World Of Tourism

The Costa Almeria is located on the south east of the Iberian peninsular on the Mediterranean sea and is a land of contrasts offering over 322 km of Coastline, rugged , desolate in parts it also jealously guards some of the best beaches and cleanest waters you will find along the whole of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline.


The Costa Almeria is the coastline of the province with the same name and is a unique land of desolate barren wastelands and contrasting idyllic coastlines, quiet pristine beaches, picturesque fishing ports, busy tourist towns and an historic capital ( Almeria ). It is also a nature lovers paradise with pure unspoilt areas of great natural beauty.


The Costa Almeria offers everything to the traveler with busy tourist towns which lure the holiday makes year which include Roquetas del Mar, El Ejido and Almeria . Howvere it is the more tranquil coastal towns such as the picturesque mountain village of Mojacar, Vera, Garrucha , Bedar and Turre that are becoming firm favorites with the international traveler and holiday maker alike.


o the east of the capital Almeria lies the Cabo de Gata Natural park which encumbers a dessert like landscape with a long rugged coastline. The park is sparsely populated with a few small fishing villages and has become a magnet for nature lovers which enjoy unspoilt coves and beaches , some of which can only be reached by foot. The actual town itself of Cabo de Gata is a quiet unimpressive town so you have to head north along the coast road to enter the main natural park where the towns of as San Jose, Los Escullos and La Isleta are located. From there on you can explore the coast and enjoy one of the many hidden coves with sandy beaches and warm clear waters.


MOJACAR for its unrivalled position and natural beauty is probably one of the most popular towns to visit on the Costa Almeria. Mojacar is a spectacular village set in the Sierra Cabrera mountains. Due to its sheer unique beauty Mojacar is a visitor magnet drawing in all kinds of travelers from artists, painters , poets and photographers to of course manya curious holidaymaker. This ancient town has an Arabic appearance which was a fortress settlement for the Moors. Mojacar old town center is a myriad of narrow streets with hidden corners, picturesque local bars and small local tourist shops. Walt Disney was said to have been sired here before immigrating with his parents to the United States of America.


The town of Vera is located slightly to the north of Mojacar and Garrucha and due to it having long sandy quiet beaches has become home to a number of nudist areas, growing considerably over the last 10 years with new modern complexes being built to accommodate the naturist lovers.


Located within the Natural Park is the small fishing village of San Jose and although it has become more popular with holiday makers the village has retained its charm with only low rise buildings, small population and stunning beaches. There are several shops and a good smattering of bars and restaurants . Top attractions also include bike rides, horse riding, 4 x 4 tours and windsurfing. The two most popular beaches in the area include the Playa de los Genoveses and the unique Playa Monsul which has large lumps of volcanic rock scattered and fine grey sand.


Roquetas del Mar is the main tourist destination on the Costa Almeria. It is an important fishing village located some 15 minutes drive south from the capital Almeria. The tourist area of the municipality, Aguadulce ( Sweet water ) became popular back in the 60s and is now been classified as a Centre of National Touristic Interest. Natural parks either border or are included in the area, Roquetas is also well known for its local gastronomy and the annual fiestas. Lobster an pasta dishes are local favorites along with a selection of fresh fried fish ( pescado frito ).

If your lloking for accommodation on the Costa Almeria then check out a summer and autum deals for Hotels and Hostels on the Costa Almeria.

If your looking for authentic Spain in an area of great natural beauty with some of the best beaches in the country as to offer then Huelva is the place for you. My family and I head for this refreshingly tranquil part of Andalusia every possible chance we have during the hot summer months.



Some of the best beaches in Spain can be found in the province of Huelva


The province of Huelva is located in Southern Spain and is situated in the western part of the autonomous region of Andalusia. It borders with Portugal and the provinces of Cadiz, Badajoz and Seville and has 79 municipalities with a population of approximately 600.000 inhabitants.

Huelva lies along the aptly named Costa de la Luz ( the coast of light ) and can proudly boast to being home of the largest concentration of top quality beaches in Spain.

