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From the mouth of the
Guadiana to the mouth of the
Guadalquivir Huelva's Costa
de la Luz offers 122
kilometres of almost
uninterrupted beaches of white sand,
bordered by pine woods.
Apart from the luminosity of
the natural light and the
mild climate, the coast
offers an unusually unspoilt
natural environment which is
illustrated by the large
number of officially
protected areas: the Marismas de Isla Cristina,
Marismas del Piedras y
Flecha del Rompido, Los
Enebrales, Marismas del
Odiel, Doñana... The 11 municipalities of the route (Aljaraque, Almonte, Ayamonte, Cartaya, Huelva, Isla Cristina, Lepe, Moguer, Palos de la Frontera, Punta Umbría and Víllablanca) offer an artistic heritage which reflects the profound history of these lands and can only add to their list of attractions. The Route of the Columbus Sites Moguer (birthplace of Nobel
Prize Winner Juan Ramón
Jiménez), Palos de la
Frontera, and La Rábida are
the towns which go to make
up the unique areas
which are known as the
Columbus Sites due to their
decisive role in the
discovery of the New World.
Witnesses to this great
event are the Convent of
Santa María In La Rábida,
the Church of San Jorge y La
Fontanilla in Palos, and the convents of St. Clara and
San Francisco in Moguer.
Other interesting places
include the University of La
Rábida, the Las Carabelas
quay, and the Celestino
Mutis Botanical Park.The Condado Route From the ancient walled city of Niebla, to the beautiful bodegas which produce the renowned local wines, and Doñana, with its hamlet of El Rocío, the El Condado area offers the visitor a wide range of possibilities. The prosperity of the past is clearly evident in historic places such as Niebla with its wonderful monuments such as the Castle of the Guzmanes or the churches of San Martín and Santa María de la Granada. There is no doubt however that the most attractive feature of the area is the Doñana Natural and National Park which has been designated a World Heritage Site, and a Biosphere Reserve, in recognition of its enormous ecological value. At the heart of the park is the hamlet of El Rocío, which, each year during Pentecost, attracts approximately a million pilgrims, making it the largest religious pilgrimage in Spain. The Andévalo Route The Andévalo area stretches from the sierra to the sea, on the eastern bank of the river Guadiana. This land, which has always been a mixture of hillside meadows and mining areas, has two key elements which make it so attractive: fresh air and water. Old windmills such as that of La Divisa, in Cabezas Rubias, have now been joined by the modem wind farms which are dotted around the landscape, whilst water has a route of its own: the Guadiana route. Heading upstream from Ayamonte, we come across the small port of Sanlucar de Guadinana, Guadiana, which precedes the old mining port of La Laja. As well as the natural environment, with its rich variety of wildlife, there is also the architecture of the white villages with their local gastronomy and unusual fiestas, as well as their deeply rooted traditions such as the fandango, a type of song which is particularly popular in Alosno and Calañas. The Routes of the mines This route passes through the municipalities of the Andévalo mining area: Berrocal, Campofrío, El Campillo, La Granada de Río
Tinto, Minas de Río Tinto,
Nerva, and Zalamea la Real.
