All About Andalucia

All About Andalucia: southern Iberia had a major role in how Spain became Spain. Multi-cultured societies evolved to become truely Cosmopolitan.

Andalucia welcomes its guests, openheartedly.

All About Andalucia Things to See and Do

Andalucia is THE place to find the best fish, Iberian pata negra and the famed liquid gold Olive Oil produce which comes from the inland Andalucian Sierras.

Just before going to the Feria...

Travel Choices

enriched by warm sun rays, sweeping over 800kms of Andalucian coastlines to the inland rocky ravines, amazing karstic landscapes, the pancake flats and hot dusty country roads, to the dazzling heights of mountains with spectacular views.

View of Fuengirola Coastline from the heights of Benalamdena
All About Andalucia: Views of the heart of the Costa del Sol

A Genuine Reflection of the Soul of Spain

Who ate Who?
Malagüenian Street Sign.

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Andalucia History

Contemporary Andalucian News

Andalucian Beaches

Significance of the Plus Ultra Motto…

• 3,000 years ago, the Pillars of Hercules (the Rock of Gibraltar and Monte Hacho in Ceuta - or Jebel Musa in Morroco) guarded the Mediterranean, blocking entrance, of the dangerous Atlantic Ocean, then known as the "Sea of Obscurity" see: Ancient Iberia Map


• The Pillars of Hercules protect the Royal Coat of Arms centered on the (1981) National Flag of Spain


• The "Plus Ultra" motto (latin: further beyond) furled around the columns, signify:
  "entrance to the rest of the world" - opposed to being a Mediterranean Gate to the Atlantic

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• During Charles V's reign, the Plus Ulta motto was modernized. Travel and exploration identified the Golden Ages of Spain. Fittingly, the motto dropped the "Non" radically transforming the ancient message. Sailors were encouraged to travel, explore and conquer the ancient warning: no longer applied

Carlos Quinto's Plus Ultra motto,
found in the Tribunal Hall of Justice in
the Mexuar Palace, Alhambra Granada Spain

Original Motto

The original motto of The Pillars of Hercules was:
Nec (or Non) Plus Ultra (Latin: nothing further beyond) warning sailors to go no further.

Hercules

• Hercules, during his task of fetching the cattle of Erytheia, smashed through the Atlas mountains and thus narrowed the Straits of Gibraltar, keeping the Atalantic Ocean monsters out of the Mediterranean
• All About Andalucia's Flag: depicts Hercules on the coat of arms
• In 1918, Blas Infante lay the foundations for the Andaluz autonomy, embracing the Andaluz flag and its coat of arms as the national symbol for Andalucia
• Its legend is: "ANDALUCÍA POR SÍ, PARA ESPAÑA Y LA HUMANIDAD" (Andalusia by herself, for Spain and for Humankind)
• Hercules appears between the columns, restraining two tamed lions
• Above the columns rises an arch, there is another inscription: "DOMINATOR HERCULES FUNDATOR". Hercules's power reflects domination of the strongest creatures from the animal kingdom
• Plato was convinced that the lost realm of Atlantis could be discovered beyond the Pillars of Hercules

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• Jaen’s terrifying lizard
• Lovers Peak
• Legend of the Hall of the Abencerrajes
• When Boabdil left the Alhambra, he had disenterred his ancestors and took them with him. Unable to carry everything, he buried his vast fortune. Where? To this day no-one has found it. Maybe Alhambra Spain 1492 defense costs squandered it...

• The chilly history of how the Moors introduced Snow Wells to Andalucia: Los Nerveros (the snow gatherers) for Moorish desert Gastronomy specialities - way back in the 10th Century
• The al-Andalus reconquering Hero, Rodrigo Diaz: The Legendary El Cid
• Spain’s Golden Ages and Dark Melancholy

All About Andalucia and the Moorish Treasures of the Alhambra

• Alhambra Granada Spain
  Historic Background of the Alhambra.
  About Granada, Elvira capital and the Jews of the Albayzin from 586 BC to 900 AD


Comares Palace Tower

• Alhambra Granada Spain Palaces
  History of the founder of the Majestic Alhambra, about the "origin of the Alhambra Motto," the Nazrid dynasty and creation of the Emirate of Granada
• Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1