The Rompido Ferry


The province of Huelva really is an area of great diversity, boasting around 3000 sunshine hours a year. About a third of its extension is taken up by the Doñana nature reserve, one of the most important wetland reserves in Europe with some 365 recorded species of resident and migratory birds, 5 of which are endangered species and include the Spanish Imperial Eagle, Iberian lynx and Egyptian mongoose. The park can be enjoyed by trekking, guided tours, 4 x 4 trips and horse riding walks, there are also museums and other informative posts scattered around the reserve.

The famous El Rocio Village is also located here. This curious pueblo is set by the side of the Doñana national park and is where hundreds of thousands of Rocieros from all over Spain make their annual dusty pilgrimage to pay homage to the Virgen del Rocio in one of Andalucias biggest festivals, the Romeria del Rocio. Although the Virgen del Rocio has been celebrated for over 800 years in 1758 it was decided that it would go ahead on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. There are actually two main parts, the festival of Almonte of which the Virgen del Rocio is the patron saint and the pilgrimage which starts several days earlier. The festival is a blend of catholic and local pagan beliefs.The pilgrimage to the village of Rocio is quite a spectacular and traditional affair with hundreds of brotherhoods from surrounding villages and from all over Andalucia taking part.

The picturesque fishing village of Rompido


Huelva City – the capital of the region is quite industrial area housing a petro chemical plant and at first glance the city may not be that inspiring to the visitor however it does house a few gems that are well worth visiting, such as the Barrio Obrero ( the workers neighbourhood ), the Tinto and Tharses wharfes, various historic churches including the main Cathedral, the Odiel wetlands and the provincial Museums housing thousands of Archaeological artefacts.


The province is of course famous for its historic connection to Christopher Columbus. On the 3rg August 1492 the caravels set sale from the old port of Palos de la Frontera making the city famous for playing its part in the discovery of America. Palos houses an open dock with replicas of Columbus’s ships.

Another must place to visit would be the beautiful and picturesque Sierra de Aracena. Sierra signifies mountain range in Spanish although the highest peak is only some 1.059 meters high, making it rather a big hilly area rather than mountainous. However having said that the Sierra really is a hidden gem in southern Andalusia where visitors will see typical white washed villages, spectacular views, chestnut forests in abundance and where some of the finest local home cooking can be found. I would highly recommend a trip to the Gruta de las Maravillas ( Grotto of Marvels ) which has more than 1 km of subterranean passages of pure natural beauty.

One of my personal favourites would have to be Las Minas de Rio Tinto – the Rio Tinto Mines . located in Village of Nieblas The name Rio Tinto ( Red River ) was of course coined from the impressive colour of the water that flows through the mines. When the ferrous ores come into contact with water they turn both land and the river into an incredible myriad of colours , shades of red, yellow, orange, brown and green can all be seen as the river trickles through the area.
The mines are reputedly the oldest in the world and rich in history, reportedly being the fabled mines of King Solomon himself. It was the wealth of the mines that beckoned the Phoenicians and the successive invasions of the Greek, Carthaginians and Romans. However it was inexplicably abandoned by the Romans and left to fall in the memories of time until it was rediscovered in 1556 although was not reopened until 1724. However inefficiency and bad management caused the Spanish government to sell the mines to a British consortium in 1871, which true to the dogged British commercial mentality and work ethic was fully exploited until it became one of the most important sources of Copper and Sulphur in the world.

The colonials even built a small village called Bella Vista for the employees of the mines which is identical to any perfect little country retreat in Britain with neat lawns gardens, tennis lawns and a social club, it even has its own and Presbyterian Church. It is still well maintained and can be visited to this day.

Gary

Costa de la Luz, meaning coast of light, is a city located towards the western area of Andalusia, on the coast line, offering attractive beaches along with several other appealing characteristics. One of the main activities tourists practice while visiting this town and its beaches is wind surfing due to the way in which some times, winds turn this area of the Atlantic Ocean into an ideal spot for this sport.

