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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 LegendsAndalusian True Legends
Plus Ultra
Original Motto
Hercules
Andalucian Legends
Moorish treasures of the Alhambra
Contemporary Andalucian NewsLifestyle of Today
Private Andalucian Properties for Sale
Things to See and Do
Travel Choices
Sheer Contrasts
Punta Tarifa
Two National Parks
Andalucian BeachesWhere is Andalucia
The Mediterranean Coasts
Ecological Beach News
- 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"
 - 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 Tribunal Hall of Justice in
the Mexuar Palace, Alhambra Granada Spain
- 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.
TOP - 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
TOP - 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
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 AlhambraAlhambra Granada GeneralifeThe Generalife Summer Palace
Alhambra Granada Spain Water TechnologyThe Alhambra and Generalife Moorish Hydrology TechnologyAlhambra Granada Palaces Gems
Magical Artistic Corners of the Alhambra and Political Intrigues
Comares Palace Tower
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Contemporary Andalucian News
Up and ComingPrivate 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 TOP
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'! TOP Sybaritic, vibrant, sensual, historic Andalucia,
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
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?
Malagüenian Street Sign.
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 El Torcal Karstic Landscape
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 AndaluciaSevilla - 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 CoastsCadiz and Huelva have Atlantic coasts. Atlantic beaches are graced with fine white sand.TOP
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.Doñana National (and Nature Reserve) Park - Huelva Europe's leading wetland
Sierra Nevada National (and Nature Reserve) Park - GranadaTOP
 
All About Andalucia, some residents of Doñana's Parklife, protected Spoonbills
Estrecho Nature Reserve - CadizCabo 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 RerservesAndujar 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
Sacab Coin 2009 Andalucian Horse Show
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Alhaurin el Grande 2009,
Feria Lights Twinkling into Infinity
- 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
TOP 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.
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
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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