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Andalucía

Introduction There are eight provinces in Andalucia: -Almería -Cádiz -Córdoba -Granada -Huelva -Jaén -Málaga -Sevilla Andalucia is the most southerly Region(Autonomia in spanish) of mainland Spain. It is bordered by Portugal and the Regions of Extremadura, Castille-La Mancha and Murcia. It is the Region that has the largest population(7 million)and the second largest(17%)land area. The outstanding attraction of Andalucia is its climate - with brilliant sun and diamond blue skies. These help give Andalucians their life-loving and friendly character. Andalucia is a place of contrasts. The variety of scenery and landscapes ranges from the warm valley of the river Guadaquiver through well wooded hillsides, volcanic deserts, such as Tabernas , to the year-long snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada. And then there is some sixty miles of coast with former fishing villages and, now, well established resorts with incomparable beaches to delight the whole family. Trips and activities in Andalusia Heritage and Culture Over more than three thousand years the different peoples that have lived in Andalucia have left a unique cultural legacy. The Cave Paintings of Jaen and Almeria are part of world heritage. There are important ruins from the Phoenicians, Iberians and Romans. But it is the monuments of the Moors’ seven centuries in Spain that most define Andalucia’s inheritance. Places like Cordoba’s Mezquita(Mosque), the Alcazabas(fortresses)of Malaga and Almeria, the Giraldaand Alcazar of Seville and, most notably, the Alhambra(Palace) of Granada. All are of European and even world importance. After the Moors, the Christian legacy of cathedrals, monasteries and castles during the the middle ages and beyond, for example at Ubeda and Baeza, confirms the diversity of Andalucian heritage. World Heritage declared by UNESCO - Historic Center of Córdoba and Mezquita (1984) - Alambra, Generalife and Albayzín in Granada (1984) - National Park of Doñana , Sevilla and Huelva (1994) - Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Sevilla (1987) - Cave painting in Jaén and almería (1998) - Monumental cities of Úbeda y Baeza (2003). Festivals and Traditions The festivals and celebrations of Andalucia are as diverse as its landscapes and the Calendar of Events reads like an encyclopaedia of the peoples’ traditions. Among so many it’s worth mentioning week the long processions in Seville at Holy Week , (Semana Santa), soon followed by the one week ]April Fair . Many places have colourful pilgrimages(romerias)but the gypsy led one at Virgen del Rocío at Whit is the biggest and most distinctive. Also different is the Carnival of Cádiz (February) with its choirs, pageants and humorously satirical take-offs of important people and events. And still going strong are the traditional Wine Harvest(Vendimias) festivals, especially in Jerez de la Frontera and Palma de Condado. The Horse Fair in Sanlucar de Barrrameda (August), the Spring Festivals in Cordoba (May) and the Historical Festival of Columbus in Huelva (May-August) all have something special. The rich folklore of Andalucia has deep roots and manifests itself everywhere but especially in flamenco songs and dances and the importance of bulls and horses to life and art. Andalucian cooking relies on the healthy ingredients of theMediterranean diet, especially fish/seafood,vegetables, cured meats and fruit, but not forgetting olive oil and wine. All of it has a strong Arab influence in generous use of spices and herbs. Perhaps the best known Andalucian dish is Gazpacho soup - a tomato base with peppers, garlic cucumbers.oil and vinegar - served cold. Many fish and seafood dishes can be found around the whole coast, but especially in Cadiz. Its worth mentioning also the wines of Jerez, the cheeses, cured hams(chacinas) and game dishes of inland Andalucia where those of Huelva and Cordoba are especially well known. History The Romans came in the third century BC - reputedly to keep the Carthaginians out; so people wanting to come to Andalucia is nothing new. They stayed for six centuries, so they must have liked it. It was the major source of metals for their empire and, in return, they gave organisation and learning, and the first two emperors born outside the Italian peninsula, Trajan and Hadrian. The Moors came in 711 and stayed until 1492. Their influence is still all around you in buildings, art, poetry, mathematics, craftsmanship, botany, science and so on. The Caliphate of Cordoba was probably the most sophisticated regime of its time. However,almost from the Moors arrival the Christians wanted them out and they finally succeeded in 1492, even though in many places they had established a harmony of living together that we are still working on! The architecture of many latin American countries is a mirror image of that of Andalucia during the days of the Spanish Empire when Seville thrived for 150 years and was the “jewel in the crown” of Spain. But all hegemony fades and Spain’s was no exception. The first Spanish Constitution was signed in Cadiz in 1812, but the economy of Andalucia remained overwhelmingly agricultural and it was not really until the end of the Dictatorship in 1975, with the arrival of democracy and a new constitution, that the economic great leap forward took off through tourism - and a little help from the EU. Then, the eternal resources of Andalusia - sun, sea and landscape could be properly harvested by its people. Andalucia became an Autonomous Region with its own parliament and government in 1981.

