former chapel.

Children love Barcelona for its whimsy, fairy tale–like history and seaside. Indagare can arrange guided tours of the the impressive Camp Nou football stadium, home to the popular soccer team, and Gaudí's fanciful architecture in Park Guell and Casa Milà. Another fun option is to "hunt for dragons" in the city that adores the mythical creatures or trace the history of the city through its varied chocolate shops (tasting along the way.) A stroll along the coastline and in the Barceloneta neighborhood reveals the importance of the sea in developing cities.

Ibiza has a wealth of beaches, ranging from small coves to expansive white-sand stretches (some of which turn into party scenes during the high season). One of my favorites is Cala d’Hort, a small sandy cove on the southwest coast. It’s an Ibicenco landmark for its wonderful view of the fabled Es Vedrà, the limestone boulder that juts from the sea and is reputed to have magic powers (according to some sources, Odysseus encountered the Sirens at Es Vedrà; more modern adventurers have frequently reported UFO sightings here). Expect a crowd, especially at sunset. You can also rent a small boat, no license required, to get a closer look at the rocky isle and its resident goats and falcons.

There’s also Benirràs near Sant Joan, a pretty, sandy cove in the north famed for bongo drumming at sunset and a family-friendly atmosphere; S’Aigua Blanca in Sant Carles, a Zen spot and a favorite of tai-chi enthusiasts and nude sunbathers; and Es Cavallet in Sant Jordi and trendy Platja de Ses Salines, near Ibiza town, is where the bronzed jet-setters flock. Cala Jondal is as beautiful as the crowd it attracts surrounded by pine forests and jagged cliffs.

The best rocky coves are: Cala d’en Serra in Portinatx; Es Portitxol in Portinatx; Pou des Lleó in Sant Carles, Sòl d’en Serra in Santa Eulària and Cala Garbo in San José.

See also: Ses Salines

Not all of Mallorca's coastline is beach, but those pockets of sand are stunning and well worth a drive. Some favorites include Cala Mondrago on the east coast and Des Trenc on the southern coast.

Nothing compares to seeing the island by boat, and Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for help arranging a charter. A highlight is a trip to Cabrera, an island that held a prison during the Napoleonic Wars and is an animal refuge.

Bodega Crusoe is one of the first wineries to age wine underwater (in a wine cellar off the coast of Plentzia, Spain). Crusoe offers wine tasting experiences both by boat or on land, where visitors can do a one-hour side-by-side tasting of the same wine—one that was aged underwater and the other on land. Indagare can arrange this experience.

The winery officially opened in 2005, producing predominantly red wines, and today visitors can both enjoy a tasting of the organic wines.

This 12,000-square-foot contemporary art space is in one of the city’s first modernist buildings, a former textile factory. Poetic steel-and-glass “trees,” designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki in 2002, frame the entrance, and the large interior accommodates an intriguing mix of exhibitions.

The Herzog & de Meuron-designed CaixaForum is a 19th-century power station reborn as a contemporary art hub. Exhibits rotate frequently, but even if what’s currently on view doesn’t interest you, entrance is inexpensive and it’s well worth a stop just to experience the wonderful architecture. Be sure to check out botanist Patrick Blanc’s vertical garden, a lush blend of 250 different species of plants that climbs the façade of a building adjoining the Forum.

This cultural center occupies one of Palma’s most beautiful modernist buildings. It is home to the permanent collection of art and objects of the painter Anglada Camarassa as well as temporary exhibitions.

Take the roller-coaster drive out to the Cap de Formentor, the northernmost tip of the island and home to some of its most dramatic scenery. There are several viewpoints along the way—such as the cliff-top Mirador de Mal Pas—but for the best views, continue on to the lighthouse, from where you can gaze out across the ocean at the neighboring island of Menorca over a café con leche.

At the base of the cliffs of Montsant Natural Park are the remains of a 16th-century monastery where travelers wander the paths of the monks.

Ask any local about Anselma and a smile is sure to appear on their face. For those adventurers who are young at heart and looking for the late night action, Seville’s Casa Anselma is a unique and lively experience. This small flamenco bar remains unmarked in the Triana neighborhood, but is a local gem for a true, speakeasy-style flamenco experience. Have the concierge at your hotel call ahead of time to inform Anselma herself of your arrival, and at your designated hour she will open the doors into her one-of-a-kind bar, home to thick cigarette smoke and outbreaks of fantastic Flamenco dance. Anselma, herself a celebrated Triana performer, is an outspoken, no-nonsense gal who makes her guests feel instantly transported into a bygone era.

This private palace, which has been home to the Dukes of Medinaceli since its construction in the 1500s, is today open to visitors. A more manageable complex than the Alcazar, Casa de Pilatos is an excellent representation of smaller royal residences. Its azulejos-tiled interiors are charmingly run down and spartan but the gardens are lush and dotted with faded yellow walls and ancient Roman artifacts.

This is Antoni Gaudí’s first important work and reveals his early interest in Moorish décor and tiles. It reopened to the public in November of 2017 after a major restoration.

A castle sitting on the top of a hill, Castell de Alaro is only reachable on foot (and takes two hours to reach).

Seville's cathedral, the third largest in the world, was built on the site of a Muslim mosque, beginning in the 15th century. The Giralda belltower is a renovated version of a minaret, which visitors today can climb. Rather than the typical European cathedral that is long and skinny, with a nave and apse and shaped like a cross, the Seville cathedral (because its footprint was partially dictated by the foundation of the mosque) is more square shaped. The result is that the cathedral feels utterly vast, but unlike any other.

Much debated is whether the mausoleum in the cathedral's center actually does hold the remains of Christopher Columbus. (Spaniards say yes, Italians say no). Nevertheless—and there have been DNA tests completed—the stone tomb is beautiful and dramatic, upheld by sculpted pallbearers that each represent one of Spain's empire's regions.

The centered choir and screens, which were originally built to separate the privileged from the peasants, help break up the soaring interior. Though monumental in size, the cathedral still manages to highlight its multiple stunning details, including 17^th-century Mexican and Argentinian silver accents, the 18^th-century culled Cuban mahogany that adorns the organ and stained glass windows from Flanders and Germany. Though the cathedral's construction began before the discovery of the New World, it was finished afterwards, in time to source raw materials from the unchartered lands. Other highlights are the Madonna of Antigua fresco painted on one of the mosque's original walls and the Murillo painting of St. Anthony.

Located in the historic center of Seville, CICUS operates with the University of Seville to host cultural events. The center exhibits some of the most contemporary art in Seville and encourages artistic and cultural creation from the university community. Most events are free and open to the public; past events include an African film festival and a poetry battle.

Renowned throughout Europe, this beautiful twenty-seven-hole course also has an elegant townhouse club.

This 18th-century military barracks turned modern art museum, the Conde Duque has two galleries with permanent exhibitions, open-air patios for large sculptures and a rotating schedule of shows featuring up-and-coming artists working in all media. During the summer, the pretty courtyard hosts concerts and is a fantastic place to catch a hot jazz act or a stately string quartet. Ask your hotel concierge to send you a schedule of performances before you arrive.

Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team to arrange private cooking lessons with a Mallorquin chef. Highlights will include wine tasting, visits to olive oil presses and market shopping.