Andalucia, autonomous region in Spain, on the
Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Atlantic Ocean, is Spain's
largest and most populous region covering most of Southern Spain. It is probably
also one of the best known regions of Spain as this dry, mountainous area
embraces the Costa del Sol. The landscape is as diverse as its culture.
From the warm Guadalquivir valley to the low mountain areas and volcanic
landscapes such as the Tabernas Desert. Andalucia is hot and dry in summer but
milder than the interior in winter. Snow does fall on the mountain peaks but
generally this region epitomises sunny Spain.
The Andalucian shoreline consists of 900km of coastline and some
of the finest resorts in Spain are found here. Within 40 minutes from the sandy
beach, you can be skiing at the famous resort of Sierra Nevada with its 3,400m
peaks. Within this diverse land, live more than seven million people.
Andalucia is the home of bullfighting and flamenco, which can
best be enjoyed at the region’s countless ferias and romerias. It is also a
land of great traditions, and myths like Don Juan and Carmen were born here. The
Andalucian people are high-spirited living life to the full and are well known
for their exuberance, warmth and hospitality.
For those interested in historical paces the region is just a
right place to visit, as it has numerable Moorish castles as well as Roman ruins
and prehistoric burial chambers. Perhaps the most unique feature of this
enchanting region are the remains left by the Moors who occupied this part of
the peninsula for more than seven centuries. The most famous of their monuments
is Granada's Alhambra palace.
Andalucia is one of the warmest regions in Europe More than 18%
of the region is protected land with a vast network of parks and reserves. The
22 National Parks range from mountainous regions to coastal areas and the best
known are the Doñana National Park, the Grazalema, the Sierra de las
Nieves and the Sierra Bermeja. Other sites of interest include El Torcal, near
Antequera with it's unique lunar landscape. When it comes to the ever-popular
coastline such as the Costa del Sol (Coast of the sun) in Malaga or the Costa de
la Luz (Coast of Light) of Cadiz and Huelva, the beaches have recently developed
into major holiday destinations for tourists worldwide. Some of the best golf
courses in Europe can also be found here.
Once the poorest region of Spain, nowadays Andalucia is one of
the principal European holiday destinations. The region now has more than
24,000km of motorways and highways and some of the best international airports
in the world. The coast also offers ports of worldwide important such as those
in Malaga and Algeciras. It is now possible to travel between Seville and Madrid
in just 150 minutes by train.
Andalucia, then, is a region of startling contrasts and great
charm. Yet, this mysterious corner of Europe is so easy to reach by air, with
hundreds of charter flights arriving each week, or by car, with motorway
connections to the rest of Europe.