Andalusia is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. It consists of eight provinces: Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga and Seville (capital of the autonomous community); and it is bounded on the west by the Republic of Portugal, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, on the north by Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha and on the east by the Autonomous Community of Murcia.
It offers a great variety of things to do and see, and a very good climate almost all year. In fact, for a summer holiday the best months are from May to October; while to visit the inland towns are preferable Spring and Autumn, when the weather is milder.
Andalusia is a land rich from a cultural point of view, due to Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs who left the territory traces of their passage.
For example, the Andalusia name derives from the Arabic word Al-Andalus, the name given to the territories of the Iberian peninsula under Muslim rule from 711 to 1492.
Art, culture and traditions
Andalusia is the home of some famous artists in the world, like: Velázquez, Murillo and Picasso. It is also known for its Islamic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture; for its castles, fortresses and monasteries, which have marked the history of this land.
Nature and landscape
Andalusia has a wide network of natural areas:
- The Doñana National Park and Sierra Nevada National Park (declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO);
- The natural parks of Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves and Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja.
Beaches
Almería coastline
The landscape of the coast of Almeria is very varied and some of its beaches are:
- Aguadulce
- Agua Amarga
- Ancón de Cabo de Gata/Corralete
- Balanegra
- Balerma
- Cala Arena
- Cala Carbón
Costa de la Luz Huelva
The Costa de la Luz-Huelva between the mouth of the Guadiana River, to the mouth of the Guadalquivir River.
In this area there are many white-sand beaches:
- Casita Azul
- Doñana
- El Portil
- Isla Canela
Costa Tropical
The Costa Tropical is located between the Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria.
Some of its beaches are:
- Las Azucenas
- Calabajío
- Calahonda
- Cantarriján
- Casarones
Costa del Sol
Some of the beaches of Costa del Sol are:
- Algarrobo
- Arroyo de la Miel
- Cabopino
- Bahía Dorada
- Benajarafe
- Benalnatura
Typical dishes
Some of the Andalusian typical dishes are: pescaito frito (fried fish), gazpacho, salmorejo of Cordoba, pringá, oxtail, jamón ibérico (iberian ham), flamenquín, ajoblanco (garlic), pipirrana, huevos a la flamenca (eggs), migas de harina (flourcrumb), tortillas de camarón (omelette), patatas a lo pobre (potatoes).
Folk music
- Flamenco
- The sevillanas
- Bulerías
- Cante Jondo
Feasts
Every month there is a feast in Andalusia. Among the many religious festivals stand out the celebrations of Holy Week, the Carnival of Cadiz, the Rocío pilgrimage in Huelva and the Fair of April in Seville.
What to do and what to see in Andalusia
Cultural tour – cities of Andalusia
- 3 days tour
Option number 1: Malaga, Granada and a coastal town like Nerja, Salobreña or Torremolinos.
Option number 2: Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz. - 5 days tour
Malaga, Granada, Jaén, Córdoba, Seville.
Nature and landscape tour
- 1 week tour
Besides the 5 days cultural tour you may want to visit the Alpujarra area, formed by a series of high-altitude valleys and ravines where sprouting small villages. - 2 weeks tour
Five days cultural tour with the addition of: Nerja-Almuñecar, Motril-Salobreña, Almeria-Cabo de Gata, Alpujarra, Tarifa, Gibraltar, Marbella. Nature tour: Doñana National Park and the Sierra Nevada National Park. Coast and beaches tour: Costa Almeria, Costa de la Luz-Huelva, Costa Tropical, Costa del Sol.
How to get to Andalusia?
Airports: Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Malaga, Almería and Jerez.
Train: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html
Bus: https://www.alsa.es/