The mineral wealth of the
area is the central theme
and a visit to the Río Tinto
Miníng Park is highly
recommended. Its attractions
include: the fascinating
Mining Museum; Corta Atalaya,
the biggest open cast mine
in Europe; the tourist train
passing through the mine
works; and the Peña del
Hierro mine. One mustn't
forget that the mining
operation was in the hands
of British companies and
their time here is still
clearly visible in the
English barrios such as
Bellavista, as well as the
Presbyterian chapel, and the
English Club. This has its
own significance as it was
the first place both
football and golf was played
in the iberian Peninsula. As
an interesting footnote,
NASA is currently
investigating the similarity
between the area around Rio
Tinto and the planet Mars.The Sierra de Huelva y picos de Aroche The
sierra de Huelva, part of which
comprises the Sierra de
Aracena y Picos de Aroche
Nature Park, offers a vide
range of attractive,
colourful
landscapes, and surrounds
the towns of Cortegana and
Aracena. The chestnuts, holm
oaks, and cork trees form
the natural habitat of a
wide range of species,
some of which, like the
wildcat, the genet, ferret,
or otter, are in danger of
extinction. There are also a
significant number of birds
of prey, including the black
and griffon vultures. A weIl-established network of
hundreds of kilo-metres of
sign-posted walks allows the
visitor to feel part of this
rich natural environment. In
terms of historical
buildings the towns and
villages all have much to
offer and the medieval castles of Santa Olalla del
Cala, Cumbres Mayores,
Aracena, and Cortegana
still stand watch over the
sierra. The gastronomy is
notable particularly for the
delicious ham which is
produced all over the sierra
and is protected by the
Jamón de Huelva Denomínation
of Origin. Granada
Accommodations:
Andalucia holiday rental
cortijos Alpujarras and
Costa Tropical |

Covering
an area of some 10,000 square kilometres from open beaches to lush
sierras, Huelva marks the frontier between Spain
Covering an area of some 10,000 square kilometres from open
beaches to lush sierras, Huelva marks the frontier between
Spain
Naturally a mixed
society, Huelva has always been both an importer and
exporter of cultures. Throughout history, many different
civilisations have been attracted by the wealth of
possibilities this land has to offer. Thus the Tartessians,
event is undoubtedly the hugely popular pilgrimage to
El Rocío, in the heart of Doñana. Easter Week is also of
great importance and the processions in Huelva, Moguer, and
Ayamonte are particularly notable.
Diversity
is the essential feature of Huelva's cuisine, with a
combination of seafood and products from the sierra which
means that shellfish and ham are the two most important
ingredients. The sierra is famous for its Iberian pigs with
ham bearing the Jamón de Huelva Denomination of Origin being
by far the most emblematic product. Other cured meats
include cañas de lomo, chorizos, and morcones and there are
fresh meats such as solomillo, presa, secreto, and pluma.
sand,
bordered by pine woods.
Apart from the luminosity of
the natural light and the
mild climate, the coast
offers an unusually unspoilt
natural environment which is
illustrated by the large
number of officially
protected areas: the Marismas de Isla Cristina,
Marismas del Piedras y
Flecha del Rompido, Los
Enebrales, Marismas del
Odiel, Doñana...
Moguer (birthplace of Nobel
Prize Winner Juan Ramón
Jiménez), Palos de la
Frontera, and La Rábida are
the towns which go to make
up the unique areas
which are known as the
Columbus Sites due to their
decisive role in the
discovery of the New World.
Witnesses to this great
event are the Convent of
Santa María In La Rábida,
the Church of San Jorge y La
Fontanilla in Palos, and the convents of St. Clara and
San Francisco in Moguer.
Other interesting places
include the University of La
Rábida, the Las Carabelas
quay, and the Celestino
Mutis Botanical Park.
Tinto, Minas de Río Tinto,
Nerva, and Zalamea la Real.
The mineral wealth of the
area is the central theme
and a visit to the Río Tinto
Miníng Park is highly
recommended. Its attractions
include: the fascinating
Mining Museum; Corta Atalaya,
the biggest open cast mine
in Europe; the tourist train
passing through the mine
works; and the Peña del
Hierro mine. One mustn't
forget that the mining
operation was in the hands
of British companies and
their time here is still
clearly visible in the
English barrios such as
Bellavista, as well as the
Presbyterian chapel, and the
English Club. This has its
own significance as it was
the first place both
football and golf was played
in the iberian Peninsula. As
an interesting footnote,
NASA is currently
investigating the similarity
between the area around Rio
Tinto and the planet Mars.
The
sierra de Huelva, part of which
comprises the Sierra de
Aracena y Picos de Aroche
Nature Park, offers a vide
range of attractive,
colourful
landscapes, and surrounds
the towns of Cortegana and
Aracena. The chestnuts, holm
oaks, and cork trees form
the natural habitat of a
wide range of species,
some of which, like the
wildcat, the genet, ferret,
or otter, are in danger of
extinction. There are also a
significant number of birds
of prey, including the black
and griffon vultures. A weIl-established network of
hundreds of kilo-metres of
sign-posted walks allows the
visitor to feel part of this
rich natural environment. In
terms of historical
buildings the towns and
villages all have much to
offer and the medieval castles of Santa Olalla del
Cala, Cumbres Mayores,
Aracena, and Cortegana
still stand watch over the
sierra. The gastronomy is
notable particularly for the
delicious ham which is
produced all over the sierra
and is protected by the
Jamón de Huelva Denomínation
of Origin. Granada
Accommodations: