It is possible that the Neolithic revolution, the discovery of agriculture the
passage of nomadic to sedentary peoples, reached Europe by way of Africa through
what is known today as Andalusia. This historical center of influence, an east -
west displacement, from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic began with a
revolution that introduced the usage of metals and the arrival of colonizers
from the east. A confluence of fertile lands, of metallurgy and fishing
activities took place in this westernmost area that the Tartars once inhabited.
This mysterious civilization that lived in the southern Iberian peninsula since
the bronze ages, established the first known monarchy in western Europe. The
Tartars, an agricultural and cattle raising people, also worked the gold mines
while their ships traded with Great Britain from the west and received the
Phoenicians from the east. This marked the beginning of a complex geographical
position between two oceans and two continents. Rome took up residence on these
shores after realizing that this region could become the open door for a threat
from Cartage. Roman legions appeared for the first time in the 3rd century BC.
The exuberant province of "Bética" would become for the next seven
centuries part of the great civilized world, contributing to the empire
materials such as metals, wine, oil, wheat, philosophers, writers and the first
two emperors born outside of the Italic peninsula.: Trajano and Adriano. Other
peoples appeared from the north. From the shores of the Rin descended the
Vandals in 411 AD. They settled in the valley of the Guadalquivir river and in
northern Africa and for half a century united the shores of the two continents.
Before being expelled by the Visigoths they had given a new name to the region
of Europe: Vandalucía. Since the arrival in 711 of Islam this region enjoyed
wonderful times. The Caliphate of Córdoba during many years was the most
sophisticated state in all of Europe. The Arabs contributed new techniques to
agriculture, botany and science, poetry and intellectual development during a
period of eight centuries. Their political breakdown was taken advantage of by
the Christian Kingdoms from the north of the peninsula accelerating the capture
of the Iberian peninsula. In 1236 Córdoba fell. Sevilla followed in 1248. The
last bastion, the Kingdom of Granada, was conquered by the Catholic Kings in
1492. that same year Columbus set sail from the Andalusian port of Palos in
Huelva, to discover America. The center of global economic and political
movement was displaced. An Andalusian town took notice of this crucial moment
achieving its greatest glory shortly afterwards for the following 150 years.
Known as the spot where "the heart of Europe beats", Sevilla became
the neurological center of the Spanish empire. Her port received ships loaded
with gold and silver from America, and from there minted coins were circulated
throughout other European nations. A little later Cádiz would continue this
Andalusian leading role in its relations with the Indies. Sanlúcar de Barrameda,
a neighboring village became the port from where the first round the world
voyage was initiated. Romantic travelers would later recall such splendors with
archeological remains of demolished towers, hidden patios in ancient homes and
stately palaces. The myth of figures such as Carmen and the figure of Don Juan,
generous bandits, brave bullfighters and oriental exoticism arose; images
constructed by foreign eyes that today still endure. Recent Andalusian history
is tied to a turbulent 19th century that started off with the War of
Independence and the approval of the first Spanish Constitution in the courts of
Cádiz in 1812. Efforts to modernize and industrialize the economy were marked
by massive exploitations of mineral resources, and a remarkable increase in
exports of wine and oil. These changes were strongly resisted by an economy
deeply rooted in agriculture practices. The 20th-century arrived with proposals
of regeneration and optimism during the 20s. however social instability
persisted and led to the start of the Civil War in 1936 and its consequences.
After the brilliant economic and social transformations of the 60s and 70s,
democracy was established and Andalusia became an autonomous region in 1981,
with the Junta de Andalucía as the maximum governing body and a Parliament
acting as the main instrument representing a population of close to six million.
