Nicole Kimpel and Antonio Banderas at the Golden Globe Awards 2020 / Photo Credit: Hubert Boesl/DPA/PA Images
Nicole Kimpel and Antonio Banderas at the Golden Globe Awards 2020 / Photo Credit: Hubert Boesl/DPA/PA Images

Over the decades, Spain has remained one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, particularly for the British. In the summer months, it’s effortless to get a tan while enjoying great food and wine. But with Spain being such a huge country with so many great places to visit, it can be difficult to know where to stop.

So here, we’ll turn to what the celebrities say is the best. The Spanish often hold a great kinship to their home country, and so those who leave to find fame often return to where they deem to be the very best parts. There are a couple of the favoured locations of the biggest stars to come out of Spain, and it might surprise you, but they’re certainly not out of the budget of your average holidaymaker.

Exploring Antonio Banderas' favourite part of Spain

One of Spain’s most famous celebrities is Antonio Banderas. Born in Malaga, he currently lives in Surrey, but he returns to his native Andalusia often. The Zorro actor has said before that Hollywood is a brand now and that he can no longer stand the big cities of Los Angeles. Malaga, on the other hand, he proclaims is a perfect-sized city and, so, he visits often, recently to open up the Teatro del Soho CaixaBank theatre near the port.

However, if one is to visit Banderas’ home city on holiday, you’ll want to enjoy the whole region. About an hour down the motorway, which overlooks a scenic stretch of beaches for the much of the trip, is Puerto Banus, where the Plaza Antonio Banderas stands. Torremolinos and Fuengirola are also en route, so you’ll want to make sure that you can travel around with ease, with the easiest option being Malaga airport car hire, as you can get long-term car hire without a deposit, broker, or a driver.

The famous Spanish couple who still call Madrid home

Two of Spain’s biggest actors have been married since 2010. After Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem – who starred in Vicky Cristina Barcelona with Scarlett Johansson – wed, they had two children, the second of which, Luna, was born in Madrid. Cruz grew up just outside of Madrid, in Alcobendas, and they now live in a suburb of the Spanish capital.

The two famous film stars have always been very private about their off-screen lives, and so it makes sense that they’d want to live in a suburb out of the busy city. But living nearby is still credit to the sheer volume of things that there are to enjoy in Madrid. There are many stunning landmarks and points of interest, including the Plaza Mayor, Buen Retiro Park, National Library, art museums, and a huge array of exciting restaurants and bars.

Malaga and Madrid are favourites of Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem. More importantly, the areas are superb for holidaymakers who want to enjoy the sun and the different cultures of Spain.


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