Andalusia or Andalucía?
The autonomous region of Andalusia (Andalucía in Spanish) is in the southern part of Spain. It spans from Atlantic coast in the west to the sheltered coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the east and from Málaga's Costa del Sol to the borders of Castilla – La Mancha the famous flat lands and Don Quixote windmill country.
With an average of 300 plus days of sunshine a year the coastal area is an all year round destination. Not so in the inland provinces of Cordoba, Jaen and Sevilla which have baking hot summers that can reach +40c and cold winters which can be 0c or less overnight.
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| The Mezquita, Córdoba |
Andalusia is divided into eight provinces, each with a provincial city of the same name. Some of them are far more famous than others: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Sevilla. The three land-locked provinces are Córdoba, Jaén and Sevilla, the rest are coastal.
Each province and city is full of culture, history, traditions, fabulous monuments and creative gastronomy and plenty of tapas which need to be tasted. Some provinces still give free tapas with beer, wine and soft drinks such as Granada and Jaén.
Andalusia's cities and provinces
- Almería
If you are a lover of small, rocky or sandy coves then Cabo de Gata Natural Park in Almería the most westerly province on the Mediterranean coast has the mildest year-round climate and is an area of natural beauty without mass tourism. It also also has Europe's only desert within its borders – Taberna. Taberna Desert is an area made famous by the filming of the Spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s and 1970s. More recently A Fistfull of Dollars, Lawrence of Arabia and Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade were filmed here.
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| John Lennon statue, Almería |
In Mini Hollywood there are three Western-style theme parks – Oasys, Fort Bravo and Western Leone. Oasys Theme Park the set for 'For a Few Dollars More' is the largest of the sites which also has a pool area and a zoo.
If you spot the John Lennon statue playing guitar on a tiled bench in Almería city it's because he composed 'Strawberry Field Forever' while filming on location here.
- Cádiz
Cadíz, said to be the oldest city in Europe, was founded in 1100BC by the Phoenicians. Its ancient port on the Atlantic Ocean was used by the Romans, later becoming famous in the 1600s as the point where Christopher Columbus departed on his journeys of discovery.
Playa Atlanterra, Tarifa, Cadiz
Leaving the coast, rolling fields and stunning mountain ranges are home to many of the 'White Villages'. These are pretty, white-washed mountain towns nestling on the slopes and glinting under the blue skies. Narrow, plant bedecked streets and charming people welcome the visitor.
- Córdoba
The city of Córdoba, famous for its Mezquita, has plenty more to see. The Roman Bridge over the River Guadalquivir used to see ocean-going ships that could reach the city from the Atlantic. An important city for Romans, Jews and Moors. The old quarter of the city is a mainly-pedestrianised UNESCO World Heritage site.
Carmona City Walls, Sevilla
Head out of the city to rolling plains and fields of sunflowers, this is the Guadalquivir valley known as La Campiña. To the north the pasture lands of Los Pedroches merge into the region of Extremadura and are home to herds of black pigs for the famous for the excellent Jamón Ibérico.
- Granada
Granada is one of the most visited cities in Andalusia, but did you know that within the province of Granada you can ski in the morning and sunbathe in the afternoon. Granada city is home to the beautiful Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO site and a must visit, but the city offers so much more. History and culture, free tapas and being a university town a young, vibrant population.
Almazara La Erilla, Olive Oil Museum, Niguelas, Granada
Within the province there´s the Costa Tropical, Sierra Nevada mountain range and ski resort, the charming Moorish villages of The Alpujarra and the troglodyte area of Guadix.
- Huelva
Probably the least or second least known of the eight provinces in Andalusia is Huelva, which borders with Portugal to the west, Cádiz and Sevilla to the east, the autonomous region of Extremadura to the north and the Gulf of Cádiz on The Atlantic Ocean to the south. It's 75 mile pristine coastline, part of The Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) is far from touristy. Part of its coast with high dunes and virgen beaches reaches into Doñana protected area. The largest of several protected marshlands in this area.
Jaén Castle, Jaén
- Jaén
Jaén is (pronounced a gutteral 'hi-en') and is the least touristy and most northerly province in the autonomous region of Andalusia. Usually just a throughfare from the north down to the Costa del Sol. The small, hill-top city has an enormous cathedral, a castle/hotel Parador with stunning views, award-winning Arab Baths, Spain's best collection of Iberian Art and gastronomy based on Extra Virgen Olive Oil and free tapas.
Jaén Olive Groves
The province is a sea of green, covered with olive over 66 million olive trees covering around 78% of the province and producing around 50% of Spain's and 20% of the world's production of olive oil. Add to that three Natural Park including Spain's largest one – Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas, and as you can imagine it's a wild and green landscape.
- Málaga
Málaga is often thought of as nothing more than an airport from which people disperse to their destination on the Costa del Sol. But the city itself, the port area and old quarter makes for a fascinating visit. Narrow streets, hill top fortresses along with fish-famed beach bars and an array of museums make it a must place to stay.
Muelle Uno, Málaga Port
Head inland and the province offers the fabulous winding roads and hill top towns of Axarquia to the east, practically due north the surreal Karst landscape and rock formations of El Torcal and to the west the stunning town of Ronda or the 'Lake District' of Ardales and infamous Camino del Rey, a suspended, cliff-side walkway.
- Sevilla
In the flat plains of the Guadquivir Sevilla city roasts in the summer heat, avoid that time and you´ll find a stunning city, flat to walk around with masses to see. A boat trip along the Guadalquiver? Climb the Moorish minaret tower of the cathedral for stunning views? Catch a hand-clapping, skirt-swirling Flamenco show with dinner? Whatever you do, don't miss the tile-clad, Game of Thrones location, the beautiful Plaza de España.
Torre del Oro on the River Guadalquivir, Sevilla
The Sierra Norte de Sevilla offers Mediterranean forests, Via Verdes for walking or cycling and time-warped towns. Black pigs roam, winding, narrow roads with tree-tunnels and tumbling brooks are a far cry from the city heat.
Andalucia or Andalusia? City or countryside this southern region of Spain is enchanting. One visit can never be enough.
