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Andalusia: Costa de la Luz
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The coastline of the Costa de la Luz runs from the Portuguese border down to Tarifa by the Strait of Gibraltar. It is a rather rough coast that was mostly forgotten by tourists. However, as foreign holidaymakers are starting to appreciate the peace and beauty of the Costa de la Luz, its villages are slowly evolving into small seaside resorts.
Huelva
Huelva is located by the Portuguese border and was entirely destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755, which also affected the Algarve. Huelva used to be an important point of departure and arrival for Spain's voyages of discovery. Reminders of that era and a complete overview of the history of Huelva can be found at the Provincial Museum. Other points of interest are the cathedral and the place of pilgrimage Santuario de Nuestra Senora de la Cinta. Huelva's three beaches are gradually becoming more popular and the National Park of Donana, which is an extraordinary nature reserve, also attracts visitors. Today, Huelva is a residential and business area with important industrial activity near the port.
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Jerez de la Frontera
This city is situated at the other side of the Parque Nacional de Donana. Like Cadiz, it is a cultural highlight of the Costa de la Luz. Flamenco, horse training and sherry are the operative words here. Both Jerez and Seville claim that they are the birthplace of flamenco dancing. Even now, Flamenco is still an important part of public life. Jerez is also intrinsically linked to sherry. You can visit sherry companies such as “Pedro Domecq”.
The Royal Andalusian School for Equestrian Arts (Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre) is not always open to visitors. You can attend a horse show with music once a week. Make sure you take a walk through the centre of the city. You find all points of interest there: the cathedral, churches such as Iglesia de San Miguel and San Juan de los Caballeros, the Alcazar, which includes a mosque and vantage point over the city, a clock museum (Museo de Relojes) and an archaeological museum (Museo Arquelogico).
Cadiz
It is said that Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe, as its history goes back to 1,100 BC. Cadiz's main attraction is its cathedral, which is one of the biggest in Europe. The baroque building was completed only slightly more than 120 years ago. The city is built on a peninsula. You can take a walk along the quays. On the east and north sides of the city, you can take a stroll though the parks. Cadiz has many other points of interest within its city walls: churches, museums and squares, there are simply too many to mention. One highlight is the Museo de Cadiz, which owns many paintings from artists such as Rubens and also tells the history of the city.
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Photo: ©iStockphoto.com
Text: GVDV/RD - © AT-Europe bvba
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