Arts and Culture The age old millennial history of Andalusia has left behind a
vast artistic legacy. The Alhambra of Granada, the Mezquita of Córdoba, or the
Giralda of Sevilla are monumental milestones of mankind. Most other cities and
towns are also represented with the best moments of Andalusian art left over
long periods of time. The brilliant Islamic, renaissance and most of all baroque
architecture of its most important buildings, castles, fortresses and
monasteries, have been spread out over the region completing a national wealth
of enormous importance. *Picture* This land of Velázquez, Murillo and Picasso,
of paintings, sculpture, statues, jewelry, and archeological remains are spread
around cathedrals, museums, churches, convents and palaces like custodians of a
wealth of artistic development. This land of Velázquez, Murillo and Picasso, of
paintings, sculpture, statues, jewelry, and archeological remains are spread
around cathedrals, museums, churches, convents and palaces like custodians of a
wealth of artistic development. In the most remote towns it is possible to find
an important altarpiece, a work of art in a painting or a most elaborate piece
of gold or silver work. The number of museums in Andalusia, leading off with the
Bellas Artes in Sevilla, the second most important art gallery in Spain after
the Prado Museum, offers the opportunity to behold everything from sacred works
to the world of bullfighting. It also includes scenes from homes of various
writers, painters and composers, exhibition halls of historic interest,
ethnological and anthropological works, etc. It is most noted for its
significant display of painting and sculpture. Traditions The variety of local
festivities and celebrations in Andalusia is as broad as its geography. The
calendar is an authentic encyclopedia where art and local customs of the towns
are summed up. During the spring, planting and harvesting seasons, holidays,
street fairs and pilgrimages depict the most elaborate display of handicrafts,
gastronomy, music and religious beliefs. Carnivals start off the series of
festivals overturning the role of daily life with humor and irony. During Semana
Santa the temples display their most valued treasures in guided processions that
accompany the statues of the Passion, in an itinerary faithfully repeated each
year The festivity of the Corpus is a justification for a colorful parade. The
Cruces de Mayo (Crosses of May) spectacularly combine the religous with the
prophane. Bullfighting fiestas in Andalusia are highly important due to their
deep roots. During three quarters of the year bullfights are celebrated in
numerous plazas, coinciding with local fairs, where people dance and sing to the
sound of guitars. Flamenco is the genuine expression of Andalusian folklore.
Flamenco song festivals held during the summer offer a calendar of performances
for all tastes. The festive and compassionate pilgrimages are processions that
take place in natural settings, reminiscent of ancient fertility rituals. On any
of these occasions there is always the particular expression of Andalusian
cuisine. the quality of the stews go along with internationally famous wines,
seafood or inland, mountain dishes. White and bluefish, local vegetable stews,
along with game stews chacinas (pork) , and an enormous variety of sweets makeup
the essence of Andalusian cooking, inherited like so many things from Al-Andalus.
Andalusian handicrafts are an excellent reflection of the rich cultural
traditions of this autonomous region. The ceramics and pottery have gained a
great name as well as the artistic metal and jewelry workmanship, shoes and
saddles, and textiles including blankets, shawls and embroidery. This display of
skill includes furniture making, bookbinding, stone and marble work and musical
instruments amongst other items. Natural Habitat In Andalusia there is an
environmental protection agency that observes the European laws on health and
environment. The region has more that 80 protected areas. In total 17% of the
surface is classified as parks and reserves. Included in this list is the
National Park of Doñana, in the province of Huelva, declared by Unesco as a
"biosphere reserve" with internationally important wetlands. This
spacious territory of over 50.000 hectares of forest, marshes and protected
dunes extends throughout the provinces of Huelva, Sevilla and Cádiz. The 22
natural parks correspond to mountainous and wooded terrain, and coastal areas
such as Cabo de Gata in Almería. These parks host everything from large
colonies of tawny vultures to one of the most important agglomerations of cork
oak trees and gall oaks in the world. Microclimates, different species of
animals, meadowlands, deep gorges and fir trees from the tertiary period, along
with pine trees, reservoirs, lagoons and torrents make up the average scene of
these locations. The 28 natural reserves are mostly wetlands. Although smaller
extensions than most parks they are nonetheless of enormous importance for the
flora and fauna, especially birds. The 31 declared natural areas are of a great
variety; from the interesting rock formations of Torcal de Antequera, Málaga,
to the only desert on the European continent found in Tabernas, Almería.
Geography Andalusia is the largest and southernmost region of Spain with an area
of 87.268 km2. The three regions which stand out are: to the north, the Sierra
Morena, in the center, the Guadalquivir river valley, and in the south, the
Cordillera Bética.. This physiognomy determines a land division; the
Guadalquivir set in lower western region of Andalusia, while the foothills mark
the upper Andalusia in the east. The climate is generally considered
Mediterranean with hot and dry summers and mild winters with irregular rainfall.