Categorizing the fabulous Nazrid Palaces: The Highlight of the Alhambra
• Alhambra Granada Generalife
The Generalife Summer Palace
• Alhambra Granada Spain Water Technology
The Alhambra and Generalife Moorish Hydrology Technology
• Alhambra Granada Palaces Gems
  Magical Artistic Corners of the Alhambra and Political Intrigues

Lifestyle of Today

All About Andalucia Spain of Today

• Malaga Airport
• Political Map of Spain
• Physical Map of Spain
• Malaga Map
• Private and Public Health Care Advice
• The Andalucian History of its inland towns and cities: their arts and crafts
• How did the Costa del Sol Tourism Boom Begin? See:Andalucia Travel Costa del Sol
• Have You spent the night of San Juan on the beach?
• Share with us YOUR Stories in Andalucian Memories to Treasure
• Finding A Best Chiringuito
• Sherry Wine
• Andalusian Gastronomy
• Andalucia food
• Famous Spanish Food Pimenton
• Christmas in Spain
• the olive tree
• Andalucia food Pimientos
• History of Spanish Food
• What is the Mediterranean Diet
• Areas rich in business economy, the Technological parks
• Advances in Natural Energy Resources, Andalucia is 2nd in Europe in Natural Resources and Ecological Energy
• Education

The Many Styles of Art and Architecture found on the Iberian Peninsula

• Roman Spain introduced
• Romanization in Hispania
• roman art and architecture
• islamic art and architecture
• Significances of Sacred Geometric patterns islamic art and architecture 1

The eight Provinces of Andalucia

The Atlantic Coasts

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Punta Tarifa

Punta Tarifa: is a fascinating adventure spot. It is THE Surfer's Paradise, where Surfing and Kite-surfing abound.

Tarifa is most southernmost point of the Iberian peninsula and of Europe. 14kms Separate Tarifa (and Spain) from the African Continent.

Both its 'past and present' are important to the Iberian peninisula, Baelo Claudia, belongs to Tarifa. Thriving marine-environments emerged around this area.

Ecological Wealth

Only Two National Parks
are in Andalucia

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Cabo de Gata - Nijar Nature Reserve Almeria, a Unesco Biosphere Natural Reserve.
Stretching from Carboneras to El Retamar, the park encompasses over 46,000 hectares of Almerian virgin beachland

Some of the Mountain Nature Rerserves

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Late October in the Guadalhorce Lakes

Sacab Coin 2009 Andalucian Horse Show

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Discover Where is Andalucia

• The intrinsic heartbeat of the inland white villages; see how they compare with the bustling costal towns
• Be reminded of the sensual, sybaritic flavour of Moorish Spain's al-Andalus Caliphate: which left predominant features of Andalucía
• Caliphal Architecture
• Andalucía is on the main African – European bird migration routes
• A supreme environment due to its abundance of flora and fauna
• Sacab Coin 2nd Largest Horse Show in Spain

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The Mediterranean Coasts

Sevilla, Cordoba and Jaen are interior provinces.

Andalucia was the historic trading crossroads acting as THE Mediterranean exit-and-entry traffic port(s).

Christopher Columbus set sail for the Americas - from El Puerto de Santa Maria, Andalucia: rivers of Americas' gold was imported in Santa Maria.

Ecological Beach News

• These ash-trays are orange-coloured and look rather like an ice-cream cone with a clip-on hood
• Smokers are approached by the Chiringuito owner and are asked to use the special beach ash-tray
• When you leave, cap the cone and stick it in the sand
• Their size and colour facilitates beach debris collection
• Who wants foul smelling cigarette butts invading glorious Andalucian Beaches?
• Hopefully, this innovative ecological idea, will spread to every Spanish beachside

From Heritage Monuments, to ski resorts, to National Parks, the dramatically different landscapes, to amazing Andalusian beaches, or the excellent variety of gourmet menus - the al-Andalus historic sites make excellent Graduation trips.

There are vacations for the whole family in Andalusia. Andalucia is extraordinary in its wealth of diversities.

Andalucian Life of The Present and the Past will captivate you in every perceptive moment in All About Andalucia.

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