A JOURNEY IN ANDALUSIA

Andalusia is probably one of the regions of Spain's most exotic because of its amazing scenery and its incredible cultural riches. Andalusia is located in the extreme south of the Iberian Peninsula. It is only twenty kilometers of Africa! Its area is comparable to that of Portugal, in fact the largest province of Spain. It is also the most populous with about 8 million.

The area is bordered by the Mediterranean to the south and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Andalucia has varied landscapes. The vegas (fertile plains) alternate with lunar hills. There are also mountain ranges such as the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada.

The mythical Guadalquivir waters the legendary cities of Cordoba and Seville. The third flagship of the "Andalusian triangle" is Granada. Three cities inseparable for who wants to know the rich history of Andalusia ... But it would be unfair to neglect cities such as Cadiz, Ronda or Huelva. Less famous, they have an undeniable charm, and include some unexpected treasures.

History of Andalusia

The history of Andalusia is very old. The first to settle there were the Phoenicians who established counters, as early as 1000 BC From the eleventh to the sixth century BC, the kingdom of Tartessos settled on the banks of Betis, now called the Guadalquivir.

Subsequently, Andalusia was the object of desire. The Carthaginians and Romans fought over during the Punic Wars. Finally, it was conquered Rome. The Empire installed there Italica, a thriving colony. However, Andalusia was then invaded by the Vandals (409-429) and then by the Visigoths.

The determining factor in the history of Andalusia was conquered by the Moors. Ever people had had such an influence on the province. The Moors bequeathed him a true culture and sumptuous monuments, during the five centuries of their rule. Unfortunately, frequent conflicts broke out between successive emirates who wanted to direct the province and the Taifa (small independent kingdoms) of Córdoba, Jaén, Granada and Seville.

This chronic instability did nothing to facilitate the Reconquista of Andalusia by the Catholic Monarchs in the fifteenth century. Therefore, Andalusia flourished. It became the recipient of great expeditions to the New World. The towns of the province were enriched considerably.

1717 marked the death knell of this sumptuous period. That year, Andalusia lost its monopoly of trade to America. The province then undergoes a steady decline which soon made the poorest region of Spain.

It was not until the 1980s that Andalusia reborn from its ashes. In 1992, the World Expo was held in Seville. This suddenly gave international exposure to the pretty Spanish province. Today, Andalusia is once again a prosperous region. His ancestral culture, its mild climate and the liveliness of its traditions make it a tourist destination of the first order.