Introduction about Andalucia

Andalucia:

Andalusia is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. It is located in the south of the Iberian peninsula. It is about the second most populated area in Spain (as large as Portugal). This area of Spain is undoubtedly one of the most surprising of the country, by its incredible landscapes, but also an astonishing cultural richness. During your visit in Andalusia, you can easily notice the cultural diversity of the area: monuments, vestiges which have been left by the people which use to live for a certain time of its History in this area. The origins of the Andalusian people are multiple (Moors, Jews, catholics, gipsies).

Geography: located in the south of the Iberian peninsula, it is made up of coasts bordered of beaches, but also of high mountains, such as the Nevada Sierra .

Population: 8 million of inhabitants. Andalucia is divided in 8 provinces: Alméria/Cadix/ Cordoue/Grenada/ Huelva/ Jaen/ Malaga/ Sevilla.

weather: In summer, Sevilla is one of the hottest areas of Europe where the temperatures can reach until 47°C in the shade! Andalusia remains a very arride area , the dryness is always present, and you can notice it in the landscapes. Concerning the winter in Andalusia, it is soft and rainy.

tourism office : Avenida de la Constitución, 21 B - 41001 Séville (Séville)Tél. +34 954221404 Fax +34 954229753.

http://www.andalucia.org/modulos.php?modulo=Index&nuevoidioma=spa

accommodation Andalusia: http://www.perfectsuntravel.com/

Means of transport to go to Andalusia:

by plane: Iberia and Spanair are the two national airlines companies present in Spain. There are many connections between the principal cities inside the country. In Andalusia, the principal airports are in Sevilla, Malaga and Grenada . train: no direct train from France for the towns of Andalusia, but the correspondence from Barcelona or Madrid is easy and fast. By car:the network of highways and motorways in the area is very good,you drive easily, the expressways are of good quality. For the South and Andalusia, there is no paying sector; The motorways are free.

lodging: Several options are offered to you if you wish to spend more than one day in Andalusia: Inns of Youth, camp-sites, hotels (the less expensives are called the "fondas", oder wise you have the "residencias", but more expensive). If you have the possibility, you can try the paradors, an important hotel network whose characteristic is that their framework is rather original: you will be sleeping in a manor, castle, old palate. But count on average 122 euros per night for a double room with breakfast .

some useful websites : www.parador.es / www.inturjovem.com/

History of Andalusia:The history of Andalusia is very old, and goes up to 1000 before J-C. At this time, this area was very coveted and lot of people disputed this area of Spain: Rome ends up conquering Andalusia. En 409, it was conquered by the Vandals, then by Wisigoths. Then the conquest of Andalusia by the Moors; those people had a true influence on the area and left an impressive cultural richness(monuments, sculptures, etc…)In the XVth century, Andalusia was reconquered by the catholic kings; it is the beginning of the apogee of this area, with a considerable enrichment. 1717 This year, Andalusia lost the monopol of the trade towards America. The province then undergoes a constant decline which made of it soon the poorest area of Spain.1936: beginning of the civil war in Spain; the army of Francisco Franco was unloaded in Andalusia. Supported by Italian troops, it seized Malaga, into 1937.1992: the World Fair proceeds in Sevilla. This event gave back to the city some international influence.