The coast in Costa de la Luz is usually divided in two main areas called the Costa de la Luz from Cadiz Province and Costa de la Luz from Huelva Province. Costa de la Luz from Cadiz Province is the area which goes from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Guadalquivir, while Costa de la Luz from Huelva Province goes from the River Guadalquivir to the Parque Doñada area, towards the frontier with Portugal.

One of the most attractive areas tourists can visit in Costa de la Luz is the Calle Facinas or Facinas Road. This road was created as a Roman highway and goes through the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, a beautiful national park which allows those who walk through its road to relax and forget about everything else than the environment which surrounds them. Besides this, this road also allows visitors to meet some interesting spots and Roman ruins on their way.

Those visitors who enjoy the beach would be able to have a great time in costa de la Luz due to the variety of amazing beaches it offers. One of the most beautiful spots offered by this coastline is the Playa de Bolonia or Bolonia Beach. Bolonia Beach combines soft white sand with clear oceanic waters in a unique way in such a way that people can enjoy spending time into the water and swimming as well as sun bathing and enjoying the landscape.

Another interesting attraction offered by Costa de la Luz is the Jimena International Music Festival. This music festival takes place every year during July, and attracts musicians and spectators from several different origins and preferences, due to the fact that a variety of different musical styles are sponsored by this festival and visitors could enjoy some jazz or classical music as well as some rock or tap.

Author: Jakob Jelling

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.eurotomic.com.

Please visit his website if you're planning a trip to Europe.

When visiting Andalucia, I would highly recommend making the trip to Ronda. The winding roads up the mountainside can be a little daunting, but what a view all the way to the top!

Ronda is one of the oldest cities in Spain, having origins in the Neolithic age.

Wonderful cave paintings were discovered, including the famous Pileta's Cave, depicting paintings from the Paleolithic age. Its mountain top location made it an ideal location to build a city - very easy to defend. The first builders were the Romans, and many examples of their architecture can still be viewed in the city today.


The Moors then made their mark, and built the walls, gates and arches of the city, which are still very much intact. You can stroll alongside the walls, enjoying the fabulous views… or visit the Arab Baths, still in an excellent state of repair. State protected because of historic interest in 1931, these baths were built at the end of the 13th century or start of the 14th century.

Another fascinating building to visit is the Casa del Rey Moro - or House of the Moorish King - which appears to be from the 18th Century. The house itself is in a dilapidated condition, but the first floor has been restored, and contains the tourist office. Well worth a visit to the gardens of the house, which were constructed by the great French Landscaper Forestier in 1912. The house also has a mine which you can visit, which consists of a wide zigzagging staircase carved into the rock, covered by a fascinating system of stacked vaults. Visit the Sala del Manantial (Room of the Spring) from which slaves brought water to the King.


The hub of Ronda is the "New Bridge", that divides the city, over a deep gorge - El Tajo, with houses literally hanging on the edges of the cliffs. Right next door is the lovely Alameda del Tajo Park - perfect for a restful stroll after your busy sightseeing, and also the Blas Infante viewpoint where you can stand on a balcony over... a huge drop!

Famous people love this city - close to the Alameda del Tajo Park, you can visit the Paseo de Orson Wells - the famous actor loved Ronda and is, in fact, buried there. Ernest Hemingway was also very fond of the city and the Paseo de Hemingway has been named for him. He visited Spain during the Spanish Civil War, to report for the North American Newspaper Alliance.

The Plaza de Toros, or Bullring, of Ronda, is the oldest in Spain and was officially inaugurated in 1785 by the two bullfighters, Pedro Romero and Pepe Hillo. It is possible to visit the bullring, its museum and the surrounding buildings and paddocks. Outside the entrance to the bullring are statues to two famous bullfighters of Ronda, Cayetano Ordonez and Antonio Ordonez.


Strolling the streets of Ronda is like taking a step back in time - narrow streets with attractive buildings, tapas bars and restaurants - and wonderful shops. You will also come across interesting museums, like the Museo del Bandelero… lots of beautiful churches and lovely plazas and sidewalk cafes to rest and catch your breath.

It is difficult to mention all the wonderful attractions of this city in one article, but this is definitely a must-visit part of your Spanish tour! One little warning - try and stay a minimum of 3 days, otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of the attractions. Wear good comfortable walking shoes, and if visiting in summer, always carry a bottle of water.. it gets hot in Ronda!

