Secret Andalucía? The GITs? Paul Whitelock takes a look at www.secretandalucia.com, one of the top websites in his part of the world, the Guadiaro Valley in the Serranía de Ronda, and finds out who the GITs are .....

When the GITs met for the first time two years ago to discuss ways of promoting the area in which they live and work, they came up with the very apt tag “Secret Andalucía”. Apt because it is definitely off the mainstream tourism track, even though recent famous visitors have included US First Lady Michelle Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who filmed here for his Channel 4 TV series “Jamie Does ...”.

As a result of this initial meeting the website www.secretandalucia.com was born.

Where is Secret Andalucía? Well, it includes the pueblos blancos of Benaoján, Montejaque and Jimera de Líbar, as well as the three railway settlements at Benaoján, Jimera and Cortes, as it meanders its way south towards Cortes de la Frontera.

GITs, by the way, stands for the Guadiaro Independent Traders.

When Paul Darwent, proprietor of Bar Allioli in Estación de Jimera de Líbar, a tiny village alongside the River Guadiaro, invited fellow businessmen to form the GITs, he had little idea of how successful the initiative would be.

Professional photographer and web designer Karl Smallman, a friend and neighbour, took on the task of webmaster and he has created an attractive and informative website which has rapidly become a one-stop-shop for information and advice on the Guadiaro valley.

There is information on how to get to the area, where to stay, what to do, what to eat and drink, what’s on, the weather, other useful information, news and press articles and a video gallery. There is also a directory, which includes business listings and classified advertisements.

The website benefits from the services of a number of contributing writers, as well as blogs on a range of topics from birdwatching, walking, the Spanish language, the Guadiaro valley, Mind Body and Soul and one about renovating houses from the soon-to-be-resident Carolyn Emmett.

What makes the Secret Andalucía website so vibrant and interesting is that it is continually being updated and added to. Visitors can also leave comments and many do. You can also follow the site on Facebook and Twitter.

And who are the GITs? The original six people who met and set the Secret Andalucía ball rolling are Ian Antonio of Creative Holidays Spain, Philip Cornes , Hotel Molino Cuatro Paradas, Benaoján, Paul Darwent, Bar Allioli, Jimera de Líbar, Bill Findlay, Hotel El Gecko, Estación de Cortes, Kate McHardy "Forever" Aloe Vera, and Karl Smallman of provision360.

© Paul Whitelock

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Secret Andalucía and the Guadiaro GITS
Monday, 28 February 2011
Secret Andalucía? The GITs? Paul Whitelock takes a look at www.secretandalucia.com, one of the top websites in his part of the world, the...

© 2012 - Secret Andalucia - Guadiaro Valley, near Ronda

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