Andalusia, Spain

Andalusia, also called Andalucía, is an autonomous region in southern Spain. It covers about 17 percent of the country and consists of eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Seville. The largest city and capital of Andalusia is Seville, located in the province of Seville. Andalusia is the most populous and second largest of the seventeen autonomous regions in Spain. These areas are self-governing but still under the authority of Spain. Andalusia is known for its pristine coastlines and generous mountain ranges, giving the region an array of landscapes and climates that attract numerous tourists each year.

Brief History

Andalusia's provinces of Cádiz, Huelva, and Málaga attracted Phoenicians to establish agricultural and mining sites there about 1000 BCE. By the eighth and seventh centuries BCE, the Tartessos civilization settled western Andalusia. The province of Córdoba became a major area of the Roman Empire from the third century BCE to the fifth century CE. The Romans exported items from the region, such as olives, copper, silver, fish, and spices, to other parts of the empire. After the Romans, the Vandals settled the area but were driven out by the Visigoths, who called the region Vandalusia.

The Berber Muslims, also known as the Moors, who came from Africa under the direction of Tariq ibn Ziyad, invaded Andalusia about 711. They brought about ten thousand people with them and settled the region of Córdoba first. It became the largest and fastest-growing area of the region. The area that later became known as Andalusia was home to the Muslims for several centuries and called Al-Andalus.

The Christians, or Catholic, monarchs of Spain eventually moved in and overtook Córdoba and Seville by the thirteenth century. They took Granada next. This resulted in the merging of the Muslim and Christian cultures. Explorer Christopher Columbus set sail for America from a port at Palos de la Frontera in the Huelva province in 1492. Seville, however, became the trading hub of the Spanish empire, and many ships filled with treasures from the Americas stopped there. Cádiz also became an important trading post for the American ships.

After this time, Andalusia struggled and became an area of civil unrest as many groups tried to control it. The war for independence waged in the area in the early nineteenth century. The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was passed, but the unrest continued into the twentieth century with the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Mining, agriculture, and exports of items such as wine and olive oil bolstered the economy of the region, but as these resources were exploited, many left the rural areas of Andalusia to work in more modernized and industrialized parts of Spain and Europe. Eventually, Andalusia experienced industrial growth. In 1981, it was named an autonomous region of Spain with a regional government known as a junta and a parliament as its ruling bodies. Into the twenty-first century, Andalusia has a population of more than eight million people.

Overview

Andalusia is located at the most southern point of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, where the continents of Europe and Africa meet and the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea merge. The Sierra Morena mountains to Andalusia's north separate the Castilian plain and Guadalquivir River basin. The Guadiana River to the west separates the region from Portugal.

The Atlantic Ocean lies to the south of the Huelva and Cadiz provinces, while the Mediterranean Sea is to the south of the provinces of Cadiz, Malaga, Granada, and Almería. The Guadalquivir River, which is the second-longest river in the country, runs through Seville and is the region's most important water source. More than half of the region is covered by mountains, with more than forty-six of its peaks reaching higher than 3,280 feet (1,000 meters). The Sierra Nevada mountain range contains some of the highest peaks, for example, Mulhacén and Veleta reach more than 9,842 feet (3,000 meters).

Because of the diversity of its terrain, the area experiences a range of temperatures. The Guadalquivir River valley boasts hot and humid temperatures; the Tabernas Desert area is arid and warm; and the Sierra Nevada has cooler temperatures and snow-topped mountain ranges. Visitors to Andalusia can travel about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the mountainous areas to tropical regions. The Andalusian coastline stretches more than 550 miles (900 kilometers). The entire region is home to numerous beaches, mountain ranges, large cities, and small villages.

Andalusians are known for their laid-back ways, and many people still take the traditional siesta during the afternoons. Offices, businesses, and schools close for a time to allow people to rest for a few hours. Tapas, or small dishes of snack-type foods, are favored instead of large dinners. Nightlife is a big part of the Andalusian way of life, and street parties known as botellónes can last all night and into the next morning.

Seville is known for several festivals and celebrations, such as Holy Week (Semana Santa), which features parades, floats, and processions, and April Fair (Feria de Abril), a weeklong celebration complete with music, dancing, and fireworks. Each February, Cádiz throws a weekend carnival during which people dress up to take part in the festivities.

Flamenco music and dancing originated in Andalusia. Flamenco has Jewish and Islamic roots and was transformed by those living in the region. The passionate styles of music and dance feature tap dance, guitar music, and singing and are performed in many venues across Andalusia. Another popular tradition in Andalusia is bullfighting, which originated in Ronda, Málaga. While some people oppose bullfighting and call it a bloody and cruel practice, the sport is revered across much of Spain. The ancient bullring in Ronda continues to attract visitors to watch bullfighters (matadors) entice the bulls with colorful capes into the twenty-first century.

Bibliography

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"Andalucía." Rough Guides, 6 May 2024, www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/spain/andalucia. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

"Andalusia." Tourist Offices of Spain, www.spain.info/en‗US/que-quieres/ciudades-pueblos/comunidades-autonomas/andalucia.html. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

"Discover Us." Andalucia.org, www.andalucia.org/en/discover-us. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

"Guide to Andalucia." Spanish-Living, www.spanish-living.com/andalucia. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

"An Historical Overview of Southern Spain." Andalucia.com, www.andalucia.com/history/home.htm. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.