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All About Andalucia

All About Andalucia, the southern part of Spain (Andalucía) played a major role in Spanish history. The Nation's perilous history yielded a multi-cultured society which prevails today. For centuries, the Andaluz territory was a huge battle-ground: fought over, occupied, countless hardships and sacrifices enforced and then fiercely re-conquered.

Historic Andalucia and its Legends

Andalusian True Legends
Plus Ultra
Original Motto
Hercules
Andalucian Legends
Moorish treasures of the Alhambra

Contemporary Andalucian News

Lifestyle of Today
Private Andalucian Properties for Sale
Things to See and Do
Travel Choices
Sheer Contrasts
Punta Tarifa
Two National Parks

Andalucian Beaches

Where is Andalucia
The Mediterranean Coasts
Ecological Beach News

Andalusian True Legends

  • 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 the entrance of the dangerous Atlantic Ocean, which was then known as the "Sea of Obscurity"
  • Spanish Coat of Arms
  • 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) furling around the columns, represent the entrance to the rest of the world, rather than as a Mediterranean Gate to the Atlantic

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Plus Ultra and Charles V

  • During Charles V's reign, the new Plus Ulta motto was adopted to signify encouragement to ignore the ancient warning:

Carlos Quinto's Plus Ultra Symbol, found in the Mexuar Palace, Alhambra

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

Original Motto

  • The Romans were Polytheists - like most cultures at that time - (worshipers of many gods) they embraced Ancient Greek Mythology.
    The motto of The Pillars of Hercules was: Nec (or Non) Plus Ultra (Latin: nothing further beyond) warning sailors to go no further.

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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 armscoat of arms of Andalucia
  • 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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Andalucian and al-Andalus Legends

  • 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

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

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


  • Comares Palace Tower

    Comares Palace Tower

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    Contemporary Andalucian News

    Lifestyle of Today


    All About Andalucia Spain of Today


    Up and Coming

    Private Andalucian properties for Sale
    Property 1:eco-friendy Andalucian Estate
    Inland Estepona, 84 acre, private Andalucian estate for sale.

    Property 2:Las Lomas
    Alhaurin el Grande, Andalucian Villa for Sale

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    All About Andalucia Things to See and Do

    The heritage of Andalucian rhetoric, originates from the Moorish love of language and poetic description. Accounting for the uninhibited Andalucian's grandiloquent, colourful prose and dramatic dramatic Cante Jondo.

    However, Andalucia, merits every bombastic description

    Bullfighting and flamenco emerged here, the Andalucian Sherry Triangle thrives, this is THE place where you can find superb fish cuisine and taste the Iberian pata negras... Experience Andalucia's 'Zest For Living'!

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    Travel Choices

    Sybaritic, vibrant, sensual, historic Andalucia,

    Before the Feria

    Before the Feria...

    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.

    Benalmadena to Fuengirola Coastline

    Benalmadena to Fuengirola Coastline
    All About Andalucian Views of the heart of the Costa del Sol


    A Genuine Reflection of the Soul of Spain

    Generally, everything evolves at the speed of lightening, yet some things, remain, exactly the same - like a street name...

    Who ate Who? Andalucian road sign


    Who ate Who?
    Malagüenian Street Sign.


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    El Torcal Karstic Landscape

    El Torcal Karstic Landscape

    Andalucia is a Land of Sheer Contrasts

    Costa del "Sol", Costa de la "Luz".

    Does Sol or Luz siginfy 'anything' to you?

    It was All About Andalucia's clear, warm light which seduced and inspired artists and writers alike, to take up residence and do their work in Andalucia.

    The eight Provinces of Andalucia

    Sevilla - interior is Andalucia's Capital.
    Almeria - Costa de Almeria
    Granada - Costa Tropical
    Malaga - Costa del Sol
    Cadiz - Costa de la Luz
    Huelva - Costa de la Luz
    Jaen - Interior
    Cordoba - Interior
    Click here to see our favourite Andalucian Geography images


    The Atlantic Coasts

    Cadiz and Huelva have Atlantic coasts. Atlantic beaches are graced with fine white sand.

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    Punta Tarifa

    Andalucia's Southernmost and Windiest Area
    Tarifa is where warmer Mediterranean waters merge dramatically with the cold Atlantic.

    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

    18% of Andalucian Territory: Protected National Parks and Nature Reserves.

    Only Two National Parks
    are in Andalucia

    Doñana National (and Nature Reserve) Park - Huelva Europe's leading wetland
    Sierra Nevada National (and Nature Reserve) Park - Granada

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    Doñana Park Life

    All About Andalucia Spoonbill in Doñana
    All About Andalucia, some residents of Doñana's Parklife, protected Spoonbills

    Estrecho Nature Reserve - Cadiz

    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

    Andujar Nature Reserve - Cordoba
    Hornachuelos Nature Reserve - Cordoba
    Subbetica Nature Reserve - Cordoba
    Grazalema Nature Reserve - Cadiz
    Los Alconorcales Natural Park - Cadiz

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    late october in the guadalhorce lakes

    Late October in the Guadalhorce Lakes



    Sacab Coin Andalucian Horse Show

    Sacab Coin 2009 Andalucian Horse Show

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    Andalucian Feria Lights into Infinity...

    Alhaurin el Grande 2009,
    Feria Lights Twinkling into Infinity



    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

    Almeria, Granada and Malaga enjoy a Mediterranean coast. The Mediterranean climate has less wind than the Atlantic side and therefore is warmer.

    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

    Marbella Town Hall are donating over 15,000 beach ashtrays.
    • 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

    Keep Our Beaches Clean

    It's a Great Incentive to Keep our Beaches Clean

    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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    Interesting Links for All About Andalucia

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    When looking for renting a car in Alicante Car Hire Alicante offer a quality personal service for car hire next to the Alicante airport, Spain.