Mapa de Andalucía Nature Andalucia is rich in nature and wildlife and takes its protection and people’s enjoyment of it seriously. More than 17% of the land (larger than countries like Holland and Austria) is under one form or another of protection. There are some eighty Parks, Reserves and Sites which form a network of graded protection and management. The largest land areas of protection are in the two National Parks of National Park of Doñana (Huelva) and Sierra Nevada (Granada). These two have been recognised by UNESCO as of world importance. Then there are twenty two Country Parks(Parques Naturales) which look after special mountainous, wooded or coastal areas such as the Cap of Gata (Almeria). Next, we have some unique landscapes like the fir forests in Grazalema Park and the calcareous rock formations at Torcal de Antequera and the only desert in mainland Europe at Tabernas . Coastline The coastline, which stretches for some fifty miles, provides a diverse and important habitat. But probably for most visitors, it is best known for the number and quality of its beaches - a paradise of sand, sea and sun. The coming together of the Atlantic and the Mediterrean has provided a special combination of waters, salinity, tides, quality of sand and micro-climates - almost all,of which to the liking of visitors. From Almería coast, through the Tropical Coast of Granada and the Costa del Sol of Malaga, to the Costa de la luz of Cádiz and Huelva , there is something special for everyone. Activities and Sports The recent increased interest in healthy lifestiles has generated more demand for outdoor holidays, such as climbing, walking, camping and birdwatchinig. In turn, this has brought more provision for rural tourism. Andalucia has ample facilities for outdoor activities and sport. Skiing and snowboarding flourish in the Sierra Nevada, where the World Championships were held in 1996. The Costa del Sol has the highest density of golf courses in Europe. And, as Spain is now pre-eminent in tennis, the provision of public and private facilities shows why. Hunting and fishing are well established rural pursuits in Andalucia. Horseriding enthusiasts are in their element here where they can have tuition or just enjoy riding in the countryside. Beyond these pursuits are the more venturesome ones of rock climbing. caving, and mountaineering and the newer flying options of hang-gliding, para-sailing, ultra-lights and ballooning. Motorcycle races and motor car racing take place at Jerez, including International Events. The well established facilities of the Andalucian coasts encourages all water sports including sailing, windsurfing (Tarifa , capital of wind), waterskiing and scuba diving. Getting There The AVE(Tren de Alta Volocidad de Espana)high speed train is the star of the railway system travelling from Seville to Madrid in just two and a half hours. However, there is also a network of reliable trains throughout Andalucia. The presence of four international airports(Malaga,Granada, Almeria and Seville)provide a good service for visitors from all over Europe and the Americas and the rest of the world. The road network is improving rapidly throughout Andalucia and is virtually unrecognisable from that of a decade or more ago. The motorway system connects to all the major cities of the Mediterranean and inland Spain and Europe. Motoring is still a pleasure in much of Andalucia. If you prefer a slower pace you can still go by sea. The ports of Huelva, Almeria, Malaga and Cadiz(perhaps the oldest (3000 years)still-in-use port of the world )- offer commercial and tourist services. And if you just want to watch the ships go by there are plenty of them at Algeciras - the crossing of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Information sources: www.andalucia.org y es.encarta.msn.com.