Andalucía, our beloved Land...

It is situated in the South of Spain with an area of 87,597 Km2 and surrounded by the Mediterranenan Sea (Cádiz, Málaga, Granada and Almería) and the Atlantic Ocean (Cádiz and Huelva).

It is well-known for the honesty of its people and its own culture.

There are 8 provinces in Andalucía; Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Sevilla, each with its unique attraction; sun and sand, rural destinations, snow and centers of cultural importance.

To enjoy the sun and the beach you can choose from the Costa de la Luz, which has the cities Huelva and Cádiz, the Costa del Sol in  Málaga, the Costa Tropical in Granada or the Costa de Almería in Almería. The coasts of Andalucía have amazing weather all year round and of course, a very good selection of clean beaches.

Someone said once, that the best way to get to know a city was to get lost in it. It is always advisable to bring a city guide if you do not want to miss anything, but bear in mind it's often more rewarding if you discover things by yourself.

There are many monuments which characterize every province, however it would be worth taking an opportunity to mention a few of them. In Málaga the Alcazaba and the Cathedral, and not forgetting the Gibralfaro, the Bullring of the Malagueta and all its churches; in Almería the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, the monasteries, etc.; in Granada, the Palaces of the Alhambra, the Monastery of the Cartuja, the Arabic Baths; in Córdoba the Alcázar de los Reyes Católicos, Arco del Triunfo, Medina Azahara, etc.; in Huelva the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Merced, the Dólmenes, the Fuente de los doce caños, etc.

In Cádiz the Cathedral, the Castle of San Sebastián, Great Theatre  Manuel de Falla, Torre Tavira, etc.; in Sevilla, the Cathedral, the Giralda, Reales Alcázares, the Plaza de España, the Torre del Oro, the Bullring of the Real Maestranza, the Palace of Lebrija, the  Monument to Colón, etc.; in Jaén, the Cathedral, the Arch of San Lorenzo, Puerta del Angel, Castle of Santa Catalina and its churches. There are many more museums, theatres, galleries, and historic monuments in each of these provinces.

Rural tourism is another one of the activities that has risen in popularity during the last years. All the Andalusian cities have made a big effort to satisfy these demands and provide many opportunities to enjoy the countryside and can provide information about accommodation, excursions, adventure sports, etc.

Regarding the gastronomy, who has not heard of Andalusian cuisine?. Fresh vegetables from the garden and fresh fish straight from the sea, and of course, all cooked perfectly to the highest standard. Gazpacho, Tomato soup, Ajoblanco (garlic and almond soup), Salmorejo, all from the garden; pescaito frito and the great variety of seafood. Pork products, like jamón (cured ham), morcón (big blood sausage), chorizos, salchichón, etc. And all this, of course, accompanied by some of the finest wines like Jerez, Manzanilla, etc.

Fiestas

Spain has the reputation of being one of the countries with the most public holidays. So, we would like to take the opportunity to reaffirm this information.

The 'fiestas' start from the first month of the year. In January, Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos, La Virgen del Mar (Almería); in February, Romería de la Virgen del Rocio (Huelva), Procesión de la Candelaria (Málaga) ; in March, the Carnival of Cádiz full of colour and joy; in April, the Holy Week in all the villages and provinces; in May, the month of Las Cruces in Almería, Córdoba, Cádiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga; in June, Festividad de San Juan (Huelva) and San Isidro (Jaén).

In July Festividad del Carmen (Granada) and Fiesta Conmemorativa de la Batalla de Bailén (Jaén); in August, Bajada de la Blanca Paloma (Huelva), Moros y Cristianos (Jaén), Feria de Málaga (Málaga) and la Feria del Caballo (Cádiz); in September, Fiesta de Pedro Romero (Málaga); in October, Fiesta de la Vendimia (Cádiz); in November, All Saints Day; in December, Christmas....

For more information

• Tourist Office of Almería 950 132 783.
• Tourist Office of Cádiz 956 241 001.
• Tourist Office of Córdoba 957 520 110.
• Tourist Office of Granada 958 360 686.
• Tourist Office of Huelva 953 710 102.
• Tourist Office of Málaga 952 213 445.
• Tourist Office of Sevilla 954 505 600.

Or visit www.andalucia.com