Sierra Sur de Jaén Starlight Reserve, Andalucía
If you’re in Andalucía to see the Alhambra in Granada or the Mezquita in Cordoba, consider driving for an hour to the fringes of the Sierra Sur de Jaén Starlight Reserve. A sparsely-populated rural area, it boasts over 300 clear nights a year and is home to the Observatorio Andaluz de Astronomía at La Pedriza, which runs occasional night-sky observation events and workshops. For a more organised astro tourism experience, head to Casa Olea Starlight Hotel. This six-room boutique B&B on the fringes of Sierra Sur de Jaén has night-sky-friendly lighting and holds regular stargazing weekends, the next one being a three-hour, New Year’s Eve stargazing and tapas event, hosted by local astro tourism company AstroAndalus (www. astroandalus.com).
More info: www.casaolea.com