Anne Sewell

Homepage:

http://www.allspainaccommodation.com/

I have been involved in the travel industry online for 10 years, running several websites for accommodation reservations worldwide. Also a keen amateur photographer.

The votes are currently being received and counted for the election of the new 7 wonders of the world.

There are 21 sites included in the voting including the beautiful Alhambra Palace in Granada. The new 7 wonders of the world list will be announced on the 7th July in a ceremony held in Lisbon.

On a tourism level, if the Alhambra was to be included in the list it is calculated to be worth a 20% rise in visitors to this unique palace.

Your vote counts so please go online at http://www.new7wonders.com/ and help make history ........today.

Gary
http://spainguides.com/

Jerez de la Frontera, situated in the Southern part of Andalucia, some 77 kms south of Seville and only some 22 kms North East of Cadiz, is one of my most favorite places to visit .

Staying in Jerez really gives you a feeling of what old Andalucia is about. Jerez has a laid back atmosphere, is picturesque and steeped in history. mass tourism is no where to be seen and of course its famous heritage as one of the worlds major wine producing capitals and more importantly, Sherry. It also has some of the best tapas bars in the whole region.

One of my passions here are the visits to the Wineries ( Bodegas). Most of them offer supervised and well explained trips around their installations. The wineries of Gonzalez Byass, Sandeman, Domecq, Emilio Lastau, Harveys and Williams Hubert are probably the pick of the bunch. The visits are well planed and reasonably priced and include tastings, videos, shops, museums .

If you plan to visit Jerez then take my advice and visit as many of the Bodegas as you can.

You can find more information about Jerez via my web site at http://spainguides.com/jerez.html

Gary

Once again its that time of year when hundreds of thousands of Rocieros from all over Spain make their annual dusty pilgrimage to pay homage to the Virgen del Rocio in one of Andalucias biggest festivals, the Romeria del Rocio.

Although the Virgen del Rocio has been celebrated for over 800 years in 1758 it was decided that it would go ahead on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday. There are actually two main parts, the festival of Almonte of which the Virgen del Rocio is the patron saint and the pilgrimage which starts several days earlier. The festival is a blend of catholic and local pagan beliefs.

The pilgrimage to the village of Rocio is quite a spectacular and traditional affair with hundreds of brotherhoods from surrounding villages and from all over Andalucia taking part.

Carts are beautifully and lovingly prepared in bright colours and flowers with the pilgrims dressed in traditional colourful gypsy inspired flamenco dresses and the men in their short cropped jackets ( a la Andalucian style ) and unique wide brimmed bolero hats. Some carts are even pulled along by oxen and horses although mostly these days the sturdy fours by fours are thre modern substitute and ideal for driving over the soft sandy conditions that await. The Rocieros arrive in the area and camp out in the surrounding fields and marsh land alongside the Doñaña National park.

Although the Romeria is a highly religious festival as you would expect with the Spanish it is also an time of much fun and enjoyment for all the family, and the party stops for no man. Local produce such as black foot ham ( Pata Negra ) white prawns from Sanlucar and many other excellent dishes will be eaten and all will be washed down with some the Finest wines and sherry’s the region has to offer.

The highlight of the festival for many a devotee is when the Virgen del Rocio ( a large silver shrine ) is taken our from the Church in the El Rocio in all her splendour , this is where the religious fanaticism really kicks in with thousands of devotees clamber to touch the Virgen shrine as she passes by, this can go on for several hours with many followers visibly moved by their unique experience. This custom is better understood knowing that the devoted claim her intense powers can cure disease, infertility and mental disorders.

There are no tarmac roads to speak off in El Rocio as the whole village is built on sand, vehicle parking areas have been replaced with fences to tie up the horses. If you have never visited El Rocio I would highly recommend it as it is undoubtedly one of the most unique villages in Spain.

Gary
http://spainguides.com/

Video of the Festival: http://www.videojug.com/film/spanish-festival-el-rocio