Nonetheless a larg most distinctive feature of the climate of Andalusia is the
number of hours of annual sunlight, reaching over 3.000 in the lower
Guadalquivir region, Atlantic coast and shores of Granada and Almería This
climate produces a luminous atmosphere that is reflected in the character of its
people. Numerous literary testimonies from both local and foreign writers
confirm this. The hospitable and laid back view on life that embellish the
Andalusians has a lot to do with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. The
coast makes up the other significant land area of Andalusia, extending over more
than eighthundred kilometers of numerous stretches of beaches. The average
temperatures of its waters and hours of sunlight have made them internationally
known and enjoyed. The Andalusian coastline runs from the coast of Almería and
the Tropical Coast of Granada to the Costa de la Luz of Cádiz and Huelva,
gravitating along the Costa del Sol in Málaga, one of the most famous
international tourist centers in the world. The maintenance and protection of
the Andalusian beaches during the past few years has added to the development of
new boardwalks and the general improvement of services. New investment is based
on strict urban guidelines which comply with a harmonious development. This
includes grand avenues, parks and open spaces, in a group effort by various
municipalities and both national and regional administrations. Transportation
Andalusia has witnessed a considerable improvement in its transportation system.
The highway network has over 22.000 kilometers of roads. It is composed of
motorways, highways and roadways of various categories. Investments carried out
between the period of 1984-1992 have boosted this grid. The Highway ‘92, a
horizontal core which crosses through the region from east to west linking all
Andalusian capitals, facilitates the access to inland tourist areas of great
interest. The railway system, the main star being the AVE, (high speed train)
covers the distance between Madrid and Sevilla in less than three hours; a true
revolution. This new line of tracks has also improved communication between
Madrid and Málaga, as the Talgo trains also use the AVE tracks between Córdoba
and the nation´s capital. Other junctions and stretches of important regional
railways have been boosted while preserving the interest in the luxurious Al-Andalus
line. Andalusia has a great number of airports. The one with the most activity
is Málaga; one of Europe’s twenty most important in its number of passengers.
Plans for expansion already underway, will increase annual passenger capacity to
twelve million by the year 2000. Sevilla’s airport has been completely
transformed by adding on a new terminal servicing an annual capacity of four
million passengers. The airports in Almería and Jerez de la Frontera have also
modernized their installations. The extensive Andalusian coastline has ports in
Algeciras, Cádiz, Málaga and Almería. Over nine thousand moorings for ships
and boats are spread over numerous marinas, generating important commercial and
tourist activity. The province of Málaga with its Costa del Sol has the largest
number of moorings and marinas, followed by Almería, Cádiz and Huelva. Sevilla
also has two river ports. Tourism Relax in Andalusia. expand your knowledge,
practice sports, enjoy nature, or spend time in a pleasantly tranquil
environment; options for all visitors. New tastes have generated abundant
information about other forms of tourism such as hiking, camping and observing
animal life. These activities incorporate the expansion of rural tourism in the
region. The network of health spas and clinics in Andalusia are options for
health conscious tourists. The list of sport installations is extensive. Skiing
for example in the Sierra Nevada, host of the 1995 world championship, is the
southern most ski resort in Europe. As regards golf, the Costa del Sol has the
largest number of courses in all Europe, designed by specialists like Gary
Player, Severiano Ballesteros amongst others it was chosen to host the 1997
Ryder Cup. Both public and private tennis courts are abundant in numbers and are
very well equipped. Hunting and fishing are special activities available
throughout the whole region. Andalusia is a horseback riders paradise, where one
can enroll in classes or take a ride through the open country. In addition to
these possibilities there are centers dedicated to high risk sports: cave
exploring, mountain climbing and air sports such as gliding, paragliding,
microlights or hot air ballooning. The Ciruito de Velocidad de Jerez (speedway
track) hosts international events in motorcycle and auto racing The traditional
tourist infrastructure of the coast offers sporting activities such as sailing,
windsurfing, water-skiing and scuba-diving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The numerous marinas and scuba centers are proof of this. Other recreation
centers include water parks and theme parks such as the "Parque Temático
Isla Mágica" in Sevilla as well as casinos. Conferences and conventions
held in Andalusia take place in the well equipped convention centers with the
latest technology. In addition to these conference and trade centers in Sevilla,
Torremolinos, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Jerez de la Frontera, etc. there are
numerous hotels and state-run hotels, "Paradores". The cultural
possibilities of Andalusia also includes a complex calendar of music and dance
festivals, cinema and theater and other events along with other art, culture and
traditions.